Budget stay in Udaipur: practical tips, and what you get with us

Udaipur has a name for palace hotels and lakeside dinners, but a budget stay in Udaipur is easy to plan without missing the best of the city. The ghats, the lakeside promenades and the old city’s lanes cost nothing to enjoy, a Rajasthani thali keeps you going until dinner, and choosing your dates well makes a real difference to what you pay.

This guide to Udaipur on a budget is for solo travellers, couples and families keeping an eye on what they spend. It’s written by the team at Hotel Rudra Kripa, a heritage-inspired boutique hotel in Sukher, on the city’s quieter side – so you’ll also find a straight answer on what a stay with us includes, which room to choose and how to get our best rate.

When to go for better value

Room rates across Udaipur rise and fall with demand, so when you come matters as much as where you stay. The year falls roughly into three seasons.

October to March – the main season

Warm days and cool evenings make this the most comfortable time to visit, and the busiest. Diwali, the Christmas–New Year week and long weekends fill up first, so book early if your dates include them. December and January nights can be chilly; pack a warm layer.

April to June – hot and quieter

Days are very hot, especially in May and June, so sightseeing works best early in the morning and after sunset, with the hottest hours spent by a pool or in an air-conditioned room. With fewer visitors, there’s more choice.

July to September – the monsoon

Rain turns the Aravalli hills green and, in a good year, fills the lakes. There are fewer visitors than in winter, though weekends can still be busy. Our guide to the monsoon in Udaipur describes the season in more detail.

Whatever the month, weekdays are usually calmer than weekends, because Udaipur is a popular short break from nearby cities. It’s also one of India’s favourite wedding destinations, and big weddings can fill hotels on auspicious dates in the winter wedding season.

A few festivals are worth planning around, crowds and all: Gangaur in spring, when processions carry images of the goddess Gauri down to Gangaur Ghat, and the Shilpgram crafts fair in late December.

Getting around Udaipur on a budget

Walk the old city. The City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Gangaur Ghat and Bagore Ki Haveli are a short walk apart, so once you’re in the old city your own feet are the cheapest transport there is. The lanes are narrow and busy; wear comfortable shoes.

Auto-rickshaws. Autos are everywhere and handy for short hops. Most don’t run on a meter, so agree the fare before you set off.

App-based cabs and autos. Ride-hailing apps work in Udaipur and show the fare before you book, which takes the haggling out of longer trips such as the run to the airport.

Scooters. Hiring a scooter for the day is a popular way to see the lakes at your own pace. Carry your driving licence – visitors from abroad need an International Driving Permit as well – and wear a helmet.

From Sukher. The hotel is north of the old city, so you’ll ride in: the City Palace is about 9.2 km – around 25 min by car, and Gangaur Ghat about 9.3 km. Sharing a taxi between two or three people brings the cost per head down, and grouping sights by area saves paying for the same ride twice – the old city one day, then Fateh Sagar and Saheliyon Ki Bari, which are nearer to us, on another. If you drive, parking at the hotel is free and secure.

Arriving by train or bus. Udaipur City (UDZ) is the main railway station, and Rana Pratap Nagar (RPZ) is nearer to us – if your train stops there, it may be the easier place to get off. Rajasthan Roadways buses use the central bus stand at Udaipole.

Eating well for less

Try a thali. A Rajasthani thali brings dal, two or three vegetable dishes, rotis, rice and something sweet on one plate – look out for dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi and kadhi – and many thali restaurants keep refilling it until you’re full. A late thali lunch can carry you through to dinner.

Breakfast, sorted. Breakfast is included with our Deluxe Room, so that’s one meal a day already covered. Out and about, street stalls serve poha, kachori and mirchi bada with a glass of chai.

Snacks by the lake. In the evening, the stalls along Fateh Sagar sell roasted corn, chai and other snacks while families come out for a walk by the water.

Pay for the view once. Rooftop restaurants overlooking Lake Pichola tend to price the view into the menu. Enjoy one sunset drink with a lake view, and eat your main meals somewhere simpler.

Drink bottled or filtered water. It’s the safe choice for visitors, and your room with us comes with free bottled water.

Eat in when you’re tired. On evenings when you’d rather not head back into town, the hotel’s multi-cuisine restaurant serves traditional Rajasthani dishes through to continental favourites, and the Roof Top Cafe has snacks and drinks with views over the Aravalli hills. Room service is available too.

Free and low-cost things to do

Many of the best free things to do in Udaipur are about water and light, and none of these needs a ticket.

• Sunset from the ghats. Sit on the steps of Gangaur Ghat in the old city, or of Ambrai Ghat across the water from the City Palace, and watch the sun go down over Lake Pichola. Early in the morning, the ghats are at their quietest.
• The Fateh Sagar promenade. Walk the Pal, the lakeside promenade by Moti Magri, in the late afternoon, when the light softens over the hills and families come out for the evening.
• The old city’s bazaars. Browse the lanes around Jagdish Temple, Hathi Pol and Bada Bazaar for block-printed textiles, silver jewellery and miniature paintings. Looking is free; if you buy, bargaining is expected.
• Temples. Temples such as Jagdish Temple, the 17th-century temple to Vishnu in the old city, are free to visit. Dress modestly and leave your shoes at the door.

Most palaces, museums and gardens charge an entry fee – the City Palace, Saheliyon Ki Bari, Bagore Ki Haveli and its evening folk-dance show, Shilpgram and Sajjangarh among them – and boat rides on Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar are ticketed too. Check the current price at the gate, and pick the two or three that matter most to you. For what each place is and how long to allow, see our guide to places in Udaipur to visit.

Photo: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0

What you get on a budget stay with us

A budget stay shouldn’t mean doing without the basics. Here’s what you’ll find with us, so you can compare like with like.

Staying in Sukher, north of the old city, means a drive in for the sights, with a quieter base and free parking in return – a fair trade if you’re out exploring all day. On a hot afternoon, the rooftop swimming pool, facing the Aravalli hills, is the best place to wait for the evening.

Which room for a budget trip?

For most budget trips, book the Deluxe Room: a queen-size bed, air conditioning, a private bathroom and breakfast included.

Choose the Super Deluxe Room when you’d like more space, a four-poster bed, a tea/coffee maker and satellite channels – on a longer stay, say, or for a special occasion. Travelling as a family? Tell us who’s coming when you enquire, and ask whether an extra bed can be added.

For a closer look, our guide to what a deluxe room in Udaipur should include walks through the Deluxe Room photo by photo.

How to get our best rate

• Ask us directly. Send an enquiry with your dates, and the reservations team replies with availability, the rate and payment details; your booking is confirmed once payment is made.
• Ask about current offers. The team will tell you about any packages or special offers for your dates.
• Be flexible if you can. If your dates can move, say so; midweek nights and the quieter months are generally easier to book across the city.
• Look beyond the nightly rate. Breakfast and parking can add up, so when you’re comparing cheap hotels in Udaipur, weigh what each rate covers as well as the price.

Our guide to booking hotels in Udaipur covers when to book in more detail.