The City Palace of Udaipur is the largest royal palace complex in Rajasthan — a soaring wall of cream and yellow facades, balconies and cupolas rising directly above the eastern shore of Lake Pichola. Built and extended over nearly four centuries by the Mewar rulers, it is the centrepiece of the City of Lakes.
Begun by Maharana Udai Singh II, the founder of Udaipur, in 1559, the palace is a maze of interconnected courtyards, museums and royal apartments. This guide covers its history, what to see (including the museum, courtyards and Crystal Gallery), timings, tickets and the evening sound-and-light show. For more of the city, see our places to visit in Udaipur and things to do in Udaipur guides.
A short history of the City Palace
Construction began in 1559 under Maharana Udai Singh II, who moved the Mewar capital from Chittorgarh to the new, more defensible city of Udaipur on the shores of Lake Pichola. Successive maharanas each added palaces, towers and courtyards over the following 400 years, yet the complex retains a remarkable architectural harmony.
The result is a fusion of Rajput, Mughal, Medieval and European influences, and the palace remains closely tied to the Mewar royal family, parts of it still serving as their residence and as heritage hotels today.
What to see inside the City Palace
You enter through the Tripolia Gate and a series of courtyards that lead into the palace museum, which threads through the historic apartments.
The courtyards (chowks): the highlight is Mor Chowk (Peacock Courtyard), decorated with glittering glass-and-mosaic peacocks, alongside Manak Mahal and the painted Badi Mahal garden-courtyard set high within the palace.
The palace museum: a sequence of rooms displaying royal portraits, miniature paintings, armoury, silver, and the colourful mirror- and glass-work chambers such as the Sheesh Mahal and Moti Mahal.
Crystal Gallery: housed in the adjoining Fateh Prakash Palace, this gallery displays a rare and extravagant collection of crystal — furniture, tableware, fountains and even a crystal bed — ordered from England in the 1870s. It carries a separate ticket and usually does not allow photography.
Don't miss the upper terraces and balconies for some of the finest views over Lake Pichola, the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir.
City Palace timings & ticket prices
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last entry around 4:30 PM) |
| Museum entry (Indian adult) | Around Rs 300 (approx; subject to revision) |
| Museum entry (foreign adult) | Around Rs 700 (approx; subject to revision) |
| Crystal Gallery | Separate ticket (around Rs 500+; includes a soft drink); no photography |
| Sound-and-light show | Evening show in the Manek Chowk courtyard, ticketed separately |
| Boat jetty | Lake Pichola boats leave from Rameshwar Ghat within the complex |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
The sound-and-light show
In the evening, a sound-and-light show is staged in the Manek Chowk courtyard within the palace grounds, narrating 1,500 years of Mewar history and the valour of its rulers against the illuminated palace walls. There is an English-language show as well as a Hindi version.
It is ticketed separately from the daytime museum entry, and combining your visit with the show makes for a full and memorable evening. Seats are limited, so it is worth arriving early or booking ahead in peak season.
How to reach & plan your visit
The City Palace stands in the heart of Udaipur's old city on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola, easily reached by auto-rickshaw, taxi or app cab; the main entry is via the Badi Pol gate.
Plan for two to three hours for the museum and courtyards, and combine your visit with a Lake Pichola boat ride from the jetty inside the complex and the nearby Jagdish Temple and old-city lanes. Arrive soon after opening to beat the crowds and the midday heat.
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