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Udaipur is a city in Rajasthan which is popularly known as the ‘City of Lakes.’ It has many beautiful palaces, forts, museums, gardens, and places of sightseeing. This city is nestled by Aravalli hills and every palace is worth a visit for its stunning architecture and intricate work. It used to be a historical capital. Visit this city to marvel at the beauty and architecture of the palaces and museums. Lake Pichola and Lake Palace are the most popular attractions in the city. Beyond that there are many things which the touristers must know before visiting Udaipur. To ensure a hassle free trip, here are some of the best Udaipur travel tips which one must know before planning.

Best Time To Visit Udaipur

The city tends to get very hot during the summer, and so they are best avoided when you travel to Udaipur. Winter is the best season to travel to Udaipur. The weather is pleasant and you get the best view of the scenic spots in the city when you travel in this season. September to February are the best months to travel to Udaipur. You can enjoy the stunning view of Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Doodh Talai musical gardens, and more. The majestic gardens and lakes look picturesque and breathtaking when you visit them during these months. You can spend time at these places and enjoy the view along with the beautiful weather. All the hues of nature paint a beautiful picture making your visit worthwhile. The sunsets at the Jag Mandir palace are not to be missed. You can also shop for crystal artworks and many handmade textiles from local markets.

Best Way To Commute

You can enjoy sightseeing Udaipur at your own pace. Those who love hiking and driving around can hire a scooter or a bullet and cruise around the city at your own pace. You can hire a taxi as well to go sightseeing in the city on your schedule. Group tours are not recommended as you will not enjoy the beauty of exploring the city leisurely. Spend time at the lake for as many hours as you want, take pictures, and soak into the beauty of architecture and landscapes of the palaces and gardens. Get a glimpse of the local culture and heritage by choosing to watch locals, their lifestyle, and culture. You will not be in a rush if you choose your schedule and not sign up for tour groups to visit places of interest as you can organize your itinerary and go about it.

Choices For Accommodation

Stay in a palace hotel if the budget suits you as this is an extraordinary experience you can have visiting Udaipur. Choose a lakeside budget hotel if you want to experience Udaipur at its best. If you are a solo traveler you can choose a homestay or a hostel that provides home-cooked local cuisine. This is one of the best options to experience the famous Rajasthani cuisine. Hotels and guest houses are available at a budget price. You can choose a heritage villa by the lakeside or jungle to get the best view of nature and wildlife. Holiday homes and budget guesthouses close to the tourist places are the best accommodations you can choose in Udaipur. Luxurious hotel palaces organize many entertainment options for guests to stay.

Bargain And Do Not Act Ignorant

Local markets are the best places to shop for handicrafts. Bargain at half the price and do not act like a tourist as you are likely to be scammed. Keep your belongings safe from pickpockets. The Hathi Pol Bazaar is one of the most famous street markets in Udaipur to do some street shopping. You can shop for souvenirs, textiles with bandhani prints, and get good deals by bargaining. A rule of thumb is to always bargain even when you go to shops as you can get items at a good price. Do not accept hospitality from strangers or any free food or drinks from them. When shopping for expensive items like jewellery do not accept exaggerated hospitality as it is done to lure the customers to buy cheap items at a high price. Check the worth of the metal before you want to buy expensive jewellery or items.

Do Not Walk Alone In The Night

Though Udaipur is safe for solo women travellers it is advised not to venture alone after 20:00 hours. Pubs and lounges are open up to the wee hours and are not ideal places to venture alone. You can leave the solo hiking to day time. Carry maps, GPS, and know-how to read the signboards when you visit Udaipur. Avoid wearing scanty clothes even during the day time. Wear comfortable and unrevealing clothes to avoid stares from the locals. You are likely to get stares from the locals as they do it blatantly. Do not wear any clothes that can invite trouble or make them pass remarks. Locals are friendly and traditional. Respect the traditions of the place and do not mingle with strangers. Avoid autos or rickshaws who want to show you a good place to stay. You are likely to find beggars in front of the historical places, do not encourage them.

Always Keep Cash And Change

Most of the places you shop at or want to eat might not accept credit or debit cards, unless you go to high end restaurants and hotels. Keep cash handy. This is one of the best ways to experience the local life and culture. Avoid drinking tap water as it is not safe. Always ask for bottled water at the places you eat. There are many local markets to shop for sculptures, sarees, cushion covers that have Rajasthani needlework. Savour the street food at Fatehnagar. There is a list of local foods you can relish such as Jalebies, Kachori, daal baati, Dabeli, Chaat, chai, and paan. You can eat the Rajasthani thali at the restaurants that offer vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food. Enjoy the Thandai which is a Rajasthani traditional drink at the eating joints.

Only Use Licensed Guides

Check the photo ID of the guides before you opt for one for touring. Do not accept auto wallas or the rickshaws to tout you towards the tourist guides or coax you into shopping more. You must be alert when traveling in busy areas and check for the authenticity of the items you shop for. Only buy travel tickets from authorized dealers. Get a receipt for every item you purchase. You must know that most of the people in Rajasthan are known for their business acumen and only mean business. You might not even get the information about a route for free. You might be charged for asking the route. Do not get offended as this is a common practice found in Rajasthan. You might not get any information for free. There are no freebees in Rajasthan as they are known to be business people. Though hospitality is high, these are pointers to keep in mind when you travel to Udaipur. Water will also be charged in restaurants.

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