The City That Looks Like a Dream
There are cities you visit, and cities that change the way you see the world. Udaipur — the City of Lakes — belongs firmly in the second category.
Nestled in the Aravalli Hills in southern Rajasthan, Udaipur sits on a constellation of interconnected lakes, its palaces and havelis rising from the water’s edge in a way that looks, honestly, too beautiful to be real. It has been called the most romantic city in Asia. Travel writers have described it as a place that ‘belongs in a fairy tale.’ It was chosen as the filming location for the James Bond film Octopussy precisely because no set designer could have invented it.
But what makes Udaipur exceptional — especially for couples — isn’t just the way it looks in photographs. It’s the way it feels when you’re in it. The city moves slowly. The light is extraordinary. The food is exceptional. And everywhere you turn, there is something that stops you in your tracks.
We’ve spent over a decade photographing couples in Udaipur. We’ve watched thousands of people arrive and fall completely in love with this place — often within the first hour. Here is everything we’ve learned about how to experience Udaipur the right way, especially if you’re visiting as a couple.
The 5 Experiences That Make Udaipur Unforgettable for Couples
1. Sunrise on Lake Pichola
Set your alarm. This is not optional.
Lake Pichola at sunrise is one of the most beautiful things you will ever see. The lake becomes a perfect mirror, reflecting the palaces and the slowly brightening sky in equal measure. The air is cool and still. The city is quiet. And for about 45 minutes — from just before the sun appears to just after it clears the hills — the light is soft, golden, and completely magical.
Take a private boat out onto the lake. Pack breakfast. Sit in silence together and watch the city come to life. It is one of those experiences that couples come back to tell us about years later.
Practical tip: Arrange the boat the evening before through your hotel. Go early — before 6:30 AM. Bring a light layer as it can be cool on the water.
2. A Rooftop Dinner with a Palace View
Udaipur has perfected the rooftop restaurant. Across the old city, you’ll find open-air dining spots with unobstructed views of the illuminated City Palace and the shimmering lake below. There is something about eating a thali or sipping chai while watching the palace lights reflect on the water that feels genuinely cinematic.
Look for rooftop spots around the Gangaur Ghat and Lal Ghat areas — these offer some of the best sightlines in the city and tend to be less crowded than the tourist-facing restaurants near the main ghats.
Practical tip: Book an evening slot (7–9 PM) when the palace is lit. Weekends fill up quickly — reserve your table in the afternoon.
3. A Heritage Walk Through the Old City
The area around Jagdish Temple, Gangaur Ghat, and Bagore Ki Haveli is best explored slowly, on foot, in the early morning. The lanes here are narrow and painted in faded blues, yellows, and terracottas. Wooden windows hang with marigold garlands. Women carry brass water pots on their heads. The pace of life feels entirely different from anywhere else in India.
This was Udaipur before tourism arrived — and it’s still here if you wake up early enough to find it. For couples, walking these lanes together in the quiet of the morning is a particular kind of intimacy. There is nowhere else in the world that feels quite like this.
Practical tip: Start at Gangaur Ghat by 7 AM. Walk north through the lanes toward Jagdish Temple. Take a rickshaw back from the Clock Tower area.
4. Sunset at Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
Drive up to Sajjangarh Palace — perched 944 metres above the city on Bansdara Hill — in the late afternoon. The route through the wildlife sanctuary is beautiful in itself: forested hillsides, occasional glimpses of deer, and a winding road that feels entirely removed from the city below.
Arrive 45 minutes before sunset and position yourself on the terrace facing west. What follows is one of the most extraordinary sunsets you are likely to see in your lifetime. The entire city and its lakes are spread below you, turning amber and rose as the sun descends. The sky does things here that feel almost theatrical — and every evening is different.
Practical tip: Hire a tuk-tuk or taxi for the hill road — it is steep and not suitable for walking. Entry fee applies. Check timing with your hotel as it can vary seasonally.
5. A Day Trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort
About two hours north of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort sits on a ridge in the Aravalli Hills, surrounded by the second-longest wall in the world. The drive through the hills is beautiful, the fort is vast and largely uncrowded, and the views from the ramparts are extraordinary.
For couples who want to venture beyond the city, Kumbhalgarh offers a full day of exploration — the fort, the surrounding wildlife sanctuary, and the drive back through the hills in the golden afternoon light. Pack a picnic, leave early, and take the scenic route back through Ranakpur if time allows.
Practical tip: Hire a car with a driver — about ₹1,800–2,500 for the day. Start by 8 AM to reach the fort before the midday heat.
When to Go
October through February is the ideal window. The weather is comfortable (18–26°C), the lakes are full after the monsoon, and the quality of light is consistently beautiful. March and early April are also excellent — warmer but still photogenic, especially at golden hour.
Avoid May and June if you can — temperatures climb above 40°C and outdoor experiences become uncomfortable. July to September brings the monsoon, which creates an entirely different, lush, moody atmosphere — beautiful in its own way, but with the caveat that heavy rain can disrupt plans.
Practical Information
| Getting there | Udaipur airport (UDR) is 22 km from the city and connects to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Jaipur. Alternatively, Udaipur railway station is well connected from most major cities. |
| Getting around | Auto-rickshaws and app-based cabs (Uber, Ola) work well within the city. For day trips, hire a car with a driver. |
| Where to stay | The old city area around Lal Ghat and Gangaur Ghat is ideal — close to the lake, close to the heritage lanes, walkable to most attractions. |
| Best photo opportunities | Lake Pichola at sunrise, Sajjangarh at sunset, and Bagore Ki Haveli at dawn create stunning backdrops for timeless couple photography in Udaipur. |
| Language | Hindi and the local Mewari dialect are spoken; English is widely understood in tourist areas and hotels. |
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A Final Word
Udaipur is one of those places that couples visit once and spend years trying to describe to people who weren’t there with them. It’s a city that gives you experiences you don’t quite have words for — the stillness of the lake at dawn, the warmth of the palace walls in the last light, the feeling of walking through lanes that haven’t changed in two centuries.
If you’re looking for a destination that will give you genuinely extraordinary memories — not just photographs but experiences — Udaipur belongs at the very top of your list.
Information Provided By
This content is contributed by the WedClick Photography Team — Udaipur’s trusted couple and wedding photography studio.
Having spent over a decade photographing love stories across Rajasthan’s most iconic locations, WedClick brings a photographer’s intimate knowledge of the city to every story they tell.
Their work spans romantic pre-wedding shoots, candid wedding photography, and cinematic wedding films.
Website: wedclick.in | Instagram: @wedclick_photography | Based in Udaipur, Rajasthan
