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Celebration
Udaipur, Rajasthan: 2 days of Holi in Udaipur and JaipurPhoto: Roshan kumar Photomylife, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Celebration ToastTrip idea · Udaipur, Rajasthan

2 days of Holi in Udaipur and Jaipur

The 5-day plan, rearranged for 2 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.

2 daysAnyoneEarly MarchEvent: Holi6 places3 views
Copy this plan to your own trips, then change anything you like.
Udaipur
Photo: Daniel VILLAFRUELA, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Udaipur
Photo: Ankto420, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Built around

Holi

A March full moon, by the lunar calendar. Dates change every year, so check ahead for the one you are going.

Holi
Photo: S0820A, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Holi
Photo: Sntshkumar750, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Holi
Photo: Partho72, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
How many days?Pick yours and the plan rearranges.
Rearranged from the 5 day plan. See it as written

Best time to go

January to February and November to December are the most comfortable months for walking around.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Holi follows the lunar calendar, so check the date for your year and plan around it.Details
When Holi falls
Holi is on the full moon of the lunar month of Phalguna, so it lands in late February, early March or mid March, and the date moves from year to year. The bonfire, Holika Dahan, is the evening before. Check both dates for your year before you book anything, and arrive a day early.
Book early
Rooms in Udaipur around Holi fill well ahead, and prices and trains change with the date. Book early, and check ahead on what your hotel does for Holi. Many guesthouses host their own morning for guests, which is the easiest way in.
Being a good guest
This is a family festival of the people who live here, not a show. Ask before you photograph someone. Play only with people who want to play, and say no clearly if you do not. Women travelers do best in a group or at a hotel celebration. Dress to cover shoulders and knees.
Keep the first day small
Walk by the lake, eat early and sleep. Day 2 has a fire in the evening and Day 3 a messy morning, so a rested start helps.

Day 1. Amber and the hills of Jaipur and The old city of Jaipur

3 stops · 344.9 kmAbout 4 h 31 min driving

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MorningGo early

    Amber Fort

    A fort-palace of sandstone and marble on a hill above a lake, with courtyards, a hall of mirrors and a long ramp up from the road. Go early, before the heat and the crowds, and wear shoes with grip.

    Go when First thing in the morning, before the heat and the tour groups.

    Local tip Walk up the ramp if you can, and take water and a hat. The stone steps are worn, so wear shoes with grip.

    Amber Fort, Udaipur
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 19 min by car or transit7.3 km
  2. 2
    MorningWorth the time

    Hawa Mahal

    The Palace of the Winds, a pink sandstone front of hundreds of small windows, built so the women of the court could watch the street unseen. See it from the street first, and from a cafe across the way if you want the view.

    Go when Late afternoon, when the sandstone turns warm.

    Local tip The front looks over a busy road, so look from the pavement or a cafe and watch the traffic. The inside is a narrow stair, so go in only if the crowds are small.

    Hawa Mahal, Udaipur
    Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Lunch

    Pyaaz kachori

    A flaky fried pastry stuffed with spiced onion, a snack that Jaipur shops sell all morning. Eat it hot, with a chutney, standing at the counter.

    Local tip It is fried and spicy. A glass of chai or lassi helps it go down.

    Pyaaz kachori
    Photo: Mdsmds0, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 4 h 31 min by car337.6 km
  4. 3
    MorningCheck ahead

    Jagdish Temple

    The big temple of Vishnu, up a steep flight of steps in the old town, and the lanes around it. On Holi morning the nearby streets are a lively place to see people playing with color, and the temple itself keeps its own rhythm, so check ahead on whether it is open to visitors. Use a hotel celebration as the gentler option.

    Go when Holi morning, in the lanes outside, or on another day for the temple itself.

    Local tip Take off your shoes before the steps and cover shoulders and knees. Wear old clothes, keep your phone in a waterproof pouch, and never throw color at someone who has not agreed.

    Jagdish Temple, Udaipur
    Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  5. Dinner

    A Mewari thali

    A set meal on a metal tray with lentils, vegetable curries, flatbread and a sweet, built around the foods of this region: gram flour dishes, ghee and spices that suit a dry land. Small family places near the lake serve it.

    Local tip Tell the staff about any allergy first, since many dishes use ghee, nuts and gram flour. Eat with your right hand if you want to eat the local way.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Day 2. Old Udaipur and Lake Pichola

3 stops · 1.2 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

  1. 1
    MiddayWorth the time

    City Palace, Udaipur

    A huge palace of balconies, courtyards and towers on the shore of Lake Pichola, still partly the home of the Mewar royal family. Rooms and courtyards can be visited as a museum, but the palace may change its hours around a festival, so check ahead.

    Go when Morning or early afternoon, before the evening gathers.

    Local tip Walk upward through the courtyards first, then the rooms with painted glass and mirrors. Check ahead on the day before Holi, when the palace may close early for the evening.

    City Palace, Udaipur, Udaipur
    Photo: Henrik Bennetsen, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
    About 7 min walk0.6 km
  2. 2
    AfternoonWorth the time

    Lake Pichola

    The big lake at the heart of Udaipur, with the City Palace rising from its east shore and a pair of island palaces out on the water. The ghats along the old town are the place to sit and watch the light change.

    Go when Late afternoon, as the light softens on the palace walls.

    Local tip Sit on a ghat rather than rushing from one viewpoint to the next. A boat ride is optional, and the steps can be slippery, so go slowly.

    Lake Pichola, Udaipur
    Photo: Uri Sittan Tripo, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
  3. Treat

    Gujiya

    A sweet fried dumpling stuffed with milk solids, coconut and dried fruit, made at home and in sweet shops in the days before Holi. A taste of the festival itself.

    Local tip It is very sweet and rich. Many shops pack a small box, so ask for a piece or two to share.

    About 8 min walk0.6 km
  4. 3
    EveningCheck ahead

    Holika Dahan at Manek Chowk

    Manek Chowk is the main courtyard of the City Palace. At dusk on the evening before Holi, the Mewar family usually holds a royal Holika Dahan here, with a procession, priests, music and a bonfire. Details, timing and who may attend change every year, so check ahead. Local bonfires also burn in the lanes and squares of the town, and the one nearest your hotel is a good second choice.

    Go when Dusk on the evening before Holi, with the date and the rules checked first.

    Local tip Keep back from the fire, stay with your group and expect crowds. Ask before you photograph the family or the priests. If you cannot get in, a bonfire in a nearby lane is just as true to the night.

  5. Dinner

    A simple dinner before the fire

    Eat early at a place near where you are staying, on a plate of rice, lentils and vegetables. Streets are crowded around the fire, and a light supper keeps the evening easy.

    Local tip Choose a place near your hotel so that you can walk back before the crowds. Eat before the fire rather than after.

If it rains. City Palace, Udaipur is covered, so keep it. Move Lake Pichola and Holika Dahan at Manek Chowk to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Jaipur traffic is heavy, and a day after a festival can be slow.Details
The last morning
Ask your hotel to keep your bags after check-out if you want one more look at the old city. Leave out anything that has a fixed start, since roads can be crowded after a festival.
To the airport or the train
Leave more time than the distance suggests, because traffic around the old city is slow and some roads close on a festival day. Fix the plan the evening before and check ahead on your flight or train.
Colors on your things
Pack anything that took color in a separate bag. Wash your hair and skin gently. Some stains stay in cloth for weeks, which is part of the memory.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Udaipur?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to February and November to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Udaipur. This plan is built for early March, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Udaipur, planned for early March. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 1.2 to 344.9 kilometers between its stops, and 346.2 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

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A trip idea · Updated October 2026

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