HappeningHoli, the festival of colors, falls on the full moon of the lunar month of Phalguna, usually late February to mid March. Holika Dahan, the bonfire, is the evening before (dates vary).
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
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
3 stops · 3.9 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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 whenFirst 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.
A hill fort above Amber, once an arsenal, with long ramparts, a huge old cannon and a wide view down to the lake. Steep, exposed and best in the cooler hours.
Go whenLate morning, after Amber Fort.
Local tip Wear shoes with grip, take water and keep to the paths near the walls. The ramparts are exposed to the sun.
Simple restaurants near Amber serve a plate of lentils, vegetable curries, flatbread and sweets, to be eaten after the climb.
Local tip Order a few dishes to share and ask about spice. Tell the staff about any allergy.
About 11 min by car or transit3.3 km
3
AfternoonWorth a short stop
Jal Mahal
A palace that seems to float in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, with only its upper floors showing above the water. Seen from the shore, on the road between Amber and the old city.
Go whenLate afternoon, on the way back from Amber.
Local tip This palace stands in the middle of a lake and is seen from the shore, not entered. Stop at the walkway, and watch the traffic on the road.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. The old city of Jaipur
3 stops · 5.7 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Jal MahalAbout 12 min by car or transit3.8 km
Where Day 1 ended.
1
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 whenLate 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.
The royal quarter of the old city, a group of courtyards, gates and halls, still partly the home of the royal family. Look at the carved gates and the quiet courtyards.
Go whenMidday, as a cooler indoor stop.
Local tip Look for the pair of tall silver urns and the carved peacock gate. Check ahead on which courtyards are open.
A ridge fort on the edge of the Aravalli hills, with long walls and a wide view of the Pink City laid out below. A favorite place to watch the evening arrive.
Go whenLate afternoon, around sunset (about 6:43 PM).
Local tip The fort stands on a ridge above Jaipur and looks over the old city. Go by taxi, take water and stay until the lights come on below.
A sweet pastry parcel filled with milk solids and sealed with a clove, a Jaipur sweet, after a slow walk through the bazaar.
Local tip The clove is part of the seal, so take it out before you eat. Tea from a stall nearby completes it.
If it rains. City Palace, Jaipur is covered, so keep it. Move Hawa Mahal and Nahargarh Fort to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. The old city of Jaipur, part 2
3 stops · 2.1 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth the time
Albert Hall Museum
The state museum of Rajasthan, in a pink and white Victorian building with arches and domes, in a public garden south of the old city. Miniature paintings, carpets and metalwork fill the rooms.
Go whenMorning, for the rooms, or evening for the lit front.
Local tip A museum in a Victorian building, with miniature paintings, carpets and a famous Egyptian mummy. The building is lit at night.
An open-air observatory of huge stone instruments, built in the eighteenth century to read the sun, moon and stars. Strange shapes, and easy to walk through in under an hour.
Go whenLate morning or afternoon, when the shadows work.
Local tip Walk among the instruments and read the labels. The big sundial reads the time closely, and a guide helps if you want to follow how it works.
The old jewelers' street, a long market of gem and jewelry shops, textile and lac bangle stalls, behind arched fronts. Busy and loud, and best on foot without a plan. Many shops may be shut after a festival, so check ahead.
Go whenEvening, when the lanes are lit and the heat has eased.
Local tip Walk slowly and keep your bag in front of you. Look at a few shops before you buy anything, and ask a shopkeeper before you photograph a stall or a person.
Treat
Kulhad lassi
Thick, sweet, cool yoghurt drink served in a small clay cup, sometimes topped with cream. A good last taste of Jaipur before the road.
Local tip Drink it where the stall is busy and the clay cups are fresh. The cup is thrown away after use.
If it rains. Albert Hall Museum is covered, so keep it. Move Jantar Mantar, Jaipur and Johari Bazaar to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. Fateh Sagar and north Udaipur and The hills and cenotaphs of Udaipur
3 stops · 341.8 kmAbout 4 h 29 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Johari BazaarAbout 4 h 29 min by car335.1 km
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MiddayWorth the time
Saheliyon-ki-Bari
A garden of fountains, lotus pools, marble elephants and shaded paths, made in the eighteenth century for the women of the royal court. Quiet and green before the city fills with festival crowds.
Go whenMorning, when the garden is cool and quiet.
Local tip Follow the shaded paths past each fountain in turn. The water may not run on every day, so go for the garden itself.
A quiet field of white marble cenotaphs, the memorials of the rulers of Mewar, a little east of the city. Calm and uncrowded, a good place to stretch your legs after the morning once you have washed and rested.
Go whenLate afternoon, once the Holi crowds have thinned.
Local tip Walk among the white pavilions and read the carved names. The ground is dusty, so wear shoes you can brush clean.
After a day of colors, a simple meal of dal, rice and vegetables eaten early. Rest, water and an early night suit the day.
Local tip Drink plenty of water, and do not try anything new tonight.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 5. Old Udaipur and Lake Pichola
3 stops · 4.6 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Ahar CenotaphsAbout 12 min by car or transit3.7 km
Where Day 4 ended.
1
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 whenHoli 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.
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 whenDusk 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.
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 6 min walk0.5 km
3
EveningCheck the evening show
Bagore Ki Haveli
An eighteenth century mansion on the lake, with many small rooms, mirror work and a courtyard. Folk music and dance are usually shown here in the evening, but check ahead on times, especially around Holi.
Go whenEarly evening, with the show times checked first.
Local tip Walk the rooms before the performance starts. Seats are limited, so check ahead, and keep your voice low during the dances.
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. Bagore Ki Haveli is covered, so keep it. Move Jagdish Temple and Holika Dahan at Manek Chowk to a dry day if you can.
Day 6. Old Udaipur and Lake Pichola and The hills and cenotaphs of Udaipur
3 stops · 5.3 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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 whenMorning 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.
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 whenLate 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.
Many hotels and guesthouses lay on a Holi meal for guests, with snacks and sweets served after the colors. The easiest way to eat on a day when many shops are closed.
Local tip Ask your hotel the evening before about food on the day, since many cafes and shops may be shut.
About 14 min by car or transit4.7 km
3
EveningWorth the time
Monsoon Palace
A hilltop palace on a ridge above the city, also called Sajjangarh, with a long view over the lakes. A calm place to end the day at sunset, if the road is open and the haze allows.
Go whenLate afternoon, around sunset (about 6:43 PM), though haze can dim the sky.
Local tip It is a drive up a hill road, so go by taxi, and check ahead that the road is open. Take a layer for the breeze on top.
If it rains. City Palace, Udaipur is covered, so keep it. Move Lake Pichola and Monsoon Palace 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 6 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 0.9 to 6.8 kilometers between its stops, and 20.9 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.