5 Must-Visit forts in Udaipur

We all know that the Great Wall of China is the largest wall in the world. But do you know which is the second-largest wall? It is the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand district in Rajasthan. After your flight to Udaipur, you can hire a taxi and come visit this UNESCO world heritage site that has made a world record with its enormous wall that runs for 36 km. You will have to travel through a wildlife sanctuary as the fort is situated in the midst of it. After reaching a height of around 1,100 m, you will be welcomed by an enormous Ram Gate. It will give way to the huge fort complex where you can explore 360 temples, several palaces, manicured gardens and much more.

While exploring, you can visit the Badal Mahal from where you will get a mesmerising view of the wildlife sanctuary. Click some photographs in this picturesque background to serve as a memory. By the way, don’t miss the light and sound show hosted at 6.45 pm for around 45 minutes. You can watch the history of the Rajput royals on this show with a ticket price of Rs. 100. Speaking of ticket prices, you will be charged Rs. 10 for getting entry in Kumbhalgarh, one of the largest forts in Udaipur. Another important reminder! Plan your visit between 9 am to 5 pm as it remains open for visitors within this span of time only.

Visit one of the biggest forts in Udaipur and spend a memorable day exploring royal artefacts and arts. On reaching, you can see a towering main gate, called the Bara Pol. Pay a fee of Rs. 30 and enter through the gate to witness the magnificent fort embellished in beige colour. The blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles flaunted at this fort is worth admiring. It is simply stunning!

Massive courtyards, adorned tombs, long corridors, lofty towers, everything in this palace will charm you. Not to forget, the beautiful Pichola lake that you can see from the corridors of the palace. Within this fort complex, you can also explore 11 intricately embellished palaces including Manak Mahal, Moti Mahal and Krishna Vilas. The ancient furniture, paintings displayed within these palaces will definitely intrigue the history enthusiast in you. Offering so many watch-worthy elements, the City Palace must be on your list of must-visit forts in Udaipur. And not to forget, you can visit this fort at a time between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm.

A topper in the list of Udaipur's largest forts, Chittorgarh Fort is surely worth your visit. Whether you are an art enthusiast, a history buff or someone curious to visit haunted locations, you will surely love to visit this ancient fort perched on a hill with an elevation of about 590 feet. On approaching the fort via a 1 km long stairway, your eyes will be captivated by the marvellous fort structure. Look from up close to admire the fine architecture that has still preserved its royal elegance. You will surely understand why this fort is also called ‘the pride of Rajasthan’ once you come here.

Once you have explored the outside, enter the fort via one of its many towering gates to find numerous temples, towers and palaces. Let us inform you that the two towers, Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh are major attractions here. If you come here in the evening, you can see the spectacular sight of these towers illuminated with golden lights. Take our advice and sign up for the light and sound show conducted from 7 pm onwards with a fee of Rs. 50. If you are a history buff, this show can be a great way for you to learn about the incidents witnessed by this Fort. Now, an enthralling fact! As it is the sacrificial spot of Rani Padmini along with numerous other women and children, locals claim to feel the presence of some spirits around. A spine-chilling experience indeed! You can come here anytime between 9.45 am and 5.45 pm by paying an entry fee of Rs. 15.

Next on our list of important forts in Udaipur is the Bagore-ki-Haveli, located at Gangaur Ghat Marg. What’s special about this palace? Well, being converted into a museum, this palace offers you a glimpse of the history of the Rajputs through an array of displays. You can come here to explore these ancient artefacts between 7 am and 8 pm with an entry fee of Rs. 60. After entering, you will first see a well-maintained courtyard with a beautiful fountain placed in the middle. Then walk ahead to explore the three chowks, Kuan, Neem and Tulsi, where important ancient displays are showcased.

Take a guide along to hear awe-inspiring stories of one of the popular Udaipur forts and its royal residents. Do notice the attractive mirror works and mural paintings on walls. These are breathtaking! You can then visit the museums one by one. Puppet Museum, Haveli Museum, weapon section, wedding section, there is a lot to explore within this fort. Whatever you do, make sure you stay back for the Dharohar dance show organised in the Neem Chowk from 7 pm. Trust us, you will have an entertaining evening watching traditional folk dance and music performances in the beautifully illuminated haveli.

You might have seen this palace in James Bond’s famous film, Octopussy. If not, book one of the flights to Udaipur and come to see its beauty with your naked eyes. Nothing matches a first-hand experience, after all! This white marble structure will lure you from the first glance of it. Look around to get stunning views of the Aravallis and Lake Pichola. Inside the fort complex, the domes, fountains and jharokhas are some of the splendid elements that you can marvel at.

Now, about its history. The palace was once the residence of Maharana Sajjan Singh. You can guess why this fort has been given the nickname, Sajjangarh Fort. Whenever you visit this palace, don’t forget to bring your camera along to capture alluring shots of the palace and its surroundings. Even a selfie with the aesthetic backdrop of the fort will arouse awe amongst your social media followers. Stay till sunset when the entire fort gets illuminated by an orangish gold hue of the sinking sun. It is a heavenly sight! A reminder! You can enjoy all of it with an entry charge of Rs. 10 per person between 8 am and 6 pm.

We gave you the highlights of the visit-worthy forts in the city of Udaipur or you can say, some of the visit-worthy forts in Rajasthan as we had promised. Now, it is time for you to make the next move and plan your visit to Udaipur. Keep this recommendation list handy when you visit this city to help you plan your trips to these gorgeous forts. Udaipur forts are waiting to charm you!