Rising from the bank of Lake Pichola, the imposing City Palace is a grand icon of Udaipur's and Rajasthan's royal past. A must-visit destination for anyone who comes to Udaipur, City Palace is the largest palace in Rajasthan.

With a facade that is 244 m long and 30.4 m high, the palace complex has 11 smaller palaces. Construction of the palace was started in 1599 by Maharana Udai Singh II, the city’s founder, and was extended by his successsors. Though today, it seems uniform, like the brainchild of one man. It includes two luxurious palace hotels, a school and the popular City Palace Museum. With ornate towers, cupolas, arched doorways and protruding balconies, the City Palace is an architectural marvel and represents an exquisite blend of Rajasthani, Mughal, European and oriental architecture styles.

It has a maze of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Encircled by fortifications, this stately palace is built in granite and marble. The massive gates of the palace are known as ‘pols’ with Bara Pol being the main gate, which leads to the first courtyard. On passing Bara Pol, one comes across a triple arched gate, known as Tripolia. Between these two gates, one can see eight marble arches or 'toranas', where its is said kings used to weigh themselves with gold and silver. Next to Tripolia is an arena where elephant fights were staged. Across Tripolia, is the Elephant Gate or the Hathi Pol. In 1974, a large part of the City Palace was turned into a museum, known as the City palace Museum. You can still marvel at the royal family's horses at the stables next to the museum. Inside the museum, first comes Rai Angan, where it is said king Udai Singh met a sage who asked him to build the city.

Its walls are lined with rare paintings. Next comes Bada Mahal is the exotic garden palace that stands a 90-feet-high natural rock formation. Inside, there is an enviable collection of rare paintings, antique furniture and exquisite glass mirror and ornamental tile-works. Manak Mahal has an exquisite collection of crystal and porcelain figures, while Bhim Vilas flaunts a fabulous collection of miniature paintings depicting the real life stories of Radha-Krishna. Krishna Vilas is known for miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and games of the queens. Moti Mahal is celebrated for its lavish decor while Sheesh Mahal is known for its breathtaking mirror work. Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles can be seen at Chini Chitrashala and Dilkusha Mahal is known for murals and wall paintings. The Zenana Mahal’s central courtyard, Laxmi Vilas Chowk, contains a beautiful white pavilion and a stable of howdahs, palanquins and other people-carriers. Another must-see place here is the Durbar Hall, with some of most impressive chandeliers. The walls display weapons and portraits of former kings of Mewar. The foundation stone of this hall was laid in 1909 by Lord Minto, the viceroy of India, during the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh. The hall is inside the Crystal Gallery. Amar Vilas is the highest point of the palace with wonderful hanging gardens with fountains, towers and terraces, offering one of the most magical views of Lake Pichola. The City Palace is constructed in such a  way that the lake can be viewed from any of its balconies, cupolas and towers. While, from the outside, it may appear to be almost nondescript, one has to step inside to appreciate its artistic heritage. Such is its splendour that it's not rare for visitors to lose themselves amidst the delicate mirror-work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and coloured glass!  

Framed by majestic mountains, grand forts and magical palaces, Lake Pichola is a site dreams are made of. Watching the limpid blue sheet being set ablaze by the rising sun, is magical. It's equally mesmeric to just watch the grey-green mountains cast long shadows on the water, as the sun sets, and twinkling stars float on the ripples, mingling with lights from the surrounding restaurants and hotels. Located right at the heart of Udaipur, Pichola is one of the oldest and largest of the city's lakes. Built in 1362 by Pichhu Bajanara during the rule of Maharana Lakha, legends say that the beauty of the lake enticed Maharana Udai Singh to build a city by its banks. It was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II, after the city was constructed, by flooding Picholi village, which gave the lake its name. He also built a stone masonry dam in the Badipol area by the lake. Today, the lake is 4 km long and 3 km wide.

There are four islands on the lake: Jag Niwas, where the Lake Palace is located; Jag Mandir, with the palace of the same name; Mohan Mandir, from where the king would enjoy the annual Gangaur festival celebrations and Arsi Vilas, a tiny island which had a small palace and an ammunition storehouse. Legends say it was built by one of the kings of Udaipur to enjoy the sunset on the lake. It is also has a sanctuary where a large variety of birds like egrets, cormorants, coots, tufted ducks, terns and kingfishers can be spotted. Beautiful arched bridges were built to connect the shores of the lake at several places. While the magnificent City Palace stands along the eastern banks of this lake, on the southern side, stands the Machla Magri (Machhala Magra) or Fish Hill on which is located the ruins of the Eklinggarh Fort.

Sitting atop the Bansdara hills in the Aravalli range and overlooking the Fateh Sagar lake, this white palace seems just like a fairy-tale castle, one which holds within its walls memories of kings and queens. This 19th-century marble palace was constructed by Maharana Sajjan Singh of the Mewar dynasty, and was named after the king. Originally planned to be an astronomical centre, it was later turned into a monsoon palace and a royal hunting lodge, at the untimely death of Sajjan Singh.

Strategically built to let the royal family enjoy sightings of the monsoon clouds, a harbinger of happiness in the desert state, it stands shrouded in melancholy today. However, it offers stunning views of Udaipur and the surrounding countryside and lakes, specially during sunset. At the foot of the hill is the 5-sq-km Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary, where wild animals like chital, sambar, wild boar, and blue bull can be seen. Nearby is the Jiyan Sagar lake also known as Badi lake.

Standing on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat is the stunning Bagore ki Haveli. Constructed in the 18th century by Amar Chand Badwa, the then Prime Minister of Mewar kingdom, Bagore Ki Haveli was a private property till India's independence. Today, this mansion with ostentatious architecture, is a museum. Reflecting Mewar’s rich heritage, Bagore ki Haveli has an assortment of huge courtyards, balconies, jharokhas, archways, cupolas and a fountain. With around 138 rooms, the interiors of the Haveli are decorated with alluring glasswork and murals, including the chambers of the royal ladies, renowned for intricate stained glass windows.

The marvels of architecture are visible as one enters the high gates of the haveli, being welcomed into an attractive courtyard with a double-layered lotus fountain at its centre. As you walk inside, a row of rooms on the right offer splendid views of Lake Pichola. The haveli has three chowks: Kuan Chowk, Neem Chowk and Tulsi Chowk, the latter reserved for women of the family. The Kanch Mahal (mirrored passage) and Durrie Khana were areas used only by the men of the family. Diwan-e-khas was the largest chamber.

Located at the heart of Lake Pichola, the ethereal Lake Palace seems like a mirage, a dream in white floating in the brilliant blue of the lake. And every sunrise and sunset, the palace seems to melt into the molten gold of the shimmering waters.

Built on a four-acre Jag Niwas island between 1743 and 1746 under the supervision of Maharana Jagat Singh II as his summer palace, this white marble palace was originally known as Jag Niwas. Later, it was used as the summer resort by the descendants of Jagat Singh. Today, it houses a five-star hotel.