As if my four blog posts haven’t given you enough reasons to visit Udaipur, maybe these photos will help push you over the edge to book a trip here!

20 Reasons to Visit Udaipur in Images

I believe that Udaipur is the most beautiful city in all of India and in general, Rajasthan is my favorite state (okay, except Goa). It’s the most royal place where you stay in palaces that Maharajas once lived in and can see elephants in the street. Udaipur is the “white city” and it’s based around four lakes, with Lake Pichola being the most famous. You 100% want to stay at a haveli on the lake and I recommend my hotel, Jagat Niwas SO much.

Want more information? Check out my blog post about the things to do in Udaipur as a traveler that you simply don’t want to miss + this review of Jagat Niwas, my favorite boutique hotel in India that is as cheap as $46 per night (and it’s on the lake!).

City Palace

Lake Pichola

luxury boat ride with Jagat Niwas (cover your shoulders when touring around, we just took our shawls off for nicer photos on the boat)

Monsoon Palace

Views of the ghats

City Palace

Lake Pichola

Views from the restaurant at Jagat Niwas

traditional Rajasthani food – dal batti

inside the suite at Jagat Niwas

overlooking the whole city at Monsoon Palace

The colorful streets

Shopping like crazy for Rajasthani textiles

City Palace

Views of the lake

outside the main temple

inside City Palace

The contrast of the royal palaces and the streets is unique

the people here are so friendly – it’s one of the easier states to travel if you’re new to India

colors everywhere

Is this not the most beautiful city in India?

I loved revisiting Udaipur after five years because as it was probably exactly the same, I had changed and I saw it really differently. If you want tips, remember to check out my article on what to do there and if you’re interested in my hotel, Jagat Niwas, you can click here to check rates and availability. Rooms range from just $50 up to $190 for the suite (the suite is amazing!). I have so much more on Rajasthan coming soon – but I have already quite a lot of content. Here are some more cool towns in this state:

• Camel riding in Jaisalmer
• The blue city of Jodhpur
• Chilling out in Pushkar

Pin these great reasons to visit Udaipur for later!

The post 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Udaipur, India’s Royal White City first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Udaipur, India’s Royal White City appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

One of the things I love most about India is that it is diverse: you have jungles, deserts, mountains, cities, and beaches and more. Each state is so different in looks, food, culture… everything. That is what makes it so interesting! But, when people ask about what state they should go to first if they can go only one place, I say Rajasthan. It’s unlike anywhere else in the world and has that old India regal charm mixed with dust, dirt, donkeys, and camels. I want to show you how to have the perfect Rajasthan trip and cover all the tourist places in Rajasthan in just two weeks.

Cover all the tourist places in Rajasthan – This is the itinerary for your perfect Rajasthan trip

This is a two-week itinerary for Rajasthan. If you have more time in India, I recommend spending a month here. If you have a six month visa, then certainly a month, and with a 3-month visit, you can arrange to stay in Rajasthan for two weeks at least. This itinerary is mostly to show the best of Rajasthan or all you can see in Rajasthan in just two weeks.

The Cities in this Two-Week Rajasthan Itinerary

• Udaipur
• Jodhpur
• Jaisalmer
• Pushkar
• Jaipur

There are of course more cities to visit in Rajasthan than this, but I narrowed it down to five because if you bounce around too much, there really isn’t time to enjoy where you are. One of the biggest mistakes first-time travelers to India make is trying to see too much. Of the ones I haven’t mentioned, there are four you might still want to consider adding on if you think you have time: Bikaner (famous for Karni Mata temple – rat temple), Mount Abu, Ajmer, and Ranthambore National Park (tigers).

I’m going to go ahead with the itinerary focusing only on the five cities I bullet-pointed above. Check them out on the map below. There are plus and minus buttons there to zoom in and out. Take a look at where this region is and how spread out these places are. It’s not too much travel between them all which is great.

Getting Around in Rajasthan

It’s very easy to travel to all these places. You can book buses last-minute without issue and do either a Volvo A/C reclining seat bus or you can do a sleeper bus. Here is information on bus travel in India. You can also travel by train which is a little more expensive but you can watch movies and chill out in your bunk rather than be on a bumpy bus. You might want to book ahead a little bit for the trains. You can fly into and out of Rajasthan, but flying between cities here can be expensive as they don’t all have direct flight paths and you’ll have to go to Delhi for a layover, so it’s actually the slowest most expensive option. I do recommend flying into and out of the state though as flights are as cheap as $40-$100 one-way depending on how lucky you are.

The last option is to hire a driver for each city. I do not recommend hiring someone to take you to all of them. Instead, book it one by one with different companies. There are agents everywhere who can arrange. Udaipur to Jodhpur is will cost you 3,500 Rs and none of these journeys should cost more than 5,000 Rs. There’s actually a lot to see by car between Udaipur and Jodhpur.

Within the cities, you’ll find Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaipur has Uber which is a godsend. Here’s a guide to Uber in India. For the places that don’t, you can easily travel around in the city with inexpensive rickshaws.

Udaipur (4 days)

Start your trip arriving in Udaipur. I came by train from Mumbai (17 hours) but you can also fly into Rajasthan. For tips on taking a train in India, check out this post about how it works and this one on safety tips. If you want to fly, see how I used Kiwi.com to fly to 8 places all over India for under $200.

Udaipur is the white city of India, India’s Venice or some would even say it’s the most romantic city in India. I think you should start here because it’s easily accessible by flight, then a quick Uber into town, and it’s the most easy-going chilled out city on this list. It’s relaxing which is not something you can say about the other places. It’s a beautiful city to ease into India. I was there in October twice, five years apart, and it was not crowded at all. It’s the city of Rajasthan I feel the safest in and the most chilled to just wander and see beautiful sites.

From the city palace to a boat ride on the lake palace, it’s just amazing. You MUST stay in a haveli on the lake and I found a princess one for just $50 a night for the cheap rooms and $200 per night for the top of the line suite – the best room in the hotel.

Read more:

• My little Udaipur guide – all my tips in one place
• Where you should stay (a $50/night place that is AMAZING, favorite hotel in India)
• 20 photos to inspire you to visit Udaipur (coming soon)
• Spiritual and tourist things to do in Udaipur

Jodhpur (2 days)

Jodhpur is an AMAZING city and one that I hope I can go back to for the third time. It’s the BLUE city of India but it’s not all new and fancy looking like Udaipur. It’s dirty, loud, has tiny alleys with donkeys and rickshaws trying to get through and is more real life and not touristy like Udaipur. It’s really like being back in time in an Indian town and I just love it. You must stay in the actual old town area and I 100% recommend my guesthouse in my guide linked below. It has rooms from $36 up to $54 for the suite.

You’ll want to do a tour out to the Bishnoi tribe and take time to see the Mehrangarh Fort, which are the two most memorable tourist things to do in Jodhpur. But you also must make time to just get lost in the blue walls. Don’t forget to eat at Gypsy Diner; best Rajasthani thali ever.

Read More:

• My little guide to Jodhpur that covers everything from food to palaces to see
• Visiting the Bishnoi tribe and seeing the local life
• 20 photos to inspire travel to Jodhpur (also coming soon)

Jaisalmer (3 days)

sorry for the blurry photo, it was pre-blogging days

I know you want to do a camel safari – it’s one of the top experiences people look for in India and I was no different when I first came here. It was in my top five experiences from my first trip! Jaisalmer is on the outskirts of Rajasthan a bit, near the border of Pakistan, in the Thar desert. The town itself has some shops and tourist hostels but the thing to do is go via camel to the desert and sleep under the stars. It’s a great experience.

I put three days here but you can really interchange this and do two here and 3 in Pushkar, the next city listed, or keep it how it is. There isn’t a lot to do in Jaisalmer but it has a unique desert vibe which is indescribable. Pushkar, on the other hand, has a lot of tourists and things to do so you might prefer more days there.

Read More:

• Everything to know about camel safaris in Jaislamer
• 6 reasons why you’ll love Jaisalmer

Pushkar (2 days)

Pushkar “the rose garden of Rajasthan” is a place that some people choose to skip out on during their time in Rajasthan, but I did really enjoy this town. The lake is what makes Pushkar famous as it’s said that a bird carrying immortality water dropped it into the lake here, and it’s one of 5 pilgrimages Hindu’s might make in their lifetime. It’s a city hidden in the Aravali Hills that has a real hippie vibe – with tourists walking around barefoot drinking “special lassis”. Because it’s so touristy, you do need to be aware of scams near the lake. Don’t forget to get up for an amazing sunrise here!

Read More:

• Pushkar travel guide: where to stay, eat, chill

Jaipur (3 days)

India’s pink city! It’s beautiful but huge and can be stressful. My first time to Jaipur, I stayed two days and hated it. I just hated it all – I had a horrible time being ripped off and lost. But, I have gone back and given it another chance and THANK GOD because it is the best city! I went with a friend who knows the city well, and we shopped at the best places, ate at the best cafes and partied until 3 in the morning. It’s a modern city with Uber so you can avoid the scamming a bit with rickshaws. I will be going back here my entire life for sure. There are a lot of things to do and see so I’ll link it all below.

Read More:

• My little guide to Jaipur with all my secret tips
• A look at the Samode luxury properties in Jaipur

Essential Travel Tips for your Rajasthan Trip

• Don’t forget you need a visa to travel to Rajasthan (and all of India). I am a fan of iVisa to get a quick 60-day visa. If you need a guide to getting a visa longer than 60 days, here are my posts for US Citizens and for UK Citizens who want to stay in India up to 6 months.
• I recommend you travel India with health insurance. World Nomads is recommended by Lonely Planet, Nat Geo, and me! I’ve used it for years. You can get a quick quote here. Check out what exactly it covers and doesn’t.
• If you’re headed to India, you can also check out my Guide to India which is a 100,000-word ebook with 6 years of travel knowledge – it will make sure you have the most epic trip. Read more about it here.
• Budget travels, check out this hostel guide to India here which has top chain hostel brands you’ll find in Rajasthan. Otherwise, I love using Agoda to compare different hotels which give great rates in India.
• Those of you who want a tour of the state, check out G Adventures.

Blog posts you might find helpful

• Step by step planning your trip to India from scratch
• 100 tips for India travel
• How to spend less than $20/day in India
• The best India itinerary for 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months

Pin this two-week Rajasthan trip itinerary for later:

The post Have The Perfect Rajasthan Trip By Copying This Two-Week Itinerary first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Have The Perfect Rajasthan Trip By Copying This Two-Week Itinerary appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I really wasn’t going to review my hotel in Udaipur in detail but decided after my stay that I would: 1) because it’s my new favorite hotel in ALL OF INDIA 2) because I had SO many photos to share 3) because they have varied room rates making it affordable for pretty much everyone 4) because when I searched best boutique hotel in Udaipur with lake views, Google came up EMPTY and I had to search long and hard to find this perfect hotel plus ask a lot of people for advice- so I hope this article will save people a lot of time searching.

Don’t forget to read my guide to Udaipur – it sums up basically everything you need to know about visiting, from getting there, sorting an Uber, shopping, food, and top tourist attractions

Jagat Niwas is the Best Boutique Hotel in Udaipur with Lake Views

Bold statement when I haven’t stayed in them all, I know! But I’ve been to Udaipur twice, looked inside many Havelis for research, and feel confident that this hotel will overdeliver on what you expect from it. I think Jagat Niwas Palace is one of the best hotels in Udaipur, even better than some five-stars because of its 17th-century charm and the incredibly friendly and helpful staff.

I spent a few days before this trip searching for the best hotels in Udaipur with a view of the lake and wasn’t really focusing on price, but was searching for both boutique and budget hotels in Udaipur near Lake Pichola. Basically, in heritage places like this, I like to stay in classic old havelis instead of 5-stars. It’s very similar to staying in Riads in Morocco rather than a 5-star hotel; you’re just going to get more charm which is really the point of it all!

After looking at photos of Jagat Niwas and reading reviews, I knew it was the place for me! The first night the room I wanted wasn’t available so I actually got to stay in two rooms at different price points so can share a little about both.

The Rooms and Rates at Jagat Niwas

One of the main reasons this hotel is so perfect for travelers is that the rooms and prices vary a lot and they INCLUDE breakfast – yay!

• If you have a decent budget you can take the Jagat Suite for 12,500 Rs ($191 USD) and be completely spoiled like a princess with the amenities or even the Heritage suite which is pretty killer for 6,250 Rs ($95 USD) also lake-facing with the cute little sitting area built into the wall over the lake.
• If you are a mid-range traveler then you can look into the Heritage rooms that are non-lake-facing but super cute and larger for 4550 Rs ($69 USD) but really if you coming then I think you should just splurge for the lake-facing one for $95 bucks!
• If you are a budget traveler, this can be the the place you splurge at on your India trip and don’t pay 500 Rs for a room – it’s definitely the place to do it. It’s the most beautiful city in India and you can get the cheapest standard non-lake facing room for 2,999 ($46 which is a steal especially if you are splitting with a friend)

CLICK HERE to check room availability and read more reviews!

Here are some images from the Jagat Suite which is just so beautiful! I will be staying here again for sure. The WHOLE freaking bathroom is marble and the window glass is the same as it was in the 17th century. You feel like you have gone back in time here.

yes, I’m wearing a swimming suit! 

The Staff at Jagat Niwas Udaipur

The people running this place are what really make it special. I met the mother/son who own it and was sure to tell them how happy we were with our stay.

In India, hospitality is a funny thing because in some ways (at grocery stores or public offices) there is NONE but in hotels, it’s always above and beyond in India and this staff was even more so, probably the best hotel staff I’ve encountered. Like if I opened a hotel in India, I’d steal them away from Jagat Niwas lol! Jk!

From bringing us tea in the evenings to helping me find a place to get a micro SD card last-minute for my GoPro they were always helpful and happy.

The Jagat Niwas Palace Restaurant

The restaurant is so popular you need to make a reservation as outside guests come here for the view and yummy food at sunset. The tandoori dishes are amazing (tried malai chicken tikka and mutton seekh kebab) and the dal baati (traditional Rajasthani dish) is really tasty. The breakfast you get for free is basic with eggs, toast, beans, tomato, tea, coffee, fruit, etc. You can also order pancakes and such a la carte if you want to pay for it.

The Boat Tour is the Cherry on Top!

Their boat tour is to DIE FOR and 1000x better than the crowded budget one I did years ago. Touring the lake around Lake Palace is kind of the “thing to do” and I thought it was okay when I first did it… but nothing to write home about. This time is different!

The boat is insane – mirrored ceilings, jewel-toned loungers and pillows, kind staff to help, and of course snacks and coconuts! We chose to go at sunset and high tea but you can go early morning for breakfast or even dinner in the moonlight. We actually had some of my friend Tia’s clothing from her new collection to shoot for, so we even did an outfit change on board lol, they have a little private room!

Book it now with this link and pin the best boutique hotel in Udaipur with lake views for later:

The post Best Boutique Hotel in Udaipur with Lake Views + The Perfect Boat Ride Around the Lake Palace first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Best Boutique Hotel in Udaipur with Lake Views + The Perfect Boat Ride Around the Lake Palace appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

My recent visit to Rajasthan was a really special trip for me because I went on October 13th, almost exactly five years after the first time I went to Rajasthan! As I flew into Udaipur, I had so many memories come back of arriving five years prior by a 17-hour train from Mumbai. My travel style has changed a lot from my backpacker days. I was excited to see Udaipur from a new angle – and I was not disappointed! I found the BEST hotel, had the perftect boat ride and other top things to do in Udaipur, saw the iconic places to visit in Udaipur, and had my bestie, Tia, there with her new clothing collection to take lots of photos for Instagram!

Shop the bottoms here

Shop the bottoms here

Shop the top here and the bottoms here

In case you’re curious about what I got up to Udaipur, you can check out my older posts from my backpacking budget days. I suggest this anyway as it shows you a fuller picture of the city AND in these posts, I go into more detail about the history and culture of the area. The basic thing to know is that this is the “white city” of India or “Venice of India”. It’s a small city built around four lakes, with Lake Pichola being the most popular, and has many Ghats around (stairwells to the lake with people swimming and doing laundry).

It’s as laid-back as an Indian city can be and somewhere that should be #1 on your Rajasthan itinerary and top 5 in your India itinerary overall! I think it’s the most beautiful city in India and SO easy to travel around.

• Guide to Udaipur (this guide still shows up #1 on Google search!)
• Spiritual stuff & classes to try in Udaipur

The MUST DO Things to do in Udaipur

I’m going to break this post down for first-time visitors to Udaipur and make sections like how to get there, how to get around, best hotels in Udaipur near Lake Pichola (so important), things to do before you come, shopping and more!

Shop the bottoms here

You DO need a visa to come to India and you can easily get one with iVisa using this link. I also recommend travel insurance with World Nomads (follow this link for a quote). Here’s my article on what is covered with WN insurance. While I saw Udaipur alone the first time and with a friend this time, you can also try out a tour. For tours in Rajasthan, I recommend the USA company, G Adventures. If you want to have the most epic trip in India, buy a copy of my India Guide ebook – it’s 6 years of travels in India all organized into your handy guide to my favorite places in India and all the tips you need on itineraries, volunteering, shopping, tours, and more like WiFi and health. This link has a full chapter breakdown.

Getting to Udaipur and Getting Around in Udaipur

Train/Bus to Udaipur:

Both of these are easy options to get to Udaipur. I have taken a train here before and I have taken a bus out of here. The stations are close to town. Here’s more information on trains and buses in India.

Flights within Rajasthan are expensive and the major cities are all about 5 hours from each other so it’s best to travel via taxi or public transportation rather than fly once you are within Rajasthan.

Flights to Udaipur:

From Goa, of course, I had to fly. I found a deal on Kiwi.com (my go-to for flights) for around 4,000 rs or $60 USD into Udaipur airport. The airport itself is outside the city about 40 minutes and you can call a Uber to take you into town.

There are rules about the one-ways in town and past a certain time at night the driver CAN drive into the city center near the lake, but not during the day. They might tell you that you need to get out close to your hotel and get a rickshaw the rest of the way. You can call your hotel and verify if this is true (but with Uber it wouldn’t be a lie, as the longer the trip the better for them!)

For me, Uber was the best way to get in and out of the city. Around the lake and the best restaurants and shops it’s all walkable though so once you’re in, you can walk or for longer distances take a rickshaw. They are so cheap and save so much time!

Taxis in and out of Udaipur:

My trip this time was Udaipur > Jodhpur > Jaipur. From Udaipur to Jodhpur I took a private taxi which I hired from Vicky’s Travels just outside my hotel, Jagat Niwas. He gave me a rate of 3,500 Rs without negotiating and it was the perfect ride with the driver coming a couple of days later to collect me from the hotel. I paid 1,000 Rs in the office ahead of time and gave the rest to the driver. This rate included A/C car and tolls. Because I was traveling with a friend, the split rate was $32 USD. Being peak travel season in India meant that this was cheaper than the 2 A/C train ride we looked into and although more expensive than a bus, WAY faster. Another major reason to go by car is that the price included a 50 km detour to THREE stops which are pretty epic (you can read about them here in detail). This time we wanted to get there fast and I’d seen all these places before, so only stopped at Ranakpur Temple (funny story there).

Contact for Vicky’s tours (you can call or WhatsApp him): +91 99838 53111 or you can find their shop at Gangour Ghat Road, Jagdish Chowk, near Jagat Niwas hotel.

Best Hotels in Udaipur

There are an overwhelming amount of hotels in Udaipur and most are cute family-run Havelis so it can be really hard to find that gem of the best boutique hotels in Udaipur with a view or even budget hotels in Udaipur near Lake Pichola. But don’t worry – I finally found the most EPIC property and honestly, Tia and I both said it’s the best place we’ve stayed in India. I’ll share about my hotel, Jagat Niwas, and give you a few other options I know about. Here are some key reasons you should choose Jagat Niwas on your trip to Udaipur:

• 17th Century Haveli with the Rajasthani charm you definitely want
• Rates are based on various room types ranging from 3,000 Rs to 10,000 Rs.
• Epic lake views from the rooms, restaurant, and rooftop
• The BEST suite is under $200/night and that is insane for what you are getting
• Family-run and the nicest staff.
• Great Indian food – must try the traditional Rajasthani thali.
• Read reviews and check availability for Jagat Niwas here. If you have questions you can get in touch with them directly by emailing them: mail@jagatniwaspalace.com.
• Jagat Niwas was so amazing that I actually have too many photos to share, so am going to write a complete post just about the hotel and the boat ride I did with them! I’ll link to that soon.

When it comes to five-star hotels here there is the notorious Taj Lake Palace hotel in the middle of the lake. You will have to take a boat every time you want to leave. Non-guests cannot visit the Taj in Udaipur. Most of the other 5-star hotels are not right on the lake and here in Udaipur, I highly recommend a lake view hotel.

Previously, I stayed a more budget option called Hibiscus Guesthouse which at the time was 1,700 Rs. per night and had views of the lake but is now 2,500 per night. Check out my old backpacker’s post about Udaipur to see the seriously budget 300 Rs. options.

Restaurants in Udaipur

I was here just three days, so I couldn’t try all the best restaurants around but I did try to focus on the places that were ranked really well and sort through which were worth going to. I had pretty good luck with tasty food in Udaipur. In general, the Western food is not good here so stick to Indian food while traveling Udaipur. There are so many delicious restaurants here! PS: In Jodhpur not so much, so if you’re headed there next then EAT UP! lol.

Jagat Niwas – My hotel had great food. I had malai chicken tikka kebabs, veg kadai, and mutton seekh kebabs, as well as a Rajasthani traditional lunch with dal batti the most popular dish in the state.

Natural View Restaurant – Only ranked 50th in the city, this was recommended to me by a member of my India Travel Tips Facebook group and WOW it was so so good with the best view in Lal Ghat. Again, had to get my chicken tikka kebab but it’s different everywhere, haha.

Rainbow Restaurant – a multi-cuisine place that was quite tasty!

Chirag Rooftop Restaurant – Tia liked her eggplant curry here but I wasn’t stoked with my meal. The view was okay and monkeys were hanging around

Charcoal by Carlsson – for BBQ, grilled meat, and a mix of western and Indian food

Grasswood Cafe – a healthy cafe with vegan options for Western food like cheese toasties, good real coffee, WiFi, and lots of travelers hanging out in the A/C.

Ambrai – I went here years ago and didn’t get a chance to go back but had to mention it because I still remember this tasty meal with the perfect view!

Udaipur Shopping

Shop the bottoms here

Shop the bottoms here

Shop the bottoms here

You’ll see lots of standard “tourist” shops here with ali baba pants, Rajasthani textiles, pashminas, tee shirts, and dresses but for me it’s all cheaper in Jaipur so I didn’t shop in Udaipur at all, but I did look a little haha it’s impossible not to!

Things to do in Udaipur as a Tourist

There is a lot here for tourists to do and stay entertained during their time in Udaipur. I have written a little spiritual guide of things to do in Udaipur in this article and while there this time, checked that it is all still accurate. Because nothing has changed, it makes the most sense for you to read that rather than me to type it all out again.

Shop the cape here and the similar jeans here

I’ll just list the items here and in this link, you can read more about each one:

• Art class
• Yoga & Meditation class
• Visiting Animal Aid Unlimited
• Trekking
• Ayurvedic Massage
• Boat tour (more on this in its own article as I did a new one that was amazing)
• Sunset traditional dancing at Bagore Ki Haveli
• Cooking classes (not mentioned in that post but there are signs everywhere)

Don’t Forget These Tourist Places to Visit in Udaipur – They Are the Main Reason to Visit!

City Palace Udaipur

Shop the wrap here

The city palace is the #1 attraction in Udaipur and it does NOT disappoint. Of all the forts, temples, and palaces in India, this is my favorite building. Every inch of it is incredible. Give yourself a couple of hours here if you are into photography!

All of my outfits on this trip are from Tia’s shop here in Goa which she also sells online on Etsy. I’ve linked to them. PS: I do cover my shoulders while walking around the streets but in a quiet empty alley or in a room like above at the palace, I do take my shawl of for pictures :) I have a post coming soon with all my outfits from this trip and where to buy them.

Lake Palace Udaipur

Shop the top here

The Lake Palace is the Taj Hotel and you cannot actually go onto it but can go around it. This is best seen from the boat which will go quite close for photos – and I’m going to share all about our boat ride in another article because it was AMAZING.

Monsoon Palace

This palace is a little outside of town (just 100 Rs with Uber) and I’d say if you have a third day here with not a lot to do then go for a visit, but it’s not the BEST place compared to the City Palace. It does have good views of all the lakes below.

Temples

The most popular temple is Jagdish Temple which is right in the center of town near the markets and City Palace. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. I really feel like this guy was laying here five years ago when I was there – or else, I just had some weird deja vu when I saw him!

Shop the bottoms here

Yep, you might find a sacred cow inside!

Often Eklingji Temple and Drinathji Temple are listed as temples to visit in Udaipur but they are missions away and I don’t recommend taking the time to do this unless you are very interested in temples.

Other Lakes

There are four lakes in Udaipur, with Lake Pichola being the most famous. If you fancy it, you can visit the other three which was “top attractions” according to guidebooks but to be honest, I think that’s a waste of time as a lake is a lake and Pichola is the prettiest!

I really hope this information on traveling Udaipur will help you know which places to visit in Udaipur are really worth it and which to skip – as well as let you in on the best hotel in town and yummy food!

Pin these things to do in Udaipur for later, just hover over the one you like best and a “P” will pop up so you can add it to your favorite travel board.

The post Things to do in Udaipur You MUST NOT MISS: How to Have the Best Time in My Favorite City in India first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Things to do in Udaipur You MUST NOT MISS: How to Have the Best Time in My Favorite City in India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

While on a tour through Karnataka, I met Siobhan Carrick and Chandell Kelly. I’d briefly spoken with them on Instagram, and I knew they followed my blog. We had some amazing times together on the Chikkamagalur loop of the goMowgli tour & they kept me cracking up telling me stories from their last two months in India. Backpacking India two months in one go is tiring but you can see and do so much in that long amount of time.

By far the best (and worst) was when Siobhan shared how sick she was on a local bus that after puking out the window, she actually laid on the floor of the bus with her cheek on the ground. It was a new low. Even I hadn’t been that sick! Although it sounds terrible, these stories are things travelers love to share with one another…. and it got me thinking, why not share their trip with you? So I’ve asked them about their highs and lows, booking advice, and what they wished they’d known before coming to India.

If you are coming for just a month, I have a similar post from friends who break down their month here in India in huge detail. You can read it here.

Before coming to India do not forget these three very important things:

1. Travel Insurance. I use World Nomads which is what Lonely Planet recommends
2. a VISA. You would be surprised how many people email me saying they showed up without one and got sent home. If you’re staying less than 60 days, here’s how to get a tourist e-visa for India. If you’re staying longer than 60 days, I have step by step guides to get a visa for India from the USA and get a visa for India from the UK.
3. Your phone needs to be unlocked to add a SIM card. Many USA phones are not. You can buy a SIM card in India. Trabug is a travel phone that you can have shipped to your hotel in India. This phone has the internet and all kinds of India travel apps on it. It’s more expensive than a SIM, but SIM cards are sometimes a huge hassle for foreigners in India. You don’t want to be in India without access to the internet.
4. Start with this post to see how to plan a trip in India from scratch step by step the easiest way possible.

PS: stayed tuned to the very bottom, because this post is FULL of great photos all taken by them.

at the river Ganges, Varanasi

relaxing in Hampi on one of the many boulders

touring around in a Kerala houseboat

Backpacking India Two Months Itinerary & Tips

• Dates in India: Sep 19th – Nov 20th (this is just before peak season and the PERFECT time to travel India)
• The flight to India was booked through Kayak on Air India (they flew Toronto, NY, to Mumbai)
• The flight home was actually from Colombo, Sri Lanka and booked via Skyscanner on Sri Lankan Airlines
• Flight cost: 700 to India and 450 back
• When booking, they didn’t have a set plan therefore didn’t book a round trip. In the end, they got a better price than I ever have (da fuk!?).

• Budget: On average about 1000-1200 bucks per month. They weren’t on a typical backpacking budget with a few splurges like: Hostels (new and can be a splurge in India compared to a cheap guesthouse), safaris, Elefantastic in Jaipur, and a GoMowgli tour. All in all, they were pleased with the amount they spent.

with a Sadhu in Varanasi

camel safari in Jaisalmer

playing around in front of the Taj Mahal

2 month India itinerary

These chicadees saw SO much in their time in India! It’s amazing. They traveling at a nice pace being sure not to wear themselves out, but also continuously sought out unique experiences rather than just wandering aimlessly. Here is the cities they went to in order (with links to articles I’ve written about them):

1. Mumbai
2. Udaipur
3. Jodhpur
4. Jasailmer
5. Agra
6. Delhi
7. Amritsar
8. Dharamsala
9. Rishikesh
10. Varanasi
11. Goa
12. Hampi
13. Gokarna
14. goMowgli tour in Karnataka
15. Mysore
16. Allepey
17. Varkala

So, I asked them some more questions…

When asked which place was the worst: Agra. See Taj Mahal and leave same day.

Which place could you have spent less time: Jodhpur no more than a day. See the fort and get out if possible. Also, a week was too much in Goa. It was too westernized and they missed the chaos of “real India”. 

Which places were favorites and needing MORE time: Hampi and Udaipur

Where they wished they could have gone but didn’t make it: Ladakh (parents worries kept them away)

the blue alleys of Jodhpur

painting elephants with Elephantastic! in Jaipur

Backpacking India Advice

I asked them quite a handful of questions about their time in India including their highlights and low lights. If you’re considering coming, I’m sure you realize it’s not always an easy place to travel. This whole post is filled with photos from their trip which I think serve as excellent inspiration to plan your trip to India.

Highlights of traveling India:

Friendly people, culture shock (the good and the bad!), experiencing and learning about spirituality and religion, camel safari, Dharamsala, Varanasi, elefantastic! in Jaipur, Udaipur, Chandell loved the food while Siobhan didn’t as much, and “gaining perspective on how much we have in the western world and appreciating it while also reflecting on how we sometimes forget the simple and important thing in life.”

Lowlights of traveling India: 

They say hostels were the main way they met other backpackers. When I traveled, I rarely met other friends, so it seems hostels may be the new way to go! They didn’t stay at Zostels Hostel but they said they heard good things from backpackers. 

The post Backpacking India for Two Months | A Sneak Peek & Tips first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Backpacking India for Two Months | A Sneak Peek & Tips appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I’ve been in India quite a long time and still feel like I haven’t seen enough of it, but I have done some pretty significant exploring in the last two years. I’m going to share the places that I loved the most.

For each place is a link in the title that will take you to a specific post with more information if you’re interested to go to these places.

My 5 Favorite Cities in India

1. Udaipur, Rajasthan

This town is not just my favorite in Rajasthan, but maybe my favorite in all of India. There’s a reason Kings took to this place, “India’s Venice”, and it’s not just the spicy food! The people here may not all be rich, but they sure look it. Jewelry is layered on heavily, eyeliner is drawn on even the youngest of babies and men have huge colorful turbans on with big gold rings adorning their fingers. The lake palace floats out in the distance so you can look at the lights from a rooftop table. There is so much to do: get a massage, volunteer with animals, learn Reiki, learn traditional dance, and ride elephants to the gates of a palace. Take in the culture here, as it’s a pilgrimage spot for Hindus and ceremonies take place at the Ghats every day.

2. Bombay, Maharashtra

Bombay (Mumbai) is wild. That is the best word to describe it. Everywhere you look people full of life and something will surprise you. You don’t just have a “simple” day in Bombay. The streets are packed to the brim, slums are shadowed by skyscrapers, some kids beg while others sleep on the streets, and just as you feel surrounded by poverty a Mercedes goes by. It’s the definition of culture shock. People are friendlier than you’d ever guess and the city is safer than anyone assumes. You might spend two hours in traffic cursing as people honk for no reason then right after, enter a dimly lit quiet restaurant serving 15-dollar cocktails. Nothing makes sense here and that’s why I love it.

3. Anjuna, Goa

Okay, it’s a village not a city but still. If you’ve read this blog more than once you don’t even need the description of Goa, but in case you’re new here: Goa is the beach, the party, and the tropical paradise of India. There are other’s of course, but none is quite like Goa. The hippies ended their long trip across Europe down on these shores and although it’s not the same, people strive for that feeling every day and beach parties rage all night through the sunlight hours. Check out my ebook the Insider’s Guide to Goa. After five years of living here, I’m sure this 170-page book is the most comprehensive guide to Goa on the market. Click here to buy it.

4. Hampi, Karnataka

This small town in Karnataka has recently become a UNESCO world heritage site. There are boulders strewn all over the ground, but how did they get there? There is a river separating the Hindi temples and the Hippie café’s. A tiny boat will take you across each morning. Rent a bike and ride out to the reservoir for cliff jumping and incredible paddy field views. Are their crocodiles? They say yes, but that doesn’t stop the women from washing their clothes in the river.

5. Amritsar, Punjab

When I look back on all my travels, seeing the Golden Temple in Amritsar was something that I didn’t appreciate enough at the time. I hadn’t been in India longer than a few months and didn’t really know until after living here a while how amazing it was. People putting caste aside, free meals for everyone, complete respect and extreme devotion in a place (with serious history) they will let tourists sleep for convenience. Seeing men bathe in the water while women are completely covered on the side chatting to one another not allowed in seemed unfair at the time, but now I understand it more. Volunteers made the entire thing happen. It’s a place I want to go back and learn more about. It’s great that in the same place you can take time to see the Wagah Border ceremony at the Pakistan border.

So there you have my 5 favorite cities in India! (and if you’re curious, check out my 5 favorite cities in the world!)

The post My 5 Favorite Cities in India first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post My 5 Favorite Cities in India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

This is a follow up to My Guide to Udaipur, so if you missed that post, start there!

Udaipur is the lake city of India… the Venice of India… the romantic city of the subcontinent. It’s everything: VIBRANT, cultural, but most importantly, it’s the most relaxed place in India AND is still quite touristy.

It’s a balance where you can experience the “real” India and meet other travelers.

If you are coming here to “find yourself” start with this soul-searching guide to Udaipur. You will transform your mind, body, and soul. You might come out a little more artistic and limber, and you will definitely cry happy tears.

Your Soul Searching Guide

1. Art Classes.

I took classes at Ashoka Arts, located in Hotel Gangaur. I was taught to draw and paint an elephant on silk. If I can end up with a perfect drawing of an elephant, than anyone can. I am not artistically inclined.

It was supposed to cost 150 rupee, but in more detail he explained, “that’s per hour… most people take one hour… but you were not good. You took 3”. Yeah, yeah. So instead of 450 rupee, we settled on 300 since I wasn’t informed prior of the time limit.

2. Volunteer at the animal shelter.

You can do this in many places in India, but Udaipur is well known for animal rufuge. Blogger ‘Wandering Earl’ wrote about his time at the same animal shelter (be cautious clicking- some of the photos are pretty graphic).

Seeing the struggling street dogs and cows in India will break your heart. This is a great way to give back and let go of the guilt. Plus, you can feed a baby cow with a bottle.

3. YOGA & meditation.

my first Indian yoga class was here in Udaipur. I was hooked. It was one-on-one with Prakesh (sun) because I went off-season and no one else signed up for classes. Talk about lucky!

The class itself is free (that’s how you know it’s a good teacher… he’s so good he knows he can get by on tips alone… but do make sure to tip what you think it’s worth).

By the end of the week I was all twisted up and standing on my head alone while he walked around me chanting and wafting incense. Yoga in India is very different than the U.S. It’s difficult but very rewarding… and very early in the A.M. so the sun rises during class.

Prakesh is from 8-9 A.M. which is later than most classes I took and 7 to 8 P.M. I went twice a day. Prakesh is located at Chandpole, near Dadiya Devra Temple, cell no. 9660567621. 

Get henna done after, have some tea, and get to bed early for tomorrow’s yoga!

4. Treks.

I didn’t do one here because I was headed north but signs were up all around offering them. I did trek in many other locations in India and it’s a great way to get out of town and usually a tour guide will teach you more about his hometown.

If you can’t manage to budget in a trek while in Udaipur, like me, then find a replacement. Do some physical activity like jumping jacks or push ups and take a walk after to take in the scenery. I literally hate working out, but for some reason while backpacking I do a little bit each day. That, along with eating on a budget and carrying a heavy bag leaves me in the best shape after a trip.

5. Get an Indian massage.

Traditional Indian deep tissue massages are a little painful but so enjoyable. If you do not ask for deep tissue you will be given an Ayurvedic oil massage. These are all about getting blood flow all around your body to the tips of your fingers and toes, to rejuvenate you.

They drip oil nonstop, some literally have a second person continuously pouring the oil. Once I got one in a women’s basement and she used… cooking oil. I didn’t want to be rude, so I let her then took a 2 hour shower. You can also learn massage here like I did in McLeod Ganj, but probably only Indian massage.

500 rupees is a fair price for an hour massage from someone on the street. In a real shop you could pay 700 rupees. I wouldn’t pay 1,000 because you can for sure get a cheaper massage. This is the same all over Rajasthan (although not in hotels and spas). You will feel like a new person after your massage and your budget will still be intact.

6. Boat Tour & Museum.

The tour is around the floating palace in Lake Pichola. I found this a little lame… I could see it just fine from the shore, but they do let you get off at an island (Jag Mandir, not the main Lake Palace) You have about 10 minutes to get back on the boat and one girl got bitten by a snake!!!

On the plus side, it was only 100 rupees, plus 200 at City Palace if you have a camera (do yourself a favor and skip the last one).

7. Watch the evening’s traditional dancing.

As the kids go up and down the lines across each other, they spin, jump and tap sticks against each other sticks to the beat of the music for over two hours. It’s amazing and actually sprung up some happy tears.

8. Shop the Hippie markets.

Ask the women working if they can do henna in their homes, or where to get a nice piercing. They are the locals; they can answer all your questions.

Don’t be surprised if when you look at a scarf the owner pulls out 200 others that are similar (same same but different). He’ll unfold them all! But you can’t worry about that- it’s the way they run shops in India.

What to buy? Ali baba pants if you like them, silk scarves (don’t get wool because it’s so hot!), Rajasthani wall hangings, and gold jewelry. I prefer the ear chains and bracelets that connect to rings. You can also pick up silk skirts, silver bangles, and camel leather.

Udaipur is where I picked up bean-bag shells that are hand sewed patches of traditional Indian designs. They were 100 rupees a piece. What a steal! Some might read this and think “shopping isn’t soul searching” if you think that, then you’re not doing it right. Just kidding, sort of; I find shopping peaceful and finding gifts for myself and others makes me extremely happy!

The post A Soul Searcher’s Guide to Udaipur first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post A Soul Searcher’s Guide to Udaipur appeared first on Hippie In Heels.