Your Travel Partner
SINCE 1989
Your Travel Partner
SINCE 1989
Around an hour before dusk, Udaipur slows down. The heat goes out of the stone, pigeons settle on the rooftops of the old city, and the long white wall of the City Palace starts to turn the colour of honey. Out on the water, small canopied boats drift towards the middle of Lake Pichola, and for a short while everyone on board stops talking. A private sunset boat on Lake Pichola is one of the simplest pleasures in Rajasthan, yet it is surprisingly easy to get wrong. Travellers turn up at the wrong jetty, join a crowded shared boat that returns before the sun has even set, or find that the boat they booked does not stop at Jag Mandir after all. This guide goes into the practical side: where the boats leave from, how the City Palace jetty differs from the other boarding points, what shared and private boats cost, how the hotel boats work, what time the sun actually sets in each month, and how the lake's water level can change the experience from one year to the next.
There is no single boat stand on Lake Pichola, and the boarding point you choose decides almost everything else: the price, the type of boat, the route and whether you can land on Jag Mandir. The main departure point is the Rameshwar jetty, often signposted as Rameshwar Ghat, on the lakeshore inside the City Palace complex. The boats here are run by the palace's own hospitality company, the same organisation that manages Jag Mandir island, and they are the only regular public boats that include a stop on the island. To reach this jetty you walk through the palace grounds, so you need a ticket for the City Palace complex, which costs a few hundred rupees and is sold at the main gates. The jetty sits at the southern end of the palace, beside a terrace garden and close to the Fateh Prakash and Shiv Niwas hotels. Ticket counters for the boats are right beside it.
The second option is the municipal jetty near Lal Ghat and Dudh Talai, on the northern side of the lake, just below the old city. Lal Ghat is a set of old stone steps leading down to the water, lined with guesthouses and small cafes, and Dudh Talai is the small lake and garden just to the south, at the foot of the hill with the cable car to Karni Mata temple. Boats here are run under the city's management and do not need a City Palace ticket. They are usually cheaper and simpler: a canopied motorboat that circles the lake, passes close to the Taj Lake Palace and Jag Mandir, and returns to the same spot. Most of these boats do not land on Jag Mandir, so if the island matters to you, the City Palace jetty is the safer choice.
A handful of private landing points belong to the lakeside hotels. The Taj Lake Palace has its own jetty on the eastern shore, near the City Palace, from which only hotel guests and diners with reservations are carried across. The Oberoi Udaivilas and The Leela Palace Udaipur, both on the western shore, have their own landing stages too. Several heritage hotels in the old city, such as those around the steps near Gangaur Ghat and the clock tower area, can arrange for boats to collect guests from their own steps. Boats booked from these other pickup points usually cost a little more than those leaving from Rameshwar, because the boat has to come round to meet you.
For most visitors, the choice comes down to this. If you want the classic sunset trip with a stop at Jag Mandir and the best views of the City Palace from the water, book from the Rameshwar jetty inside the palace. If you only want a short, inexpensive ride and are staying in the old city near Lal Ghat, the municipal jetty is convenient. If you are staying at one of the lakeside palace hotels, the hotel boat is the easiest and most private option.
A practical note on getting there: the old city lanes leading to the City Palace are narrow, and cars can only go so far. Private drivers usually drop guests at the main palace gate, from where it is a pleasant ten-minute walk through the courtyards to the jetty. Allow time for this walk, and for the queues at the ticket counter, especially between late October and February, when Udaipur is busiest. Wear comfortable shoes, as the palace paving and steps down to the water can be uneven.
Boats on Lake Pichola fall into two clear types. The shared sunset boat is the more common choice. You buy a ticket at the counter, join a boat with other passengers, and follow a fixed route. From the City Palace jetty, the boats run a regular daytime service and a separate sunset service. The last published tariff from the palace's boat operator was roughly Rs.600 per adult for a daytime trip and Rs.800 per adult for the sunset trip, with children at about half price. Fares are revised every year, so expect something close to or a little above these figures, plus the City Palace entry ticket. The municipal boats from Lal Ghat and Dudh Talai cost much less, usually a few hundred rupees per person. A shared ride usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour, including the stop at Jag Mandir on the palace boats.
Shared boats can be pleasant, but they have limits. They often carry 15 to 25 people, and the boat leaves on a fixed schedule, not according to when the sun sets on that day. In winter, the sunset service often ends well before the sun reaches the hills, so you may be back at the jetty when the best light begins. On busy evenings, the boats can feel crowded, and finding a good seat for photos is not always easy.
A private boat solves almost all of these problems. The palace boat operator charters whole boats from the City Palace jetty, priced by group size. The most recent published rates were about Rs.7,500 for a sunset charter for up to seven people leaving from Rameshwar, and around Rs.9,800 when the boat collects you from another landing point. Larger boats for 8 to 12 people cost roughly Rs.11,700 to Rs.15,200 for the sunset slot. A charter includes the same Jag Mandir stop, but the timing and pace are set by your group. You can ask the boatman to slow down near the City Palace walls, linger off the Lake Palace, and stay out on the water until the colour fades from the sky, within the operator's closing time.
When a private boat is booked through a hotel concierge, a travel agent or a private tour operator, the price usually rises to between Rs.15,000 and Rs.35,000, roughly 170 to 400 US dollars. That figure normally includes the City Palace tickets, a reserved time slot, a quieter boat, sometimes drinks and snacks on board, and someone to meet you at the palace gate and walk you to the jetty. For many travellers, this is worth paying for, because sunset slots can sell out on peak evenings and it removes the uncertainty of turning up at the counter.
For special occasions, boats can be decorated with flowers and lanterns, and a musician or photographer can ride along. A dressed private boat with sparkling wine, a small cake and live music usually costs anywhere from Rs.40,000 to Rs.120,000, depending on the décor and who is on board. The palace operator also keeps an ornate traditional barge for private events, used for dinners and celebrations, which must be booked well ahead through the palace's hospitality office.
A few practical points help on the day. Life jackets are provided and should be worn. Carry a light shawl or jacket between November and February, because it gets cool on the water once the sun has gone. Drones are not allowed over the palace and lake without special permission. And remember that the boatmen work long shifts, so a tip of Rs.200 to Rs.500 for a private trip is appreciated.
The Jag Mandir stop is what turns a pleasant boat ride into a memorable evening. The island palace sits in the southern part of the lake, a ten-minute ride from the City Palace jetty. It was built in stages from the 17th century by the rulers of Mewar and is said to have sheltered a young Mughal prince, the future Shah Jahan, when he was in exile. Its courtyards, domed pavilions, flowering gardens and the row of carved stone elephants at the water's edge make it one of the most photographed places in Udaipur.
On a palace boat from Rameshwar, the route usually heads south past the Taj Lake Palace, which seems to float on the water in the middle of the lake. Guests do not stop there, as the hotel is closed to non-residents without reservations. The boat then reaches Jag Mandir and lands for around 20 to 30 minutes. You can walk through the gardens, see the Gol Mahal with its small exhibition on the island's history, and sit at the cafe or the bar with a drink as the light changes. The western terrace of the island, facing the hills, is one of the best places on the lake to watch the sun go down.
After the stop, the boat swings back north, often along the eastern shore beneath the City Palace, where the long facade, balconies and towers are seen at their most dramatic. In the last light, the palace walls turn from gold to pink, and lamps begin to appear in the windows of the old city. A private boat can then continue further north, past the bathing steps and temples near Gangaur Ghat and the old stone bridge leading towards Lal Ghat, before returning to the jetty.
If you want more time on the island, it is possible to book a meal or drinks at Jag Mandir separately. The island's restaurant and bar serve lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, and transfers by boat from the City Palace jetty are arranged for diners at around Rs.250 per person each way. A private candlelit dinner on the island can also be arranged through the palace operator, usually costing well over Rs.80,000 for a couple with décor and boat transfers. This is a very different experience from the short evening stop, and it needs advance booking.
Photographers should think about where they sit. On the outward trip, the best views of the City Palace are to the left of the boat. On the return, the sunset is behind you, so the warm light falls on the palace and the old city on your right. A small zoom lens is useful for details on the palace walls, and a wider lens captures the reflections on calm evenings. Calm water is more likely in the winter months and early morning, when there is little wind.
Staying at one of the lakeside palace hotels gives you a completely different way to enjoy the water. Taj Lake Palace can only be reached by boat, so every guest's stay begins and ends with a ride across the lake from the hotel's jetty near the City Palace. Guests can book a private sunset cruise on one of the hotel's own boats, usually with drinks and snacks served on board and a crew member who explains the history of the lake and its palaces. These cruises typically cost Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000 for two, depending on the boat and what is served. Non-residents can only visit the Lake Palace with a confirmed dining reservation, and the hotel limits these, so it is rarely possible to visit simply for a look.
The Oberoi Udaivilas sits on the western shore, directly across the water from the City Palace. The hotel recommends arriving by private boat, which picks guests up from a landing point near the old city and brings them to the hotel's own jetty, with the palace spread out behind. The concierge can arrange private sunset cruises on the hotel's boats, often with champagne and canapés, and sometimes followed by dinner at a private pavilion by the water. Expect prices broadly similar to those at the Taj Lake Palace, at Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000 or more for a private cruise. The Oberoi boats can also take guests across to the City Palace for a morning visit, avoiding the drive through the narrow old-city lanes.
The Leela Palace Udaipur, a little further along the western shore, also has its own boats and jetty. Its private boat trips follow a similar pattern, with sunset cruises, crossings to the City Palace and dressed boats for special occasions. Prices are usually comparable or slightly lower than those at the Oberoi and Taj. The hotel's waterfront terraces are another excellent place to watch the sun go down over the lake.
There are advantages to booking a hotel boat even if you could get a cheaper one from the City Palace jetty. The boats are usually newer and better kept, the timing can be adjusted to the actual sunset, and there is no queue at the ticket counter. The main limitation is that hotel boats generally do not include a Jag Mandir landing unless specifically arranged, as the island is managed by the City Palace operator. If you are staying at one of these hotels and want to visit the island, ask the concierge whether they can arrange it, or book a separate palace boat from Rameshwar on another evening.
Some heritage hotels in the old city, especially those with their own steps leading down to the water, can arrange private boats for their guests. These are usually booked through local operators and cost somewhere between the City Palace charter rates and the luxury hotel cruises, roughly Rs.10,000 to Rs.25,000 for a private sunset trip.
Sunset in Udaipur shifts by well over an hour across the year, and getting the timing right is the difference between floating through gold light and arriving back in the dark. As a guide, the sun sets at roughly these times around the middle of each month:
For the best colour, a boat should leave the jetty roughly 45 minutes before sunset and stay out until about 15 minutes after. The published sunset service from the City Palace jetty usually ends around 5 in the evening in winter and 6 in summer, which means that in November, December and January the last shared boat often returns before the sun has set. A private charter or hotel boat, with the timing agreed in advance, is the best way to be on the water for the real sunset in these months.
The best season for a Lake Pichola boat ride runs from October to March. After a good monsoon, the lake is full in October and November, the hills around the city are still green, and the evenings are comfortable at around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius. December and January are cooler, often dropping to 8 to 12 degrees after dark, but the air is clear and the light is beautiful. February and March bring warmer evenings and very calm water, ideal for reflections. From April to June, the days are hot, often above 40 degrees, though a boat ride in the cooler hour before sunset can still be pleasant. July to September is the monsoon, when rain showers can cancel boats at short notice, but the lake is at its fullest and the skies can be dramatic.
Water levels are an important factor that many travellers do not realise. Lake Pichola is an artificial lake fed mainly by rain, and its level depends on the strength of the monsoon. In years of poor rainfall, the lake has shrunk dramatically. In the most severe droughts, large parts of the lake bed have dried out, and visitors have even been driven to Jag Mandir across dry ground. In recent years, the lake has been kept fuller by feeder channels from neighbouring lakes and by better rainfall, and boating has run normally. Even so, in late spring and early summer after a weak monsoon, the water can drop enough to change routes or reduce the number of boats. If you are travelling between April and June, it is worth asking your hotel or tour operator about the current water level before booking a boat.
Booking ahead makes the biggest difference in peak season. Shared tickets cannot usually be reserved in advance and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so on busy evenings around Diwali, Christmas and New Year, sunset boats can sell out early. Private charters and hotel boats can be booked days or weeks ahead. A private tour operator in Rajasthan can reserve the boat, arrange City Palace tickets, and have a guide meet you at the gate, so that the only thing left to do on the evening is to sit back and watch the light.
The main boarding point is the Rameshwar jetty inside the City Palace complex, which needs a City Palace entry ticket. Cheaper municipal boats leave from near Lal Ghat and Dudh Talai, and the lakeside hotels have their own jetties.
A shared sunset ride from the City Palace jetty costs roughly ₹800 per adult, with children at about half price. The City Palace entry ticket is extra.
A private charter for up to seven people from the City Palace jetty costs about ₹7,500 at the published rate. Booked through a hotel or tour operator with tickets and extras, it usually costs ₹15,000 to ₹35,000.
No. Palace boats from the Rameshwar jetty usually stop at Jag Mandir for 20 to 30 minutes. Municipal boats from Lal Ghat and most hotel boats do not land on the island unless specially arranged.
Aim to leave about 45 minutes before sunset. In winter that means around 5 in the evening, and in summer around 6:30.
Only with a confirmed dining reservation, which the hotel limits. Otherwise, boats pass close to the palace but do not stop.
Yes, boats run in the monsoon, but heavy rain or strong winds can cancel trips at short notice. The lake is at its fullest at this time of year.
After a weak monsoon, low water can shorten routes or reduce the number of boats, especially in late spring and early summer. Check with your hotel or tour operator before booking.
Yes. Private boats can be decorated with flowers and lanterns and can carry a musician or photographer. A fully dressed boat usually costs ₹40,000 to ₹120,000.
Shared tickets are sold at the counter on the day, but sunset boats can sell out in peak season. Private charters and hotel boats should be booked a few days ahead.
