Udaipur, the City of Lakes, is known for offering an unforgettably rich experience to visitors. The city’s aura is rife with romance and old-world charm. Magnificent palaces, ancient temples, the picturesque lakes, and other remnants of the bygone eras are common to be found in Udaipur. Clearly, the city’s culture and heritage are preserved well, and tourists from all over the world come here to witness just that.
What could be a better way to get a peek into the city’s past than visiting the many insightful museums in Udaipur? So if you are planning a trip to Udaipur, here’s a list of museums which must be on your itinerary, especially if you are a history aficionado.
Museums in Udaipur:
City Palace Museum | City Palace Complex |
Ahar Archaeological | Ganapati Nagar |
Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal | Panchwati Road |
Vintage and Classic Car | Gulab Bagh Road |
Bagore Ki Haveli | Gangaur Ghat Marg |
Crystal Gallery | City Palace Complex |
Moti Magri Museum | Pearl Hill |
Shilpgram Museum | Shilpgram |
1. City Palace Museum, Udaipur
Comprising the main parts of the iconic landmark in Udaipur, the City Palace Museum exhibits a large collection of artefacts that will take you on a trip to the bygone era. Priceless royal family photographs and portraits, royal musical instruments, arms and weapons, wall murals, precious pieces of silverware and what not: all tell tales of the rich history of Udaipur.
Besides the precious items displayed here, the interiors of this museum adorned with ornate mirrors, beautiful glass inlay work and tiles are a delight to see. Manek Chowk, Zenana Mahal, Pratap Gallery and Badi Mahal, among others, are some fascinating sections here.
- Location: City Palace Complex, Udaipur
- Timings: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.300 for adults, Rs.100 for children
2. Ahar Archaeological, Udaipur
One of the most popular museums in Udaipur, Ahar Archaeological Museum houses artefacts belonging to the 10th century AD. Everyday objects such as coins, earthen pots, and iron objects used by primeval people are exhibited here along with statues of Lord Buddha and Vishnu-Nag-Nathan and excavated items from the 4000-year-old township of Dhulkot.
Ahar Archaeological Museum is a treat for every history lover, so make sure you visit it on your trip to Udaipur without fail.
- Location: Ganapati Nagar, Udaipur
- Timings: 10 AM – 4:30 PM (Closed on Fridays)
- Entry Fee: Rs.3
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3. Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur
As anyone who has read or heard even the most generic things about Udaipur would know that the city is in love with its heritage and that is why tourists love Udaipur! So it only makes sense that the city has a museum dedicated to preserving the local folk culture and traditions.
Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal Museum was founded by Padma Shri Devi Lal Samar in 1952 with the intention to restore and educate visitors about the regional folk culture of Rajasthan. The items exhibited here include rural attires, ritual pots, dolls, wall sculptures, paintings and puppets.
- Location: Panchwati Road, Near Chetak Circle, Udaipur
- Timings: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.20 for Indians, Rs.35 for foreigners
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4. Vintage and Classic Car, Udaipur
An extraordinary museum considering what it exhibits, the Vintage and Classic Car Museum in Udaipur is undoubtedly one of the most loved tourist attractions. As the name suggests, visitors come here to witness the grand life of the royals as depicted by the cars they used to own.
The collection of 22 spectacular vehicles here includes the 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom featured in the James Bond movie ‘Octopussy’ and the Cadillac convertible that was used to drive Queen Elizabeth II to the airport in the year 1961.
- Location: Gulab Bagh Road, Shakti Nagar, Udaipur
- Timings: 9 AM – 9 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.250 for adults, Rs.150 for children
5. Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur
Located on the banks of Lake Pichola, Bagore Ki Haveli was built in the 18th century by a Mewar Prime Minister and has now been restored into an insightful museum. The place has 138 rooms set up to offer visitors a glimpse into the period when royals used to live here.
The museum features many valuable artefacts including the world’s biggest turban. A collection of the world’s iconic monuments carved in polystyrene is yet another noteworthy display in this fascinating museum in Udaipur.
- Location: Gangaur Ghat Marg, Udaipur
- Timings: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.50 for Indians, Rs.100 for foreigners
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5. Crystal Gallery, Udaipur
Crystal Gallery could easily be one of the most enchanting museums in all of Udaipur and even India. Wondering why? Because the gallery houses beds, chairs, sofas, and tables entirely made of crystal. How these items came to be here is also a rather interesting story. Maharana Sajjan Singh ordered them from England’s F&C Osler & Co. in 1877 but before they could arrive, he died. All the crystal objects then stayed in boxes and were not opened for 110 years.
- Location: City Palace Complex, Udaipur
- Timings: 9 AM – 7 PM
- Entry Fee*: Rs.700 for adults, Rs.450 for children
*The price includes admission to the museum, Durbar Hall and audio guide
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7. Moti Magri Museum, Udaipur
Located atop the namesake hill in Udaipur, Moti Magri Museum reminds of the valour of Rajput royals. Models of Haldighati battlefield and Chittorgarh Fort and paintings depicting the history of Mewar are some of the main attractions here.
The statue of Maharana Pratap sitting on Chetak at the site is definitely something that cannot be missed. You can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Fateh Sagar Lake from here.
- Location: Pearl Hill, Udaipur
- Timings: 7:30 AM – 7 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.25 for adults, Rs.5 for children
8. Shilpgram Museum, Udaipur
Sprawling across 70 acres of land and surrounded by the ragged Aravalli Hills, Shilpgram is one of the best places to visit in Udaipur. This Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is considered to be an ethnographic museum dedicated to preserving the lifestyle and culture of folk and tribal people of the West Zone.
There are village houses of Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan set up here to give visitors a glimpse of the way these communities used to live. Every year, the centre organises a grand fair called Shilpgram Festival, in which hundreds of artists, dancers, performers and craftsmen participate.
- Location: Shilpgram, Udaipur
- Timings: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Entry Fee: Rs.30 for Indians, Rs.50 for foreigners
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