When I went to Udaipur in monsoons of 2023, I was craving a lakeview. But I didn’t have a big budget. Little did I know a magic awaited me that too at a steal-deal. There are two budget hotels in Udaipur with lake view and both of them are hidden gems. It was tricky to navigate the location, so I am going to give you a detailed guide to make this easier.
Budget hotels in Udaipur with lake view
The two cheap hotels in Udaipur with lakeview are located adjacent to each other in Nathi Ghat. One is Jaydurg Lake Retreat and the other is Vallabh Garh Lake Retreat.
Jaydurg is slightly more expensive compared Vallabh Garh as it has better facilities including a swimming pool. Vallabh Garh was moderate and we stayed here while we dined at Jaydurg.
Here is all you need to know:
Vallabh Garh
When you’re looking for a hotel in Udaipur under 1000, you would hardly imagine getting a lakeview. When we visited this place, the cost was Rs. 3,500 but I think negative online reviews have made them drop the prices. So, I wanted to share my experience because it was quite the opposite.
I had the most incredible monsoon experience in the City of Lakes because the view was simply breathtaking. My partner started crying and I hadn’t seen him this emotional and mesmerized by the beauty of nature.
One thing that could be better was the size of the room, but other than that it was worth spending Rs. 7,000 for two days. The prices are low in 2024, and you can make the most of it if you visiting Udaipur during monsoons this year.
The hotel had all basic facilities you would require including:
- air conditioner
- television set
- clean room
- clean bed
- cupboard
- washroom
- geyser
- rooms service
- elevator
- food to order
The highlight wasn’t the size of the room, but the view of the balcony and also from the balcony.
Pigeons had made a nest atop the outbox of our air conditioner and were constantly entertaining us. The view from the balcony during the rain was a spectacle as the folds of mountains looked magical in the rain. There were trees full of parrots, a bird I had only seen caged and not free dancing in the rain.
There were frequent ferries coming from The The Oberoi Udaivillas to pick up tourists that booked a stay with them. It is one of the expensive lakeside hotels in Udaipur and we got a bird-eye view of the hotel from our room.
Vallabh Garh is located in the extreme end of Lake Pichola. But since I also stayed in the Lake Pichola Hotel, I can tell you one thing that was better here. While Lake Pichola Hotel opens up the Gangaur Ghat and takes you into the real vibe of Udaipur, Vallabh Garh had the view of the hillocks. The rain drenched hillocks amidst the fog looked mystical. The beauty was unreal and we still can’t believe what we saw.
Jaydurg Lake Retreat and Café
Jaydurg Lake Retreat is also one of the two budget hotels in Udaipur with view of Lake Pichola. While we didn’t stay here, we had dinner after our day trip around Udaipur. Again, we returned the following day for breakfast while we had two hours to kill between check-out from Vallabh Garh and check-in at Lake Pichola Hotel.
The restaurant and bar serve both non-vegetarian and vegetarian food with select cocktails and mocktails. We had beer, chicken spring roll, and Chinese main course for dinner. There was music and the ambience was quite romantic by the lakeside.
The breakfast view was even better because the vibrant yellow interiors blended perfectly with the moss green water stream. We had egg sandwich, tea, cheese Maggi, and explored the rooftop café that had clearer views compared to Vallabh Garh.
Which one is a better budget hotel in Udaipur?
Between Vallabh Garh and Jaydurg, you might find Jaydurg more appropriate as there are more amenities. The pictures of the room seem larger compared to what we experienced in Vallabh Garh.
There are also reviews that suggested that the rooms without lakeview aren’t the best in Vallabh Garh. But our experience was beyond what we had expected. We paid 5 times more the cost of what is listed currently when I am writing this blog post.
Even that cost was a steal-deal for us compared to hotels like Lake Pichola Hotel, Moustache Udaipur Luxuria, Hotel Jagat Niwas Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace, etc. Since most hotels in Udaipur near Lake Pichola are palatial or luxurious, it is difficult to find a budget option.
One thing to note
If you’re looking for a haveli by the lake view, neither of these hotels would suit you. But if lakeview is the only thing you want to experience, then this is definitely worth your time and money.
The budget hotels are regular hotels and does not give you a royal vibe. For a more luxurious vibe, you would need to look for hotels near Lake Pichola but not at a distant like Nathi Ghat.
These two hotels are quite far away and the way to reach here is on a rented bike, auto, or on foot. Cars aren’t the mode of transport that you can avail across the old city because most of lanes are narrow and taxis cannot enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Udaipur costly?
I have spent one day in Udaipur with Rs. 3000 and two days in Udaipur with Rs. 30,000 across two different trips. The city can be both expensive and cheap if you can plan it well.
There are hostels and food stalls for budget living and food options. There are also luxurious havelis to have a leisure trip. It is practical to consider traveling luxuriously to immerse into the royalty of Mewar.
2. Which hotel is in the middle of the lake in Udaipur?
Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur is the Jal Mahal (water palace). It is one of the expensive hotels to stay with prices ranging at Rs. 30,000 and above.
3. Is Udaipur safe for girls at night?
Udaipur is a safe but there are places that are less lit up within the old city area. I stayed in Purohito Ki Haveli area in April 2024, and was caught in darkness while trying to go back to my hostel, Bunkyard. The people here are simple and it is safe that way.
4. Are there budget hotels in Udaipur with lake view?
Yes, there are two budget hotels in Udaipur with lake view and they are Jaydurg Lake Retreat and Vallabh Garh Lake retreat. Neither of them are havelis, but they have rooms with lakeview and are located in Nathi Ghat, near Brahmpole.
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