Plan your trip · Udaipur
What's on in Udaipur
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Udaipur — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Udaipur right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Udaipur
Udaipur's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Udaipur
Mewar Festival
🗓️ March–AprilGangaur processions ending with boats on Lake Pichola.
Planning: The lake procession is the shot; get a lakeside spot early.
Across Rajasthan
Teej and Gangaur
🗓️ July–August and March–AprilProcessions of decorated idols through the old cities, especially Jaipur and Udaipur.
Planning: Good street photography, heavy crowds in the old-city lanes.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Udaipur's festivals come to life around its lakes and in the lanes of the old city. The biggest local celebration is Gangaur, marked with the Mewar Festival, when women carry images of the goddess Gauri to the ghats of Lake Pichola. Winter brings the Shilpgram crafts fair and, in recent years, a world music festival, while Diwali and Holi are celebrated across the city.
Many of these festivals follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so their dates change every year. Check the year's schedule before you travel, and book early if you plan your trip around a festival.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Udaipur
- Book hotels early for Diwali, Christmas, New Year and the Mewar Festival.
- Arrive early at Gangaur Ghat and the lakeside for good viewing spots.
- Expect heavy crowds and closed roads in the old city during processions.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as the old city lanes are steep and narrow.
- Ask before photographing women in the Gangaur processions.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowded places.
Questions
Udaipur — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Udaipur?
The Mewar Festival with Gangaur, Shilpgram Utsav, the Udaipur World Music Festival, Diwali, Holi and Teej are among the highlights of the year in Udaipur.
When is the Mewar Festival in Udaipur?
The Mewar Festival is held at the time of Gangaur, usually in March or April. The dates follow the lunar calendar, so check them for the year before you plan your trip.
What is Shilpgram Utsav?
Shilpgram Utsav is a crafts and folk arts fair held at Shilpgram, a crafts village on the western edge of Udaipur. It usually runs for about ten days in late December, with artisans from across India, folk music and dance.
When is the Udaipur World Music Festival?
The Udaipur World Music Festival is usually held in February, with concerts by Indian and international musicians at venues around the city. Check the dates and venues for the year.