Jaipur or Udaipur: which to choose? Sights of the two cities

Jaipur and Udaipur are very similar cities, both in name and in content. And if your time in India is limited, you have to make a choice: Jaipur or Udaipur? What is there to see in the pink city of India, Jaipur? What sights are there in Udaipur?

 Jaipur or Udaipur: which to choose? Comparing the cities

Among the differences between Jaipur and Udaipur, the first one is 3 times bigger in population and, as a result, dirtier and noisier. Udaipur is a calmer and cleaner place where you can pleasantly stroll the streets without gagging at the smells and sights.

Jaipur's size also shows in the number of sights: there are more palaces, temples, forts, and so on than in Udaipur. But one way or another, the sights in India are awfully monotonous. So it is quite enough to visit one of each kind of sight, since they are really very similar.

To sum up, here is a short comparison of the two cities:

• Udaipur is a calmer, cooler, relatively clean, and cozy place. There are fewer sights here, but in quality they are no worse than Jaipur's.
• Jaipur is a big, noisy, dirty city with a large number of palaces and temples that look alike.

Jaipur. Sights. Things to do

Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, is the “pink city,” known for the pinkish color of the palaces, temples, and walls in its old part.

Our main advice: don't go there between April and June, the hottest months. Being in Jaipur in May, we felt firsthand what 44 degrees Celsius means: going anywhere outside is extremely uncomfortable, and climbing up to the temple on the hill is quite an ordeal.

Udaipur. Sights. Things to do

On arriving in Udaipur, what strikes you is the relative cleanliness and calm, so uncharacteristic of India as a whole. It is a small, cozy city with picturesque lakes and beautiful palaces. The city, though small, is rather cramped: the typical Indian habit of squeezing together and crowding on a small patch of land, while the country has vast territories that are pristinely empty. The main sights are the City Palace and an evening show of folk dances not far from it.

These 2 cities are worth visiting for their amazing architectural sights (palaces, forts, temples), which let you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the times of the Indian maharajas and get a feel for history. When choosing between Jaipur and Udaipur, you should figure out what suits you better: a large number of sights in a not very comfortable setting, or a more pleasant time in Udaipur, which is not as rich in sights.