Will our elders manage a destination wedding?
Steps, heat, long rituals and rich food: how we plan a three-day wedding around grandparents and older guests.
Udaipur between events: a guide for wedding guests
Palaces, lakes, bazaars and sunset points for guests with a free morning or afternoon between functions.
Most destination weddings leave guests with a free morning or afternoon between events, and many guests are visiting Udaipur for the first time. We give every family a one-page guide like this to share in the wedding group.
With three free hours in the morning, visit the City Palace complex, which opens around 9 am, and walk through its courtyards and terraces above Lake Pichola. Then walk down to Gangaur Ghat and Bagore ki Haveli, a short stroll away, and take a boat on the lake from one of the jetties. Book the boat ahead on weekends in the peak season.
With an afternoon, Saheliyon ki Bari is a cool garden with fountains, a good choice for elders and children. Fateh Sagar lake is lively in the evening, with snacks and a long walk along the bund. For sunset, drive up to the Sajjangarh palace on the hill west of the city; the road climbs through forest, and the view over the lakes is the best in Udaipur. Allow an hour and a half there and back.
For shopping, the lanes around the Jagdish temple and Hathi Pol sell miniature paintings, silver jewellery, bandhej and leather juttis. Bargain politely and carry cash for small shops. Remind guests to keep an eye on the clock: the old city’s lanes are narrow and traffic can be slow in the evening. We arrange shared vehicles from the hotels so guests are back an hour before each event, dressed and ready.
