Things to Do in Udaipur in March

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March in Udaipur opens with Holi, India's festival of colors, which typically falls in the first half of the month. Colored powder fills the air around Jagdish Temple. Processions wind through the Old City. The Mewar royal family still presides over a ceremonial Holika Dahan bonfire at City Palace on the festival's eve. If you time your trip for those 2-3 days, you'll see the city drenched in pigment and water. Temperatures climb from February's comfortable 28°C to an average high of 32.2°C (90°F). Mornings start pleasant at 18.5°C (65°F), and humidity sits at a bone-dry 29%, so the warmth feels manageable rather than suffocating. Rain is essentially absent, with roughly 7mm for the entire month.

This is the tail end of tourist season. Hotels in Lal Ghat and around Fateh Sagar Lake still carry winter rates through mid-month, especially during Holi week, but prices soften in the final 10 days as temperatures keep climbing. The Aravalli hills are a dusty ochre. Lake Pichola sits at its annual low after months without significant rain. The landscape is tinder-dry and golden-brown, nothing like the lush green that post-monsoon visitors photograph in October.

To be fair, March is not the best month to come here. October through February all offer cooler, more comfortable conditions for the palace complex, the bazaars of Hathi Pol, and the back lanes of the Old City. But if Holi draws you, or if March is your only window, you'll still have a solid trip. Arrive early in the month for the festival, plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings, and save afternoons for lakeside cafes or the cool galleries of Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, founded in 1952.

Why visit in March

Holi celebrations in Udaipur rank among the most photogenic in Rajasthan, with the Mewar royal family hosting ceremonial events and color-play erupting across the Old City's narrow lanes.
Dry desert air keeps warm afternoons from feeling oppressive, a significant comfort advantage over coastal Indian cities at similar temperatures.
Late-March hotel rates drop from peak-season levels after Holi week, with quieter access to lakeside attractions and palace tours than the December-January rush.
Virtually cloudless skies mean zero rained-out days for outdoor sites like Monsoon Palace and the Ahar Cenotaphs.

Worth knowing

Afternoon heat limits comfortable outdoor sightseeing to mornings and evenings, especially at exposed sites like the Ahar Cenotaphs and Sajjangarh Biological Park, where shade is scarce.
Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar sit at their annual lowest water levels after the dry winter, with receded shorelines and stretches of exposed lakebed that don't match the postcards from post-monsoon October.
Holi week drives a price spike at Old City guesthouses, and some travelers find the festival's close-contact color-throwing overwhelming if they're not prepared for full participation.
The surrounding Aravalli landscape is brown and parched, lacking the green that monsoon and post-monsoon visitors experience from July through October.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured 32° / 19°C 7mm rain · 1 rainy day · 29% humidity rains perceptibly ~0.1h/day · 99% of mornings dry

Crowds medium

Pack Loose cotton or linen in light colors for warm days, plus a light layer or shawl for evenings when temperatures drop into the high teens. Sun protection is essential in the dry, clear March conditions.

March brings the shift from Udaipur's comfortable winter into pre-summer warmth, with roughly 30 of the month's 31 days typically dry and cloudless. Rain falls on about 1 day all month. Mornings feel genuinely pleasant along Fateh Sagar's promenade, but by noon the Old City's stone lanes radiate stored heat and most visitors retreat to shaded courtyards or the cool interiors of Bagore-ki-Haveli. The air is remarkably dry, even by Rajasthan's standards. You'll feel it on your lips within your first 24 hours. That low moisture does take the edge off the daytime warmth compared to the same temperatures in Goa or Kerala.

Seasonal caution

Late March afternoons can push into the mid-30s°C (mid-90s°F) on individual days, especially in the final week as conditions approach April's significantly higher averages. Carry water and limit direct midday sun exposure at open-air sites.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Udaipur
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	23	10	11
Feb	28	14	0
Mar	32	19	7
Apr	37	23	2
May	37	25	44
Jun	35	25	135
Jul	30	24	242
Aug	29	23	221
Sep	30	23	180
Oct	30	20	35
Nov	27	16	14
Dec	24	12	7

Headline events

Nationwide Free

Holi

Early to mid-March (follows the Hindu lunar calendar, falling on the full moon of Phalguna)

India's spring festival of colors takes over Udaipur for 2 days. The Mewar royal family hosts a ceremonial Holika Dahan bonfire at City Palace on the eve, followed by the main day of color-play (Dhulandi) when powdered pigment and water balloons fill the Old City's lanes. The celebrations around Gangaur Ghat tend to be the most accessible area for visiting travelers.

#HoliInUdaipur

Best things to do in March

Holi celebrations in the Old City

festival

The color-play through the lanes around Jagdish Temple and along Gangaur Ghat, where locals and travelers throw gulaal (colored powder) and spray water. The evening before, Holika Dahan bonfires light up across neighborhoods. The Mewar royal family hosts a formal ceremony at City Palace.

Holi falls in March, following the Hindu lunar calendar. There is no other time of year to experience this festival.

Booking tipBook accommodation 4-6 weeks in advance for Holi week. Lakeside guesthouses in Lal Ghat fill earliest.

Boat ride to Jag Mandir on Lake Pichola

sightseeing

The island palace, founded in 1560, sits in Lake Pichola with carved elephants lining its waterfront steps. The boat ride from the City Palace jetty takes about 15 minutes each way. The palace's lower terraces and carved stone reliefs are more exposed than usual in this season.

Lower water levels reveal carved stone details on Jag Mandir's base that monsoon waters hide from September onward.

Booking tipDuring Holi week, book the morning slot by 09:00 at the City Palace jetty. On ordinary days, walk-ups are fine.

Sunset from Monsoon Palace

sightseeing

The hilltop palace stands on the Aravalli crest west of the city at roughly 944 meters elevation. The terrace offers a 360-degree view of the lake system below, the city's white buildings, and the brown hills rolling toward the Thar. March's dry atmosphere gives the widest sightline of any season.

Cloudless skies and minimal haze provide the clearest sunset panorama before pre-monsoon dust builds in April and May.

Booking tipAllow 45 minutes for the drive. The road through Sajjangarh Biological Park closes its entry gate at 17:00.

Dharohar folk dance at Bagore-ki-Haveli

culture

The nightly 1-hour show in the haveli's open courtyard features Rajasthani folk dances including Ghoomar and Kalbeliya, plus puppet performances. The 18th-century haveli sits on Gangaur Ghat with Lake Pichola behind it.

March evenings cool to around 22-24°C, making the open-air courtyard comfortable. From April onward, the courtyard retains daytime heat well into the evening.

Booking tipThe 19:00 show tends to fill first. Arrive 20 minutes early for front-row seating on the courtyard floor.

Morning walk around Fateh Sagar Lake

outdoor

The paved 5 km loop around Fateh Sagar is Udaipur's unofficial morning exercise route, shared by walkers, joggers, and cyclists. The eastern shore faces Moti Magri hill with its Maharana Pratap memorial. Small boat rides to Nehru Garden island depart from the promenade.

The predawn and early-morning cool is the last comfortable window for the full loop before April mornings start warm enough to make it unpleasant.

Mewar Festival processions

festival

Women in traditional Rajasthani dress carry decorated images of Goddess Gauri from the Old City to Gangaur Ghat, accompanied by folk musicians and dancers. The festival, unique to Udaipur, marks the conclusion of the 18-day Gangaur period that begins the day after Holi.

The Mewar Festival falls exclusively in late March, 18 days after Holi. It occurs nowhere else in India.

Booking tipNo ticket needed. Position yourself along Gangaur Ghat before 17:00 for the best view of the procession arriving at the waterfront.

Day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort

day trip

The 15th-century fort 85 km north of Udaipur holds the second-longest continuous wall in the world at 36 km. The complex contains over 360 temples within its perimeter. The drive through the Aravalli foothills passes small Bhil tribal villages.

March's warm but not extreme temperatures make the exposed fort walls and the steep climb manageable. By April and May, the stone absorbs enough heat to make walking on it painful.

Booking tipLeave Udaipur by 07:00 to arrive before 09:00 and avoid the midday heat on the fort's exposed ramparts.

What to eat in March

In season: fruit

Kairi (raw mango)
March marks the first appearance of raw green mangoes in Udaipur's markets. Vendors at Bapu Bazaar sell them with red chili-salt. The sour, crunchy fruit signals the approaching mango season that peaks in May and June.

What to drink

Thandai
A cold, spiced milk drink made with almonds, fennel seeds, rose petals, and saffron. Traditionally served during Holi. The bhang-infused version, containing cannabis paste and legal during the festival period, is widely available alongside the standard recipe.
Aam Panna
A tart, cumin-and-mint cooler made from boiled raw mangoes. As temperatures climb through March, roadside stalls along the Fateh Sagar promenade begin serving this traditional heat-beater. It's one of Rajasthan's signature warm-weather drinks, and March is when it first appears each year.

Festival food

Gujiya
The definitive Holi sweet. Crescent-shaped pastries filled with khoya (dried milk solids), crushed nuts, and cardamom, then deep-fried and sometimes dipped in sugar syrup. Every sweet shop in Hathi Pol and Bapu Bazaar stocks them through March.
Malpua
Cardamom-scented pancakes soaked in sugar syrup, served warm with a pour of rabri (thickened sweetened milk). A Holi staple across Rajasthan, found at sweet shops and street stalls throughout the Old City during festival week.

Regular events in March

Mewar FestivalFree

A 3-day spring celebration unique to Udaipur, marking the end of the 18-day Gangaur period. Women carry images of Goddess Gauri in processions to Lake Pichola's shore. Cultural performances, folk music, and a fireworks display close the festival.

Late March, 18 days after Holi (dates shift annually with the Hindu lunar calendar)

GangaurFree

An 18-day Rajasthani festival honoring Goddess Gauri (Parvati), beginning the day after Holi. Married and unmarried women fast, decorate clay idols, and dress in their finest. In Udaipur, daily processions pass through Hathi Pol and the Old City.

Begins the day after Holi, runs for 18 days through late March

Best places this March

Monsoon Palace (Sajjangarh)
palace
The hilltop palace west of the city gives the widest Aravalli panorama of the year in March. Monsoon mist and pre-monsoon haze obscure the view in other seasons. The road up passes through Sajjangarh Biological Park. Come for sunset.
Sajjangarh
Gangaur Ghat
waterfront
The primary stage for both Holi color-play and the Mewar Festival processions later in March. The stepped waterfront on Lake Pichola fills with crowds during festivals. On quieter days it's one of the more atmospheric spots to sit and watch boats pass.
Old City
Gulab Bagh and Zoo
park
Founded in 1881, this botanical garden covers over 100 acres south of the Old City. March brings early spring blooms to its rose collection (gulab means rose). The shaded pathways provide a midday escape from the warm streets outside.
Gulab Bagh
Ahar Cenotaphs
historical site
The royal cremation ground of the Mewar dynasty holds over 250 cenotaphs dating back centuries. March mornings are ideal for visiting, as the carved marble catches the low-angle sunlight and the site is nearly empty before 09:00. The on-site museum adds context.
Ahar
Fateh Sagar Lake promenade
lake
The paved lakeside loop is the city's morning fitness route. March is the last month when the pre-08:00 window feels genuinely cool. Nehru Garden, a small island garden, is accessible by boat from the eastern shore.
Fateh Sagar
Jagdish Temple
temple
The 17th-century Vishnu temple near City Palace serves as the spiritual center of the Old City. During Holi the surrounding lanes fill with colored powder. The carved exterior and active daily worship make it worth an early-morning visit before the festival activity begins.
Old City

Your packing checklist

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Loose cotton or linen clothing in light colorsMarch afternoons in direct sun demand breathable fabrics. Light colors reflect the intense UV better than dark ones, and you'll notice the difference after a morning walking the Old City. Shop
SPF 50+ sunscreenThe combination of clear skies and low humidity means UV exposure is intense throughout the day, even when the air temperature doesn't feel scorching. Reapply after sweating. Shop
Wide-brimmed hat or cotton scarfEssential for open-air sites like Monsoon Palace and Ahar Cenotaphs, where shade is scarce. A cotton scarf doubles as a head covering required at temple entrances. Shop
Light evening layerAfter-dark temperatures drop into the high teens. A thin cardigan or pashmina is enough for lakeside dinners and the Dharohar show at Bagore-ki-Haveli. Shop
Lip balm with SPFThe dry air cracks lips within a day or two of arriving. Carry it with you rather than leaving it at the hotel. Shop
Reusable water bottleLow humidity accelerates dehydration without obvious sweating. Aim for 3-4 liters daily. Most guesthouses have filtered water stations for free refills. Shop
Expendable white clothes for HoliIf your visit overlaps with Holi, colored powder (gulaal) stains fabric permanently. Wear white to participate and plan to discard those clothes afterward. Shop
MoisturizerThe 29% humidity strips moisture from skin faster than humid climates. Apply after showers and at night. Don't rely on the small sachets stocked at most guesthouses. Shop
Polarized sunglassesMarch light reflecting off Lake Pichola's surface and the white marble of City Palace creates harsh glare. Standard sunglasses let through too much. Shop

Insider tips

The rooftop restaurants in Lal Ghat charge a premium over places 2 blocks inland for identical food. Walk past Jagdish Temple toward Bada Bazaar for the same Rajasthani thali at a fraction of the tourist-strip price.
During Holi, the celebrations around Gangaur Ghat tend to be more family-oriented and gentler with color-throwing than the tourist areas further north along the waterfront. Locals with children gather here.
Sajjangarh Biological Park, on the road to Monsoon Palace, is worth a separate morning visit rather than a rush-through on the way to the sunset viewpoint. Most people skip the park entirely, and it's a quiet spot to see Aravalli wildlife.
March afternoons in the Old City feel warmer than the temperature suggests because the narrow stone lanes trap and radiate heat. The widest and most shaded walking route from Jagdish Temple to Surajpol runs through Bada Bazaar, not the tourist-signposted lane.

Avoid these mistakes

Scheduling a full-day outdoor itinerary without a midday break. The morning-to-afternoon temperature swing is substantial, and the 11:00-to-16:00 window at exposed sites is punishing. Plan palace visits and outdoor walks for before 10:00 or after 16:00.
Not carrying water during Holi. The excitement of the festival, combined with the dry heat, leads to dehydration faster than tourists expect. Vendors near the celebration areas sell water at premium prices. Fill your bottle before heading out.
Underestimating how long Holi color-play lasts. Many travelers assume the festival is confined to a single morning. In Udaipur, colored powder and water balloons appear in the Old City's lanes for 2-3 days surrounding the main festival day. If you're not participating, plan indoor activities for that stretch.

Practical tips for March

Book Holi-week accommodation in the Old City or Lal Ghat at least 4-6 weeks ahead. The better lakeside guesthouses fill early, and nightly rates rise during the festival window. At 1 USD to roughly 96 INR, Udaipur remains affordable for Western travelers even during this peak window. Most restaurants and many shops close on Holi day itself, so stock up on water and snacks the evening before. Auto-rickshaws are the standard transport between the Old City and Fateh Sagar, and fares should be negotiated before boarding. The City Palace complex typically opens at 09:30 and closes at 17:30. Arrive at opening to beat the tour groups that appear by late morning. Modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, is expected at Jagdish Temple and other religious sites. If you are flying in, Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) sits about 22 km east of the Old City, and pre-booked taxi transfers are more reliable than negotiating at arrival.

FAQ

Is March a good time to visit Udaipur?

March is a good but not ideal time. The weather is warm and dry, which suits travelers who prefer heat over cold, and Holi in the first half of the month is a genuine cultural highlight worth planning around. That said, October through February all offer cooler temperatures and more comfortable sightseeing conditions. If Holi is your reason for coming, March is the right choice. If your dates are flexible and you want the easiest weather, aim for November or December instead.

What is the weather like in Udaipur in March?

Warm and dry. Expect sunny skies nearly every day with very low humidity. Mornings and evenings feel comfortable, but midday gets properly warm. Rain is almost nonexistent. The dry air makes the heat more tolerable than it would be in Mumbai or Chennai at the same temperature, but you'll still want to schedule any strenuous outdoor activity for the morning hours.

Is Udaipur crowded in March?

Moderately. Holi week brings a noticeable increase in both domestic and international visitors, especially around the Old City and lakeside guesthouses. After Holi, the crowds thin steadily as rising temperatures push tourists toward cooler destinations. By late March, major sites like City Palace and Bagore-ki-Haveli are noticeably less packed than during the December-January peak.

When is Holi celebrated in Udaipur?

Holi follows the Hindu lunar calendar and falls on the full moon of the month of Phalguna, which typically lands in early to mid-March. The festival spans 2 days. Holika Dahan (the bonfire) happens on the evening of the full moon, and the main color-play day (Dhulandi) takes place the following morning and afternoon. Check the exact dates for your travel year, as they shift annually.

Is it safe to visit Udaipur as a solo traveler?

Udaipur scores 5.8 out of 10 for solo-traveler safety (see /research/solo-safety/). The tourist areas around Lal Ghat, City Palace, and Fateh Sagar are generally safe during the day and into the evening. Standard precautions apply after dark in less-trafficked neighborhoods. During Holi, the festival atmosphere can feel overwhelming for solo travelers not accustomed to the close-contact color-throwing. If this concerns you, stay near Gangaur Ghat where the mood tends to be more family-oriented.