Ask a local for their favourite season and there's a good chance they'll say the monsoon. The dry brown Aravallis turn green almost overnight, the lakes fill up, clouds sit on the hilltops and the whole city smells of wet earth and roasting corn. Add a fair and a festival of swings, and you've got a very good argument for packing an umbrella.
Why the monsoon is underrated
The rains usually arrive in July and run into September. Most visitors skip this stretch, which is exactly why it's worth considering.
- The views are at their best. Green hills, full lakes and dramatic skies make for the kind of photos winter can't give you.
- It's cooler than the scorching summer months, even if it's humid.
- Fewer crowds at the big sights, and often better value on stays.
- The festivals are hyper-local. You'll be celebrating with Udaipur families, not tour groups.
It doesn't rain all day, every day, either. Monsoon here tends to come in bursts: a heavy shower, then hours of soft light and cool breeze. Build a little slack into your plans and you'll get plenty of dry time for sightseeing.
The Hariyali Amavasya fair
Hariyali Amavasya, the new moon of the monsoon month of Shravan, usually falls in July or August. "Hariyali" means greenery, and the day celebrates the rains and the new growth they bring. In Udaipur it's marked with a big fair around Fateh Sagar Lake and Saheliyon ki Bari.
Expect a cheerful jumble of stalls selling bangles, toys and household bits, giant swings and rides for kids, and food carts doing brisk business in pakoras, kachoris and sweets. It's a proper local outing, with families arriving in their brightest clothes and the lakeside promenade along Rani Road packed from afternoon onwards.
Good to know: the fair's dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year, so check before you plan. Traffic around Fateh Sagar gets heavy, so walk in from a little further out or take an auto and hop off early.
Teej: swings, green and ghevar
A few days after Hariyali Amavasya comes Hariyali Teej, one of the most loved festivals for women in Rajasthan. It honours the goddess Parvati and her union with Shiva, and it's all about the season's joy. Women dress in green and leheriya, apply fresh mehendi, sing Teej songs and take turns on swings hung from trees and courtyards.
For visitors, Teej is the time to try ghevar, the honeycomb-like disc of fried batter soaked in syrup and often topped with malai. Sweet shops stack it high around Teej and Raksha Bandhan. Our food and cafés section has more on Udaipur's seasonal sweets.
Other monsoon things to do
Sajjangarh in the clouds
The Monsoon Palace was built for exactly this season. On a clear evening after rain, the views over the green hills and lakes are spectacular. On a cloudy one, you might be standing inside the cloud, which is its own kind of magic.
Saheliyon ki Bari
The fountains and lotus pools of the 18th-century "garden of the maidens" look happiest with a grey sky and a bit of drizzle.
Bhutta on Rani Road
Roasted corn rubbed with lemon and masala, eaten while the breeze comes off Fateh Sagar. A monsoon ritual.
A drive to Badi Lake
About 12 km out, surrounded by hills that go fully green in the rains. Go in the late afternoon, find a spot by the water and watch the clouds roll over the ridges.
Earlier in the season, usually in June or July, the Jagannath Rath Yatra rolls out from Jagdish Temple too. See our Udaipur festival calendar for the full year.
Practical monsoon tips
- Carry a compact umbrella and wear sandals with grip. Ghat steps and marble floors get slippery.
- Keep plans flexible. A heavy shower can pause boat rides or the Karni Mata ropeway, so check timings on the day.
- Pack mosquito repellent and a light rain jacket.
- Hill roads can be slick after rain; go with a local driver if you're unsure.
Local tip: the hour after a heavy shower is golden. The air is washed clean, the hills glow and the lake is like glass. Keep your camera handy.
Thinking of a rainy-season trip? We'll help you plan your trip around the weather and the festivals.
Quick answers
Is monsoon a good time to visit Udaipur?
Yes, if you like green hills, full lakes and fewer crowds. Just keep plans flexible for rainy days.
When is the Hariyali Amavasya fair in Udaipur?
On the new moon of Shravan, usually July or August, around Fateh Sagar and Saheliyon ki Bari. Dates change yearly.
What is special about Teej in Udaipur?
Women dress in green and leheriya, swings go up across the city, and sweet shops fill with ghevar.
