Filed in Featured Destinations, Travel Tips — October 19, 2026
Why We Always Book the Boat at The Oberoi Udaivilas
There are two ways to arrive at The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur. One of them is the most romantic arrival I know of in India.
Arriving at The Oberoi Udaivilas, you get a choice. You can drive straight to the hotel’s door, about forty-five minutes from the airport. Or you can drive to the hotel’s private dock and cross Lake Pichola by boat, which takes about an hour.
Take the boat. Every time.
The arrival
We arrived in September just as the sun was going down. The lake was glassy, the City Palace glowed along the far shore, and the Lake Palace seemed to float in the middle of the water. It’s the most romantic arrival I know of in India, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
It’s also the practical choice
- No public-jetty traffic. Crossing from the Oberoi’s own dock means you avoid the traffic to the public jetty.
- No premium. It costs the same as the road transfer, or less.
- Only about fifteen minutes longer than driving to the door.
Arrivals like this one are my favorite kind of travel detail. I share them every Friday in Weekly Wanderlust, along with where I’ve been and what I’d book.
How to time it
Aim for a late-afternoon arrival into Udaipur so the crossing lands at sunset. That single choice is worth more than any upgrade.
How long to stay in Udaipur
Three nights, not two. Udaipur rewards slowing down. With three nights there’s room for:
- The old city: the Jagdish Temple, the City Palace, and a tuk-tuk through the lanes.
- An afternoon at the hotel spa, which is terrific.
- A half-day into the hills: the ruined Sas-Bahu temples at Nagda, the Eklingji Shiva temple complex, and lunch with a mountain view at RAAS Devigarh.
For clients, we build the stay hour by hour, down to which room category earns its price. That’s the kind of thing we arrange privately.
One thing to know
A Ritz-Carlton is under construction next door, with opening expected around 2027 or 2028. We’ll be watching how that changes the setting.
Quick answers
How far is The Oberoi Udaivilas from Udaipur airport?
About forty-five minutes by road to the door. The boat route, via the hotel’s private dock, takes about an hour.
Does the boat arrival cost extra?
In our experience it costs the same as the road transfer, or less.
How many nights should I spend in Udaipur?
Three nights, not two. Udaipur rewards slowing down.
More on what the Oberoi gets right in The First Thirty Minutes. And before you shop Udaipur’s textiles and miniatures, read Before You Buy in India. For my reflections on the whole journey: Moments of Elegance in Chaos.
Want the next one? Weekly Wanderlust is my Friday letter: where I’ve been, what I’d book, and what I’d skip.
Planning India for 2027?
Disclosure: I traveled as a guest of this trip’s partners at trade rates, and I may earn a commission when clients book.
Photo credit: Julie Prusak
