India, Rajasthan. The Monsoon Palace, Udaipur.

Getty Images/AWL Images RM

Sajjan Garh

Udaipur


Perched on top of a distant hill like a fairy-tale castle, this melancholy, neglected late-19th-century palace was constructed by Maharana Sajjan Singh. Originally an astronomical centre, it became a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. Now government owned, it’s in a sadly dilapidated state, but visitors stream up here for the marvellous views, particularly at sunset. It’s 5km west of the old city as the crow flies, about 9km by the winding road.

At the foot of the hill you enter the 5-sq-km Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary. A good way to visit is with the daily sunset excursion in a minivan driven by an enterprising taxi driver who picks up tourists at the entrance to Bagore-ki-Haveli at Gangaur Ghat every day at 5pm. The round trip costs ₹350 per person, including waiting time (but not the sanctuary fees). His minivan has ‘Monsoon Palace–Sajjangarh Fort’ written across the front of it. Alternatively, autorickshaws charge ₹200 one way to the sanctuary gate, which they are not allowed to pass. Share taxis ferry people the final 4km up to the palace for ₹200 per person.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Udaipur attractions

1. Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary

0.07 MILES

On the way to Sajjan Garh, at the foot of the hill you enter the 5-sq-km Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary. A good way to visit is with the daily sunset…

2. Shilpgram

1.98 MILES

A crafts village west of Fateh Sagar, Shilpgram was inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. Set in dusty, rolling countryside, it’s contrived, but remains…

3. Saheliyon-ki-Bari

3.14 MILES

In the north of the city, about 3km from Lal Ghat, the Saheliyon-ki-Bari was built by Sangram Singh II in 1710. This small, quaint ornamental garden was…

4. Fateh Sagar

3.15 MILES

One kilometre north of Lake Pichola, this lake is ringed by hills and is a popular local hang-out. It was dammed in 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh, but…

5. Moti Magri

3.15 MILES

This hill park overlooking Fateh Sagar is topped by a statue of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap and his beloved horse Chetak, who together defied the…

6. Bagore-ki-Haveli

3.87 MILES

This gracious 18th-century haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence), set on the water’s edge at Gangaur Ghat, was built by a Mewar prime…

7. Lal Ghat

3.9 MILES

Lal Ghat is the traditional raveller ghetto of Udaipur. Now, along with with budget hotels, handicraft shops and rooftop restaurants there are several…

8. Jagniwas Island

3.93 MILES

Jagniwas Island is about 15,000 sq m in size and entirely covered by the opulent palace built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1754. Once the royal summer…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "india/rajasthan/udaipur/attractions/sajjan-garh/a/poi-sig/1148163/356462",
      "destination": "Udaipur",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "India",
      "region": "Rajasthan",
      "city": "Udaipur",
      "position": "superzone"
    }