Is Udaipur Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Udaipur's auto-rickshaw and tuk-tuk drivers operate the most comprehensive commission shop network in Rajasthan, earning 20–40% referral fees from craft shops, gem dealers, and tailors to which they deliver tourists. Drivers typically offer free or heavily discounted transport in exchange for visiting specific shops, or claim a shop is "on the way" to your destination when it is not. This is the most-reported scam in Udaipur.

How to avoid: Negotiate your fare to your actual destination before boarding and explicitly state you do not want to stop at shops. If a driver detours or insists on a stop, refuse to enter the shop, wait at the vehicle, and insist on continuing. Use Ola auto-rickshaws where available.

Where: Throughout old city, particularly near City Palace gate, Jagdish Temple, Fateh Sagar Lake promenade, and the main bazaar area of Hathi Pol

A well-dressed local or someone posing as a fellow tourist strikes up conversation near Jagdish Temple or the lake ghats and eventually steers the conversation toward gems, claiming that Udaipur's sapphires, rubies, and semi-precious stones can be purchased cheaply and resold at home for significant profit due to import tax advantages. The gems are invariably low-grade or synthetic, and the promised resale market does not exist. Victims typically spend between ₹10,000 and ₹1,00,000 on worthless stones.

How to avoid: Never purchase gemstones or jewellery with the intention of reselling abroad based on a stranger's advice. Legitimate gem dealers do not approach tourists on the street. If genuinely interested in gems, visit only Rajasthan government-certified shops.

Where: Near Jagdish Temple on City Palace Road, along the Lake Pichola ghats between Gangaur Ghat and Lal Ghat, and in the lanes of the old city walled bazaar

Udaipur and the surrounding region are known for genuine marble inlay work (pietra dura), but the tourist market is saturated with Chinese-manufactured or low-grade domestic imitations sold as authentic hand-inlaid marble. Painted alabaster or soapstone pieces are sold as marble, and machine-made inlay work is represented as hand-crafted. Prices for fake items can still be several thousand rupees.

How to avoid: Test marble by touching it — genuine marble is always cool to the touch even in heat. Inspect inlay work with a loupe if possible; genuine pietra dura has stones set flush with no visible adhesive residue. Buy marble crafts only from workshops where you can observe artisans working, such as those in the Shilpgram Crafts Village.

Where: Craft and souvenir shops throughout old city, particularly near Jagdish Temple and City Palace Road, shops recommended by auto-rickshaw drivers

Strangers approach tourists — often near ghats, rooftop restaurants, or on trains — and offer snacks, beverages, or cigarettes laced with sedatives. Once the victim is incapacitated, accomplices rob them of cash, phones, and passports. The UK FCDO and Canadian government both issue specific warnings about this tactic across Indian tourist destinations including Rajasthan. Victims often have no memory of what occurred.

How to avoid: Never accept food, drinks, gum, or cigarettes from strangers regardless of how friendly or trustworthy they appear. At restaurants and cafes, do not leave your drink unattended. Be particularly cautious of people who approach you at transport hubs or ghats and quickly try to establish rapport.

Where: Lake Pichola ghats, Jagdish Temple area, Udaipur Railway Station, and rooftop restaurants in the Lal Ghat neighbourhood