Is Udaipur Safe in May 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.

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.

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.

Taxis outside Maharana Pratap Airport quote flat fares to the city significantly above the metered rate. The airport is approximately 22 km from the old city, and legitimate ride-hailing fares on Ola are well-established. Touts at the arrival exit actively intercept passengers before they reach the official prepaid taxi counter or app pickup zones.

How to avoid: Book an Ola cab from the app pickup zone before exiting the terminal. The official prepaid taxi counter inside the terminal provides fixed-rate receipts. Do not accept rides from anyone who approaches you inside or immediately outside the arrival hall.

Auto-rickshaw drivers in Udaipur's old city employ two related tactics: presenting meters that are disabled, stuck, or run at double speed; or deliberately taking circuitous routes through residential neighbourhoods to inflate the fare, claiming road closures or one-way restrictions that do not exist. The correct fare from the old city to the train station should be approximately ₹80–120; inflated fares can reach ₹300–500 for the same journey.

How to avoid: Agree on a fixed fare before boarding any auto-rickshaw. Use Ola or Rapido for metered rides where fare is agreed digitally. Follow your route on Google Maps during the ride. The Udaipur tourism police helpline (0294-2410501) can be called if a driver becomes aggressive over fare disputes.