Quick answer: Bagore ki Haveli is an 18th-century mansion on Gangaur Ghat, Lake Pichola, now a museum by day and home to the Dharohar folk dance show every evening at about 7 PM. The museum is open roughly 10 AM to 6:30 PM (about ₹60 Indian, ₹100 foreign). Show tickets are around ₹90–150. The show lasts an hour, and you should queue by 6:15 PM.
The show is the reason most people come. An hour of Rajasthani folk dance in a lamp-lit courtyard, with the lake just outside the walls. It ends with an elderly performer dancing with a tower of brass pots balanced on her head, and the room goes quiet. Of all the evening things to do in Udaipur, this is the one guests mention to us most often afterwards.
Bagore ki Haveli at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Gangaur Ghat, Lake Pichola, old city |
| Built | 18th century, by Amar Chand Badwa, prime minister of Mewar |
| Museum timings | Approx. 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM |
| Museum ticket | Approx. ₹60 Indian / ₹100 foreign |
| Dharohar show | Daily, approx. 7:00 – 8:00 PM |
| Show ticket | Approx. ₹90–150 (Indian), higher for foreigners; camera extra |
| Queue | Arrive by 6:15 PM in season |
Ticket prices and show times are from recent published rates and can change. Confirm at the gate.
A Short History
Amar Chand Badwa, prime minister of Mewar in the 18th century, built the haveli right on the water at Gangaur Ghat. After his death it passed to the royal family. In 1878, Maharaj Shakti Singh of Bagore made it his home and added the triple-arched gate you see from the lake, which is how it got its name.
After Independence the haveli was used by the state government and fell into disrepair. It was restored in the late 1980s and 1990s by the West Zone Cultural Centre, which still runs it as a museum and cultural venue.
The Museum
The haveli has well over a hundred rooms arranged around courtyards, and a good number are open as galleries. Allow about an hour.
- The royal quarters: rooms set up as they might have been, with furniture, mirror-work and frescoes.
- The glass and mirror rooms: coloured glass windows throw patterns across the floor in the afternoon.
- The puppet gallery: Rajasthani kathputli puppets, a tradition you’ll also see performed in the old city.
- The turban collection: an unusual display of turbans in the regional styles of Rajasthan, including one that’s claimed to be among the largest in the world.
- Views of Lake Pichola: from the upper balconies over Gangaur Ghat.
The museum is quiet compared with the City Palace, and the light is best in the late afternoon. If you’re coming for the show, visit the museum an hour or two before and stay on.
The Dharohar Folk Dance Show
What you’ll see
The show runs about an hour and moves through several Rajasthani dance forms and music, performed by a resident troupe. Exact items change, but you’ll usually see:
- Ghoomar, the twirling dance of Rajasthani women in full-skirted ghagras
- Chari dance, with brass pots and lit lamps balanced on the head
- Terah Taali, performed seated, with small cymbals tied to the body and struck in rhythm
- Puppet show, a short, comic kathputli performance that children love
- Bhavai, the finale, with a tall stack of pots balanced on the dancer’s head while she dances on brass plates and glass
The courtyard is open-air and the seating is on the floor or low benches, depending on the crowd. Musicians sit at the side with dholak and harmonium.
Timings and tickets
The show is held every evening, generally from 7 to 8 PM. Tickets go on sale at the haveli gate in the evening, usually from about 6 PM. There’s an extra charge for cameras.
How early should you arrive?
In the busy season (October to March), the queue starts forming around 6 PM and the show can sell out. Arrive by 6:15 PM to be safe and you’ll also get a better seat. Off-season, 6:40 PM is usually fine.
Sit towards the front and centre if you can. The finale is far better close up.
The Stories Behind the Dances
Ghoomar began as a dance of the Bhil community and was adopted by the Rajput royal courts. Women dance in circles, their long skirts spreading out as they spin. It’s performed at weddings and festivals across Rajasthan, and it’s often the opening piece of the show.
Terah Taali means “thirteen cymbals”. It comes from the Kamad community and is linked to the worship of the folk deity Baba Ramdev. Performers tie small cymbals to their wrists, elbows and legs and strike them in complex rhythms while sitting, sometimes holding a sword in their teeth.
Chari comes from the Kishangarh region. Dancers balance brass pots, sometimes with lit oil lamps inside, on their heads while moving gracefully. It’s said to recall women carrying water across long distances in the desert.
Bhavai is the showstopper. The dancer balances a tower of pots, seven or more, while dancing on the rim of a brass plate or on broken glass. It takes years of practice, and at Bagore ki Haveli it’s often performed by a senior artist whose skill brings the audience to its feet.
Gangaur Ghat and the Gangaur Festival
The haveli takes its setting from Gangaur Ghat, the main bathing ghat of the old city. During the Gangaur festival in spring (usually March or April), women carry idols of the goddess Gauri down to the ghat in procession, and boats float out onto Lake Pichola. It’s one of the most colourful days in the Udaipur calendar. If your dates are flexible, it’s worth timing a visit around it, though the show may be busier than usual.
Is the Show Worth It?
Yes. It’s inexpensive, well performed and genuinely local. It isn’t a hotel cabaret. The performers are skilled folk artists, and the setting, a haveli courtyard beside the lake, does a lot of the work.
It suits families, couples and solo travellers equally. Children usually love the puppets and the pot-balancing finale.
An Easy Evening Plan
- 4:30 PM: Sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola from Rameshwar Ghat, or walk the ghats.
- 6:15 PM: Queue at Bagore ki Haveli for the show.
- 7:00–8:00 PM: Dharohar show.
- 8:15 PM: Walk across the Daiji footbridge to Ambrai Ghat for the lit-up City Palace, then dinner at a lakeside rooftop.
Everything is within walking distance in the old city. Lanes around Gangaur Ghat are narrow, so cars drop off nearby and you walk the last few minutes.
Tips
- Bring cash for tickets, in case card payment isn’t working.
- Carry a shawl in winter. The courtyard gets cool after dark.
- Don’t use flash. It distracts the dancers, especially during the finale.
- Visit the museum separately if you’re short on time in the evening. It closes before the show starts.
Our Udaipur sightseeing day tour can end with drop-off near Gangaur Ghat in time for the show, and our Udaipur tour packages build in a free evening for it.
Call or WhatsApp +91-8619315547, or book a taxi in Udaipur.
Planning more of Rajasthan? Browse all our guides on the Rajasthan Travel Blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the timing of the Bagore ki Haveli show?
The Dharohar folk dance show usually runs daily from about 7 to 8 PM. Tickets go on sale at the gate in the early evening. Confirm the time locally, as it can change.
2. What is the ticket price for the Bagore ki Haveli show?
Recent show prices are about ₹90–150 for Indian visitors, with higher rates for foreign nationals and an extra charge for cameras. Check current prices at the gate.
3. How early should I arrive for the Dharohar show?
In peak season, arrive by around 6:15 PM, as the queue forms early and shows can sell out. Off-season, arriving by 6:40 PM is usually enough.
4. What are the museum timings at Bagore ki Haveli?
The museum is generally open from about 10 AM to 6:30 PM. It closes before the evening show, so plan your visit separately if you want to see both.
5. Who built Bagore ki Haveli?
Amar Chand Badwa, prime minister of Mewar, built the haveli in the 18th century. In 1878, Maharaj Shakti Singh of Bagore made it his home and added the triple-arched gate.
6. What dances are performed in the Dharohar show?
The show usually includes Ghoomar, Chari, Terah Taali, a puppet show and a Bhavai finale, where the dancer balances a tall stack of pots on her head.
7. How long is the Bagore ki Haveli show?
The show lasts about an hour, usually from 7 to 8 PM.
8. Where is Bagore ki Haveli?
It’s on Gangaur Ghat on the shore of Lake Pichola, in Udaipur’s old city, a short walk from the City Palace and Jagdish Temple.
9. Is the Bagore ki Haveli show good for children?
Yes. The puppet show and the pot-balancing finale are big hits with children, and the show is only an hour long.
10. Can I take photos during the show?
Yes, with a camera ticket. Avoid using flash, especially during the Bhavai finale.