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Dreamyard Udaipur: Our first ever hostel stay in India
Updated: Oct 24
Dreamyard Udaipur is a highly-rated hostel located in the heart of Udaipur, India. It is known for its stunning rooftop views of Lake Pichola, friendly staff, and delicious food. The hostel offers a variety of accommodation options, including dorms, private rooms, and shared rooms. It also has a shared lounge, incredible sunset terrace, restaurant, and bar.
Udaipur, often called the "City of Lakes," is a captivating city in the Rajasthan state of India. Renowned for its picturesque waters, including the famous Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur boasts a rich history along with its stunning architecture. The City Palace, a magnificent blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles, overlooks the lakes and stands as a symbol of the city's regal heritage. The intricate Jagdish Temple, the serene Jag Mandir on an island in Lake Pichola, and the historic Saheliyon-ki-Bari garden contribute to the city's cultural and architectural allure.
We will share more from Udaipur in our upcoming blogs but for now we will focus on our first-ever hostel stay, in a country most famous for them! See just why Dreamyard Udaipur is named as such, a great place for those seeking a blend of natural views, historical charm, and cultural richness.
Thank you for stopping by, and a warm welcome to our India series here on Jenn & Leon Travel Blog. We had always wanted to visit this country, officially the 7th oldest in the world, and not only was the time finally upon us, but it came with our good friends and fellow Youtuber's Jackson and Marjo!
If you missed our earlier posts and would like to catch up, head over to our dedicated INDIA page or look out for the links in this blog.
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Getting to Dreamyard Udaipur from Jaipur
Easily our worst experience in India, the Sindhi Camp Bus Stand in Jaipur will haunt us for many years to come. The most chaotic of situations led us to missing our bus, and having to substitute it with a very dilapidated Grab for a SEVEN HOUR drive from Jaipur to Udaipur in Rajasthan. Tap the link below to find out more about this experience!
Our ride was certainly an experience, and once we arrived in Udaipur, we still had to take a final rickshaw ride to Dreamyard Hostel itself, as the roads were too narrow and steep for the car. At least this time we managed to get two! The ride was short, only about five minutes or so, and both rickshaws were actually really comfortable (unlike some we had used up to this point).
It is worth noting that there is access for cars at the front of the hostel, although it would mean driving through the main city market street. This is usually closed to cars and even though we did see some, it seemed restricted to taxis only. We did take a taxi on the way out and it picked us up out front, having made special arrangements with the hostel.
Our Dreamyard Udaipur highlights
We enjoyed our time here at Dreamyard for many reasons! From sunset views to chilling with our friends, we spent a couple of good days socializing and relaxing. There are many different vibes that accompany a hostel, with people coming and going literally every day. We felt such good energy and soul here, and we have to give a big props to Dreamyard for coming up with that name because you know, it happens to be spot on.
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⪢ The Location: Udaipur in Rajasthan & India
Udaipur is situated in the southern part of Rajasthan, nestled amidst the Aravalli Hills, which stretch across the state. The city lies on the southwestern edge of the Mewar Plateau, a region known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Udaipur is surrounded by several lakes, the most prominent of which are Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake. These lakes, along with the surrounding hills, create a picturesque landscape that has earned Udaipur the title of "City of Lakes."
Rajasthan, the land of kings and warriors, is located in the northwestern part of India. It is the largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous. Rajasthan is known for its colorful culture, majestic forts and palaces, and vast deserts. Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan, attracting visitors from all over the world.
The city's strategic location, close to the Gujarat border, has played a significant role in its history. Udaipur was once the capital of the Mewar kingdom, a powerful state that ruled over much of Rajasthan. The city's rich history is reflected in its numerous palaces, forts, and temples.
Dreamyard Hostel is located on Lake Pichola, just behind the famous Bagore-ki-Haveli (townhouse) which sits on the banks of the river. It is within walking distance of this townhouse-turned-museum and just across from the epic 18th century Taj Lake Palace (also known as Jadmandir, the name of the island its built on). You can see that from any one of three vantage points at Dreamyard.
It is super easy to arrange a taxi, or just step outside and grab a rickshaw. There is however limited access from the road to the right in the photo above. Directly behind where this photo is taken is a road which leads to the main 'high street'. When we first got to Udaipur, our driver took us as far as he could go by car, and we had to grab a rickshaw the last mile or so. The sat nav perhaps does not navigate the other way to get to Dreamyard, or maybe 50/50 you will get a driver who knows how to get to the front!
⪢ The cost
As we had a private room, the cost was a bit higher than what we could have got, had we wanted to stay in a dorm or shared room. Still, it is hard to complain at less than $50 per night. For the experience we had, it is exceptional value.
3 night cost: $140 CAD / $102.60 USD / £81.42
** prices quoted are at time of writing (Nov 2023) and are subject to change at any time
⪢ The Rooftop Terrace
We would like to think the rooftop terrace speaks for itself here at Dreamyard. It sits four stories high with relatively unobstructed views of the pretty spectacular Lake Pichola. Recently decorated, it is a comfortable space to wind down an evening or even to work if desired (we did not haha).
The hostel is renowned for its sunset views and we were really impressed by them. It all felt very calm and peaceful just watching the sun dip beneath the mountains. Waiting for the sky to illuminate in glowing pinks and oranges. It is really beautiful and a great spot to watch it from.
⪢ Stunning sunset views from the rooftop
So let's just continue to talk about sunset views because well, why not?!? We love a good sunset, and have been fortunate enough to see some pretty epic ones around the world in places like Georgia, Egypt and Canada. We really enjoy photographing them, even if it doesn't ever seem to truly come across on camera. But snap away nonetheless!
It was really really nice here, and even nicer knowing it is practically a daily occurrence throughout the year. It definitely adds sway to the association between India and the Sun, which is intertwined in so many of its cultures and customs. The Sun has a special spot for India, and sitting on the rooftop here, we can totally see why.
⪢ Night views from the terraces
Whenever there is a good daytime view, it is easy to get excited about the night view too. There is nothing quite like a good cityscape illuminated against a river with fireworks in the background. Especially when its an old city too.
Again, tough to come across on photos but it really was a delight to see the city from up here at night like this. It felt like there was this orange tint on everything that was lit up; it really felt like India. Moreso than Jaipur or Delhi, or even old Agra. Udaipur just hits different.
We were reluctant to go out much, as we were still feeling a little hit and miss with our stomachs. We were far better than we had been, and had a good go at stepping up our meal choices to test ourselves further. It was a good move, and a welcome one, but it did keep us more or less in the hostel, as we did not want to be too far from a viable bathroom.
With three nights here, we had the luxury of enjoying these views several times. It was worth it! Despite numerous apprehensions about staying in a hostel, staying in one that offered such wonderful day and night visuals certainly went some way to allaying those fears. We haven't even shown you inside yet, but what do you think so far?
⪢ Inside Dreamyard Udaipur
For even esteemed travelers, we can imagine this hostel would evoke a smile and a nod of the head for its interior design and decor. The fabric of the building is typically Indian, with its intricate fluted columns and scalloped arches standing proudly against the sky in the open air stairwell. On each of the first two floors there are balconies, this one being the second floor and that door to the right being our private room.
We could wax lyrical about this place to be honest. Awesome wall art, hanging vines all the way down the stairwell, country flags accompanying the vegetation like badges of honor. It felt traditional yet international; the vibes were flowing right the way through Dreamyard.
We spent most of our time in the third floor common room, a beautiful space with floor mattresses and small coffee tables. A large TV sits on the floor too, just beneath the bar counter actually! This is exactly what we imagined this hostel to be, sitting on the floor, lounging amongst pillows, and meeting all sorts of different people who all show up with a story to tell.
There was also a Carrom board here, which we did play a lot! Carrom is one of the oldest games in India and it was great that they have one. You can just make the board out to the right of the photo above. Have you ever heard of it?
A point of note is that smoking is permitted here, and if you are not comfortable with cigarette smoke it may not be a place you enjoy very much. Given the rooftop, it is surprising that smoking is allowed in the common areas; even as smokers we did not enjoy the stuffiness, especially on muggy nights of 25-30 degrees Celsius. There is an air-conditioning unit but it does not work very well.
Dreamyard definitely has some big ticks in the box for appearance, but on the surface, looks can be deceiving. We weren't expecting the Hilton per se, but the cleaning standards here are not the greatest. Many of the handrails in the common areas were sticky and grimy, as was our door handle and padlock latch. Enough that you would want to wash your hands afterwards.
The common area was also a little concerning in that the sheets and pillows were not being changed or washed, and the floor had been sticky and dirty for days. We understand high turnover of people but standards could definitely be higher with minimal effort here.
⪢ The food at Dreamyard Udaipur
While it may not look like a great deal from the photos, believe us, this was a step up from the same eggs and toast we had been eating for the last five days. The menu is limited here, but food is served from early morning till late night, and there are enough options to keep you trying something different for a couple of days.
We regret not being able to try more variety, not just here but everywhere we travelled in India. It is hard writing this and trying to be passionate about the food but we just weren't. We intentionally ordered plain meals, so while we can say they were cooked and served well, to no detriment of the establishment we can't jump up and down for it. But from what we saw being served and how it was talked about, the food here is GOOD. You will just have to trust us on that!
⪢ Our private room at Dreamyard Udaipur
In perhaps one of the most EPIC FAILS of our full time travels as bloggers, we genuinely did not take photos of the room! We must have been totally out of sorts when we got here because it did not even cross our minds until we started preparing this post.
On the plus side, we did film it, and the video is already up on YouTube. And it is right at the start of the video. Check it out if you want to see our private room, because that is all the footage we have haha! The room was nice and comfortable though, the WiFi, air conditioning and shower worked well, and it was relatively quiet in there too. It ticked all of the boxes!
Now we know what you might be thinking, that perhaps getting a private room was a cop out for a hostel stay? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't! Either way, we actually think it might be a good travel tip, maybe a way to slowly ease one into the hostel experience? Our biggest red lines were a private bathroom and our security. Everything else is doable for us. Good news is, Dreamyard delivered on both fronts, and we felt great throughout. So before you head for the dorms and shared w/c, do remember to check availability.
Security - did we feel safe at Dreamyard Hostel Udaipur?
Given that we were here with our travel couple friends Jackson and Marjo, our feeling of safety was already at a good high. They are experienced on the hostel scene and they felt pretty comfortable too. There was nothing to suggest any issue, and we were very relaxed. So much so that we invited our friend Vijay, who just so happened to be in Udaipur at the exact same time as us.
We met Vijay on Instagram many years ago when we were still fully engrossed in our poetry. Incredibly he had traveled to Udaipur that very same morning, literally within hours of us leaving Jaipur. He also happened to be staying just 20 minutes away from the hostel, another crazy not-so-coincidence! He visited on each of our last two nights, eating and drinking with us and playing Carrom until midnight!
We had a brilliant time, not just with Vijay but also several other awesome people we met during our stay. Still in touch, they are a lasting connection to Dreamyard and one that came at the perfect time for us. We were on a real low after suffering with our stomach bugs, so much so that we had been seriously considering canceling the next leg of our India trip. Dreamyard genuinely changed that, and gave us a renewed vigour to tackle our next city of Amritsar!
Hostel Services
Dreamyard Hostel does offer laundry services, but do charge per-garment which can work out to be quite expensive.
Other services include a to-the-door taxi, scooter rentals, money exchange and excursions including boat tickets for Lake Pichola. Of course, rickshaws can also be requested here.
How to find Dreamyard Udaipur
Dreamyard Udaipur is not far from Udaipur city centre. The drive by car is only 3.7 km and takes about 14 minutes. You can take NH58 / NH76A roads to get there. Traffic conditions are slightly better in Udaipur than other cities.
Parking is available near to the Dreamyard Hostel but not directly in front of it. The nearest lot is about a 5 minute walk away.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly travel option, you can also take a rickshaw / auto-rickshaw. The fare will be around ₹100-150 from the city.
Contact Information
Address: 23/165, Lal Ghat Road, Old City, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, India
Contact Numbers: +91 666 56366
Opening times (manned concierge): 24 hours
Check-in: 13:00 / Check out: 10:30
Instagram: @dreamyard_udaipur
A 3-star homestay that really feels like so much more! This beautiful hotel is in a great location and is themed on the six seasons in India.
Our Dreamyard Udaipur experience ratings
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
We were with the friends we were traveling with, we met new friends, and we even met a friend from Instagram who we had known for years but never even seen in person. The Dreamyard stay was a dream for us, and we found this to be one of our all-time favorites in terms of enjoyment. We thought the location was great in terms of sightseeing, but in the end, we were perfectly happy enjoying the vibe of the hostel!
✓ Cleanliness: 2/5
This was really our only fault with this hostel. On the face of it, things do look good, but look a little closer at the detail and it is not great. It feels like the whole place needs a thorough deep clean, and improvements in the daily maintenance of the common area. It is by no means terrible, but cleaning high-used things like switches, railings and handles should be a given, as should regularly cleaning the common room area.
✓ Cost & Value for money: 5/5
✓ Food & Drink: 3/5
✓ Location: 5/5
✓ Service: 5/5
Coming up: Traditional folk dancing at the Bagore Ki Haveli Mansion, plus a look at Nexus Celebration Mall in Udaipur
We take an incredible auto rickshaw ride, that had the BEST music speakers, all the way to the ultra modern shopping venue NEXUS CELEBRATION MALL in central Udaipur to do some shopping.
We also attend a traditional Indian dance show for only $2 at the Gangour Ghat for sunset at Bagore Ki Haveli. The museum sits on the bank of Lake Pichola with a beautiful view of the famous Taj Lake Palace! All of this was just steps away from our accommodation at the Dreamyard Hostel!
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