From Picture Palace to Backpacker Hostel: Inside The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House

Udaipur doesn't do subtle. Lakes hand the palaces a second, upside-down copy at sunset, old-city lanes fold into ghats without warning, and almost every building has a story it's happy to tell you. So it fits that one of the city's best ones starts with a film reel.

In 1942, a Picture Palace opened on Panchsheel Marg as Udaipur's first cinema. Today the same building is The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House, a backpacker hostel in Udaipur where Art Deco geometry, loud murals and a fresh crowd of travellers have given an old landmark a second run.

Book a bed here and you're in the next scene.

Quick answer: The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House is a backpacker hostel inside a restored 1942 Picture Palace at Plot No. 1, Panchsheel Marg, Bapu Bazar, Udaipur. The property offers air-conditioned dorms, including female-only dorms, private rooms, a shared pool open from 8 AM to 7 PM, Wi-Fi, workation facilities and pet-friendly private rooms. It is located close to City Palace, Lake Pichola, Gangaur Ghat and Bagore Ki Haveli.

From cinema to backpacker hostel

Every old building has a story, but some deserve a second act.

Picture Palaces like this one went up across Indian cities through the 1930s and 40s, built in the Art Deco style then spreading out of Bombay: geometric facades, sweeping curves, lettering made for a marquee. Udaipur's arrived in a city better known for havelis and temples than movie halls.

The Hosteller took the building on as a restoration rather than a teardown, and it opened as The Hosteller Artist House Udaipur in September 2023. It has since moved under BAM, the brand's smart-stay label, which is why check-in runs through the Glu app and your door opens with an OTP instead of a key.

A hall that once put strangers in rows to watch stories now puts them in the same common room to trade their own. For anyone comparing hostels in Udaipur, that's the difference a booking-page checklist can't show you.

Inside The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House

The building gives the place its soul. The interiors give it a personality.

Murals cover the walls, geometric patterns run through the corridors, and the statement staircases keep something of a grand cinema entrance about them. The Art Deco cues are everywhere, mixed with loud colour and playful artwork, and the result feels creative without turning the old building into a museum.

There's a shared pool, open 8 AM to 7 PM, for the afternoons when you'd rather trade sightseeing for downtime. Indoor games and common areas, open 24 hours, give the hostel its social side. After a day around the lake, this is where you compare recommendations with other travellers or just take a break before heading back out.

Remote workers are covered too. With Wi-Fi, power backup and workation-friendly spaces, a workation in Udaipur can start with a morning of emails and still leave room for sunset.

Dorms and private rooms: what you actually get

Not every traveller travels the same way. Some are backpacking through Rajasthan and want to meet people. Others are travelling as a couple and would rather close the door at the end of the day. 

The Hosteller BAM Udaipur has both dormitories and private rooms, with a maximum of 95 guests across the property, small enough that you'll recognise faces by day two.

The dorm rooms in Udaipur here are built for the classic hostel setup with the practical details handled: lockers, charging points and blackout curtains give you a small private bubble in a shared room. Female-only dorms are available if you'd rather book into one.

The private rooms in Udaipur suit couples, workation stays and anyone who wants a door that closes on the day. The hostel's social spaces are still just outside it.

One thing to remember: Every door, dorm or private, opens with an OTP sent through the Glu app. There's no elevator, so pack with the stairs in mind.

A hostel near City Palace and Lake Pichola

Udaipur is a city where the surroundings are half the reason to visit, so location matters. The hostel sits in Bapu Bazar, and City Palace and Lake Pichola are about 2 km away, roughly a 25-minute walk through the old city or a short auto-rickshaw ride. That makes it a practical hostel near City Palace for anyone who wants to build the palace into a day without turning the itinerary into a commute, and an easy base if you'd like to stay in Udaipur near Lake Pichola. Here's what to add to your itinerary.

City Palace

The obvious first stop. The complex rises above Lake Pichola, and its museum galleries, courtyards and balconies easily take half a day, so give yourself the time.

Lake Pichola

The view across the water is the picture most people have of Udaipur. Take a boat out towards Jag Mandir island around sunset, when the light catches the palace walls.

Gangaur Ghat

On the lakefront beside Bagore Ki Haveli, this is the slower option. Sit on the steps as the day winds down and watch the city go about its evening.

Bagore Ki Haveli

An 18th-century haveli that hosts an evening folk dance show, which makes it a good first-night plan.

Jagdish Temple

Built in the 17th century and reached by a steep flight of steps, with a heavily carved facade. It's an easy stop on an old-city walk.

Planning a longer trip? Read 7 things to do in Udaipur, the guide to Udaipur's historic old city and why Udaipur is called the City of Lakes.

Who this hostel works for 

Solo travellers get the easiest deal. Solo travel in Udaipur is simpler when there's a common room where plans get made, and the female-only dorms and 24-hour reception help on late arrivals.

Couples can take a private room and keep the hostel atmosphere just outside the door.

Remote workers can settle in with Wi-Fi and power backup, finish the emails, then close the laptop and go find the sunset.

Pet parents can bring a dog or cat, which makes it a pet-friendly hostel in Udaipur, as long as you book a private room.

Good to know before you book

A few practical details make checking in easier.

• Check-in: 2 PM
• Check-out: 11 AM
• Reception: 24 hours
• Common areas: 24 hours
• Pool: 8 AM to 7 PM
• Silent hours: 10 PM to 8 AM
• Guest visits: 9 AM to 9 PM, in common areas only
• Age policy: 18+ only
• Parking: subject to availability, limited to 10 cars
• Pets: private rooms only
• ID: government-approved photo ID required
• Payment: full prepayment required

Outside food is permitted in designated common areas and private rooms, but not inside dormitories. Alcohol is prohibited on the premises, and smoking is allowed only in designated smoking areas. Foreign guests need to carry their original passport and valid visa for check-in.

All guests also complete a contactless pre-arrival check-in through the Glu app, and the smart locks operate on OTPs received through the app. Groups of seven or more can use the group booking discount listed on the property page.

How to reach The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House

• From airport: Maharana Pratap Airport is approximately 22 km from the hostel. A cab takes around 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
• From railway station: Udaipur City Railway Station is approximately 2 km away, making it a short auto-rickshaw or cab ride from the property.
• From bus: Udaipole Central Bus Stand, or the RSRTC Bus Stand, is approximately 800 metres from the hostel. Coming in by bus? This is one of the easiest arrival points, especially if you're travelling with a backpack and don't want a long transfer after getting off.

The best time to visit Udaipur

October to March is the most comfortable stretch. Cooler days and pleasant evenings make it easy to spend hours walking the old city, moving between heritage sights and sitting by Lake Pichola as the light changes. It's also the busiest season, so book early.

April to June gets hot, with afternoons regularly pushing 40°C. Start early, explore at a slower pace and save the hottest hours for lunch, a break at the hostel or a dip in the pool.

July to September is monsoon, when the hills turn green, the lakes fill and the city feels a long way from the dry Rajasthan most travellers imagine.

Planning a rainy-season trip? Read our guide to places to visit in Udaipur during monsoon.

Book a hostel in Udaipur inside a 1942 cinema

The screens are gone, but the building still draws a crowd. Where Udaipur once lined up for tickets, travellers now swap route plans in the common room, cool off in the pool after a day on the ghats and head back out to the lakes with a fresh set of recommendations.

If that sounds like your kind of detour, book The Hosteller BAM Udaipur, Artist House for your dates. 

Winter is the busiest season, so lock in October to March stays early. Travelling with seven or more? Check the group booking discount on the property page before you split the bookings.