Delhi to Udaipur by Road: A Self-Drive Guide to the City of Lakes

Udaipur is one of the most rewarding road trips you can make from Delhi. In one long day the scenery changes from the busy Delhi–Jaipur highway to the rocky Aravalli hills and the lakes and palaces of Mewar. The drive is about 660–700 km and takes 10–12 hours at the wheel, so most people either leave very early or split it into two easy days. This guide covers the routes, where to stop, what tolls and fuel cost, and how to plan the trip in a self-drive car from Delhi.

Delhi to Udaipur at a glance

• Distance: about 660–700 km, depending on the route.
• Driving time: 10–12 hours without long stops; plan on 12–13 with meals and fuel.
• Tolls: roughly ₹1,000–1,500 one way for a car, paid by FASTag.
• Best time: September to March. April to June is very hot, and July and August bring heavy rain.
• Good for: a long weekend of 3–4 days, or a week with Jaipur, Chittorgarh or Kumbhalgarh added.

Which route to take

Both main routes start the same way: NH48 from Delhi through Gurugram, Neemrana and Shahpura to Jaipur, about 280 km. They split at Kishangarh, about 100 km past Jaipur.

Route 1: via Ajmer, Beawar and Nathdwara

The classic way. From Kishangarh the highway runs past Ajmer to Beawar, then on NH58 through Rajsamand and Nathdwara into Udaipur. At about 660 km it is the shorter option, and the more scenic one, as the last stretch winds through the Aravallis. Stop at Nathdwara for the Shrinathji temple, or make the short detour to Haldighati.

Route 2: via Bhilwara and Chittorgarh

From Kishangarh, head south through Bhilwara and Chittorgarh. It is a little longer, about 690–700 km, but mostly a wide divided highway that is easy going on a long day. The reward is Chittorgarh Fort, one of Rajasthan's UNESCO-listed hill forts, about two hours before Udaipur. Give it at least two hours, or stay the night.

Plan the drive: one day or two

In one day

1. Leave Delhi by 5–6 am to clear Gurugram before the morning traffic.
2. Have breakfast around Behror or Kotputli and pass Jaipur by late morning.
3. Stop for lunch around Kishangarh or Ajmer, about six hours in.
4. Take Route 1 or Route 2 and reach Udaipur by early evening, before dark in the hills.

In two days

Break the drive at Jaipur, Ajmer or Pushkar on Route 1, or at Chittorgarh on Route 2. A night in Jaipur adds the Amber Fort and the old city; a night in Chittorgarh lets you see the fort in the evening light and reach Udaipur by lunch the next day.

Our Delhi to Jaipur guide covers the first leg in detail, and the Great Rajasthan circuit links Udaipur with Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

Road conditions and driving tips

• Expect heavy truck traffic on NH48 around Gurugram, Shahjahanpur and the Jaipur bypass; the road is wide and fast beyond them.
• The hill section before Udaipur, especially on Route 1, has curves and climbs: drive it in daylight.
• Cattle and slow tractors are common on Rajasthan highways after dark, another reason to arrive before sunset.
• Fuel is easy to find on both routes, but fill up before the expressway and the hill sections.
• Our cars have a 120 km/h speed limit, so plan your timings at a steady highway pace.
• Keep the FASTag topped up: the plazas come often, and the tolls on your trip are yours to pay.

Tolls and fuel costs

Tolls come to roughly ₹1,000–1,500 each way for a car, depending on the route and whether you use the expressway, so about ₹2,000–3,000 for the round trip. Every Aadhya car has a FASTag.

For fuel, a petrol SUV doing 14 km a litre uses about 47 litres each way: roughly ₹4,500 at ₹96 a litre, or about ₹9,000 for the round trip. The fuel estimator on this page works it out for your trip.

Things to do in Udaipur

Give Udaipur at least two full days, and leave the car at your hotel in the old city: the lanes around Lake Pichola are narrow and busy, and autos are easier.

• The City Palace, then a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola with a stop at Jag Mandir.
• Bagore Ki Haveli's evening folk-dance show, and a walk around Fateh Sagar Lake.
• Sajjangarh, the Monsoon Palace, for the view over the lakes at sunset.
• The gardens and fountains of Saheliyon Ki Bari.

With your own car the day trips are easy: Kumbhalgarh Fort and the Ranakpur Jain temples make a classic full day (Kumbhalgarh is about 85 km away), and Mount Abu is about 165 km.

Renting a self-drive car for Udaipur

A Udaipur trip usually runs 4–6 days, which suits a self-drive car better than a cab: you stop where you like and have the car for the day trips.

• Unlimited kilometres and an All-India permit on every car; you pay any state entry taxes.
• Trips over 48 hours get 10% off, and over 5 days 20% off.
• For a family or group, an SUV or 7-seater such as the Scorpio N, XUV 7XO or Ertiga is comfortable on the highway; for two, a Brezza or Grand Vitara is plenty.
• Collect the car at our Mahipalpur office near IGI Airport, or have it delivered anywhere in Delhi NCR.
• You need a driving licence held for at least a year, a government ID and a ₹5,000 refundable deposit.

See all our cars or read more about outstation trips from Delhi.