How to Reach Udaipur — Every Route Explained
Four origin cities, three transport modes, one table. No fluff.
The Quick Answer
Flight: 1.5 hrs from Delhi or Mumbai. Often cheaper than the train. That's the answer for most people. From Jaipur: 6 hrs by road, scenic via Kumbhalgarh, worth driving. From Ahmedabad: 4.5 hrs, good highway, just drive. Full route-by-route breakdown below. Skip to the table if you already know your origin city.
By Air
Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR). 22 km from city centre. 45 min by taxi. One terminal, domestic only.
Routes: Delhi: 1.5 hrs, 4+ daily. Mumbai: 1.5 hrs, 3+ daily. Jaipur: 45 min. Ahmedabad: 1 hr. Bangalore: 2 hrs. Kolkata: 2.5 hrs. Carriers: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express.
Transfer: Prepaid taxi ₹400-600 (counter inside terminal). Uber/Ola ₹300-500 (patchy availability). Heritage hotel pickup: often free. No metro. No reliable bus.
By Train
Udaipur City Station. 3 km from Old City. ₹50-100 auto ride. Platform 1 handles most inbound trains.
Key trains: Mewar Express (12963) from Delhi: 12 hrs, overnight, departs 7 PM. Chetak Express from Jaipur: 6 hrs. Bandra-Udaipur SF from Mumbai: 14 hrs. Book IRCTC 2-3 months out for AC classes.
The smart move: Overnight Delhi train. Board 7 PM, arrive 7 AM. You skip a hotel night. AC 3-tier at ₹1,000 is the sweet spot between comfort and cost.
By Road
NH-48 (Delhi-Ahmedabad highway) runs right through. 4-lane divided for most approaches. Road quality: solid.
Self-drive: Doable from Jaipur (scenic via Kumbhalgarh) and Ahmedabad (easy highway). Fuel and tolls straightforward. From Delhi: 10 hours. Only for masochists.
RSRTC buses: Jaipur ₹500-800, 6 hrs. Ahmedabad ₹400-600, 5 hrs. Delhi ₹800-1,200, 10 hrs. Volvo AC available on all routes. Book at rsrtc.rajasthan.gov.in or at the bus stand.
From Mumbai — Your Most Likely Gateway
Mumbai is the most common starting point for Udaipur. Direct flights take 1.5 hours (₹3,000–7,000 on IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet). The Bandra-Udaipur Superfast overnight train takes 14 hours — board at night, arrive by morning, save a hotel night. By road it's 780 km on NH-48, roughly 12 hours — only worth it if you're stopping at Nashik or Mount Abu.
If you're spending time in Mumbai before heading here, check out the Mumbai transport guide for navigating local trains, autos, and airport transfers — and the Mumbai airport guide if you're catching a connecting flight to Udaipur from CSIA.
From Major Cities — At a Glance
| From | Flight | Train | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 1.5 hrs, ₹3,000–8,000 | 12 hrs, Mewar Express | 10 hrs, NH-48 (660 km) |
| Mumbai | 1.5 hrs, ₹3,000–7,000 | 14 hrs, Bandra-Udaipur SF | 12 hrs, NH-48 (780 km) |
| Jaipur | 45 min, ₹2,500–5,000 | 6 hrs, Chetak Express | 6 hrs, NH-48 (400 km) |
| Ahmedabad | 1 hr, ₹2,500–5,000 | 8 hrs, Ahmedabad-Udaipur Exp | 4.5 hrs, NH-48 (260 km) |
Real Talk from a Lakeside Local
What's the nearest airport to Udaipur?
Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR). 22 km out, 45 min by taxi. Direct from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata. Carriers: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express. No international flights.
Best train from Delhi to Udaipur?
Mewar Express (12963). Departs Delhi Sarai Rohilla 7 PM, arrives Udaipur 7 AM. Sleeper: ₹400. AC 3-tier: ₹1,000. AC 2-tier: ₹1,500. Book 2-3 months ahead on IRCTC. Overnight, saves a hotel night. Clear winner.
Should I drive or fly to Udaipur?
Delhi/Mumbai: fly. 10+ hours of driving is not a journey, it’s a punishment. Jaipur: drive if stopping at Kumbhalgarh or Ranakpur (worth it), fly if short on time. Ahmedabad: always drive. 4.5 hours, good highway, no contest.
Written by
The Udaipur Itinerary Team
We're a small team of Udaipur-based writers and locals who've spent years navigating the ghats, haggling with boat operators, and watching sunsets from every rooftop in the Old City. We test every route, eat at every restaurant we recommend, and update our guides when prices or timings change.
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