Udaipur to Mount Abu — Hill Station Escape
From lake heat to hill cool in 3 hours. The air changes. The temperature drops. You exhale.
The Route
163 km. The first 130 km is flat highway through Pindwara — dry, warm, unremarkable. Then the road starts winding upward through the Aravallis and everything changes. The air cools. Trees appear. You roll down the window and the temperature has dropped ten degrees. Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station, and arriving here after days in the desert plains feels like someone turned on the air conditioning for an entire town. The Dilwara Jain Temples alone justify the drive: 11th-century marble carved so finely it looks like lace. But the relief of altitude is its own reward.
Distance
163 km
Drive Time
3 hrs
Hired Car
₹3,000–3,500
Getting There
Hired Car
₹3,000–3,500Round trip with driver and all-day waiting. Comfortable, flexible, and the driver handles the winding hill road so you can enjoy the scenery. Book through your hotel.
RSRTC Bus
₹200–300Government bus from Udaipur bus stand. 4 hours, basic but it gets you up the hill. Multiple daily departures. No frills, no flexibility, but the ticket price leaves more money for lunch with a view.
What to Do in Mount Abu
Dilwara Jain Temples
FreeDuration: 1.5–2 hours
The reason to come. Five marble temples built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The ceiling of Vimal Vasahi is so intricately carved it genuinely looks like lace draped in stone. No photography inside, which is frustrating until you realize the craftsmanship is better absorbed without a screen between you and it. Take your time. Look up. Then look up again.
Nakki Lake
₹100 boatingDuration: 45 min – 1 hour
A pleasant lake surrounded by hills. Pedal boats, row boats, a gentle breeze. It won’t rewrite your trip, but after the heat of Udaipur, sitting by water at 1,200 metres with cool air on your face is quietly wonderful. The market around it has decent food stalls for a mid-walk snack.
Sunset Point
FreeDuration: 30–45 min
Short walk from town to a viewpoint over the Aravalli plains. The sunset is solid. Not Udaipur-over-the-lake magical, but the altitude and the open sky give it a different quality. Gets crowded with domestic tourists. Snack vendors everywhere. Go for the view, stay for the chai.
Guru Shikhar
FreeDuration: 1 hour
Rajasthan’s highest point. 1,722 metres. A short drive plus a climb from town. At the top: the entire Aravalli range laid out below you, a small Vishnu temple, and air so clean it feels like you’ve left Rajasthan entirely. If you have an extra hour, the view is worth every step.
Achalgarh Fort & Temple
FreeDuration: 45 min – 1 hour
11 km from Mount Abu town. Most tourists skip this, which is exactly why you should go. The Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple here has a natural hole in the rock believed to be the footprint of Lord Shiva. The fort ruins offer solitude and views that rival Sunset Point without the crowds. The massive Nandi bull statues at the entrance are worth the drive alone.
Trevor’s Tank (Wildlife Sanctuary)
₹50Duration: 1–2 hours
5 km from town. A crocodile-inhabited lake surrounded by dry deciduous forest. Leopards, sloth bears, and wild boars live in these hills — sightings are rare but the birdwatching is excellent. Early morning or late afternoon is best. Not for everyone, but if you like wildlife over temples, this beats Nakki Lake by a mile.
Suggested Day Plan
Leave Udaipur. Early start beats the heat and gives you maximum time.
Arrive Mount Abu. The last 30 km of hairpin bends is beautiful — roll down the windows.
Dilwara Temples. The centrepiece of the trip. Give it 1.5–2 hours. No photography inside.
Lunch at Arbuda Restaurant or Chacha Museum (both near Nakki Lake). Rajasthani thali ₹200-300.
Nakki Lake. Pedal boat or just walk the perimeter. Pick up honeydew ice cream from any stall — it is a Mount Abu thing.
Guru Shikhar (optional, if time permits). Rajasthan’s highest point. 15 km drive + short climb.
Sunset Point. Arrive 30–45 min before sunset. Grab chai from a vendor. Watch the sky turn orange.
Head back to Udaipur. 3-hour drive. Arrive by 8:30–9 PM.
Where to Eat
Arbuda Restaurant
₹200–350Rajasthani thali
Near Nakki Lake. The local default. Thalis are generous, service is fast, and the dal baati is solid.
Chacha Museum Restaurant
₹300–500Multi-cuisine
Quirky décor, good paneer dishes, and a terrace. Slightly touristy but the food delivers.
Jodhpur Bhojanalaya
₹50–150Street food
Kachori, samosa, and mirchi vada. Cheap, fast, no frills. Near the bus stand.
Pro tip: Mount Abu honeydew ice cream is a local institution. Every visitor gets told about it. Buy it from any stall near Nakki Lake. It is exactly as sweet and artificially green as it sounds, and somehow that is part of the charm.
Staying Overnight
A day trip works, but spending one night transforms the experience. After days of Rajasthan heat, sleeping with the windows open in cool hill air is a small luxury. Mount Abu evenings are pleasant, the market comes alive after sunset, and the morning light on the hills is worth an early walk.
Budget
₹800–1,500/night
Hotel Lake Palace, Shri Ganesh Hotel — basic, clean, near Nakki Lake.
Mid-range
₹2,000–5,000/night
Hotel Hilltone, Cama Rajputana — better views, restaurant on-site, reliable AC/heating.
Luxury
₹8,000+/night
WelcomHeritage Connaught House, Palace Hotel (Bikaner House) — heritage properties with colonial character.
Insider Tips
The road is not all climbing
First 130 km is flat highway through Pindwara. Only the last 30 km climbs through hairpin bends. If you get carsick, carry medicine and sit in front.
Dilwara leather ban
No leather items (belts, bags, wallets, shoes) inside Dilwara Temples. Leave them in the car. They check at the entrance.
Gujarat border proximity
Mount Abu is 15 km from the Gujarat border. If heading to Ahmedabad after, consider going via Mount Abu instead of doubling back to Udaipur.
Driver’s lunch
Standard practice in Rajasthan: either buy your driver a meal or give ₹100-150 for food. They expect it, and it is the right thing to do.
Monsoon fog warning
July–September: the hill road gets foggy, especially in the final 30 km. Visibility can drop to 10 metres. Drive slowly or postpone if conditions are bad.
Real Talk from a Lakeside Local
Is Mount Abu a day trip or overnight?
Both work. Leave Udaipur at 7 AM, hit Dilwara Temples first, add one more spot, back by evening. But staying overnight is where the real value is. After days of Rajasthan heat, sleeping in cool hill air with the windows open is a small luxury. One night is plenty. Two is a proper escape.
Best time to visit Mount Abu?
October to March, same as Udaipur. But here’s the thing: Mount Abu is cooler year-round. Even in May, temperatures rarely cross 33°C. While Udaipur bakes at 42°C, Mount Abu feels like a different country. Monsoon brings lush greenery but the hill roads get foggy. Worth the trade-off if you like drama.
How is the road from Udaipur to Mount Abu?
Good. The first 130 km is flat NH highway through Pindwara — smooth, fast, unremarkable. The last 30 km is the fun part: hairpin bends climbing through the Aravallis with forest on both sides. Road surface is decent but watch for sharp turns and occasional trucks. The climb takes 45–60 minutes.
Can I take a bus to Mount Abu?
Yes. RSRTC buses run from Udaipur bus stand (₹200-300, 4 hours). Multiple daily departures. Basic seating, no AC on most routes. The bus drops you at Mount Abu bus stand, from where Nakki Lake is a 10-minute walk. Fine for budget travelers, but a hired car gives you flexibility to stop at Dilwara and Guru Shikhar.
Is Mount Abu worth it in summer?
Absolutely — that is arguably the best time. While Udaipur bakes at 42-45°C, Mount Abu rarely crosses 33°C. The altitude makes a real difference. Weekends in April-June can be crowded with Gujarat families escaping the heat, so visit on weekdays if possible.
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.