Route

Jodhpur to Udaipur

Desert gives way to the Aravallis on this drive, and the two great detours — Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh — are worth building an extra day around.

Distance: 250 km
Drive time: 4h 45m
Highways: NH 62
Stops: 4

Worth stopping for

Pali
Junction town where the Ranakpur road branches off.
Ranakpur
The 1,444-pillar Jain temple; visitors admitted from noon.
Kumbhalgarh
The 36 km fort wall, 50 minutes uphill from Ranakpur.
Jawai Bandh
Leopard country, if you can spare a night.

Before you set off

Ranakpur only admits non-Jain visitors from 12:00, so time the departure to arrive at noon rather than at nine.
Doing Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh in one day is possible but long — leave by 6:30 or split it over two days.
The last 60 km into Udaipur is hill road. Large coaches manage it, but the drive is slower than the map suggests.
Arrive in Udaipur before dark if you want the boat on Lake Pichola the same evening.

Questions about this route

How far is Jodhpur from Udaipur by road?

250 km, and roughly four and three-quarter hours of driving on NH 62. With the Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh detours it becomes a full day, covering about 310 km.

Can we cover Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh on the way?

Yes — it is the most popular way to do this route. Leave Jodhpur by 6:30, reach Ranakpur for the noon opening, take lunch there, and be at Kumbhalgarh by 15:00. You will reach Udaipur around 19:30.

Is a big bus suitable for this route?

Up to a 45-seater, yes. The Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh approaches are hill roads with tight hairpins, so for those detours a 35-seater or tempo traveller is a more comfortable choice.