Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh Distance: Routes, Time and Guide

The journey from Udaipur, the romantic City of Lakes, to Kumbhalgarh, home of one of the mightiest hill forts in all of India, is a short and beautiful drive up into the Aravalli hills and one of the great excursions from Udaipur. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh distance, the routes, the travel time, the great fort and how to plan your trip, a wonderful addition to a Rajasthan journey or a Golden Triangle tour extended into the state.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years planning trips across Rajasthan for Experience My India I have arranged this short drive many times for travellers heading from the lakes of Udaipur to the great fort of Kumbhalgarh. Here is the clear, practical guide to the journey.

Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh distance at a glance

Distances and times are approximate and vary with the exact start and end points, the traffic and the road conditions on the day.

How far is Kumbhalgarh from Udaipur?

The road distance from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh is roughly 81 to 85 kilometres, depending on which route you take and the drive generally takes about 2 hours under normal conditions. Kumbhalgarh lies to the north of Udaipur, set high in the rugged Aravalli hills and the journey is a scenic one, climbing up through the hills to the great fort.

This short distance makes Kumbhalgarh one of the most popular and rewarding excursions from Udaipur, easily done as a day trip or combined with the famous Ranakpur Jain Temple nearby. The distance is similar in either direction, so the return journey from Kumbhalgarh to Udaipur takes much the same time, around 2 hours.

The routes from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh

There are a few ways to make the drive, though the differences between them are small, as all the routes take around the same time. Here are the main options.

Via NH162E (about 85 km, around 2 hours)

The route via NH162E is the main and most direct way between Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh, covering about 85 kilometres in around 2 hours. It runs north from Udaipur up into the Aravalli hills to the fort and for most travellers it is the natural choice, a smooth and scenic drive.

Via NH27 and NH162E (about 84 km, around 2 hours)

The route combining NH27 with NH162E covers about 84 kilometres and also takes around 2 hours. It uses the national highway before joining the road up to Kumbhalgarh and is a good alternative with much the same time as the main route.

Via SH32 and NH162E (about 81 km, around 2 hours)

The route via the state highway SH32 and NH162E is the shortest in distance at about 81 kilometres and takes around 2 hours. It is another straightforward option, with very little to choose between it and the others in terms of time.

Whichever route you take, the drive is short, scenic and easy, climbing up into the beautiful Aravalli hills and an experienced local driver will choose the best option on the day to make it smooth and comfortable.

Kumbhalgarh Fort, the Great Wall of India

Kumbhalgarh, your destination, is home to one of the most magnificent and formidable hill forts in all of India, a mighty fortress of the Mewar kingdom built high in the Aravalli hills. It is one of the great forts of Rajasthan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visiting it is an unforgettable experience.

The most famous feature of Kumbhalgarh is its colossal perimeter wall, which winds for many kilometres over the hills and ridges, encircling the fort and its lands. This immense wall is said to be one of the longest continuous walls in the world, second only to the Great Wall of China, which has earned Kumbhalgarh the proud nickname of the Great Wall of India. To walk along or gaze upon this massive rampart, snaking over the hills as far as the eye can see, is a truly awe-inspiring sight.

Within the mighty walls, the fort rises to the beautiful Badal Mahal, the Palace of Clouds, at its summit, offering magnificent views over the Aravalli hills and, it is said, far across the land on a clear day. The fort is also dotted with many ancient temples and shrines within its walls, a reminder of its long history. Kumbhalgarh holds a special place in the history and pride of Mewar, celebrated as the birthplace of the legendary warrior king Maharana Pratap. In the evenings, a light and sound show brings the history of this great fort to life. Kumbhalgarh is one of the mightiest forts of the state, as our best forts in Rajasthan guide covers the great forts, Kumbhalgarh among them.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Ranakpur nearby

Beyond the fort, the Kumbhalgarh area offers more to enjoy. Surrounding the fort is the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected stretch of the Aravalli hills and forest that is home to a variety of wildlife, including leopards, wolves and other animals, as well as birds and offers a taste of the wild amid the dramatic hill scenery.

Not far from Kumbhalgarh lies one of the most beautiful temple complexes in all of India, the spectacular Ranakpur Jain Temple, renowned for its extraordinary marble architecture and its forest of intricately carved pillars, set in a peaceful valley. Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur are very often visited together, the two making a superb day out from Udaipur or a fine stop on the way north. The two sites also lie on the route between Udaipur and Jodhpur, so travellers making that longer journey often take them along the way, as our Udaipur to Jodhpur distance guide covers that drive.

What to see in Udaipur

Udaipur, the start of the drive, is the romantic City of Lakes and one of the most beautiful cities in India, so most travellers will spend time enjoying its wonders before or after the excursion to Kumbhalgarh. The city is full of beauty.

Udaipur is set around its lovely lakes, above all the famous Lake Pichola, with its island palaces and Lake Fateh Sagar, as our best lakes of Udaipur guide covers the lakes of the city. It is also a city of magnificent palaces, crowned by the vast and beautiful City Palace on the shore of Lake Pichola, as our best palaces of Udaipur guide covers the royal palaces. Between the lakes and the palaces, Udaipur is a city made for romance and beauty and the perfect base for the excursion up to the great fort of Kumbhalgarh.

Combining Kumbhalgarh with a wider trip

The short drive from Udaipur makes Kumbhalgarh easy to add to almost any Rajasthan itinerary. Most travellers visit it as a day trip from Udaipur, very often combined with the nearby Ranakpur Jain Temple, making a wonderful full day of fort and temple amid the beautiful Aravalli hills.

Kumbhalgarh also fits naturally into a wider journey. It can be a stop on the road north from Udaipur towards Jodhpur and Udaipur itself is the gateway to a cluster of rewarding excursions, as our Udaipur to Mount Abu distance guide covers the drive to Rajasthan's hill station and our Udaipur to Nathdwara distance guide covers the drive to the famous Shrinathji temple town. A longer trip can weave Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh and the other great destinations together with the Golden Triangle, as our one week North India itinerary guide maps out a route that can be extended across Rajasthan.

The best time to make the drive

The best time to make the Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh drive and to enjoy the fort and the hills, is the cool season from about October to March, when the weather across Rajasthan is pleasant and comfortable for both travel and the walking and climbing that the great fort involves. During these months the drive through the Aravalli hills is at its most beautiful and the fort at its best, which is why this is the peak season for Rajasthan travel, as our best time to visit Rajasthan guide covers the seasons across the state.

The summer months, from April to June, bring heat to the region, so if you travel then it is wise to start early and plan around the warmer part of the day, though the hills are a little cooler than the plains. The monsoon, from July to September, brings rain that turns the Aravalli hills green and beautiful, a lovely time for the scenery, though walking around the fort can be affected by the weather. For most travellers, the cool winter season is the ideal time for this excursion.

How to plan your Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh trip

For most travellers, the most comfortable way to make the Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh journey is by private car with an experienced driver, which gives you the flexibility to start early, to combine the fort with the Ranakpur Jain Temple and to enjoy the scenic hill drive at your own pace. The short drive of around 2 hours each way makes a comfortable day trip from Udaipur, with plenty of time to explore the great fort and, if you wish, Ranakpur as well.

A visit to Kumbhalgarh involves a fair amount of walking and some climbing to reach the Badal Mahal at the summit, so comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of fitness help and it is worth allowing a few hours to do the great fort justice. Combining Kumbhalgarh with Ranakpur makes a full and rewarding day, so an early start is best.

Want the whole Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh trip planned, with a comfortable car, an experienced driver, the fort and Ranakpur all sorted? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Tips for the Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh drive

• Allow around 2 hours for the drive each way, a short and scenic journey up into the Aravalli hills.

• Start early, especially if you plan to combine Kumbhalgarh with the nearby Ranakpur Jain Temple, to make a full day of it.

• Wear comfortable shoes, as visiting the great fort involves a fair amount of walking and some climbing to the summit.

• Allow a few hours at the fort to take in the colossal wall, the Badal Mahal and the temples within.

• Travel in the cool season, October to March, for the most comfortable drive and fort visit; the monsoon turns the hills beautifully green.

• Consider staying for the evening light and sound show, which brings the fort's history to life.

• A private car with an experienced driver is the most comfortable and flexible way to make the trip and combine the fort with Ranakpur.

What to expect

The Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh drive is one of the finest short excursions in Rajasthan, a scenic journey of around 2 hours up into the Aravalli hills to one of the mightiest forts in India. Kumbhalgarh rewards the visitor with its colossal wall, the Great Wall of India winding over the hills, the beautiful Badal Mahal at its summit, its ancient temples and its proud history as the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, all set in dramatic hill scenery with a wildlife sanctuary all around.

For travellers exploring Udaipur and Rajasthan, Kumbhalgarh, often combined with the exquisite Ranakpur Jain Temple, makes a wonderful and easy day out from the City of Lakes. With a comfortable car, a good driver and a little planning around the season, the short drive from Udaipur is the gateway to one of the great fort experiences of India.

Plan your trip with us

A Rajasthan journey taking in Udaipur and the great fort of Kumbhalgarh, with the scenic drive between them and perhaps Ranakpur too, is easiest and most enjoyable when the travel, the stays and the sightseeing are all arranged for you. That is what we do, a comfortable private car and an experienced driver, a knowledgeable guide, well-chosen stays and the whole trip planned around you.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. You can combine Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh with the classic circuit on our Golden Triangle tours and we can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

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