India: Jaipur - Ranakpur - Udaipur question
 

Hi,

We are planning a trip to India and are going to spend 2-3 nights each in Jaipur and Udaipur as part of the trip. We would also like to make a quick stop at Ranakpur to see the Jain temples as we’ve heard they are very impressive. For the trip from Jaipur to Udaipur, we were going to hire a car and driver. We were thinking of leaving Jaipur in the morning, making a stop at the Jain Temple in Ranakpur mid afternoon for 2 hours and then continue to Udaipur and stay in Udaipur that night. We realize this is a long day, but please let us know if you think this is too much in one day. Unfortunately we have limited time and we are hoping this is doable. We are both in our mid 30s and in reasonable health.

Thanks in advance

Please note that 2 nights is just one full day in a place; three nights will get you two days. I try not to have any stops of less than 3 nights.

It's not impossible at all, it's a pretty pretty long drive,but if you're ok with it, then it's worth making the detour.

It's at least 6 hours of driving, and could easily end up being more. The main thing is to make sure you are off the roads by dark. Night driving is very dangerous in India.

I think it is doable, but I have to add that to go to Ranakpur and not include the magnificent fort nearby at Kumbhalgargh would be a shame. I think it is more interesting than Ranakpur to be honest. It is one of the most impressive forts I have seen in India. Jodphur's is also quite good, but I don't know if you are getting to Jodphur on your trip.

One way to do both would be to overnight in the Ranakpur area and stay at the Adhohi hotel, quite near the fort. While not luxurious it is perfectly comfortable and would break up the journey and give you time to see everything. There are other hotels in the area like the Mehidna Fort (may be spelled incorrectly), that I have seen but not stayed at.

There is also a Jain temple outside Udipur in the nice little village of Delwara, which you could do as a half day trip and have lunch or dinner at the marvelous Devigargh hotel. Delwara is about 40 minutes or so by car from Udiapur. The little village is worth a stroll and there are walks in the area, includig a very nice walk/hike uphill to a small temple of Devi. So you could actually skip Ranakpur and just see Kumbhalgargh fort.

You could also skip Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur and just take a train between Jaipur and Udaipur, or you can fly which would be the fastest way.

we did it and it worked very well 2 years ago. we were to the temple before lunch and ate at an hotel just up the road..

check opening times for the temple... it is not to be missed.

there was much to see after leaving the main road nearer to the temple..

we did not leave Jaipur until perhaps 9 or 9:30

I would say also that Rankpur is the finest place, we aslo stopped, on route between Jodhpur to Udaipur, and after Rankpur there is near Kumbhalgarh, beautiful place,

it is doable. Start early morning