Mount Abu is the one hill station in Rajasthan, a green plateau in the southern Aravalli range that locals have long used as an escape from the desert heat. A day tour from Udaipur is a stretch, because the mountain lies some 165 kilometres away and the winding climb is slow, but the reward is a very different landscape from the lake city. The headline sight is the group of Dilwara Jain temples, built between roughly the 11th and 13th centuries and famed for carving so fine in white marble that ceilings look like lace. Beyond the temples, the usual stops include Nakki Lake in the town centre, viewpoints such as Sunset Point and, for those with energy, the high point of Guru Shikhar, the tallest peak in the Aravallis. A guided city tour from Udaipur packages the long drive, the temple visit and the town stops into one outing, and takes the stress out of finding a driver you trust on mountain roads.
How the day works
You are picked up early from your hotel and drive south for around three and a half to four hours each way, the final stretch climbing in hairpin bends. Tours of this kind typically run nine to twelve hours, which is why an early start matters. Take travel-sickness tablets if you are prone to car sickness, and carry water and snacks, because the journey is the longest part of the day.
What you will see
The Dilwara temples are the reason to go. The marble is carved into pillars, brackets and domed ceilings of astonishing detail, and the shrines are active places of worship rather than museums. Visitors are asked to dress modestly, and cameras, leather items and sometimes phones are not allowed inside, so be ready to leave them in the car.
Non-Jain visitors are admitted during set daytime hours, so it helps to have a driver who knows the schedule. Nakki Lake and the town viewpoints are lighter stops, pleasant for a walk and a tea.
Making the most of it
This is an ambitious day trip, and an overnight stay is gentler if you have time, but a single day works if you start at dawn and limit yourself to the temples and one or two other stops. October to March is the best season, when the plateau is cool and clear.
The monsoon turns the mountain misty and green but can make the road slower, and summer weekends bring heavy domestic crowds. If you want an easier outing, the Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur day gives you carved marble temples with a shorter drive.
What to expect
The experience
A guided full-day drive from Udaipur up to the Mount Abu plateau, with time at the Dilwara Jain temples, Nakki Lake and a viewpoint or two.
Best time
October to March, when the plateau is cool and clear, leaving at dawn to make the long drive manageable.
How long
Nine to twelve hours including roughly three and a half to four hours of driving each way.
Tips
Start early, dress modestly for the temples, expect to leave cameras and leather items outside and carry water and snacks for the road.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want a cooler hill-station change of scene and love fine stone carving.
- Families
- Possible with older children, but the winding road and long hours are tiring for young ones.
- Couples
- A scenic outing with cool air and sunset views, though it is a long day.
- Pair with
- A slower day in Udaipur the next morning, and the Kumbhalgarh trip if you want another carved temple.
- Time needed
- A full day, with an overnight stay as a gentler option.
Good questions
How far is Mount Abu from Udaipur?+
Mount Abu is roughly 165 kilometres from Udaipur, around three and a half to four hours each way by road because the last stretch climbs in hairpin bends.
What are the Dilwara temples?+
They are a group of Jain temples dating from roughly the 11th to the 13th century, famous for extremely fine white marble carving on pillars and ceilings.
Can I take a camera into the Dilwara temples?+
Cameras and often phones are not allowed inside, and leather items are usually banned too. Leave them in the car or with your driver.
Is a day trip enough for Mount Abu?+
It is enough for the temples and a couple of stops if you leave early. An overnight stay is more relaxed and lets you add the viewpoints without rushing.
When is the best time to visit Mount Abu?+
October to March is the most comfortable season. The monsoon brings mist and green hills, while summer weekends are busy with domestic visitors.
