This is the day trip for travellers who want Mewar’s spiritual and military history rather than another fort. The route runs north from Udaipur and strings together three sites that explain the region from different angles. Eklingji is the temple complex of the Shiva form worshipped as the family deity of the Mewar rulers, a cluster of marble shrines inside a walled compound. Nathdwara is a busy pilgrimage town built around the Shrinathji temple, a major Krishna shrine of the Pushtimarg tradition. Haldighati is the hill pass where Maharana Pratap fought a Mughal army in 1576, and it remains a site of deep pride for Rajasthan. A guided day with a driver links them in one loop and handles the awkward parts, such as parking, shoe storage and the short windows when the main temples are open for darshan. It is a very different day from the lakes and palaces of the city, quieter in some places and far more crowded in others.
How the day works
You are collected from your hotel and driven out of Udaipur. Eklingji sits closest to the city, so it usually comes first, followed by the drive on to Nathdwara, which is roughly an hour and a half from Udaipur depending on traffic, and then the battlefield and its small museum and memorial at Haldighati on the way back. Expect the full day to run well into the evening, with meals taken at a roadside restaurant or packed in advance.
What you will see
At Eklingji the temples are carved and domed, and the main shrine is dedicated to a four-faced Shiva image. At Nathdwara the temple is the whole point, and the lanes around it are crammed with devotees, sweet shops and stalls selling pichwai paintings, the large cloth hangings made for Shrinathji. Haldighati is a landscape rather than a monument: a narrow pass of yellow-tinged earth, a memorial to Maharana Pratap’s horse Chetak and a museum telling the story of the 1576 battle.
Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove shoes. Photography is restricted or banned inside the main temples, so leave the camera in the car.
Making the most of it
Start early, because Nathdwara has fixed darshan windows and a closure during the middle of the day, and arriving at the wrong moment can mean a long wait outside. Ask your guide which windows apply on your day and whether any festival is expected, since temple days draw very large crowds.
Carry cash for small purchases and shoe storage, and bring water and a light layer for the car. This is a tiring, culture-heavy day, so if you are short on time and prefer scenery, the Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur trip is the better choice.
What to expect
The experience
A guided drive north from Udaipur with stops at the Eklingji temple complex, the Shrinathji temple in Nathdwara and the Haldighati battlefield memorial.
Best time
An early start in the cooler months from October to March, so you reach Nathdwara before the long midday closure of its main temple.
How long
A full day, usually ten to twelve hours door to door including the drives and meal stops.
Tips
Dress modestly, expect to remove shoes, leave cameras in the car where photography is banned and ask your guide about the temple darshan windows on your day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and culture lovers, pilgrims and travellers who have already seen the palaces and want the Mewar story.
- Families
- Fine for older children who can cope with long drives and crowds, but the day is long and the temples are not child-focused.
- Couples
- A culture-rich day rather than a romantic one; the sunset boat ride is the better couples pick.
- Pair with
- The City Palace first for the royal story, and the Kumbhalgarh trip on another day for scenery.
- Time needed
- A full day, back in the evening.
Good questions
How far is Nathdwara from Udaipur?+
Nathdwara is roughly an hour and a half by road from Udaipur, depending on traffic. Eklingji is closer to the city, so the usual loop visits it first.
Why is Haldighati famous?+
Haldighati is the pass where Maharana Pratap of Mewar fought a Mughal force in 1576. Visitors see the memorial to his horse Chetak and a small museum on the battle.
Can I take photos inside the temples?+
Photography is restricted or banned inside the main shrines at Eklingji and Nathdwara. Leave cameras and phones in the car or with your guide.
What should I wear?+
Cover shoulders and knees, wear shoes that slip off easily and carry a light layer. Footwear is left at the entrance at every temple.
Is this day trip better than Kumbhalgarh?+
They suit different travellers. This route is about temples and history, while Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur offer a giant fort and carved marble.
