1The route: Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur
Udaipur is about 395 km from Jaipur, 6 to 7 hours by car. One of the two main routes runs through Ajmer, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh, and Chittorgarh is about 310 km from Jaipur and 115 km short of Udaipur. So the fort sits right on the way, and stopping there adds only the time you spend inside, not extra kilometres.
2How long to spend at the fort
Chittorgarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India, spread along a hilltop, so you drive between its sights rather than walk. Two to three hours is enough for the Vijay Stambh, Rana Kumbha Palace, Padmini's Palace and the Meera temple. The fort is open about 9 am to 6 pm, tickets are sold at the gate, and there's little shade, so carry water and a hat.
3A day plan that keeps to daylight
Leave Jaipur at 7 am and reach Chittorgarh around 12:30 after a breakfast stop. Have lunch, see the fort until about 3:30, and drive the last 115 km to Udaipur, about two hours. You check in by 5:30 or 6 pm, in time for the evening by Lake Pichola.
4What the cab costs
A one-way cab from Jaipur to Udaipur starts from ₹3,650 for a small car with driver, as an estimate, with fuel, tolls and parking in and nothing for the car's drive back. An Ertiga is about ₹4,750 to ₹5,500, and an Innova Crysta about ₹5,600 to ₹6,500. Tell us about the Chittorgarh stop when you book, so the agreed fare covers the waiting time and nothing is added at the end.
5Prefer Nathdwara or Haldighati?
The other main route runs through Beawar and Rajsamand, past Nathdwara, the town of the Shrinathji temple, about an hour before Udaipur. It's the better choice if you'd rather stop for darshan there, or at Haldighati nearby. Both routes are good highways and take about the same time, so pick the stop you want, and your driver takes the road that goes past it.
