Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur by Bike: Route, Timings and Tips

01The loop at a glance

02Timings and tickets

Fees and timings checked October 2026. Foreign visitors pay more where shown. Rates change from time to time, so check at the counter.

Ranakpur’s visiting hours decide the whole day. Leave Udaipur at 7 AM and you reach Kumbhalgarh soon after it opens, then Ranakpur after noon, when the temple opens to visitors.

03The route from Udaipur, turn by turn

Maps will show you more than one way to Kumbhalgarh. This is the one we ride and the one we send our guests on: the Iswal and Losing road. It is the shortest, the traffic is light, and it puts Haldighati within reach if you want it.

• 1Udaipur to Iswal, ~20 kmTake the Gogunda highway out of the city. At Iswal, turn left off the highway, go under the bridge, and turn right onto the Haldighati road. This is the turn people miss, so slow down as you reach Iswal.
• 2Iswal to LosingA quiet two-lane road through villages and low hills. At Losing the road forks. Coming from Iswal, the left road goes to Kumbhalgarh.
• 3Losing to Kumbhalgarh, ~50 kmNorth through the hills to Kelwara, the small town below the fort, then the last few kilometres up to the fort gate. You have done about 85 km.
• 4Kumbhalgarh to Ranakpur, ~50 kmThe best riding of the day: a narrow, winding road down through the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary forest. Slow down for the bends, the langurs and the bus coming the other way.
• 5–6Ranakpur to Udaipur, ~90 kmSouth through Sayra and Gogunda, then the highway past Iswal back to the city.

04Want to add Haldighati?

Haldighati, where Maharana Pratap fought the Mughal army in 1576, is close to Losing. If the battlefield matters to you, it fits into this ride with one extra hour.

• At Losing, carry on to Haldighati and not left to Kumbhalgarh. See the pass, Chetak’s memorial and the museum. Keep it to about an hour.
• Come back to Losing the same way. Do not carry on towards Nathdwara to reach Kumbhalgarh from there. It looks possible on the map, but it costs you much more time.
• At Losing, coming from Haldighati, Kumbhalgarh is now the right turn.
• Mind the daylight. The extra hour pushes everything back. From November to January you would reach Udaipur after dark, so do this only from February to October, or skip the sit-down lunch.

Short on time? Haldighati also makes an easy half-day on its own with Eklingji and Nathdwara. See our Eklingji, Nathdwara and Haldighati ride.

05The day, if you leave at 7 AM

These times are a guide for a normal day with steady riding and short breaks. Add an hour to everything after Losing if you take the Haldighati detour.

06At Kumbhalgarh Fort

Rana Kumbha built Kumbhalgarh in the 15th century, high in the Aravallis on Mewar’s western edge. Its wall runs for about 36 km over the hills, which is why people call it the Great Wall of India. Maharana Pratap was born here.

• Badal Mahal at the very top has the view: the wall snaking over the ridges and, on a clear day, the plains of Marwar beyond.
• The walk up from Ram Pol is steep and uneven. Wear proper shoes. Riding boots are fine.
• Walk a stretch of the wall if you have time. Even 15 minutes on it shows you how big the place is.
• Your helmet can stay locked to the bike. Carry water and a cap.

07At Ranakpur Jain Temple

Carved marble pillars inside Ranakpur Jain Temple

The Chaumukha temple at Ranakpur was built in the 15th century by the merchant Dharna Shah, in the time of Rana Kumbha, and is dedicated to Adinath. It is known for its 1,444 carved marble pillars, and no two of them are said to be alike.

• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Wraps are available at the gate.
• Leave outside: shoes, and leather items such as belts, wallets and riding gloves. Lockers are at the entrance.
• No food, caps or helmets inside the temple.

08Breakfast and lunch on the way

• Breakfast: eat something light in Udaipur before 7 AM, or stop for chai and a snack at the stalls at Iswal or Losing. Don’t count on a proper restaurant before Kelwara.
• At Kumbhalgarh: there are a few small restaurants near the fort gate and more in Kelwara, about 3 km below. Good for tea, a paratha or a quick snack after the climb.
• Lunch at Ranakpur: the temple’s own bhojanshala serves a simple vegetarian thali at a low price, around midday. It is the easiest lunch on the loop, so eat first and see the temple after.
• If the bhojanshala is closed when you arrive, the hotels and dhabas on the road just outside the temple serve Rajasthani thalis all afternoon.
• Carry water and something small to eat. The forest road between the fort and the temple has no shops.

09Riding tips for this loop

• Don’t drink and ride. You will pass a lot of wine shops on this road. Leave them for the evening. The police check riders at many points along the route, and a drink can cost you a heavy fine, the bike and your licence.
• Helmets for both riders. If someone is riding pillion, ask us for a second helmet when you book. It is the law, and on hill roads it matters.
• Leave at 7 and ride back in daylight. The hill roads have no lights, and cattle sit on the road after dark.
• Go easy on the hairpins between Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur. Use engine braking on the way down.
• Fuel: fill up in Udaipur and top up at Kelwara. There is nothing on the forest road.
• Carry your licence, water, a light jacket in winter and a scarf for the temple.
• Monsoon: the hills are beautiful but the roads get slippery. Ride slower, or take a taxi on a rainy day.
• Want the light and sound show? Stay a night near Kumbhalgarh rather than riding back in the dark.

10Which bike for this ride

For two people, or if you want to arrive fresh, take a Royal Enfield Classic 350 or Himalayan 450. They are comfortable over 225 km and steady on the hills. Riding solo and travelling light? A Pulsar 150 or Yamaha FZ-S does the loop well and costs less.

See prices and what’s included on our bike on rent in Udaipur page. Rather sit back? Our Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur taxi does the same day with a driver.