Most people see Udaipur from the water. A boat on Lake Pichola, a rooftop table facing the City Palace, a slow walk along a ghat. All of it is worth doing. But the city has an edge, and once you cross it the roads change. The tarmac thins out, the Aravalli hills crowd in, and the window of a hotel cab starts to feel like the wrong frame for what's outside.
This guide covers the most scenic roads near Udaipur and what each one is good for. It also explains why plenty of travellers end up swapping the paved route for an off road jeep ride on dirt tracks that no coach tour will touch. If you're looking for romantic things to do in Udaipur, trying to pick the best sunset point in Udaipur, or already bored of the standard Udaipur sightseeing tour, there's a plan in here for you.
Why the roads around Udaipur reward a detour
Udaipur sits inside the Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain ranges on the planet. For anyone behind a wheel, that means the land folds in on itself everywhere: ridges, small valleys, dams, and villages tucked behind a bend. Within an hour of the city you can go from a lakeside promenade to a dirt track with nobody on it.
The season changes the whole picture. After the monsoon the hills turn a deep green and the reservoirs fill up. From roughly September to March the light is softer and a long drive is comfortable instead of a test of endurance. Summer is hot and the slopes go brown, though the evenings still deliver. We run trails through both versions of the landscape, and we like both.
Show Image A reservoir in the Aravalli hills after the rains, with the slopes at their greenest.
Scenic roads near Udaipur worth driving
These are five routes worth knowing. Traffic, road condition and entry rules change with the season, so check locally before you set off.
Rani Road along Fateh Sagar
Rani Road follows the bank of Fateh Sagar Lake. It's an open public road with no entry fee, which makes it an easy first taste of the scenery: water on one side, hills behind, room to pull over. Go near sunrise or sunset. At midday it's just a road.
We use it ourselves. The first hour of our Unexplored Aravali trail is a long drive along Rani Road, where the familiar city views open into wider sky.
The road to Badi Lake
Badi Lake is a short run out of the city, and the drive is at its best early in the morning. Traffic is light, the air is cool, and the curves give you a view of Udaipur that looks nothing like the postcard. Take the early slot on a weekday if you can.
The Ubeshwar Mahadev road
This winding road climbs through the hills to the Ubeshwar Mahadev temple. The air gets cooler as you gain height, and after the rains small streams run beside the road. Monsoon surfaces can be slippery, so drive slower than you think you need to.
The Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace road
The road to Sajjangarh climbs to a hilltop palace with wide views over the city and the Aravallis. It's a favourite for sunset photographs, so expect company near golden hour. Check entry timings and any fees before you go.
The road towards Eklingji and Nathdwara
North of the city, the route to Eklingji and on to Nathdwara mixes temple towns, open country and lake views. A lake near Eklingji is worth timing a drive around if you like your sunsets on water.
On every one of these roads you watch the landscape through glass or over a handlebar. A dirt track in an open jeep is a different thing altogether, and that's where the rest of this guide goes.
Why an off road jeep ride beats a car in the Aravallis
An off road jeep ride goes where the tarmac stops. Our vehicle is a hand-restored Willys that still works for a living, built for loose stone, broken track and climbs that start past the last village. There are no doors and no windows, so you get the dust, the air and the full width of the hills. Your Trail Captain handles every bend. You look.
Pace matters just as much as the vehicle. On a fixed route you stop where the schedule says. On a trail like ours you stop where the view opens up, because nothing out there has been arranged for you.
Standard Udaipur sightseeing tourOff road jeep rideRouteA set list of landmarksDirt tracks, dam viewpoints, hamletsPaceTimed stopsStops when the view calls for oneVehicleClosed car or coachOpen vintage WillysBest forFirst-day palace and temple coverageTravellers who want the landscapeA regular Udaipur sightseeing tour is the right call if it's your first day and you want the City Palace and Jagdish Temple covered. It's the wrong call if you're after the countryside. And to be straight about the jeep: it's open, dusty and bumpy. If you want air conditioning, skip it.
For a wider comparison of routes, our guide to a Udaipur jeep safari through the city and the Aravallis covers the options and the best seasons. If the hills are the draw, the Aravali Hills tour guide goes deeper.
Romantic things to do in Udaipur beyond the boat ride
A boat on Lake Pichola, dinner at Ambrai, a walk through Saheliyon Ki Bari. These are the classic Udaipur romantic places, and they deserve their reputation. They are also where everyone else is.
If you want quiet, the Aravalli countryside gives you plenty. Guests have set up with a rug, folding chairs and a cooler beside a reservoir while the hills go dark around them. Some bring flowers. If you're planning a proposal or an anniversary, message the team before you book so they can tell you what's possible. You can also build a custom route through Design My Trail.
Show Image An evening setup beside a hillside reservoir.
Show Image A pause beside the water, with the Willys parked a few steps away.
The best sunset point in Udaipur, and one without the crowd
Ask five locals and you'll get five answers. These are the ones that come up most:
- Lake Pichola, from a boat, with the City Palace and Jag Mandir in the frame.
- Ambrai Ghat, for the palace backdrop across the water.
- Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace, for a hilltop view over the city and the Aravallis.
- Karni Mata temple, reached by cable car, for a skyline view with the hills behind it.
- Fateh Sagar Pal, for a lakeside walk as the light turns gold.
All of these are good. At golden hour most of them also come with a lot of other people.
The alternative is a high viewpoint in the hills with nobody else on it. On the Unexplored Aravali trail the sun goes down behind the ridge from our own private land, and the terrain warms in tone as the light drops. That is our pick for the best sunset point in Udaipur if you care more about silence than a landmark in the background.
Show Image Sunset from a high viewpoint in the Aravalli hills.
Our Unexplored Aravali trail, chapter by chapter
The Unexplored Aravali off road jeep ride runs about 4.5 to 5 hours and splits into four chapters.
Chapter 1: the scenic drive (about 1 hour)
We start where the city loosens its grip. After pickup you head out along Rani Road, and from the open Willys you watch the hills come closer and the roads narrow. It's the warm-up, and it builds anticipation for what comes next.
Chapter 2: off-road Aravali trails (about 1.5 hours)
The pavement ends. Dirt paths turn uneven and the climb begins, which is where the vintage Willys earns its keep. The trail winds through golden hills and open valleys, past hamlets, hidden water and dams framed by ridges. Movement slows, the stories start, and the terrain becomes the experience.
Show Image A dam viewpoint in the Aravallis. The hills here run brown and gold in the dry months.
Chapter 3: the elevated viewpoint (about 1 hour)
We climb to a high viewpoint and stop with no agenda. Breaks happen when the view opens wide or the wind shifts. People stop talking for a while, then start again more quietly. Cameras come out for the light.
Chapter 4: the private sunset setup (about 1.5 hours)
The trail ends on our private land, surrounded by untouched country. We set up for you, serve refreshments, and the evening settles. There is no rush under open sky.
Who this trail suits
The trail suits adventure-minded travellers, slow explorers who would rather go deep into one landscape than skim four, nature and photography lovers, and small groups of friends. It's also an easy yes for couples. At the time of writing the team holds a 5.0 rating from 76 Google reviews, and guests mostly mention the drive, the views, the hosts and the sunset.
It's not for everyone. If you have one free hour, or you want a closed, air-conditioned car, a shorter city route will serve you better.
Before you book: practical notes
- Licence: you don't need one. A trained Trail Captain drives, so you can sit back and look.
- What to wear: closed shoes and a light layer. The jeep has no doors or windows, and the wind picks up at the viewpoint. Sunglasses and a scarf help with dust.
- When to go: September to March is comfortable, and the weeks after the monsoon bring the greenest hills. Ask the team how the trail runs if the weather turns.
- Booking: use the form on the trail page or message the team on WhatsApp. The site says replies come within minutes, with no deposit and no paperwork.
- Where we are: Shop 6A, opposite Celebration Mall, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001.
- Want a different route? Explore the other trails on the GoWilly home page, including The Living Legacy jeep safari and The Blue Odyssey lake trail, or shape your own with Design My Trail. For another angle on the city, read 15 unique things to do in Udaipur.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sunset point in Udaipur?
It depends on what you want behind the sun. Lake Pichola and Ambrai Ghat give you palace views, Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace gives you a hilltop panorama, and Karni Mata temple gives you the skyline. For a quiet spot with no crowd, a private sunset setup in the Aravallis, like the one on our Unexplored Aravali trail, is hard to beat.
What are the best romantic things to do in Udaipur?
The classics are a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola, dinner at Ambrai, a walk through Saheliyon Ki Bari and the view from Jag Mandir. For something quieter, many couples choose an evening in the Aravalli hills with a private sunset setup. If you're planning a special occasion, ask the team about options before you book.
Are there scenic roads near Udaipur worth driving?
Yes. Rani Road along Fateh Sagar, the road to Badi Lake, the Ubeshwar Mahadev road, the climb to Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace and the route towards Eklingji and Nathdwara are all worth a drive. Go early or late in the day for lighter traffic and better light, and take extra care on hill roads after rain.
How long is an off road jeep ride in Udaipur, and do I need a licence?
Our Unexplored Aravali trail takes about 4.5 to 5 hours, from the scenic drive out of the city to the private sunset setup. You don't need a driving licence or any paperwork on your side. A trained Trail Captain drives the whole way.
Is a jeep safari better than a regular Udaipur sightseeing tour?
They do different jobs. A standard sightseeing tour covers palaces, temples and markets on a fixed schedule. A jeep safari trades that checklist for landscape, slower pacing and stops wherever the view is good. Many visitors do the city tour on one day and the jeep trail on another.
Pick the road that fits your day
If you have a free morning, take Rani Road or the Badi Lake road and bring a camera. If you have one evening and want the Aravallis instead of a landmark list, the Unexplored Aravali trail is the one we'd book. Reserve the off road jeep ride on the trail page, or message the team on WhatsApp and tell them what kind of evening you have in mind.
