Mumbai to Udaipur - A Road Trip

Mumbai - Vapi - Vadodara - Halol - Godhra - Modasa - Kherwada - Udaipur

Yes, you read it right!

Mumbai to Udaipur on a road trip.

It is around 770 kms and we did it on a stretch. All thanks to my husband's passion for driving and my navigation skills.

We decided to go for this driving trip just a day before! One of the reasons to go by road was expensive flight tickets also. But at the end it was proven to be a good decision.

We didn't have much time to decide for hotel. It was one of the long weekends and most of the good hotels were fully booked. We checked on Tripadvisor.com and the best possible options were Amet Haveli and the two hotel managed by HRH Hotels (Historic Resort Hotels). We obviously wanted to stay near the lake side. Amet Haveli seemed as better option as per tripadvisor’s ratings and it was also reasonably priced. So we went ahead with the bookings with Hotel Amet Haveli.

We researched for the route and we were in two minds. One route suggested that we should take state highway after Vadodara, and the other recommended to go via Ahmedabad. We enquired a little more and decided for the former.

We left home at 6 am. We were familiar with NH 8 as we have been to Daman several times. Car's navigation system was asking to take via Ahmedabad route (which was better route, we realised while coming back). So we decided to rely on road signs for navigation. Heavy traffic at Dahisar toll plaza delayed our journey by at least 15 mins.

NH8 has many tolls but it is one of the best six lane highway and the drive was very smooth.

We crossed Vapi (155 Kms) at around 8:30 and now were looking for some restaurant for breakfast. I recalled a McDonald but we missed it under one of the newly constructed flyovers. At some distance, we saw the board of multi-cuisine restaurant "Sugar and Sweet". We decided to halt there. It was very strategically located at a delta at the middle of the six lane highway and accessible to both, to and fro. A school trip was also halted there, and thus was little crowded. We decided to eat light and ordered for idli and dosa. My daughter ate a burger and we also had sandwiches and pizza packed for the rest of the journey.

It was now full daylight but the weather was still very pleasant. We again got some slow moving traffic near Bharuch, as a new bridge is being constructed at Narmada River. We were to take state bypass to Halol and thus were driving cautiously near Vadodara.

Fortunately, there was this sign prompting not to take the next flyover. 

We took right under next flyover. SH 5 was also very well maintained. The road was very good but had many tolls. 

The journey was good till Godhra. The highway was passing through the middle of the city and thus we missed an important turn. We realised our mistake when we hit NH 59 /SH 154 towards Ahmedabad. 

We took a u-turn and traveled back towards Godhra. In 16 kms we got the left turn putting us back on SH 5 and the road signs also indicated towards Udaipur. Now it was around 255 kms. It was already 3 pm. We expected to reach Udaipur at around 6 pm. 

Rest of the journey was peaceful. Around 3:45 pm we entered Rajasthan. At 4 pm we again were on NH 8. Rajasthan's Aravali hill range was more than welcoming.

At around 5:30 pm we entered Udaipur district. There were many hotels and resorts on the highway. The Amargarh Resort is good choice if you want to stay on the highway. 

In Udaipur, we had to maneuver through many small lanes. It was difficult to drive as at a time only one car could pass through those lane. We finally reached our destination Amet Haveli at 6:15 pm. We checked in to suite no. 17. The view of Lake Pichola was mesmerizing.

Travel Tip: 

Please take the NH 8 and NE 1 route via Ahmedabad. It is very convenient and faster. Continue on NH 8 till you reach Gandhinagar. Surprisingly, six lane highway turned into only two lane one in the capital city of Gujarat! After few kms, you will pass through Sardar Patel ring road at Ahmedabad and then there is a sharp left to Ahmedabad - Vadodara expressway (NE 1). For a stretch of around 100 kms you will see absolutely no traffic on a superb road!

Staying Options:

None other than Hotel Amet Haveli. The reason is simple. It has the most beautiful and scenic restaurant Ambrai. The rooms are right on the lake and the hospitality is excellent. It offers amazing views of City Palace, Taj Lake Palace and Hanuman Ghat. Near to Amet Haveli, Hotel Udai Kothi also seems to be nice.

Be a traveler!