We took the overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur for our first visit to the incredible Indian City of Lakes.
It wasn’t our first train ride in India. Over the last six visits to the subcontinent, I’ve lost count of how many trains and overnight journeys we’ve done in all directions of the country! But this was our first trip to Udaipur. And spoiler alert? We had a great train ride and an awesome time in the lake-busy, Rajasthani city.
Here is everything you need to know about booking and taking the train Delhi to Udaipur.
- Is there a direct train?
- Options from Delhi to Udaipur
– Mewar Express
– Chetak Express
– Other - How long does it take?
- What is it really like?
- Buying tickets
- Classes of travel
- Costs
- Delhi Railway Stations
- Udaipur Railway Station
- Things to know before travelling by train
- Food
- Safety
- Toilets
- Accommodation in Delhi and Udaipur
Is there a direct train from Delhi to Udaipur?
Yes. The first bit of great news is that there is a direct train Delhi to Udaipur, so you do not need to change trains to connect by rail between the two cities.
Options for travel by train from Delhi to Udaipur
There are numerous options for trains Delhi to Udaipur. Indian Railways operates over 12,817 trains on an average day, transporting approximately 24 million passengers around the country. That is a seriously colossal number to consider!
However, many of the local trains operate during the night but depart at ungodly hours of morning. These aren’t ideal as a traveller in India and mean you might end up arriving in the middle of the night too.
The two main daily trains from Delhi to Udaipur are:
- MEWAR EXPRESS #12963
- CHETAK EXPRESS #20473
Both trains are Mail/Express trains operating daily on the route between Delhi and Udaipur.
How long does it take by train Delhi to Udaipur?
It takes between 12 – 14 hours by train from Delhi to Udaipur. Trains on this route are Mail and Express fast trains.
India’s Vande Bharat highest speed train only operates from Jaipur to Udaipur. There is not currently the option for the Vande Bharat all the way from Delhi.
About the MEWAR EXPRESS train from Delhi to Udaipur
The 12963/12964 Mewar Express is a Superfast Express train running from Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi to Udaipur City. We most recently travelled on this train to Udaipur.
- MEWAR EXPRESS #12963 departs daily from Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) at 18:25H arriving to Udaipur (UDZ) at 07:25H the next morning.
The route for this train starts in Delhi and ends in Udaipur which makes it easier for boarding and disembarking as the stop in the station is not rushed.
The train has total of 24 coaches including reserved, air-conditioned First, Second and Third Class (1A, 2A and 3A).
- Tip: Reservations for the MEWAR EXPRESS train Delhi to Udaipur can be made up to 120 days in advance.
About the CHETAK EXPRESS train from Delhi to Udaipur
The Chetak Express train runs between Delhi S Rohilla (DEE) to Udaipur City (UDZ).
- CHETAK EXPRESS #20473 departs daily from Delhi S Rohilla (DEE) at 19:40H arriving to Udaipur (UDZ) at 07:48H the next morning.
This is a slightly later arrival time in the morning which is favourable as it means less of a wait to check-in time at your accommodation in Udaipur.
The Chetak Express has a total of 25 coaches, spread across reserved, air-conditioned First, Second and Third Class (1A, 2A and 3A) and non-air-conditioned Sleeper Class (SL).
- Tip: Reservations for the CHETWAK EXPRESS train Delhi to Udaipur can be made up to 60 days in advance.
What is it really like traveling by train in India?
Traveling by train in India is a fantastic way to get around the country and a great opportunity to glimpse local life as you journey.
And truly? It isn’t half as bad as you might be imagining or worrying. Albeit we come from New Zealand and before setting off to travel fulltime over five years ago now, we hardly had ridden trains! There isn’t a subway in New Zealand and there isn’t really much public transport by railway. So we find train travel in India exciting!
It is nothing like you imagine conjuring up images of riding on the roof with crowds of locals. There are millions of passengers that travel every day in India by train. But especially the Express trains make the overnight journey pretty comfortable.
Give or take a few chapati and potentially any cows congesting the railway stations, and you could – almost – be anywhere in the world!
- Read our complete guide to train travel in India.
Booking and buying tickets for Indian Railway
Because trains in India get booked out in advance I recommend buying tickets online before you travel. (Preferably before you arrive in the country). If you are booked on a tour and have a travel agent or booking contact in India it will be easier to book through them ahead of time.
Otherwise there are three options for you to book and buy tickets independently:
- Go to a railway station (in Delhi) and book in person when you arrive
- Book online directly from Indian Railways at the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in
- Book online through third party 12GoAsia.
With the IRCTC website you really need to have an Indian phone number to log in which is tricky from overseas. The easiest option is with 12GOAsia.
You can input different dates, days and classes of travel and pay by credit card.
- Read our complete guide to train travel in India and how to buy tickets for India Railways.
Classes of train travel in India. Which class is best for overnight travel?
There are eight different classes of train travel in India.
These are the classes of train travel in India listed below in descending order according of price per fare.
- First Class AC (1A)
- Second AC / 2-Tier AC (2A)
- Third AC / 3-Tier AC (3A)
- AC Executive Chair (EC)
- Seated AC Chair Car (CC)
- Sleeper Class (SL)
- General / Second Class Seats (2S, II)
- Unreserved General Class (UR)
However, the decision of which class of travel on the train between Delhi and Udaipur is more straight forward as not all these classes are available on every train.
We most recently travelled by overnight train Delhi to Udaipur in AC Second Class (2A). Second Class (2A) is a comfortable way to journey overnight and is the class we normally pick for mid-range overnight travel.
About the classes of travel by train from Delhi to Udaipur
Both of the Express trains to Udaipur have non and air-conditioned classes of travel.
- MEWAR EXPRESS: 1A, 2A, 3A, SL
- CHETWAK EXPRESS: 1A, 2A, 3A, SL
For the overnight trains we recommend AC Two Tier (2A) for a comfortable journey. The bunks in AC-Second Class (2A) are in a curtained cabin with four bunks and bedding is provided.
It is more expensive to travel in AC-First Class (1A) and there are less 1A tickets available on each train. However, this is a safe and comfortable option with a lockable door for each 1A cabin.
AC-Third Class (3A) is much like 2A but with an extra level of bunk in each cabin area making a total of six berths instead of four. In 3A there is sometimes no curtain dividing the cabin areas within the carriage.
How much does it cost?
Prices for a train ticket to Udaipur vary depending on the class of train travel.
- MEWAR EXPRESS
First Class (1A): 2675 INR
Second Class (2A): 1595 INR
Third Class (3A): 1130 INR
Sleeper Class* (SL): 430 INR
- CHETAK EXPRESS
First Class (1A): 2490 INR
Second Class (2A): 1490 INR
Third Class (3A): 1060 INR
Sleeper Class* (SL): 405 INR
Note that *Sleeper Class (SL) listed here is the cheapest and most basic class of travel on these trains to Udaipur. This Sleeper Class (SL) does not have air-conditioning! Instead the AC First, Second and Third Class (1A, 2A, 3A) options all have air conditioning and are technically sleeper-classes of travel with seating and bunks.
About the journey. Are meals included in the price?
Meals are not included in the Mail and Express train ticket prices. However, food, drinks and snacks are available for purchase on board the train.
In the evening once you board the train, staff will come through asking if you want to order dinner. The dinner meal costs between 150 – 300 INR and is usually a vegetarian Thali including roti and rice. Dinner is served sometime around 8:00pm.
Is bedding provided for the overnight train?
Yes. Bedding is provided for overnight travel. The bedding package includes a single flat sheet, a pillow case and small towel plus a heavy blanket. And it will be (in theory) stacked on the shelf next to your bunk in 1A, 2A or 3A.
Railway stations in Delhi and Udaipur
There are five main railway stations in Delhi and each of the two overnight trains Delhi to Udaipur departs from a different station.
- New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS)
- Old Delhi Railway Station (DLI) or Delhi Junction Railway Station
- Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (NZM)
- Delhi Cantt (DEC)
- Delhi Sarai Rohilla (DEE)
It is IMPORTANT to check the departure station at the station code of your train ticket so you know which Delhi railway station you are leaving from.
In Udaipur, there is one main railway stations connecting with trains from Delhi.
- Udaipur City (UDZ)
Udaipur City Railway Station (UDZ) is only around 2.5km from the city centre.
Things to know before arriving to catch the train from Delhi to Udaipur
If this is your first train journey in India, the most important thing to know beforehand is about the boarding and where to stand on the platform.
The first thing is to check you eTicket and find these details:
- Train Name and Number
eg. MEWAR EXPRESS #12963
- Platform
eg. PL 5
- Carriage
eg. A1 or A2
- Seat
eg. 14 or 15
Arriving at the station in Delhi, look for the large electronic board with the scheduled departure times, expected arrival/departure times and the platform numbers.
You can confirm the platform number by using your train name or number.
Boarding the train (any train in India) and finding your platform, carriage and seat
Confirm the departure station in Delhi for your train first. Once at the station you will be able to check on the departure board to see which platform your train departs from.
- Tip: Note of your 5-digit train number (eg. #12963) as some stations show trains by numbers rather than destinations.
Once you’ve found your platform, you then need to find where to stand on your platform.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
Some trains in India can be ridiculously lengthy.
Along the platform there are small, electronic boards above the platform that will display your carriage number digitally and the next arriving train number.
For example:
- #12963 (train number)
- A1 (carriage number)
Each carriage also has the coach number displayed on the train carriage itself. You will need to stand and wait in the correct spot to board your carriage directly.
You can also check (as a last resort) the carriage windows make sense. The classes with air conditioning have closed/fixed windows and the classes without AC have open windows with bars.
Hopefully you have booked one with air conditioning and you can confirm by window you are in the right place!
Is it safe to travel by train in India?
We have always felt safe taking the trains in India. After all, millions of passengers travel every day around the country.
But of course it pays like with any travel to be mindful of yourself, your family or travel companions and your belongings. With our two large bags we store them underneath the lower bunks. And with our daypacks including passports, phones and devices, we sleep with that beside our head. Not glamorous (or comfortable) but erring on the side of caution.
Toilets on board the train Delhi to Udaipur
This is a fair question for any train travel in India! However, you can be assured the air-conditioned and seated classes do have better toilets than the rest.
There is the option of a western toilet or squat toilet in each carriage. And even the squat has a bio-vacuum style flushing toilet these days. Quite the luxury!
Wondering about things to see and do in Udaipur?
Planning your trip to Udaipur?
- Read our detailed Udaipur travel guide including all the best things to do in Udaipur.
Where to stay in old Delhi, New Delhi and South Delhi or near the airport
- Mahipalpur (Airport) / Mid-Range: Taurus Sarovar Portico
Beautiful hotel only a few km’s from Delhi International Airport. A great first stop arriving in India with buffet breakfast included and a restaurant onsite.
- South Delhi / Mid-Range: Haveli Hauz Khas
A homestay style Haveli in the popular Hauz Khas area of South Delhi.
- Connaught Place / Mid-Range-Luxury: Shangri La’s Eros Hotel
The hotel has a few in house restaurants, including the signature Shang Palace and Sorrento. There’s also a gym, an outdoor pool and a spa.
- Paharganj / Budget: Smyle Inn
Extremely basic hotel in small back alley but with very friendly, helpful staff and simple breakfast included. Just off Main Bazaar.
Where to stay in Udaipur
Most of Udaipur’s accommodation is dotted around the City Palace and Lake Pichola waterfront.
- Udaipur / Luxury: Taj Lake Palace (Jag Niwas)
This is the most iconic feature of Udaipur’s landscape! The hotel is a luxury accommodation and former palace located right in the middle of Lake Pichola.
- Udaipur / Boutique: Udai Kothi
A small, boutique property in the heart of town next to Ambrai Ghat and restaurant with a rooftop overlooking the City Palace and Lake Pichola.
- Udaipur / Budget-Mid-Range: Hotel Lake Star
Family owned and run small hotel with spacious, simple rooms including an epic lake-view family room. This is where we stayed in Udaipur.
Read more about travel in India
- Detailed itinerary for 1-, 2- or 3- days in Delhi.
- Epic 10 Day Rajasthan Itinerary
- Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- Getting the bus from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur or Bikaner
- Overnight train Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Taking the train Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Leaving Jaisalmer to Jaipur by overnight train
- Choosing the best camel safari in Jaisalmer
Travel planning for India and beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before riding those trains in India!
