How to plan a trip from Delhi to Jaipur by road?

Which is the best way to get to Jaipur from Delhi - Road, Rail or Air? 
If you are asking me - my vote would be for a trip from Delhi to Jaipur by road. 

Check out this guide to planning a road trip from Delhi to Jaipur by car, why I suggest the same, what are the best routes as well as practical tips. 

Part of the ever-popular Golden triangle, Jaipur and Delhi are two destinations that most inbound tourists to India love seeing. In fact, the two are abound with so much heritage and culture that even domestic travelers love combining the two together for an enriching cultural and heritage experience. Naturally, one of the most common questions that I get from my readers is – what would be the best way to get to Jaipur from Delhi? My answer- “If you have a little time, then it is best to travel from Delhi to Jaipur by road“.

What follows in this post are my reasons for this recommendation and a complete guide to planning a trip from Delhi to Jaipur by car. I will be covering the best Delhi to Jaipur road trip routes, the attractions that you can visit en route as well as practical tips for a comfortable journey. Time we get started!

Why should you do a road trip from Delhi to Jaipur by car?

If you have been a regular reader of my website, you would have noticed the numerous road trips that I have done – from the popular Rajasthan routes to the remote Leh Ladakh road trip and the transborder Indo-Nepal trip. Each of these trips has always offered me more than just the end destination and that honestly, are some of the most enriching and memorable journeys. However, it isn’t just the common joy of road trips that makes me recommend a journey from Delhi to Jaipur by car. Here are some specific reasons –

• Stop at the numerous attractions en route – You can get the most out of your cultural and heritage experience by stopping at the various interesting destinations that fall on any of the routes that you take for the Delhi to Jaipur road trip. Interestingly, depending on the route you pick, you will be able to experience a diverse set of attractions – from wildlife to heritage.
• A better local connection – Whether it is a food stop or a cultural attraction, you will have a better local interaction. I have found that this tremendously enhances your understanding of a place. There are so many stories that you stumble on and more importantly, you get a good insight into the real life in this area. The Rajasthanis are known to be hospitable and love sharing information. If you are looking for immersive travel, that is going beyond the usual sightseeing tours, then this Delhi to Jaipur road trip is the way to go.
• Go for a car rather than a bus – While buses might be cost-effective, you do not have the freedom to stop wherever you want. If you are choosing to do a road trip from Delhi to Jaipur, a little freedom would be good. You definitely want to stop and enjoy the places along the way.

I suppose, these are good enough reasons for you to be convinced about getting to Jaipur from Delhi by car.

How to choose the best car rental service for a Delhi to Jaipur road trip?

It is possible to opt for this road trip between Delhi and Jaipur using a bike or a self-driven car. In fact, if you own one of these vehicles it is a straightforward choice. All you have to do is select the suggested routes that I have included in the next section.

However, there are many who wish to just enjoy the trip without the hassles of driving. For them, I recommend hiring a car with a driver. This is in fact, apt for all those who are visiting India or Delhi for the first time. Definitely saves them the hassle of figuring the norms of Indian roads and drivers. Here are some tips for selecting the best Delhi to Jaipur car rental

Check the reviews & recommendations

Choosing a car rental service is the same as picking a good hotel for your stay. You definitely want to ensure that the car rental service for a Delhi to Jaipur trip by road is reliable, has good quality cars, decent drivers and most importantly, are safe. Use forums and websites like Tripadvisor and Quora. You can even participate in various discussions and talk to real travelers to see what they have to recommend. Another go-to place for me is Facebook groups where I get first-hand information from fellow travelers.

Select the right car

The right car for your road trip is all about a balance between cost and comfort. The smaller hatchbacks cost lesser than a sedan which in turn costs lesser than an SUV. Depending on the number of people and the amount of luggage, select the one that is the best for you to enjoy your trip.

The other thing that you must clarify is how recently was the car serviced and whether it is in good shape or not (check the total mileage to get an idea). The car documents like PUC certificate, insurance, registration book and driver’s license too must be available and have to be carried during a trip.

Know your minimum day charges

Any outstation vehicle that you rent in India will involve a minimum distance per day that you must travel or pay for. Once you exceed that distance, you will be charged per kilometer as per the initial quote. In addition to that, you have to add a daily allowance (Driver Bata/ Batta) for your driver. To illustrate the same, India with Car has shared the following quote for various vehicles for a Delhi to Jaipur road trip –

• Minimum kilometers per day – 250 km
• Sedans like Maruti Dzire / Honda Amaze cost INR 12 per km
• SUVs akin to Toyota Innova Crysta cost around INR 20 per km
• Driver Batta – INR 300 per day

To illustrate how this will work for a sedan, consider a non-stop direct road trip from Delhi to Jaipur. The approximate distance is 280 km and thus, your cost for a sedan with a driver will work out to INR 3660 for one day. (Vehicle cost 12*280 + 1 day Driver Batta).

If you do not plan to return using the same vehicle, you will be charged an additional amount for a return journey. This amount is generally a part of the quote that you will get from your travel rental partner. In case you plan to stay in Jaipur and use the vehicle till you return back, you can calculate the total cost based on the above illustration.

Understand the extra costs

Most car rental services charge parking and tolls on actual. These are additional costs that you must account for in your road trip cost calculations. The driver’s meals too, are charged as per actuals (apart from the daily allowance). One tip here based on my experience is to ask the driver to have a meal at the same restaurant. You can order for him while he is seated at another table.

Opt for a reliable driver

Very often, we tend to miss this step. Always check on the driver’s credentials (his license specifically). Check with the car rental team on his experience. A bonus would be if he has done this Delhi to Jaipur circuit specifically and can stop at the best places along the way. Ensure that he can speak one common language with you.

Request for flexibility

If you are a traveler like me, you might opt to stay back or extend your stay in a place to explore it better. Speak to the car rental operator beforehand and request this flexibility. They will be able to allocate a car and a driver accordingly for you.

Well, that is enough tips on how to pick the best rentals for your journey from Delhi to Jaipur by car. Let’s get down to picking the best routes.

Possible routes to travel from Delhi to Jaipur by road

The average distance between Delhi and Jaipur is 280 km and the time taken without any stops is around 6 hours. However, this might vary based on your chosen Delhi to Jaipur route and whether you wish to halt at any of the locations.

I am sharing three routes for your Delhi-Jaipur road trip – of which the first two are the most commonly used ones. The third one is a completely offbeat route – longer and might warrant a stay. However, this one will appeal to heritage and history buffs like me. Check them all out and let me know which one of these would you pick.

Delhi to Jaipur by road route via Bhiwadi & Neemrana on NH 48

• Total distance – 280 km
• Travel time – 5.5 – 6 hours
• Route followed – Delhi – Gurgaon – Bhiwadi – Neemrana – Jaipur

This is the shortest route between Delhi and Jaipur and can be done without any night halts. It involves tolled highways that are very well maintained. Neemrana is the major halt that you can make on your way to Jaipur from Delhi

Neemrana sightseeing places

122 km from Delhi and 150 km from Jaipur, is the historic town of Neemrana. The town is known for one of the epic rulers of Rajasthan – Prithviraj Chauhan. Here is a quick list of places that you can visit in Neemrana

• Neemrana fort – A 15th-century fort that has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. You can visit the Neemrana fort and have a meal or two while exploring it. For adventure enthusiasts, there is a lovely zipline course that takes you over the ancient walls and allows you to get a good glimpse of the place.
• Neemrana Baoli – A heritage stepwell that is close to the fort. Though abandoned, it will impress you with its architecture.
• Ancient Vrindavan Palace – A little offbeat and not many drivers might know it. It is an old haveli that is now in crumbles but well worth a quick stop.

You can plan your stop at Neemrana on the Jaipur-Delhi highway such that you reach around 10 am and can spend at least 2 hours here. If you do not want to grab lunch at the Neemrana fort, Hotel Highway King is a good option on the highway.

Delhi to Jaipur by car via Alwar on NH 48 & NH 248A

• Total distance – 325 km
• Travel time – 7 hours
• Route followed – Delhi – Gurgaon – Alwar – Jaipur

This is also a good route to get to Jaipur from Delhi and involves toll roads. While the distance can be covered in 7 hours, I think it might be a wise decision to plan a night’s halt at Alwar – for the sheer number of things to see in this town. From forts to wildlife reserves, Alwar definitely make a great addition to your Jaipur trip. Check it out.

Alwar attractions

Alwar is around 100 km from Delhi and 150 km from Jaipur. If you leave at 6 am from Delhi, you will be in Alwar by around 10 am. You can plan to add a few of these Alwar attractions to your itinerary and leave by 4 pm to reach Jaipur by 7 pm – before it gets too dark. However, if you want to do it all, then you can pick one of the many Alwar hotels and stay the night. That way you can comfortably explore the town.

• Alwar City Palace – Also called Vinay Vilas Palace, this opulent structure was built in the 18th century. An amalgamation of Mughal and Rajputana architecture, this has now been converted to a museum and is home to rare manuscripts. You can also, see the old arms and furniture when you visit here.
• Alwar Fort or Bala Qila – This fort can be seen from the city palace. It is known for its stunning view of Alwar town. It was built in the 15th century and includes over 50 towers, a temple and a few historic buildings.
• Siliserh lake – Around 12 km away from the town is an artificial lake made by Maharaja Vinay Khan. You can visit the old hunting lodge used by the Maharaja, now a heritage hotel and do some boating in the lake.
• Sariska Tiger Reserve – Located very close to Alwar, you can opt for a jeep safari and catch sight of the striped beasts. If lucky, you will also, be able to spot leopards, sambals and wild boars. While there, don’t miss the gorgeous 6th-century Neelkanth temple with its carvings and the Pandupol Hanuman temple set near a waterfall.
• Vijay Mandir Palace – 14 km from Alwar is yet another lovely palace with 105 rooms. The palace is located along a lake and has a huge lawn. The Sita Ram temple here is definitely a stop you need to make.
• Jaisamand Lake – This can be clubbed with a visit to the Vijay Mandir Palace. Jaisamand lake is the 2nd largest artificial lake in Asia. What makes it special is the presence of 6 lovely cenotaphs and a summer palace by its bank. You can also, try some boating and water sports here.

Think you need to plan an overnight here? 😉

Offbeat road trip from Delhi to Jaipur via Mandawa on NH9 & NH 709

• Total distance – 425 km
• Travel time – 8.5 hours
• Route followed – Delhi – Mandawa – Nawalgarh – Jaipur

Yes, this is a longer route and which is why a lot of people don’t even think of it. In fact, you will find a lot of car rental companies discouraging you owing to the distance and time. That said, there is nothing wrong with the route that is on a toll road and is quite comfortable. On this particular road trip option, if you do not want to stay overnight, then you can either visit Mandawa or Nawalgarh. Either place will require around 3 – 4 hours.

If you wish to do both places, I highly recommend one overnight at Mandawa or Nawalgarh. There are some lovely Havelis turned into hotels and these are available at a very reasonable cost. You can see them through the given links.

Mandawa tourist places

Shekhawati region of Rajasthan is also, known for its painted Havelis that are spread across various towns and villages. The Shekhawati fresco art covers these mansions from top to bottom. In addition to that, you will find small forts, gorgeous cenotaphs and interesting wells (Baori) in these towns. You can get a feel of these by exploring this small village called Mandawa. Mandawa is around 5.5 hours from Delhi and you can plan to reach here by lunch.

• Jhunjhunwala’s golden Haveli – this has a room filled with frescoes of pure gold leaf.
• Murmuria haveli – for its unique frescoes of freedom fighters
• Goenka double haveli – 2 havelis, one campus and perfect symmetry. One of them in fact, looks like a ghost mansion
• Paardarshi Shivling Mandir – known for its 250 year old spatik (crystal) Shiv linga
• Harlakha well – with its huge pillars and pulley system that was operated using camels.

Nawalgarh & its attractions

Nawalgarh is a slightly bigger town in Shekhawati region. It is just 30 km from Mandawa. If you choose to skip Mandawa, you can get to Nawalgarh from Delhi in 5.5 hours, using the same highway options. The place is just 2.5 hours from Jaipur at 150 km. Here too, you will find comfortable stays but the options are comparatively lesser than those in Mandawa. As for the attractions – check them out

• Poddar Haveli and Museum – This is one of the best havelis in Shekhawati. Well preserved and stunning. It is now a museum that showcases the Rajasthani culture and gives you a good undertanding of the Haveli layouts.
• Moraka Haveli – Another fresco-covered mansion – this time with a picture of Jesus Christ in it.

Nawalgarh has many more havelis that you can see from outside . These are mostly scattered around the Poddar museum and you can just walk around to see it. There are a few temples and cenotaphs too, that you will spot along this path.

This offbeat and unusual route from Delhi to Jaipur will definitely appeal to architecture lovers, heritage buffs and immersive travelers. While the distance is more, you are getting to see something very different too.

Common FAQs for a road trip between Delhi and Jaipur

Before you go, pin this

Well, that is it in terms of this guide for a road trip from Delhi to Jaipur by car. It has you covered in all possible ways – from picking the best mode of transport to how to book a good car rental and finally the various route options. There are some general tips included in the FAQs section. Let me know if you have any other queries. And yes, remember to pin this up.

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This article has been written in association with India with Car. However, the opinions expressed are truly my own.