REVIEW · UDAIPUR
Half-Day Eklingji & Nagda Temple Tour by Tuk-Tuk or Car
Book on Viator →Operated by Udaipur Day Tours · Bookable on Viator
This is temple time that actually fits your schedule. In just a half day, you’ll hit Eklingji and Nagda, with pickup and transport handled for you, so you can focus on the carvings, the atmosphere, and the drive out of town.
What I like most is the mix: 8th-century Eklingji for big-picture context, then Nagda’s Sahasra Bahu Temples for close-up detail and an easier, quieter stop. I also like that you’re in a private setup, so your driver can keep things moving without turning the day into a group shuffle.
The main thing to watch is that access at Eklingji can feel controlled when attendants are busy, so you may not get the same freedom in every area. It’s still worth it, but go with flexibility.
In This Review
- Key highlights
- A half day of temple touring that respects your time
- Transport choice: tuk-tuk for fun, car for comfort
- Stop 1: Eklingji Temple complex and the real temple-size feeling
- What you’ll experience here
- A caution to plan around: access can tighten
- Stop 2: Nagda’s Sahasra Bahu Temples for stonework and quiet detail
- Why this stop is worth your half day
- Timing: how you’ll use those 4 to 5 hours
- Guides can make or break temple touring (and this one has names)
- Price and value: about $11.35 per person
- What’s not included (so you aren’t surprised)
- Temple etiquette and photo tips that actually help
- Who this tour suits best (and who might want a different plan)
- Should you book this tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the Eklingji & Nagda half-day tour?
- Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off?
- What temples are included?
- Is there admission included for the temples?
- What transport options are available?
- Is the tour private?
- Are meals included?
- Is there an English-speaking driver?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key highlights
- Private door-to-door pickup in Udaipur, with tuk-tuk or car based on what you pick
- Eklingji Temple complex: monumental, historically important, and built to be explored slowly
- Sahasra Bahu Temples in Nagda: two dedicated Hindu temples linked to Virabhadra and known for detailed stonework
- English-speaking driver at both sites, plus extra context along the way
- Great photo chances when you’re on the grounds without a large crowd flow
A half day of temple touring that respects your time
If you’ve got limited time in Udaipur, this kind of tour is a practical win. You spend the morning out of the city and come back with that satisfied feeling of having actually seen something—without spending half your day negotiating routes, rickshaws, and timing.
The structure is simple. You leave Udaipur, visit Eklingji first, then transfer to Nagda (Sahasra Bahu Temples). Total time is about 4 to 5 hours, so it works well if you want to keep your afternoon free for markets, lake views, or just doing nothing like a local.
Transport choice: tuk-tuk for fun, car for comfort
You can choose either a private tuk-tuk or a car. Both do the job, but the experience feels different.
A tuk-tuk can be a fun way to feel the road and the smaller sights as you move through the region. The tradeoff is that you may spend more of your attention on the ride itself—especially since highway driving can be part of the trip. If you’d rather put your energy into temple time instead of traffic time, the car is a sensible choice.
Either way, the big value is that you’re not responsible for driving logistics. You show up, your driver handles the transit, and you get to focus on what you came for.
Stop 1: Eklingji Temple complex and the real temple-size feeling
Eklingji is not just one temple. It’s a temple complex in Kailashpuri (Udaipur). It’s also tied to the Mewar dynasty’s tradition, which helps you understand why this site matters beyond its pretty stones.
This stop is built for pacing. You’ll have around two hours to explore. That’s long enough to wander at a calm speed, notice the shapes and layout, and take in how the complex feels as a whole—not just as a quick photo stop.
What you’ll experience here
Expect a classic Hindu temple atmosphere: stone architecture, sacred space, and a layout that rewards walking and looking. You don’t need to be a scholar to enjoy it. Even if you’re only halfway paying attention, the place communicates scale and intention.
A caution to plan around: access can tighten
One practical note: access at Eklingji can be restricted by attendants depending on how busy things are and what’s allowed at that moment. That doesn’t mean your visit is ruined. It just means you’ll want to stay flexible and be ready for slightly different access than you imagined from photos.
Stop 2: Nagda’s Sahasra Bahu Temples for stonework and quiet detail
After Eklingji, you head to Nagda to see the Sahasra Bahu Temples, also called Sasbahu Temples. These are two 10th-century Hindu temples dedicated to Virabhadra. They share a platform, with a larger temple surrounded by ten smaller ones—so even at a glance you can see the design is intentional, not random.
You’ll get about two hours at this stop as well, and the setting tends to feel more open for strolling and observation. This is where the trip’s “two-in-one” logic really clicks: Eklingji gives you the larger historical/complex feeling, and Nagda gives you the close, detailed temple experience.
Why this stop is worth your half day
The carvings and layout reward patient looking. Even if you’re not reading every inscription, you’ll still notice patterns—how forms repeat, how surfaces are worked, how the structures are meant to be approached from different angles.
Also, the admission setup listed for this stop is free, which keeps the cost predictable.
Timing: how you’ll use those 4 to 5 hours
Here’s the practical rhythm. Your tour starts with morning pickup from your hotel in Udaipur, then you drive out to Eklingji (about 20 km from the city). There’s travel time and then a substantial on-site block.
After Eklingji, you transfer to Nagda for Sahasra Bahu Temples. The tour is designed so you don’t spend the entire day trapped in a vehicle. You’ll have two temple blocks of roughly two hours each, which is about right for seeing and not just rushing.
If you’re the type who likes to arrive and take your time, you’ll probably enjoy this pace. If you hate waiting, the private setup helps because you can move with fewer interruptions.
Guides can make or break temple touring (and this one has names)
What you want from a driver isn’t just directions—it’s context. This tour includes an English-speaking driver at the attractions, which is what you need to turn “cool temple” into “I understand what I’m looking at.”
The reviews around guiding highlight a few standout examples:
- Salim has been praised for taking guests via backroads through picturesque farming villages, which turns the drive into a more local-feeling part of the day rather than just highway time.
- Many has been praised for being very accessible and for sharing Indian history clearly, including Spanish language support in at least one case.
- Madan ji has also been mentioned in Spanish context, suggesting that your communication experience may be smooth even if you’re traveling in another language.
You might not get the same exact route or the same extra stops every time, but the takeaway is consistent: the tour works best when your driver talks you through what you’re seeing.
Price and value: about $11.35 per person
At about $11.35 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to see two major temple sites in a short window. The value comes from what you don’t have to pay for separately in time and effort: hotel pickup and drop-off, plus private transport.
It’s also a decent deal compared to piecing together two separate local excursions. Here, your day is packaged: transit is handled, the route is planned, and you’re not spending your limited vacation hours negotiating.
What’s not included (so you aren’t surprised)
- Meals are not included. Plan a lunch or snack around your return time.
- A private guide isn’t included by default (though it can be requested).
- Admission details vary by stop: Eklingji is listed with admission not included, while Sahasra Bahu Temples are listed as free in the provided itinerary info.
So the real “all-in cost” can depend on those entry fees at Eklingji. Still, the overall structure is budget-friendly, especially if you’re staying centrally and want a smooth half-day.
Temple etiquette and photo tips that actually help
Temples are working sacred spaces, not just outdoor museums. A few habits make your visit smoother:
- Dress modestly and be ready for rules about what areas you can access at Eklingji.
- Keep your attention on your footing and the flow of people moving through doorways and corridors.
- Bring a charged phone or camera, but also give yourself permission to look without filming everything. You’ll remember the shapes more than you’ll remember the pixels.
Since access can tighten at Eklingji, it helps to treat your time there like flexible exploration. If a section is blocked, shift your focus to what’s open and keep moving.
Who this tour suits best (and who might want a different plan)
This is a strong fit if you:
- Want two temples in one half day
- Prefer private transport so you aren’t stuck with a slow group
- Like history and architecture, but also want your schedule respected
It may be less ideal if you:
- Need totally unrestricted access at every monument area (access at Eklingji can be limited)
- Hate any time on the road, since even short tours require highway driving depending on the route
If you’re the type who loves temple structure and stone detail, Nagda is likely to be your favorite part. If you want the bigger cultural context of Mewar-era devotion, Eklingji will likely satisfy first.
Should you book this tour?
I’d book it if your main goal is to maximize temple time with minimal hassle. The combination of private pickup, a realistic 4–5 hour window, and two different temple experiences makes it a practical Udaipur add-on.
Book it especially if you’re thinking: I want to see Eklingji, but I don’t want to plan transit. This tour handles the moving parts and leaves you to do the fun part—walking through sacred stonework and taking it in at an unhurried pace.
If you’re very particular about access and uninterrupted wandering, go in ready for the possibility that Eklingji can feel more controlled on arrival. Even then, the chance to pair Eklingji with Sahasra Bahu is usually worth the trade.
FAQ
How long is the Eklingji & Nagda half-day tour?
The tour lasts about 4 to 5 hours.
Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off?
Yes. You’ll have round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off in Udaipur.
What temples are included?
You’ll visit Eklingji Temple and the Sahasra Bahu Temples (Nagda).
Is there admission included for the temples?
Admission is listed as not included for Eklingji, while the Sahasra Bahu Temples are listed as free in the itinerary details provided.
What transport options are available?
You can choose private transport by tuk-tuk or car, depending on the option you select.
Is the tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.
Are meals included?
No. Meals are not included.
Is there an English-speaking driver?
Yes. An English-speaking tour driver is provided at the attractions.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.
