The short version: Banswara has no airport and no railway station of practical use. Everyone arrives by road. The only real decision is which road.
By air — via Udaipur
Udaipur (Maharana Pratap Airport) is the nearest airport, roughly 160 km away. It has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and a handful of other Indian cities.
From Udaipur, hire a car for the drive. Allow three to four hours — the distance suggests less, but this is not expressway driving.
Ahmedabad is the alternative if flight timings suit you better. It is further, around 300 km, but the airport is much larger with more connections.
By rail — via Ratlam
The nearest useful railhead is Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, on the Delhi–Mumbai line, which means good connections. From Ratlam it is a road transfer to Banswara.
Udaipur City station also works if you are coming on a Rajasthan route, and it has the advantage of putting you on the same road as the airport transfer.
Do not plan around a station in Banswara itself.
By road
This is how most people come, and it is the right choice.
| From | Approx. distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Udaipur | 160 km | The standard approach. Best roads. |
| Ratlam | 130 km | Shortest from a major railhead. |
| Indore | 250 km | Reasonable if coming from MP. |
| Ahmedabad | 300 km | Long but straightforward. |
| Jaipur | 500 km | A full day. Break the journey. |
State buses run to Banswara from Udaipur and other regional centres. They are cheap and slow. For two or more people, a hired car costs little more and saves hours.
Driving notes
- Do not drive these roads after dark if you can avoid it. Lighting is poor, and livestock and unlit vehicles are a genuine hazard.
- Fuel up in a town rather than relying on finding a pump.
- Mobile signal is patchy on the outlying stretches. Download your route offline before you leave.
- Allow more time than the distance suggests. Always.
Getting around once you are here
Autos are available in town and are the easiest way to reach anything within a few kilometres — Kagdi Pick Up Weir, Anand Sagar Lake, Ram Kund.
For the outlying sites — Mahi Dam, Talwara, Arthuna, Mangarh Dham — hire a car and driver for the day. It is not expensive, and no auto will want to make the trip to Mangarh.
Distances and travel times for all twenty-two sites are in our guide to places in Banswara.
Arriving at the hotel
We are on Udaipur Road, Banswara 327001 — on the main approach from Udaipur, so you will pass us on the way in rather than having to find us in the town.
Check-in is from 1:00 PM. If you are arriving late after a long drive, call ahead on the number on our contact page and we will keep the front desk expecting you. Our rooms are all air-conditioned, which matters after four hours on the road.