Dungarpur sits in the hills of Vagad, close to the Gujarat border, and it feels removed from the better-known Rajasthan circuit. The town is the seat of the elder branch of the Guhilot family of Mewar, and it grew around a hilltop palace and a lake. Names for its founding vary in the records, but the Juna Mahal, its first palace, has origins in the late 13th century.
The pleasures here are small and specific. The Juna Mahal is a seven-storey palace-fort with interiors painted and mirror-inlaid over several centuries. Udai Bilas Palace, a 19th-century residence, stands on Gaib Sagar Lake, with the Shrinathji shrine and the Vijay Rajrajeshwar temple on the same shore. In the countryside you find Deo Somnath, a 12th-century stone Shiva temple, and Baneshwar, where the Som and Mahi rivers meet and Bhil pilgrims gather each winter.
It is an easy place for older travellers who accept a slow pace. The lakeside town is flat and compact, while the fort has many stairs and the countryside sights need a car. Plan two days, use a hotel or Udai Bilas Palace to arrange access, and treat it as a quiet stop between Udaipur and Gujarat.
Before you plan
Dungarpur at a glance
- Best months
- October to MarchOctober to March; November to February is the most comfortable. April to June is very hot, and July to September brings monsoon rain.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days covers the town and one…2 days covers the town and one country temple; 3 days adds Baneshwar and Galiakot
- Airport
- Maharana Pratap Airport, UdaipurMaharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur (UDR), about 110 to 120 km by road, roughly 2.5 hours
- Railway station
- DungarpurDungarpur (DNRP), a small station on the Udaipur City to Himmatnagar line; services are limited, so check current timetables
- Getting around
- Autos work for the lake and temples…Autos work for the lake and temples in town. For Deo Somnath, Baneshwar and Galiakot, hire a car and driver.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 per person per day excluding hotel, with a car for country sights; palace stays cost more
- Senior comfort
- Good in townGood in town; the old palace has steep stairs and country sights need long drives, with limited facilities
- Language
- Hindi and the Vagdi dialect locallyHindi and the Vagdi dialect locally; English is understood at the palace hotel and larger businesses
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Dungarpur: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Dungarpur itinerary
One good day
1 day in Dungarpur
Start at Juna Mahal in the morning, after confirming access through Udai Bilas Palace, and give the painted interiors an hour or two. Move to Udai Bilas Palace for a rest and lunch, then walk the Gaib Sagar shore at a gentle pace. Visit the Shrinathji temple and the Vijay Rajrajeshwar temple before sunset, and finish with tea on the palace terrace.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Dungarpur
Spend the morning at Juna Mahal, then lunch and rest at Udai Bilas Palace. In the late afternoon walk around Gaib Sagar and visit the Shrinathji temple.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Dungarpur
Juna Mahal in the morning, Udai Bilas Palace for lunch and a rest, then Gaib Sagar and Shrinathji temple at sunset.
Day-by-day plan →
