Take an evening flight (recommended) or an overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur so you arrive the same night — flights are ~1.5 hours. Book a flight after 6:00pm (example window 7:00–9:30pm) or an overnight train that departs in the evening; flights shorten travel time and maximize time in Udaipur.
Arrive Udaipur airport or station, transfer ~30–45 minutes to a hotel near Lake Pichola for easy access to gardens and university the next day. Most hotels have late check-in and onsite dining.
If you land late, have dinner at your hotel restaurant (many hotels offer kitchen service until late) or a nearby popular place that stays open late; this keeps you rested for a full plant-focused day tomorrow.
Start with a hearty breakfast at your hotel to fuel a full day of walking and visits; choose a property offering early-service if you plan an early visit to campus/gardens.
Gulab Bagh (Sajjan Niwas Garden) houses one of Udaipur’s largest botanical collections and a rose garden — great for studying curated collections and historic specimen trees. Open generally 8:00am–6:30pm; visit early for cool light and less crowd.
Visit MLSU’s Department of Botany to see the herbarium, teaching gardens, and any ongoing research collections; very relevant for plant research and medicinal/herbal collections. Note: this is an institutional visit — contact/permission ahead (at least 3–5 days) to access herbarium rooms and labs. Typical campus hours 9:00am–5:00pm on weekdays.
INR0-200 (donation/administrative fee if any), 1h30m
Lunch at Ambrai (or another lakeside restaurant) for local Rajasthani specialties with views of Lake Pichola and the City Palace; good mid-day break to sample regional cuisine. Most lakeside places open by 11:30am–12:00pm.
Historic landscaped garden featuring fountains, ornamental plants and small collections of roses and aquatic species — useful for plantings in heritage landscapes. Open typically 9:00am–6:30pm.
Visit the Udaipur KVK or nearby agricultural extension centre to learn about local medicinal/herbal crop trials, seed collections, and farmer demonstrations — these centers often run demonstration plots for herbs and aromatic plants. Advance phone/email contact is advised; centres usually operate 9:00am–5:00pm.
A sunset boat trip (~45–60 minutes) gives a different perspective on lakeside plantings, reed zones and ornamental plantings along the ghats; boats operate broadly 4:30pm–6:30pm (earlier in autumn — check schedules).
Evening dinner at a rooftop lakeside restaurant to relax and taste Rajasthani dishes and regional herb-spiced curries; most good rooftop restaurants operate until ~10:30–11:00pm. Reserve in advance for prime lake views.
Have an early breakfast and depart by private car or taxi to Mount Abu to maximize time at the sanctuary and forest nursery — the drive is scenic and climbs into the Aravalli hills. Departing early avoids daytime heat; plan ~3.5–4 hours road time.
INR250-600 (breakfast) + INR4000-6000 (private car for the day), 1h
Check into a hotel close to Nakki Lake or the Sanctuary-side for easy access to forested trails and the Horticulture/Forest Department offices if you have arranged site visits.
Visit Mount Abu Forest Department’s nursery or the horticulture nursery to study saplings, native species propagation and medicinal/herbal plant trials; these visits usually require prior permission — contact the Forest Dept. or local Range Office to arrange a guided visit. Offices typically operate 9:00am–5:00pm.
Have lunch at a recommended local restaurant near Nakki Lake — local menu with simple north Indian food suited to a mid-day break. Many eateries are open 11:00am–9:00pm.
Explore the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary (part of the Aravalli hills) with a guide to study high-altitude dry deciduous and riparian plant communities, medicinal shrubs, and endemic species; Sanctuary visiting hours roughly 7:00am–5:30pm — check with the sanctuary office for guided-walk availability and permit requirements.
Visit Achalgarh Fort surroundings and local scrub forest pockets known for aromatic species and tribal medicinal plant uses; short strolls here are good for observing locally-used herbs and shrubs. Achalgarh complex generally accessible during daylight (8:00am–5:30pm).
Dinner at a recommended Mount Abu restaurant; taste regional preparations and discuss the day’s plant sightings with your guide or driver. Many restaurants operate until ~10:00–11:00pm.
Visit Dilwara Temples in the morning when crowds are smaller; the temples are also close to forested slopes where you can note ornamental and native plantings. Temple visiting hours typically start early (around 7:00–8:00am) and may have restricted visiting windows — confirm local timings and ticketing beforehand.
Use your remaining morning to revisit the Forest Dept. nursery or a short guided herb walk focused on identification of medicinal species (arrange guide/forest staff the day before). Morning light is best for plant ID and photography.
Drive back to Udaipur (approx. 3.5–4 hours) to connect with your planned night return to Delhi by flight or train; leaving late morning gives time for a relaxed drive and one last stop if desired.
Arrive Udaipur with time for a short late lunch or to stop at any garden/institute missed earlier; if you need a fresh herb sample or local plant supplier, ask your driver to locate a local nursery.
Transfer to Udaipur airport or station for your night flight/train back to Delhi; plan to be at the airport 60–90 minutes before departure for domestic flights, or arrive at the station at least 45–60 minutes ahead for trains.
Take an evening/night flight or overnight train back to Delhi; flights typically take ~1.5 hours, trains longer. This gets you back to Delhi late night on 14 Oct as requested.