Hiring a car and driver vs. trains/buses in Rajahstan

mandycc · May 27th, 2008, 18:19

Sorry to ask a question you must get asked a lot, but my boyfriend and I can't agree on hiring a car and driver to take us around Rajasthan or getting trains/buses.

I would rather save money, and see the 'real' India on trains, whilst he thinks it would be much easier in a car. We will be in the area for 2/3 weeks.

Please can you tell me your experiences/reccomendations/opinions and how to find a legitimate car company if that is what we decide.

Thank you.

chaia · May 28th, 2008, 05:59

Your friend's right, it's much easyer to travel around in a car esp if you only have 2 to 3 weeks.

On the other hand i normaly prefer to travel by bus or train. It's much cheaper and a lot more fun depending on your personality cause india can be quite demanding and exhausting at times, esp if it's your first time in india.

So, if you want to have a more relaxing journey i'd recomend hiring a car, but if you are prepared for some hassles and willing to dive into it, i'd say go by bus.

Have fun in the most amazing country on the planet

Indojingai · May 28th, 2008, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandycc

I would rather save money, and see the 'real' India on trains, whilst he thinks it would be much easier in a car. We will be in the area for 2/3 weeks.

Currently there are communal riots going on in Rajasthan. They are sabotaging railiway lines and crazy as the rioters are they may attck cars too. Wait until the trouble is over, but this being India a new one will start by the time this one ends.

capt_mahajan · May 28th, 2008, 13:37

The riots are caste based (or rather, one caste rioting), not communal. There is a difference.

Agree about waiting a bit.

As for the rest, am too tired to comment.

Mickey S · Jun 5th, 2008, 14:34

It is very easy to see Rajasthan in 2-3 weeks using public transport. I've done it myself twice.

It is certainly "easier" in a car, but it is not nearly as exciting an experience. You will have a much better time - and much better memories - if you use trains and buses. On my last trip we hired a car just once - to travel between Bundi and Pushkar, where there is no direct train route. I remember almost nothing about that journey, whereas I have countless memories of people we met and things we did on trains and stations elsewhere on the same trip.

Just two of those memories:

We were all sitting on the platform at Agra Cantt. station waiting for our train to Kota, fending off beggars and playing with the adorable station puppies. We bought some food from a vendor but did not really like it so we fed some of it to a passing cow, which promptly threw it back up again over the gentleman sitting next to us. We used my mother's entire stash of moist wipes cleaning the poor chap up.

Towards the end of our holiday, the train we were waiting for at Deshnok was going to be delayed by two hours. The station master took us to his home, where his wife and daughter whipped up a delicious meal for us. The entire extended family gradually turned up, from all round the town, and we had a ball. When the train finally arrived we were in a (SL) carriage with a crowd of labourers heading back down south. They were noisy and raucous and had huge amounts of curry, naan and salad that they shared with us. The carriage was bitterly cold and draughty, so one of the chaps gave my mother his blanket for the night. He was asleep when we left the train, so my mother gently placed his blanket over him and left him a bar of chocolate.

This is India - not racing from place to place in an air-conditioned car. Make the journeys part of the experience.

May 27th, 2008, 18:19	#1
mandycc Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Posts: 65	Hiring a car and driver vs. trains/buses in Rajahstan Sorry to ask a question you must get asked a lot, but my boyfriend and I can't agree on hiring a car and driver to take us around Rajasthan or getting trains/buses. I would rather save money, and see the 'real' India on trains, whilst he thinks it would be much easier in a car. We will be in the area for 2/3 weeks. Please can you tell me your experiences/reccomendations/opinions and how to find a legitimate car company if that is what we decide. Thank you.

May 28th, 2008, 05:59	#2
chaia Masala Chai Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: cloud7 Posts: 38	Your friend's right, it's much easyer to travel around in a car esp if you only have 2 to 3 weeks. On the other hand i normaly prefer to travel by bus or train. It's much cheaper and a lot more fun depending on your personality cause india can be quite demanding and exhausting at times, esp if it's your first time in india. So, if you want to have a more relaxing journey i'd recomend hiring a car, but if you are prepared for some hassles and willing to dive into it, i'd say go by bus. Have fun in the most amazing country on the planet __________________ One Chai please

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May 28th, 2008, 13:37	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,741	The riots are caste based (or rather, one caste rioting), not communal. There is a difference. Agree about waiting a bit. As for the rest, am too tired to comment.

Jun 5th, 2008, 14:34	#5
Mickey S Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cymru Posts: 1,132	It is very easy to see Rajasthan in 2-3 weeks using public transport. I've done it myself twice. It is certainly "easier" in a car, but it is not nearly as exciting an experience. You will have a much better time - and much better memories - if you use trains and buses. On my last trip we hired a car just once - to travel between Bundi and Pushkar, where there is no direct train route. I remember almost nothing about that journey, whereas I have countless memories of people we met and things we did on trains and stations elsewhere on the same trip. Just two of those memories: We were all sitting on the platform at Agra Cantt. station waiting for our train to Kota, fending off beggars and playing with the adorable station puppies. We bought some food from a vendor but did not really like it so we fed some of it to a passing cow, which promptly threw it back up again over the gentleman sitting next to us. We used my mother's entire stash of moist wipes cleaning the poor chap up. Towards the end of our holiday, the train we were waiting for at Deshnok was going to be delayed by two hours. The station master took us to his home, where his wife and daughter whipped up a delicious meal for us. The entire extended family gradually turned up, from all round the town, and we had a ball. When the train finally arrived we were in a (SL) carriage with a crowd of labourers heading back down south. They were noisy and raucous and had huge amounts of curry, naan and salad that they shared with us. The carriage was bitterly cold and draughty, so one of the chaps gave my mother his blanket for the night. He was asleep when we left the train, so my mother gently placed his blanket over him and left him a bar of chocolate. This is India - not racing from place to place in an air-conditioned car. Make the journeys part of the experience.

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