18 days in Rajasthan

Rebecca-VT

Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum, and have not been able to stop reading. Such a great source of info!

I will be traveling to India for the first time in September. The primary goal of my trip is photography, but of course I want to see and experience as much as I can! I am currently in the process of making itinerary arrangements with a tour company in Delhi. They seem to have a lot of experience in working with photographers, and have put together an itinerary which looks great, but I'd just like to get some second/third/fourth opinions

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi (8:30pm)
Day 2: Delhi
Day 3: Delhi-Ahmedabad(by plane)- Dungarpur
Day 4: Dungarpur
Day 5: Dungarpur-Udaipur
Day 6: Udaipur
Day 7: Udaipur-Ranakpur-Kumbalgarh
Day 8: Kumbalgarh-Ghanerao
Day 9: Ghanerao-Narlai
Day 10: Narlai
Day 11: Narlai-Rohet
Day 12: Rohet-Manvar (tent camp)
Day 13: Manvar-Jodhpur
Day 14: Jodhpur-Jaipur (early morning train)
Day 15: Jaipur
Day 16: Jaipur- Fatephur Sikri- Agra
Day 17: Agra
Day 18: Agra-Delhi-Fly Home (late night flight)

Phew! At first glance, it does seem a bit whirlwind, doesn't it? But, am I correct in that many of the places are all within a few hours of each other? Some of these places I can't find on any map! I don't mind frequent hotel changes (It'll be more convenient for photography purposes), I just don't want to be spending every other day spending hours in a car.

I really prefer traveling to rural areas, but it seems like most other travelers just hit the larger cities. Are many of these places going to be redundant? Also, there's only a day for Jodhpur... I know that won't be enough time, but is it worth sacrificing anything else? Everything looks SO interesting!

Thank you!

__________________
Rebecca

My travel photography: http://rebeccavt.smugmug.com/Travel

Radjesh

1. Jaisalmer is one of the best places to visit in Rajasthan, not to be missed

2. Is there a specific need to go to Ahmedabad and then come back to rajasthan? It is roundabout

3. As you said, I havent heard much of the smaller places like Ghanerao, Narlai, Rohet and Manvar. Just make sure that these are not there just for name sake, cos later on you dont want to feel that they were a waste of time. One day in Jodhpur should be fine

__________________

MY 2008 KASHMIR TRIP

singsub

i also never heard of those 4 places. any lowdown on them would be welcome.

Rebecca-VT

Thank you Radjesh.

I have heard Jaisalmer is a great place. I have put in a request to see an itinerary that will include it, but I think in order to do it I'd have to cut out too much of the other stuff.

I believe that we're flying into Ahmedabad and then driving up to Udaipur, and spending 2 nights in Dungarpur along the way (which appears to be half way in between Ahmedabad and Udaipur).

Not being heard of is good! As far as I can tell, Ghanerao, Narlai and Rohet are all small villages in between Udaipur and Jodhpur. I like to get off the beaten path, but as I mentioned above I'm just worried these places may get a little redundant, and dare I say, boring. .

I'm not exactly sure where Manvar is... I don't think it's that's the name of an actual place, but rather a tent camp we'll be staying at. It's in the desert somewhere! http://www.manvar.com/camp.htm

machadinha

I'll second that any day. Ghanerao I think is said to be quite good really, I don't know about those other places. Just go for it I'd say, a bunch of major cities and highlights may work out just as if not more repetitive.

Touring around the countryside there (or most anywhere) can be really worth it I'd say, and leave you with the rather more unique experience than the standard itineraries.

I can see the idea of flying out to A'bad, then driving back up I think. Doesn't strike me as so odd.

The tour had originally struck me as fairly hectic, then again with a car and driver and if you feel right about the company... could be really quite OK and worth it, I find it hard to comment as I've never traveled that way. It will obviously allow for greater flexibility and added speed in many cases, which may also be why like you mention many others stick to the larger or more famous places -- it's just harder to reach anywhere else without your own wheels. I wouldn't take that as a reflection on the other places being not worth it, far from it. Moreover, you'll see a lot even just being on the road and making short stops as you like and so on.

So... yes, go for it, I think

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

hfot2

Hi Rebecca,

We missed getting to Rohet - though we had thought to go there we didn't make it.

For what it's worth, Rohet Garh is described in our older LP North India as "a heritage hotel in a small village where Bruce Chatwin wrote The Songlines ..."
See also: http://www.rajasthantravelguide.com/city/rohet.html

distaff half of hfot2

Rebecca-VT

Rohet Garh does sound like a great place. I will be staying in a few other heritage hotels along the way, which I am really excited about.

Thank you for your comments, Machadinha. I agree that it does seem a little hectic, but I think with a private driver and things being fairly close together, it will work out ok. You make a great point that cities could get just as redundant, and I think I will definitely enjoy seeing the more rural side of India.