Can we go to Amritsar from Shekhawati or Bikaner?

Is it even possible. Would it be more than a one day drive with a car and driver? (I'm assuming so) and if so where would you overnight (mid range)? Are there trains? Or is it better to go to Delhi and then get the train to Amritsar?

Last December I went from Nawalgarh to Amritsar. From Nawalgarh to Jhunjhunu very early by car and then by bus from Jhujhunu to Delhi. More or less six hours from 07.30 am to 13.30 and from Delhi to Amirtsar, around five hours by train, I think was the Shatbadi. Not very hard, at 09.00 or 09.30pm I was in front of the Golden Temple.

Jorge

I am planning to take the train from Bikaner Jn to Amritsar in July but plan to break my journey in Dalhousie first. The most direct route from Bikaner Jn involves the Barmer Kalka Express (4888) service. This train departs Bikaner Jn at 1640hrs and arrives at Ambala Cant Jn the next morning at 0400hrs. The best this train has to offer is 2AC. There are a number of connections available from Ambala Cant Jn; your onward journey to Amritsar should take around 4 hours max.

What class of travel for the train? (if I had a £ for everytime I've asked that question. )

Often the choices multiply if you're prepared to use Sleeper class (not air con), and I've found a couple of 'beauties' to help get between Bikaner/Shekhawati and Amritsar.

Also, where in Shekhawati?

Also, is overnight train travel an option?

Haven't really settled on a base in Shekhawati yet - the class of train doesn't matter if its a day or shortish trip - I'm not sure about the overnight thing .. it's definitely an option. I guess air con isn't really an issue at that time of year... I'll have a look at all the train info again and get my head around all the different classes.

If its an interesting train trip it would be worth doing.

On the other hand - if its an interesting road trip with some good things to stop and see it would be worth doing that too with a driver... I wonder what a good road route would be?

It's nearly 500kms from Bikaner to Amritsar by the quickest route (the same from Shekhawati), so you can either spend a long day in the car with few breaks, or do the journey over 2 day calling at a few places en-route (no idea where), then you have to pay for an extra (long) day for your driver to get home.

Train info to follow.

Bikaner to Amritsar.

The first train has an awful departure time, but will be the quickest way to get to Amritsar.

Train 9223 departs Bikaner daily at 01:45 and gets to Makhu at 11:00.

2-tier air con = Rs 751
Sleeper Class = Rs 203

Makhu is 60 Kms south of Amritsar, it's on the main road going south from Amritsar and next to the only river bridge in the area, there will be plenty of buses and the journey time will be just under 2 hours.


A slightly better timed option, (though only Sleeper class is available) is...

Train 340 departs Bikaner daily at 20:55 and gets to Bhatinda at 04:55.

Sleeper Class = Rs 103 (not air con)

Bhatinda is about 5 hours by bus from Amritsar, and I think there would be a bus at least every 2 hours, if not more.

A daytime option....

Train 338 departs Lalgarh Jn (3kms from Bikaner) daily at 08:20 and gets to Bhatinda at 16:25.

Again, only sleeper class, Rs 103


Shekhawati to Amritsar.

See this map.



Forget all the rail lines in the map, they're all metre gauge and all due to close soon for gauge conversion.

Hisar is about 150kms from most of the tourist parts of Shekhawati, a taxi should take about 3.5 hours, and a bus should take up to 5 hours.

Hisar may be worth a visit, do a google search, it looks like an interesting place.

Train 1ALH departs Hisar daily at 22:30 and gets to Amritsar at 07:55

Sleeper Class only = Rs 106.

Hmm Hisar looks interesting I'll google it... any ideas on the other thread I posted about getting to Shekhawati from Jaisalmer? I am looking forward to train travel (but not at 1am!)as the trains in India are a legendary part of the experience.. on the other hand we are real car travellers, I love the ability to follow an interesting looking signpost, get lost and find something amazing - or awful! We are renowned for taking the longest time to do the simplest trips as we are always stopping. I was thinking that that leg could be an opportunity for a wander . Maybe a driver to Hisar then the train? Thanks!

The train doesn't look good for this route, especially as most of the lines in Shekhawati will be closing soon, there is a long overnight train from Jaisalmer to Jaipur, arriving very early in the morning, but this train would be a good option if you were in a hurry, but I don't think it's ideal.

Maybe you'd be best to hire a car & driver for a few days to get from Jaisalmer to Hisar, first staying in Bikaner then somewhere in Shekhawati.

There are a couple of posts in the following thread you may find useful.

Jaisalmer to Bikaner

steven....you are genius..
kristinm ! please follow...

You are indeed and I will - That was what I was tbinking too, a bit of a meander in a car and then the train up to Amritsar from Hisar. have been unable to find anything on Hisar though!!! I guess we'll ask around en-route and make a booking from there ....

Those overnight trains and early (late?) starts just sound like they'd knock the stuffing out of us, I think we will need to pace ourselves on this trip, not least because its the first real holiday we will have for years!

I'm now thinking I'll stop trying to be tricky and instead go from Jaisalmer to Bikaner by train (is it running yet?) bus or car, and then overnight in Bikaner and go to Navwalgarh by car, train or bus - whichever is cheapest and easiest, then to Delhi, then to Amritsar on the express train after Delhi back through Haridwar and then on to the Jaipur - Udaipur bottom leg of the journey????

What do you think?