Help! Delhi - Rajasthan - 5 Days (15th-20th August)

nydeidith

Help! Delhi - Rajasthan - 5 Days (15th-20th August)

Arrival: 15th August (wednesday) in the evening @ Delhi
Departure: 20th August (monday) in the evening @ Delhi

I am currently volunteering in India with couple of NGOs and have already spent a month in Kutch and a month in Bombay, and will be spending a month in Uttaranchal. In Kutch and Uttaranchal, i will be at really remote areas with nothing of touristy interest (which suits me perfectly). However, my best buddy will be flying to India on 15th August for 5 days and i am at a loss on how i should plan a more 'touristy' itinerary.

So, please give me some suggestions! All i can think of is just looking around Delhi and also a day trip to Taj Mahal. I am not really the conventional type of tourists, but my friend buddy certainly is. Here are some details:

Budget: 50-100 USD / day & person
Mode of transport: trains (air-con) and taxis
Daytime/night-time travel: no problem with daytime train journey is on scenic route / no 2nd class unreserved, i dont think my friend can handle it, and i dont want him to hate india
Travel background: quite experienced myself, but my friend is less so

So anyways,

this is my tentative plan:

15th: arrival in evening, check in hotel and have some nice food
16th: look around delhi
17tht:day trip to Taj Mahal
18th: ?
19th: ?
20th: look around delhi and departure in the evening

So, i have free 2 days and no idea where to go. Please give me some suggestions, Thanks!

Mickey S

Day trip to Taj Mahal is a bad idea. It's best seen (for many reasons) first thing in the morning.

The obvious place to go for the remaining days is Jaipur. So:

16th: look around Delhi and evening train to Agra
17th: Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra Fort, other sights, evening train to Jaipur
18th: Jaipur
19th: train to Delhi

It's a bit rushed, this is the "golden triangle" that most tourists do.

nydeidith

Hi, thanks for the reply!
The Golden Triangle sounds like a great idea for a 5 day trip.
I also looked at the trains and there is not much problem logistically.

I have one question though. I can probably do all the train and hotel bookings myself, but would it be better to get to a travel agent and get them to do everything for me? I dont want to go through all the hassle (always possible that i will make painful errors) if i am not going to make a substantial saving.

Mickey S

I never trust travel agents. I research accommodation in Lonely Planet and Rough Guide, then make bookings directly with the hotels.

In Jaipur there's a really lovely place that is well within your budget - Hotel Madhuban. I've stayed there and recommend it. It's close to the station, and they will pick up. Excellent breakfasts and a lovely, secluded garden to sit in.

In Delhi, Hotel 55 is okay (though nothing special). Good location, at Connaught Place and 15 minutes' walk from New Delhi railway station.

In Agra, I always stay at the Ganga Ratan. It's a bland but comfortable tourist hotel, away from the chaotic old town but only a 20-minute walk to the Taj. Air-conditioning, nice bathrooms, HBO... just what you need after a hot, dusty day sightseeing.

Booking trains on IRCTC is so easy that there's no need to get a travel agent involved...

shashank.aggarwal

well what I would advice, if you are going for Air Cond. Trains, you can hire taxi for the entire Trip..

Like in 5 days, an AC Toyota Innova (good for 5-8) people, would not cost you more than Rs. 9k-10K.

And if you are 4 OR less you can contemplate a Tata Indica, that would be around Rs. 7K-8K.

The road conditions are very good between all three destinations, and I believe it will give you a lot of flexibility and save time. as you wont have to stay at a place because your train leaves after 6 hours, you can get going at that very moment..or stay if you want to ...

About the hotels, Unless one is too particluar about them, I wont even bother to book them in advance, specially in this season and time..simply make a list of three hotels of your choice at every place and check in once you are there...this way you can get good discounts and will remains flexible...

In all my traveling in India, I have never got a hotel booked in advance, and have never ever faced any trouble with the same..there are plenty of options..especially in major cities and centers and it helps you to be flexible..

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nydeidith

Ahh, thanks for the hotel suggestions, it really helps.

As for taxis, i am not sure what you mean. Do i hire them for the whole trip? Or do i hire them from one place to another place? And finally, from who and where can i hire them? Taxis sounds like a good idea since i suspect AC trains will not be cheap and the point about not having to cater to train timings is vey true!

shashank.aggarwal

yeah I meant hiring the Taxi for the entire trip, 5 days, 24 hours a day with you..

Explore the forum and you will find some reliable contacts and details of the same..

By the way how many members are there..??

Mickey S

Don't believe it! AC trains are cheap (a few hundred rupees) and great fun - you'll meet lots of people. And Indian roads are amongst the most dangerous and stressful in the world.

Train 2190 MAHAKOSHAL EXP Dep Delhi 16:10 Arrive Agra 19:17 - 443 rupees.
Train 2988 GWL JP INTRCITY Dep Agra 18:20 Arr Jaipur 22:20 - 309 rupees.
Train 4312 ALA HAZRAT EXP Dep Jaipur 08:15 Arr Delhi 14:04 - 552 rupees

nydeidith

there are just the two of us (of course i can attempt to recuit people along the way ). If i hire a Tata Indica for 7-8k. What does it include? Do i have pay extra for gas and accomodation for driver?

i have actually done all my travelling around india so far on sleeper class. but i do like the idea and flexibility of having a driver.

shashank.aggarwal

no..it includes everything..you only have to pay parking or some taxes..that would be fixed before hand..rest everything would be included in the cost..

nydeidith

sounds cool, i will think about this. Just curious though. Where is the driver going to sleep then?!

Also i will work out the cost of both plans, as well as the pros and cons, then we can have a discussion again. Thank so much guys!

shashank.aggarwal

They have their own arrangements..they are used to sleeping in the cars..

Or the hotel you stay in they have some area for the drivers as well...they dont charge you anything for that...

Plus the cost of the his accommodation and food is included in the amount that you pay..

nydeidith

Hi Guys,

Can i get some more recommendations for hotels in Delhi and Agra? I have some good ideas for Jaipur already..

http://www.madhuban.net/rooms.html Deluxe (1400 Rs) or Super Deluxe (1900 Rs)
http://www.umaidbhawan.com/index.htm Deluxe (1300 Rs) or Royal Deluxe (1800 Rs)
http://www.jasvilas.com/jasvilas.htm Double Occupancy (2300 Rs)

shashank.aggarwal

I Agra I stayed in Amar Yatri Niwas (Amar Guest House)..you might want to google it...I guess it was part of more famous Hotel by a similar name (amar?)...but it was cheap and very comfortable with air conditioning and peaceful surroundings...