Help on Rajasthan needed

GingerB

Hi everyone, My boyfriend and I are flying to Rajasthan for two weeks from 20th Nov to 3rd Dec. We've read the guide books back to front, but still have a lot of questions! A huge thank you to anyone who can help.
1. Tigers! It's much easier for us to go to Sariska, but is there much more likelihood of seeing a tiger at Ranthambore? How long would you recommend staying in either. Alternatively would you not recommend either?!!
2. We're currently planning to go to Jaipur, Udaipur and Ranthambore / Sariska. We're keen to make sure the trip is as chilled as poss, hence why we don't want to do loads of travelling. How long would you recommend in any of those places - is Udaipur as incredible as everyone says?!
3. How reliable are internal flights?! We're wondering whether it's risky to book a flight from Udaipur to Delhi on the day we leave for the UK from Delhi.
4. Does anyone know how long it'd take to drive from Udaipur to Ranthambore?
5. We're getting mixed info on what the weather will be like end of Nov/ start of Dec - would it normally be very hot?

jyotirmoy

1. Sariska does not have any tigers left all had been poached away. So Ranthambore is the place to go & chance of tiger sighting is more. Remember tiger sightings are not guranteed, if you are lucky you will see a tiger. Plan atleast 3 days if you are very keen to see a tiger. Book a hotel & arrange a safari in advance. Due to stricter sanctuary laws number of safaris have been reduced.
2. Yes Udaipur is beautiful. One day at Jaipur is good enough.
3. Internal flights are quite reliable but unexpected problems can delay a flight any where in the world. You will be very comfortable during the time of the year you are visiting. You will need light woolens. Sometimes flights to & fro Delhi gets delayed due to heavy fog in winter. But it is unlikely early December.
Good luck & enjoy your trip.

GingerB

Thank you for that jyotirmoy. most helpful. best wishes.

mercedes10

Sariska has no tigers??! Really?! Well they're deceiving all the people that visit there then. I was there last year, didn't see any (and didn't really expect to) but was certainly told that there are still some there - though sightings are pretty rare.

GingerB - you'll certainly have far more chance of seeing tigers in Ranthambore. We only went to Sariska because Ranthambore was closed (I was there during monsoon season). Sariska was enjoyable, but the wildlife sightings were poor (we only saw peacocks, deer, wild boar and mongoose - not terribly exciting!).

Alan D

Officially, after a very organised search, Sariska now has no tigers.

What is strange, is that it was estimated by the Forest Department to have held 16-18 tigers the previous year.

A search in Ranthambore very recently estimated there were 24 tigers in the park.

Pssst! Anyone fancy an expensive bowl of tiger penis soup?

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What a long strange trip it's been!

The_blue

We did quite a lot of reading on the tigers and mede our minds up to go to ranthambore, will let you know how we get on (5/11-8/11/05)

TREKorDIE

I heard somewhere, Kanha National park and Bandhabgarh National Park are the best place to see tiger, as they arrange "Tiger Show".

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TREKorDIE:
" BECAUSE IT IS THERE ! ! ! "

Lily

1. Tigers! It's much easier for us to go to Sariska, but is there much more likelihood of seeing a tiger at Ranthambore? How long would you recommend staying in either. Alternatively would you not recommend either?!!

Sariska has no tigers but if you take two safaris in Ranthambore, the chances that you will see a tiger are pretty good (but not hundred percent)

2. We're currently planning to go to Jaipur, Udaipur and Ranthambore / Sariska. We're keen to make sure the trip is as chilled as poss, hence why we don't want to do loads of travelling. How long would you recommend in any of those places - is Udaipur as incredible as everyone says?!

With the lakes again full after many years, Udaipur is both beautiful and romantic!

3. How reliable are internal flights?! We're wondering whether it's risky to book a flight from Udaipur to Delhi on the day we leave for the UK from Delhi.

Spending the first night in Delhi might be a better idea, just to be sure.

4. Does anyone know how long it'd take to drive from Udaipur to Ranthambore?

Udaipur to Ranthambore is about 390 KM (Udaipur to Bundi is 250 KM and Bundi to Ranthambore is 190 KM)

5. We're getting mixed info on what the weather will be like end of Nov/ start of Dec - would it normally be very hot?

It will be very pleasant during this time!

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Lily

guerik

Tiger Show? Sounds like you may as well go to the zoo.

Udaipur's lovely though, I could spend a while there but after a few days you'd just be chilling out and mucking around at the markets etc.
3 days would probably be plenty to do most of the sightseeing stuff.

TREKorDIE

No, not in zoo, you will see Him in his natural habitat....................... .
actually, few forest-men go to the jungle on elephant. After finding the tiger, they enclose him in a "tactical triangle" and send radio messege to forest office about the location.
Then, tourists in SUV/ station wagons rush to the spot with help of guide.
Isn't is amazing!!!
[though, may seem like, the tiger is posing for your camera as celebrities do in front of press]

Otherwise, possibility of seeing tiger in jungle is too little.