Suggestions for Ranthambore NP

Can anyone advise if 1 night at Ranthambore is sufficient time to do game drives.
Current plan is to come in from Jaipur, sepnd 1 night & head onto Agra the following afternoon.
Does this allow enough time to do a couple of game drives ?

Also any suggestions of somewhere nice to stay ( not budget )
Can we organise the game drives prior to arrival with the hotel ?

What is the best way to travel Jaipur - Ranthambore - Agra ?

Also looking for suggestions of nice hotels with character in Jaipur - Agra & Delhi

Thanks in advance

You can fit a morning safari in. The evening one starts around 4.30 to 5pm iirc, so you might have missed it before you arrive from Jaipur.

Hotels, bearing in mind I don't know your exact budget:

Don't know much about Ranthambhore but Tiger Villa seems popular.

Jaipur - Umaid Bhawan, Umaid Mahal, Madhuban, Jas Vilas, Mandawa Haveli

Agra - not so many nice heritage style places it seems, but try Utkarsh Vilas, otherwise Clarks Shiraz, Howard Park Plaza (these two latter cannot be said to have character, however).

Delhi - hmm. Budget is key here. Oberoi Maidens, the Connaught are two more pricey places. Couple of nice guesthouses- Master Paying, Delhi B&B and New Delhi B&B.

There are a couple of morning trains that would get you to Ranthambore in time for an afternoon drive. 2978 Marusagar Exp leaves JP at 10:05 arrives SWM 12:20 and 2466 Ranthambore Exp dep JP 10:55 arr SWM 13:15. Ranthambore Bagh is very pleasant and comfortable. Leaving for Agra, the 11:50 from SWM is probably doable if you're all packed and ready to go before you go out in the morning. Otherwise you might have to go to Bayana and then bus it. This would take you via Fatehpur Sikri, so you could stop there overnight and squeeze in a visit there - well worth it.

Depending on your schedule I'd strongly recommend you lose a night somewhere else and spend two at Ranthambore.

I second Mikewill's advice to stay 2 nights at Ranthambhore, rather than just the 1.

I got the train from Jaipur which got in to Sawai Madhopur at 13.15. By the time we'd dropped luggage at the hotel, it was too late for an afternoon safari. (Instead I visited the Ranthambhore Fort that afternoon, and saw 2 leopards on the drive back to the hotel).

Which hotel did you pick?

I am looking for something nice, not costlier than around 2500-3000 Rs per night. Preferable not noisy (as the Bagh seems to be, if I have t believe the reiews.), and close to the Dev Vilas, where the other half of our group will be staying (who travel on bigger budgets).

I so hope to spot some wildlife, but we only have time for the morning Safari...

I'm afraid I splashed out on a luxury place, costing more than you want to pay. I stayed at Khem Villas - rooms from 7,000 rupees (single occupancy) up to 15,000 for a cottage.

Thanks. I will keep looking. Khem Vilas is fully booked anyway, it seems. Any other suggestoins are welcome of course!

We stayed at the Ranthambore Regency and the price for a double room for 2 people was Rs 4000 with all meals in 2007. The hotel arranged the jeep safari's for us when we made the reservation. Only complaint about the hotel was that the hot water was tepid rather than hot.

I second everyone who says to stay longer. We only saw a tiger on our second outing and there was some-one in the jeep with us who only saw a tiger after his fifth outing. Splurge on the jeep rather than the canter if you can. The jeep can go places where the canter cannot and allow you a better view of the tiger.

One more question baout Ranthambore hotels. Which is nicer: the Pugmark or Dev Vilas?

yes its very much expensive in these days. as most hotels give almost 30-40% discount


and its very much costly fr single occupancy..

it should be something arround 4000 to 5000 at the most

We stayed at ranthambore regency this November for 2 nights and saw a tiger on last safari. RR is really nice and smart, nice pool and good food.My only complain was overpriced drinks but there is a bottle store within walking distance, just down the road! I would opt for cottgae by pool if you can . I agree I woulnt bother with a canter, jeeps can get packed out badly enough, Ranthambore can be a bit of a circus when it comes to viewing wildlife!