Need Advice on Jaipur/Agra

mdavid2574661

After much deliberation, we [group of 3 people] have decided to drop Himachal Pradesh and instead focus on Jaipur and Agra.

We arrive on 27th September at 10:45 AM from Delhi by Ajmer Shatabdi. We have booked the Hotel Pearl Palace for our stay in Jaipur.

Here are my questions on Jaipur:

1. How should we travel inside Jaipur? Do we need to hire a car for every day to take us around various tourist spots? If so, who are the good agencies to hire a car and how much do they charge per day? Or can we just take Autos?

2. How expensive/cheap is it to shop in Jaipur? We will mostly be buying rasai and jaipuri bedspreads. Also some block printed sarees, lac bangles, and shirts. What are the good places to shop for these things and on an average how much would these cost?

On the 30th morning, we intend to leave for Agra. Am still looking at the hotels there. We plan to stay one night there at Agra.

Questions:

1. What is the best method of travelling from Jaipur to Agra? Is car OK and if so how much should we pay for the travel from Jaipur to Agra? Or is it preferable to take the train?

2. What is the best time to visit Taj Mahal? Is sunset good?

3. What are the reasonably priced shopping areas in Agra?

4. How much should I pay for a car to sight see within Agra (including Fatehpur Sikri?)

Thanks a lot for all the help. I appreciate a fast reply as it will help me book trains if necessary.

wichy

If you are going to visit Fatehpur-Sikri - than definetly hire a taxi, you can stop there and than continue to Agra. Otherwise - go by bus, trains are not the best option for Jaipur-Agra connection.

My fav time is the sunrise - much less people, not so hot and you can watch different colours changing at white marble of Taj.

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Past the point of no return...

bonded

Check this link from RTDC http://www.rtdc.in/Transport.htm

robert.devasia

Hi

The Rajasthan Tourism Dept. is very very helpful and you could go to them anytime for assistance. I met one Mr. Suresh Yadav 93511 56267 when I was there - he is based out of the State tourism Kiosk at the Sindhi Camp Bus stand.
They have a Day tour of Jaipur leaving in the morning - I wonder if it was 8 am and the guided tour bus takes you through most of the prominent tourist spots [Birla Temple, Jantar Manthar, Pink City (briefly, with a pass by the Hawa Mahal), Alberts Hall, City Palace, Amer Palace, Amber Fort, Naharghar Fort (where you have lunch) Jaighar fort with Jaivan the Canon, Jal Mahal (I dont remember if the list is complete)] and drops you at the Birla Planetorium in the evening. Don't forget to watch a movie at RajMahal - a real old cinema hall (circa 1870 I think) with all the pomp and royalty of yesteryear.

Shopping in Jaipur - there is the Gayathri Devi Emporium - on the way to Jal Mahal (don't remember the name of the road) which seemed to be the best priced of the few places I checked. As usual, don't buy anything near any of the tourist spots. Costs - I picked up some of their bedding sets (double blanket, bedspread and 2 pillow covers for Rs. 2.5K with another single blanket free) and they ship this to you. You get other gift articles here too which are priced OK.

I left for Agra by the midnight bus to reach there in the morning (~ 6 hrs.). I got there on a Friday and so didn't see the Taj (call that for luck) as its closed on Friday. So I dont know when you should visit it but I heard its beautiful at night.
Local commute - they have a system called tempo - which is a shared auto that you can flag down anywhere if they are going in the direction you want and cost Rs. 3 - 5 per passenger. They are the best in Agra coz autos fleece you. Went to Fathepur Shikri by local bus and that was quite a fun ride as I remember - make sure you visit both Fathepur and Shikri - I almost missed the latter (its a short walk away).

Suggesting you leave Jaipur 29th night, meaning 1.5 days in Jaipur - give the "Rang De Basanti Fort" a shot and definitely have dinner at "Chokhi Dhani" - a must visit (19 Km from Jaipur).I think Agra should take you two full days as there are a lot of places you need to visit - read up on closing timings.

Bon Chance and Bon Voyage

Robert
- The Budget Traveller -

delhiwala

Oh No ! There are two very good daily trains and there are many other trains that run on some days only.

Dear MDavid,

If possible see it both at Dusk and Dawn.

Avoid tourist areas ? What exactly do you want to buy ?

You should expect to pay Rs. 1500 or so.

There is a prepaid taxi stand at Agra Cantt station.

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seasahil

the best place to do the shopping(specially for the stuff you want to buy) in Jpr would be Bapu Bazaar....try out atleast 3-4 shops before buying & negotiate a lot!!!As for local tour in Jaipur, teh day tour organised by Raj Tourism is definitely a good option, otherwise auto ricksaws are easily available.

AprilFlower

I totally agree. I have been both in the morning and afternoon and was much more impressed with the early morning visit. There was almost no line and the environment was very tranquil.

I have to say that both Jaipur and Agra are not places where you can get reasonable rickshaw prices. That said the buses between the Jaipur and Agra are very good and many stop at Fatepur Sikhri. If the train schedules are convenient for you then that isn't a bad option but of course you have more options to stop along the way if you hire a car.

Make sure wherever you shop that you bargain hard. They generally ask for at least twice as much and sometimes even more, especially if they notice that you aren't a Jaipur native And as seasahil mentioned make sure you go to several shops. You can always come back and buy things after a few hours.

delhiwala

I have heard that Jaipur locals call it Daku Bazar......

mdavid2574661

Thank you every one.

My itinerary is booked as follows:

27th Sept 2009 - Leave from New Delhi to Jaipur by Ajmer Shatabdi.

Reach there at 10:45 AM.

Check in to Hotel Pearl palace.

Tour Jaipur for 27,28,29. The hotel arranged a car for us.

30th September leave for Agra by train. There is a 6:10 AM train from Jaipur to Agra.

Reach Agra around 11 AM. Check in at Lamba Guest House. Again here the guest house arranged car for us.

Visit Agra Fort and do shopping that day.

1st October: Visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Shikri, then some little shopping and then to the station to catch Taj Express back to Delhi.

Please help me fine tune this in terms of places I should see in Jaipur and any other place I left our in Agra.

Thanks again and God bless.

seasahil

Places in Jaipur you can see - Amber Palace(& the elephant ride there), City Palace Museum, Jantar Mantar(Astronomical Observatory),Albert Museum, Birla Temple & you can take a walk through lanes/sublanes of the old Jaipur city to feel the pulse of the city.

mdavid2574661

Thanks Seasahil.

Here is my itinerary for Jaipur:

27th afternoon till night: Albert Hall, Hawa Mahal

28th: To visit (in the following order): City Palace Museum, Jantar Mantar, then shopping at Daku Bazaar:-) and Kishanpol Bazaar.

Evening go to Choki Dhani (or however it is spelt. I mean the ethinic village).

29th: (in following order): Albert Hall, Central Museum, Isar Lat, then shopping at: Maniharon Ka Rasta, Saganer village, Ramganj Bazar.

Seasahil since you are in Jaipur, would you help me fine tune this please. Have I left out any important place to see? And is the order of places in my itinerary OK or is my routing not OK.

Thanks for all the help so far. God bless u all.

seasahil

well Central Mueum & Albert Hall are the same....There is nothing inside Issar lat....It's just a tower(Victory) which was constructed by one of the King...you only see it while passing through the old city...
Now coming bk to ur city tour, u have not added the best monument of Jaipur which is the Amber Fort & the elephant ride there is just amazing...so u can add it to your itinerary...try to do it on one of the mornings...As for Sanganer village, dont couple it with your city tour as it's located on the way to Chokhi Dhani....so what you can do is start a little early, maybe around 5 in the evening, stopover at Sanganer for an haour or so & then proceed to Chokhi Dhani!!!
Hope i have not confused you even further...feel free to contact in case you need any clarifications....will be happy to assist you guys.

mdavid2574661

Thanks a LOT seasahil. Sorry for my late reply. Got busy at work:-)

Will remember your advice. We hope to enjoy Jaiput to the hilt.

Thanks again and God bless.

virag_sh

Probably Instead of Train , you can take BUS from Jaipur to Agra. Get down at Bharatpur , see bird centuryand stay there. Next Morning go to Agra( Distance approx 50-60 KM).Fatehpur-Sikri is approx 30-40 KM from Bharatpur on the way to Agra.

delhiwala

By road yo can see Abhaneri too !