Jaisalmer and Udaipur Hotel - any feedback

trvller

I got booking at following hotels. Rest of the reccommended ones were taken up. Please let me know if you know the conditions at these properties.

(1) Udaipur - Rang Niwas
Did not get reservations at Udai Kothi, Jagat Niwas etc.
Does Rang Niwas have decent rooms? Location etc.?

(2) Jaisalmer - Jaisal Castle
Is staying in the fort a much better experience, than outside? e.g. would you recommend Jaisal Castle over Rajwada, or Narayan Niwas? Although the latter are more luxurious.

Also how is the train journey between Jodhpur/Jaisalmer. Is train preferred over a car?

Thanks for replies

jarman_ah

Hi, trvllr!

Jaisalmer is tiny and compact.... it matters very little whether you stay inside or outside the fort, as most of the budget outside hotels are less than five minutes' walk from the main gate (couldn't say about the inevitable four-and five-star chains, which are probably on the outskirts of town; we never got that far away from the fort to check them out!).

We made our decision on what we were likely to be looking at. If you're INSIDE the fort, then your view (if any) is going to be of the town below. If you're OUTSIDE the fort, you will probably be looking at the fort. After a bit of thought, we chose the latter, and stayed at Shahi Palace, where our room (and the rooftop restaurant) had absolutely stunning (especailly in the afternoon)views of the fort. Then, so we didn't feel we had missed anything, we dined on the roof of Desert Boys, and looked down at the town (and at the Shahi Palace) as the sun set.

What we liked about the Shahi Palace (apart from the reasonable price, the pleasant room, and the friendly and helpful staff) was the fact that if you let them organise your camel trek, you will go to a part of the desert that nobody else goes to. Most of the hotels go to the same place -- the Sam Dunes -- and (I hear), the beauty of the dunes must nowadays be balanced by the sight of scores of other tourists doing what you're doing, plus the discarded wrappers and Bisleri bottles of the groups from yesterday and the previous week.

The stretch of sand where Shahi Palace takes you, however, is far from that. Their driver (Shaitan)comes from a small village some sixty kilometres west of Jaisalmer (his family still lives there, and he will introduce you to his grandmother!), and he knows where the untouched dunes are. The visit to the village alone is worth the price of the tour (check out the school; you might see the kids playing with a fairly new cricket set, which we gave Shaitan in lieu of the usual tip), and the sand dunes he will take you to are pristine. We couldn't even find a footprint. It's a good reason for staying at Shahi Palace, outside the fort.

tonylittle

Hi

I am staying at hotel golden city jaisalmer A great place to stay. have a lovely swimming pool, very clean,food is great i am paying only 350/-rs per day which very cheap for such lovely hotel and owner gazi khan very helpful.I have been camel safari had great time very good food, great camel guys. but i have got a sore bum!!!!


Tony little

LuAnnandJawahar

Rang Niwas is very nice. it is owned by the uncle of the current maharana. Jagat Niwas and Udai Kothi are booked solid--I know we've tried. Also up the hill from Rang Niwas is Raj Palace halpf way up Bhattiyani Chohatta--cheaper than Rang Niwas.

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trvller

Thanks for the feed back, really appreciate the info

ace

anybody been to/have opinions about:
-Fort Rajwada Hotel
-Gorbandh Palace
-Hotel Rang Mahal

Could use some advice!!!

Thanks!
Ace