Travel Information Guide Covering 4 Cities in North India

The reason I am posting this trip report in Maharashtra forum is that the trip started and ended in Maharasthra. A trip report has been posted in the respective States/City forums in Indiamike. Also this post will link to the respective threads already created so that a reader could read them as it happened.

Mods, I do not know if this is the correct way.

A brief about the planned tour and the actual tour below.

Planned Schedule

17/09/2011
Departure from BDTS at 11:35

18/09/2011
Arrival at Bharatpur at 06:15
Stay at Royal Guest House or Falcon Guest House
Trip to Deeg Palace, Iron Fort, Palace, Evening Safari Bird Sanctuary

19/09/2011
Morning Safari Bird Sanctuary
Depart to Agra (Fatehpur Sikri on the way)
Stay at Sheela / Sheela Inn / Kamal
Dayal Bagh, Chini Ka Rauza, Itmad-ud Daula, Mehtab Bagh

20/09/2011
Early morning Taj, Agra Fort, Sikandra, Mariam's Tomb

21/09/2011
Depart to Gwalior (Gharial Center on the way)
Stay at Grace
Gwalior Fort, Man Mandir Palace, Ghaus Mohammed's Tomb, Jai Vilas Palace and Museum

22/09/2011
Day Trip Padawali, Mitawali, Kakanmath, Bateshwar, Pahadgarh

23/09/2011
Depart to Orchha
Stay with Friends of Orchha
Day trip to Sonagiri, Datia, Jhansi Fort, Rani Mahal

24/09/2011
Orchha

25/09/2011
Depart from Jhansi at 12:35

Actual Schedule

17/09/2011
Departure from BDTS at 11:35
18/09/2011
Arrival at Bharatpur at 07:15 (an hour late)
Trip to Deeg Palace, Iron Fort, Palace, Evening Safari Bird Sanctuary

19/09/2011
Depart to Agra (Fatehpur Sikri on the way) and Sikandra
Saw Mehtab Bagh in the evening.

20/09/2011
Early morning Taj, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud Daula, Chini Ka Rauza, Dayal Bagh and Shahjahan Garden in the evening.

21/09/2011
Departed to Gwalior seeing Bateshwar on the way. (This was a wrong decision)

22/09/2011
Gwalior Fort-Man Mandir Palace, Ghaus Mohammed's Tomb, Tansen’s Tomb, Gurjari Mahal, Jai Vilas Palace and Museum and Departed to Orchha seeing Datia on the way.

23/09/2011
Jhansi Fort, Rani Mahal, Laxmi Talav and Chattris of Orchha in the evening

24/09/2011
Laxmi Narayan Temple, Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple.

25/09/2011
Departed from Jhansi at 12:55 (20 minutes late)

26/09/2011
Arrival at CSTM at 08:25 (50 minutes late)

I would like to thank Vaibhav and Delhiwala for their help and also IM which is a very good source of information.

I was contemplating whether to book a car for the entire trip or book a car after reaching a city. Accordingly whether to book the hotel before hand or to go book them. After quite some deliberation I decided to book a car for the entire trip. I also booked a guest house over the phone in Bharatpur since we were reaching early in the morning and did not want to hunt for accommodation at that time.

I had booked a car for the entire duration by contacting Mr. Pawan Sharma from www.driverindiatour.com. whose reference was obtained from the internet.
Contact number cell: 09810313666.
Email address: sharma_rocket@yahoo.co.in

The rate quoted was Rs 16000/- for the entire duration of 7 days for an A/c Indica car all inclusive (Toll, Taxes and Driver Night Charges). This was quoted on the basis of the planned trip which was mentioned at the beginning of the post. The payment terms decided were 50% on the first day, 25% after 3 days and the remaining 25% on the last day. Nothing was taken in advance.

Pawan Sharma was a taxi driver earlier who along with a few of his friends have formed a company who cater to tourists. There are a group of 5 drivers in his team. When all of his team is busy he outsources to other operators. I was to leave on a Saturday and till Friday night I did not have a confirmation from Pawan Sharma with regards to the vehicle number and driver's contact number. He assured me that everything is in order and he would message me the vehicle name and driver's number on Saturday. Rightly so he messaged me while on the train on Saturday.

When we met the driver for the first time he had a print out of the places that we had mentioned. He most usually had his set of agenda to follow. We had to argue with him a couple of times to sort it out. The major cause of concern was the A/c. I had asked a quote of an Non A/c Indica. While negotiating with Pawan Kumar he told me that they do not provide a Non A/c car. All the cars are quoted with an A/c. When the driver took us to the guest house he did not switch on the A/c. I thought it is early in the morning and there is no need for an A/c so it is okay. When we left towards Deeg it was a bit hot and even then the A/c was not switched on. While we were returning the driver was also feeling the heat so he asked whether we wanted the A/c. That's when I thought there was a disconnect between me/Pawan Kumar and the outsourced operator. He was going by the printout which stated Non A/c Indica. I told him that Pawan Kumar specifically told me that all the cars he provides are with A/c. He switched on the A/c reluctantly and I was trying to reach Pawan Kumar but was not able to reach him. From the second day onwards the A/c was switched on daily without us needing to inform the driver. I think the disconnect was sorted out.

Due to the driver's agenda and my mistake of wanting to Bateshwar (UP) we could not stick to out original list of places and had to skip Padavali, Mitawali, Kakanmath, Pahadgarh, Bateshwar (MP), Sonagiri. I had specifically told Pawan that I wanted some one who knows the route. Pawan said that most of the drivers know the route and if there is any confusion they could always ask and get it sorted. He was not aware of the routes, he had to ask quite a few times. Whenever we wanted to go some where he would take us reluctantly and his body language showed that he is not happy. That is the reason why I tipped him only Rs 500/- at the end.

You can read about Bharatpur / Deeg here.

You can read about Fatehpur Sikri / Agra here.

You can read about Bateshwar / Gwalior / Datia here.

You can read about Jhansi here.

You can read about Orchha here.

Out of all the guest houses / hotels that we stayed I would recommend 3 of them.

Kiran Guest House 364, Rajendra Nagar, Near Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur
Website: www.kiranguesthouse.com
Email: kiranguesthouse@yahoo.co.in
Contact: Mr Arun Singh Cell: 09828269930 Land Line: 91-5644-223845
I would recommend this place provided you take an A/c room during summer and in the month of September-October. Good room service, home made food, 24 hours hot water.
I took an Rs 500/- per day non A/c room. Other options available are an Rs 300/- standard room, Rs 750/- A/c room and Rs 1000/- A/c room with bath tub.

Gulmohar Residency. Gopal Madhav Palace, M.L.B Road, Shinde Ki Chawani, Gwalior.
Contact: Cell 0896298000 Land Line: 91-751-4066094
I would recommend this place. The best room I stayed at, good room service, good food, 24 hrs hot water.
I was quoted Rs 880/- with taxes for an A/c room a day.
Other options available was a 3 bedded A/c room for Rs 1320/- a day with taxes and a 2 bedded A/c room with balcony for Rs 1320/- a day with taxes.

Hotel Sunrise. Near Betwa River, Orchha.
Contact: Mr Pankaj Jain Cell: 09425342335 / 09993389990 Land Line: 91-7680-252676
Email: pankajjainjhs@gmail.com
I would recommend this place. I was quoted Rs 1100/- per day for an A/c room which was negotiated to Rs 850/- per day. Ok room service, ok food, 24 hour hot water.

Last year I had visited Mount Abu, Ranakpur, Haldighati, Udaipur, Chittaurgarh. In this trip I had booked the hotels in advance and arranged for the car after I reached Mount Abu and Udaipur respectively for sight seeing.

Since I did both booking hotels and then arranging car the first time and not booking hotels and arranging car, it is difficult to say which is the correct way.

I liked the first case since I did not have a good experience with the driver designated for me. If I had a good experience with the driver then may be I would have liked the second option better.

I think I might have bored you guys with too much of narration. Thank you for taking time to read through the post.

Happy travels.

Aarosh. You can change the title from 'Trip Report' to 'Travel Information Guide'

Fantastic compilation of all necessary information.

Very useful info.
Did you see Hotel Sheesh Mahal in orchha? How is it?

I saw it from outside. It is inside the fort complex. Looked okay.