Delhi-Rajasthan-Self Drive - 8 -10 Days

Styler

Hi all,

I need help from all the experts on Rajasthan. I plan to Drive from Delhi to Rajasthan in my Scorpio for 8-10 days in Dec End.
We're a couple with 2 kids - Daughter 6, and son 10 months.

Going through the threads here are the places i would like to visit.

Jaipur-Jodhpur-Udaipur-Pushkar-Jaisalmer-Ranakpur&Kumbhalgarh

It know it is a long list and i do not have enough time, but i am comfortable to drive 6-10 hrs a day if required. My 6 year old daughter is already used to the 11 hr drives to Manali, and it's time for my 10 month old to start travelling.
I will have to stay at Jaipur, as my Sister stays there, otherwise i would have prefereed to stay at Choki Dhani. I think kids would love that place.

A Brief Itenary could be :
Day 1 - Delhi(6 am) Jaipur (9.30 am)
Day- Amber Fort, Evening choki Dhani,
(Overnight at Jaipur)
Day 2 - Jaipur(6 am) - Jodhpur(11 am) (5 Hrs)
(Overnight at Jodhpur)
Day 3 - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer (4 hrs, Stopping at Manavar)
(Overnight)
Day 4 - Jaisalmer
(Overnight)
Day 5 - Jaisalmer (6am) - Ranakpur (??)
(Overnight at Ranakpur)
Day 6 - Ranakpur (8am) - Kumbhalgarh (9am)
(Overnight at Kumbalgarh)
Day 7 - Kumbhalgarh- Udaipur (2 hrs)
Overnight at Udaipur
Day 8 - Udaipur
Overnight Udaipur
Day 9 - Udaipur - Pushkar (???)
Overnight - Pushkar
Day 10 - Pushkar - Delhi (6 Hrs)

I think After reaching Ranakpur, the 4 days at Ranakpur-Kumbalgarh-Udaipur would be pretty relaxed.

Please tell me distances and travel time between places that i didn't write. Most importantly the distance between Jaisalmer and Ranakpur.

I promise to bring back a good review and good photographs to Indiamike.

Aishah Ji, Your Advise would be most important

Styler

vdvoort

Hi Styler, from your post I understand you've been driving yourself in India before (no need to warn you about Indian driving and traffic). So, you should know average no. of km's per hour is around 50. There's no way you can drive from Delhi to Jaipur in 3,5 hrs., it will take 5 hrs. (but if you succeed doing it in 3,5, please let me know how, will save me time on my next trip). From Jodhpur to Jaisalmer will take at least 4 hrs., but probably 5. For distances check out: www.liveindia.com/distance/index.html, this website shows the distances between some, but not all, cities in India (didn't check if they show the distances between the places you want to visit). Keeping the 50km per hour in mind, you can then figure out yourself how long it will take.

Enjoy!

Aishah

Looks like Styler is stopping at Manvar for the night - this is only 2 hours from Jodhpur. Am I correct? Then onto Jaisalmer.
If not stopping the night there (beautiful place btw) then only another couple of hours to Jaisalmer. Your time bet. Jod -Jais. direct would depend on how long you stop at Manvar! It is 4 hours without stopping.
The only journey I think quite long for you with family is the
Jaisalmer - Ranakpur one. I did this in Feb. but broke it up by stopping at Bhenswara,near Jalore. This was our longest journey and took around 7 -8 hours. Ranakpur after Jalore I think may be about 3 hours max. We stayed at Shivika on the little lake there.
We went via the Barmer Rd to Bhenswara - cutting off at Barmer to head east. I wouldn't have liked to have spent any more time in the car at that point, it was quite enough!

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

jyotirmoy

I agree with Aishah the Jaisalmer Ranakpur strech will be long & tiring.
Kumbhalgarh is a great place to chill. Have you checked the accomodation at Kumbhalgarh? Last time I went there I saw a resort almost in the fort and it looked pretty expensive. Since it was quite some time ago some more hotels must have come up by now.

Styler

Thanks Aishah.
As this would be my first extensive tour f Rajasthan, i want to visit most places, and next trip i will stay at the few places i like.
Actualy i plan to just take a stop of a couple of hrs at Manavar, because you have recommended it as a beautiful stop between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. I guessed as much, that the Jaipur Ranakpur Journey would be long. But if i have to visit Both the Jaisalmer Area and the Udaipur Area, i think it has to be done. Normally for long journeys i tend to start at 5.o00 am and if i do that i would reach ranakpur by 1pm .

Thanks for your reply.

I've heard generally the roads in Rajasthan are pretty good.

Styler

VDVoort, i have driven extensively in India. Normally we average a speed of 40-50 kmph in the hills and 80 in the good toll roads, which are aplenty in Rajasthan. 3.30 - 4 hrs is completely doable to Jaipur as the roads are very good. I must add that the Jaipur highway is the most dangerous highway as the road permits high speed, but there are too many cuts in the median for anybody to just turn anyway.
Manali is 600 kms, 300 in the hills and a lot of people do it comfortably in 12 hrs in a car.
The busses talke a little longer.

Styler

Aishah

Yes, Styler, roads in most places are excellent- particularly around our area, because of maintenance for the Army to deploy troops and tanks rapidly to the Border! Jaipur - Jodhpur good in most places, Jod - Jaisalmer, brilliant, as good as roads in Oz or NZ. Road to Udaipur via Barmer is good to Barmer, fast driving, after a bit of a mixture. There is also a lot of roadmaking around Udaipur - something to do with a big highway Delhi - Mumbai I think. On the whole though, easy driving.

desertrose

Just a suggestion
Maybe you would like this, he road between Delhi-Mandawa-Bikaner is good now, not single road anymore.The road in between ranakpur-Udaipur is little tough because they are working on making a 4 lane highway.
Delhi-Mandawa(1Day)Beautifll Havelies , Do not forget to see Nawalgarh or Fatehpur if enroute.
-Bikaner(1Day) DO not forget the Magnificent fort,Camel breeding farm and if time permits deshnok(Rat Temple)
-Jaislmer, The desert city has a lot around to offer, visit the bada Bagh, Amar sagar,Ludharva,sam or khuri dunes or some where special no touristic
-Jodhpur, The fort, Palace and the Markets
-Ranakpur,Kumbalgarh, the famous walled city,Jain temples and the people,the Nature, the Hills.
-udaipur-Lake has water, do not forget to enjoy a boat ride.
Pushkar,Ajmer-Brahma temple, the city,the prayers,Dargah Sharif.
Jaipur-Amber, Elephant ride, Jantar Mantar(observatory),Hawa Mahal(wind Palace) they are working on the Maintainenece it looks great now, Tourist police doing a great job in frot of the wind palace.
Delhi.
Happy Travel

Styler

Hi Desertrose
Thanks a lot. The information you have given is invaluable.
One Question

What would be the best, the shortest and the fastest way to get from Jaisalmer to Ranakpur. What is the route ?? Do we have to come back to Jodhpur. I have to do this drive in one day so i need to know.

Thanks
Styler

Aishah

You can go Barmer -Jalore via Balotra (other more direct road is terrible) then to Pali - Sadri - Ranakpur (may be some way more direct between Pali and Ranakpur than via Sadri but this is what we did. The other way is direct to Jodhpur then to Ranakpur. They look about the same distance either way. Someone else might be more knowledgeable about this than me! We did the former but took two days to do it, staying at Bhenswara on the way.

Styler

Hi..

Here is the list of Places to stay....Please give your comments and recommendations

24th Dec Night - Jaipur - Choki dhani or my sister's place

25th Dec Night - Jodhpur - One of the following
1. Krishna Prakash Heritage Haveli
2. Saji sanwri Guest House
3. Devi Bhawan Jodhpur
4. Haveli Guest House Jodhpur
5. Madho Nivas ( Added on Aishah's recommendstion )

26th - 27th dec Night - Jaisalmer - One of the following
1. Nachana Haveli
2. Karma Queen Jaisalmer (Preffered)
3. Fifu Guest House Jaisalmer
4. Desert Boy Guest House

27th Dec - Ranakpur
Ranakpur Hill Resort

28th Dec - Kumbalgarh
Aodhi

29th - 30th Dec Udaipur One of the following
1. Jagat Niwas
2. Udai Kothi
3. Mewar Haveli
4. Hotel Mahendra Prakash Udaipur

31st Dec - New Years Eve at Pushkar at One of the Following :
1. Seventh Heaven
2. Purple Garden Hotel
3. Navratan Palace Hotel

1st Jan - Back in Delhi
2nd Jan - Back to Work

I have shortlisted more than one place as i know that it is peak season time and bookings might not be available.

Please give your recommendations fast .....Please

One more advise I would appreciate
Out of the 4 Nights at Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur can we exchange any one night for Mount Abu ? That would complete the Rajasthan Trip, but is it feasible and a good idea ??

Also i am waiting for the Jaisalmer to Ranakpur Route...whats the shortest fastest way, what is the distance and how long would it take to drive directly ??

Thanks

Styler

Styler

Hi Aishah,

I think i would probabaly take the Barmer Route, because i won't like to go back to Jodhpur. It's always better to be on a new road. Anyway i would be driving back from Udiapur to Pushkar through Jodhpur. Somehow there is very less info on the Jaisalmer - Ranakpur - Udaipur route. What Route do the Jaisalmer - Udaipur Busses take ..??

Are the places all booked these days Aishah..??

Styler

shashank.aggarwal

Hotel Mahendra Prakash Udaipur - I stayed there on 1st Jan 2004, lovely place to be, was not at all crowded..

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Spineless

Travelogue - Around India

Aishah

Hello Styler - here is the gen on some of your places. For Jodhpur - Devi Bhawan would be my pick - has nice garden, easy to drive to and good parking places for your car and if you can't get in there Madho Niwas just around the corner is great! Also I suspect a little cheaper for spotless rooms, a lovely garden for children and parking behind locked gates at night.
Jaisalmer - I haven't a clue about Karma Queen - but Nachana Haveli is good but difficulties re your parking - Desert Boys in the Fort - you will have to park just outside the Fort or just inside the Gate and then make your way up.MAKE YOUR BOOKINGS TODAY - it is becoming packed already for these dates. If Fifu have rooms there is easy driving to front gate and good parking area outside. And (IM rules! but you will understand!) my home is choc-a-bloc on those dates, but please come and say hello with all the family and have a chai and chat with me!!! Would love to see you all again. Had a delightful time with ks_bluechip yesterday on his GIRT journey.
The rest of places don't know much except for Udaipur and Pushkar - Shashank seconds one of them, Jagat Niwas is good, Udai Kothi also o.k. and you can park in the front of it, for Pushkar - Navratan Palace would be the pick because of large garden, but others are better out on the back road area. Purple Garden i think will be too basic for you and children - e.g. no washbasins in bathroom and rather small bathrooms and cramped rooms. I think great for just a couple or single budget backpacking.

jyotirmoy

What is the room tarrif at Aodhi in Kumbhalgarh?

Styler

Hi Jyoti Da,

Aodhi should be in the range of 3000 for a double room i guess.
I just hope i get bookings

Aishah Ji thanks for all your help.
My biggest problem is i have never been able to plan trips ahead of time. It's always spur of the moment. But you may call it luck, i have never had to sleep in the car. Somehow i always manage to find a roof to sleep under. My wife just got to know that we might be leaving tommorow. She had some hints that something was cooking though....
Karma Queen is actually Shahi Palace...Any Idea ??
Any Other Good Hotel with Parking in Jaisalmer ??

I will surely drop in when i'm in Jaisalmer.

Thanks everybody for all your tips.

Regards

Styler