Rajasthan with teenagers

sumeru

Hi all,

I've been reading for hours on this fantastic site to make a plan for our trip to Rajasthan in the last two weeks of december. Our family (wife, two daughters (17 and 14) and me)will go to India together for the first time, for me it's the third time, though.
I've come up with the following itinerary and I'm very interested to hear if you think this plan would work. Also any advice and experiences about fun things to do/see with teenage girls are welcome (they're interested in animals, except rats!), Also, we intend to hire a car-with-driver, who'll hopefully assist in finding the hotels while en-route.
1. Arrival Delhi at midnight. In the afternoon drive to Agra.
2. Visit Taj Mahal in morning. Drive to either Bharatpur or Ranthambor National Parc (NP).
3. Safari in NP
4. To Bundi
5. Bundi
6. Bundi-Chittorgarh-Udaipur
7. Udaipur
8. Udaipur-Kumbalgarh-Ranakpur-Jodhpur
9. Jodhpur
10.Jodhpur-Jaisalmer
11.Jaisalmer
12.Jaisalmer
13.Jaisalmer-Delhi by night train
14.Arr. Delhi, spend New Year's Eve
15.Delhi, evening to IGI airport
I was wondering if I don't squeeze in too many things, or if the mileage would be too much.
Thanks,
Sumeru

vonkla

Hi,

Do you realize it is peak time at that time? I just had a look at the Jaisalmer - Delhi train for end December http://erail.in?T=JSM::NDLS: and there is already a waiting list.

The same problem may occur to the better car companies, for instance http://www.namasteindiatours.com/ praised by many on IM warns about this.

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Barkha

I'd suggest Delhi - Agra (1)- Ranthambore(1)- Bundi (1)- Udaipur (02 nights)- Jodhpur(01 night)-Jaisalmer (2 nights)- Bikaner(1) - Mandawa (1)- Delhi.

This is if you wish to cover all the places you desire and this trip may be done by road so you need not worry about the train bookings. However since you are traveling during peak season I'd suggest that you book your hotels as soon as possible. You may contact www.indiaoffbeat.com. A relatively new travel company but the guys know their job very well

sumeru

Hello Barkha and Vonkla. Thanks for your reactions. We've found a driver from a reliable source, so I hope that's covered!
I hadn't checked the trains yet, I couldn't figure out the website, but I think we'll have to skip the Jaisalmer-Delhi train. This will probably mean we'll have to skip Jaisalmer altogether, to avoid spending too many hours in a car.
I read conflicting ideas about pre-booking hotels in Rajasthan in this period though. Some IMers say that hotels without internet may be available one or two days before arriving, even at the end of december! What do you think? Or is too much of a risk? I would prefer to ' wing it' and being more flexible about where and when to go.

vonkla

Glad you have found a car.
If you have to skip Jaisalmer and still want to have some desert experience something we did in Jodhpur may interest you.

We stayed there in Durag Niwas, a simple guesthouse. For more details see the hotel section.

The own a farmhouse in a small village in the Setrawa desert. In 2005 we stayed there for a night. The owner brought us with a car and stayed with us. Sleeping on the roof and dinner in the cabin of one of the locals.

Even without Jaisalmer the itinerary of Barkha is a great one.

As for hotels, I have not been in Rajasthan during end December. But if you have a reliable driver and you don't have a special hotel in mind you will find something.

Last year we were in Kerala during that time and we always managed to find one.

Aishah

Jaisalmer, particularly at the end of December is generally booked out, but there is a possibility that you would find something inside the Fort at that time without pre-booking. The rest of the places would be okay.

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