Rajasthan with teenagers

sumeru · Nov 4th, 2009, 21:10

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 · Nov 5th, 2009, 05:07

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.

Barkha · Nov 5th, 2009, 09:49

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 · Nov 6th, 2009, 04:16

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 · Nov 6th, 2009, 05:16

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 · Nov 8th, 2009, 19:18

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.

Nov 4th, 2009, 21:10	#1
sumeru Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 3	Rajasthan with teenagers 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

Nov 5th, 2009, 05:07	#2
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 560	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. __________________ . See our travel journals Mumbai-Dehli in three months; From Kochi to Delhi

Nov 8th, 2009, 19:18	#6
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,618	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. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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Nov 5th, 2009, 09:49	#3
Barkha Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: India Posts: 304	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

Nov 6th, 2009, 04:16	#4
sumeru Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 3	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.

Nov 6th, 2009, 05:16	#5
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 560	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.