Which route?

Tara2728

I'm going to India in September for 6 weeks, i plan to spend maybe 2 in Rajasthan. I'll be entering Rajasthan from Agra.

Does anybody have any recommendations or changes to this itinerary, additional places to see and how to get to and from each of the following:

Agra-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Udaipur

Is Ranakpur or Chittaurgarh worth a visit?

Thanks

Mickey S

You can travel between all these places by train. If your itinerary is fixed then make the reservations now.

To avoid retracing your steps you might consider travelling from Jaipur to Jaisalmer via Bikaner (for Deshnok rat temple).

Don't miss Bundi on the way back from Udaipur.

Tara2728

Thanks so much.

So i should keep it as it is but add Bikaner in between Jaipur & Jaisalmer.

We're actually going to Mumbai from Udaipur so should add Bundi from where would you say?

Mickey S

With just two weeks in Rajasthan you're a little limited, and Bundi is not going to fit comfortably into the itinerary if you're heading from Udaipur to Mumbai.

However, (and as much as I hate recommending Pushkar, because I hated the place), if you can extend your time in Rajasthan by a few days then you could consider an itinerary as follows:

Agra - (train) - Jaipur - (train) - Bikaner - (train) - Jaisalmer - (train) - Jodhpur - (train to Ajmer, then bus/taxi) - Pushkar - (bus/car&driver) - Bundi - (bus/train) - Udaipur.

I have done a similar itinerary in just over two weeks (on two separate occasions) and didn't feel at all rushed. But then, my usual pattern when travelling is to spend just two nights in each place, alternating days of travelling and sightseeing. This might not suit you.

EDIT: On the other hand, there is a wealth of things to see between Jodhpur and Udaipur. I haven't travelled that route, but there are many others on this forum who have.

Tara2728

I'm pretty much the same as you in that i plan to spend only a couple of days in each city. Think that route works actually, i'm happy to add up to a week if necessary to stop off on the way to Udaipur.

Thanks Mickey.

Mickey S

These are the places I stayed at on my trip:

Jaipur: Hotel Madhuban
Bikaner: Can't remember the name, but it was a very central haveli and outrageously expensive (Rs.6,000 per night).
Jaisalmer: Fifu Guest House
Jodhpur: Haveli Pal
Pushkar: Seventh Heaven
Bundi: Haveli Braj Bhushanjee

All highly recommended.

And, as I said, if you know for certain what your itinerary will be then you may as well start making those train reservations (www.irctc.co.in). You can always cancel them online for a fee of around Rs.50 if your plans change.

There's a very nice local (slow) daytime train between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur that cannot be reserved and costs about Rs.150.

Tara2728

I'll do that, you've been so helpful!!

Actually my boyfriend stayed at the Madhuban when he was in Jaipur 2 years ago, he recommended it too!!

Thanks again.

Did you happen to go to Varanasi?

Mickey S

Never been to Varanasi. I'd like to one day, even though I'm certain I will detest it, but India is off my travel radar for the next few years.

There are many, many people on this forum who will offer opinions and recommendations about Varanasi.

zoltan

Varanasi is an interesting city and while certainly not the cleanest (the Ganges is highly polluted at the point it passes through Varanasi), it is (to me) an amazing city and worth a visit for a few days (minimum).

Cheers
Zoltan

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