MrAOK

I'm going to India next weekend and as part of the trip want to tour Rajasthan and the golden triangle

I'm having two issues.

One is that I'm going as a single and really, really dislike touring alone with my own driver for too many days but can't seem to find existing package tours I could join last minute. Any suggestions?

But the other problem is the tour I'm being offered by a travel agent as an alternative to do myself is a little too packed in and for my 15 days in India, leaving me no time in Delhi at the end and I want a final day in Delhi and I'm going to have to do it

Below is the tour. What would you drop?

Day 1 arrival early-- half day Delhi city tour
Day 2 –Dehi tour
Day 3 Delhi-Manadwa and tour
Day 4 Mandawa-Bikaner visit Junagarh Fort
Day 5 Bikaner-Jodhpur, visit Mehrang fort, bazaars
Day 6 Visit Mandore Gardens, silver bazaars
Day 7 Jodthpur-Udaipur (visit Ranakpur en route)
Day 8 Udaipur sightseeing
Day 9 Udaipur-Bundi, visit fort and decorated buildings
Day 10 Bundai to Ranthambore, safari in afternoon
Day 11 Ranthambore –all day safari
Day 12 Ranthambore-Jaipur
Day 13 Jaipur sightseeing including Amber Fort, palace etc. (with elephant in morning)
Day 14 Jaipur-Agra visit Fatchpur Sikri overnight
Day 15 Morning visit to taj mahal and Red fort, drive to delhi for flight home.

CFW

This is way too rushed, and it will all be a blur. Traveling by car between each place you have listed below will take at least half a day or more. You are very last minute, but in my opinion you should contact one of the good travel agents recommended on fodors (we used Castle & King & were very satisfied)and arrange a private trip to no more than 4 places in 15 days. Many on this board will say that even that is too rushed. You should also consider various forms of transportation between cities to save time & have some different experiences -- e.g. flying between some destinations and taking the train between others. For example, many recommend the train from Delhi to Agra.

MrAOK

i agree it's too rushed. I also agree a train or plane would be preferable to driving.

And I'm not thrilled anyway about doing 14 days in a car.

But what would you cut out?

Do Delhi, Agra, then train to like Jaipur and take a 6 day package from there?

rhkkmk

i would spend the number of days i wanted in delhi....to me 4 would be fantastic...

then i would drive or train to agra for two nites....then drive to jaipur for 3 days....then i would visit one other place or go to neemrana fort palace for a couple of days of R&R and back to delhi and home....or go to safari for 2-3 days

i also used castle and king and did a similar tour in 11 days.....it was perfect!!

vp_singh

a. Delhi >> Mandawa is a full days drive. Via Rewari it is 157 miles but the road is poor & via Samode it is 194, leaving little time for you to appreciate the painted havelis in Nawalgarh.
b. leave out Bikaner, you already have several forts on the plan.
c. A little more intellectual dexterity could transmute these ordinary itineraries into something extra-ordinary!
Happy Travels!!

TracyB

It takes almost all day to get to Mandawa from Delhi..so u need 2 nights there...I loved Mandawa, and suggest u take the extra day to check it out.

Have u checked out tours with
imaginative-traveller.com??

MrAOK

I did go to castle and king and booked a tour that included trains including agra to jaipur by train

it's now delhi, agra (day trip to ftahpur sikri

Jaipur, overnight train to udaipur there for two nights,

then Rawainanarai. jodhpur, ranthambore, delhi

the only thing i'm a little scared of is there is a 3rd class air conditioned train ride from jodhpur to ranthambhore.

CFW

Where is Rawainanarai?

CFW

Also, how long is the train ride from Jodhpur to Ranthambore?

MrAOK

oh if i only could type

it's Rawalanarlai, sorry.

the 3rd class train is an intercity express that departs Jodhpur at 5:55 arrives in Ranthambhore at 13:35.

It's a little crazy ... ok, ok, a lot crazy ... but i look at it as an adventure. Hopefully I'll survive.

I'm told that short of driving it's the only direct train that still allows you to take an afternoon game safari.

MrAOK

just to correct that.

it's the rawla narlai hotel

this hotel
www.rawlanarlai.com

the web site says this:
Rawla Narlai, situated in Rajasthan midway between Jodhpur & Udaipur, is a 17th century "villa" with 26 exquisite rooms renovated over the last decade.

CFW

Well it certainly looks nice. Will you have time to stop between Udaipur & Jodhpur to see the Jain temples in Ranahkpur? We didn't have time to do that but I understand they are beautiful.

vp_singh

Are there no other suitable trains on your itinerary? Travelling third class & using those toilets...??

MrAOK

the itinerary says this:

After break fast drive to Narlai. En-route, visit the RANAKPUR TEMPLES, dating back to the 15th century. 200 pillars, none of which are alike, support its 29 halls. The Temple abounds with intricate friezes and sculptures. Includes visits to two more Jain temples and the Temple of the Sun God with its erotic sculptures.

so I'm guessing that's a "yes"

MrAOK

i'm told no on the other train. I asked that question.

It's the only 3rd class train on the journey. everything else is 1st class. apparently either it isnt offered or it isnt available on that train and no other train works

thursdaysd

When you say third class, do you mean AC3? That shouldn't be too bad for a day trip (I've done it at night, and it's more crowded than AC2 with less head room). See seat61.com/India.htm for pix. However, there are alternatives. You could look for a night train to Jaipur with a better class and get an early train on to Sawai Madhopur. Or, since you have to go through Jaipur, you could change the itinerary to put Rathambore between Jaipur and Udaipur.