Cars & Drivers in Rajasthan and Gujarat

It's not cheap, but having a car and driver to yourself is highly efficient if you're short on time. In Rajasthan, hire a car through your hotel or a recognized travel agent, the latter of which will be cheaper. It should cost about Rs. 10-Rs. 12 per km (½ mi). If you organize a car directly through the driver, it will be cheaper but check the vehicle and driver out properly the day before you start.

Expect to spend about Rs. 3,200 from Delhi to Jaipur in an air-conditioned car, or about Rs. 2,500 in a non-air-conditioned alternative. Know that because the driver has to return to his port of origin, you pay the round-trip fare even if you're going one-way.

Rajasthan's roads are not in good shape, and the going is slow—when calculating driving time, plan to cover 40 kph-50 kph (25 mph-31 mph) at best. That said, driving is an excellent way to see the Indian countryside and glimpse village life.

Jaipur is a 5½-hour drive from Delhi on National Highway (NH) 8. This is a congested industrial road with a high accident rate, so prepare for a trying experience.

The Shekhawati region is usually a five to six hour drive from Delhi, and in this case driving is much quicker and smoother than train travel. Hire a car and driver through a Delhi travel agency and plan to pay about Rs. 10 per km, with a halt charge (for stopping overnight) of Rs. 200-Rs. 250 per night. A thorough tour of the region should cost about Rs. 4,000.

Roads are rough in and out of Jodhpur, and the going is slow. Don't expect to average more than 40 km (25 mi) per hour. Udaipur is on National Highway 8, which links Bombay and Delhi. Again, expect your road speed to top out at 40 km (25 mi) per hour.

In Gujarat, rates for cars without air-conditioning start at Rs. 5-Rs. 8 per km (½ mi), usually with a minimum of 250 km (155 mi) per day. Additional charges apply to overnight stays and the driver's return trip. A driver needs to be tipped and given time off and money for lunch. Arrange for a car and driver through a travel agency or tourist office—your hotel can do it for you, but you'll pay more.

Contacts

Camarro Travels (Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad. 79/2550-3565 or 79/2550-2661. camarro@satyammail.com). Deepak Travels (23/33 New Jaganath Plot, Rajkot. 281/248-3469 or 98/2420-8487). Oceanic Travel (Main market, Diu. 2875/252-180). Umeru Travels (Sasan, Gir. 997/906-5101).