I am planning a 10 day trip to Rajasthan in November and wld appreciate your comments and suggestions on the following itinerary. I visited Rajasthan a couple of years ago on a forts and palaces tour so I have chosen a couple of places I didn’t get a chance to explore then – the same goes for Delhi.

Fly to Delhi – stay 3 nights
Fly from Delhi to Udaipur for 2 nights - not sure whether to stay at the Udai Kothi or the Jagat Niwas Palace??
Devi Garh for 2 nights
Drive to Jodhpur staying at Rawla Narlai Hotel en route for 2 nights to visit Ranakpur and Kumbhalghar Fort (worth visiting??)
Jodhpur 2 nights (not sure where to stay I’m looking at the Taj Hari Mahal but have also seen reccos for the Ajit Bhavan although Trip Advisor reports are not particularly good)
From Jodhpur fly back to Delhi and home.

I’m trying to spread the cost by staying at a range of hotels. Last time I stayed in top end hotels and wanted to try something a little different. Devi Garh is a definite but for the rest I am open to suggestions. In Delhi I usually stay at the Imperial but would like to try staying in a family type environment – is this a good idea - I have heard good things about the Master Paying Guest House. In a different league I have also looked at The Manor.

I need a car for the drive from Udaipur to Jodhpur (possibly to stay with me for excursions from Rawla Narlai) – any advise on this please.

Finally – has anyone been to Akshardham in Delhi. I have looked at their website and it looks amazing. Photography seems to be a def no no – which wld be hugely disappointing.

During our trip to Rajasthan 4-5 years ago, we choose to stay in various 3 and 4 start hotels. There were dime a dozen of those in just about every city we visited (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Mt. Abu). I am not familiar with the ones you mention, however our experience was very pleasant in every one of them. Check-in was very efficient and painless, rooms clean and comfortable, Staff very courteous. Most of the rooms we used had fans and ACs (yup we often needed fans and mosquito repellant even in Dec when we visited). The only thing these hotels did not have was resteurants (but then we always prefer to try local cuisine in cities we travel).

Lyall, I can thoroughly recommend Rasjasthan 4-wheel drive if you need a vehicle or a car for the day. They are excellent, with almost new air conditioned cars. The guy who operates it was trained in Australia. After experiencing other cars and the choatic traffic, it was a delight to be in one of its cars and to actually have a driver who STOPPED whenever he answered his cell-phone! Just Google for them. I paid $30US per day for the car and driver. Between Agra and Jaipur they were $90 as opposed to about $350 quoted by the Oberoi!

Just found the addy.

http://www.fourwheeldriveindia.com/

Travelplan - thanks for yr input. Mitch - have just checked out the website - exactly what I am looking for. Assume this is OK for female travelling solo??

a. Both Udai Kothi & Jagat Niwas are fine hotels. Udai Kothi is a new hotel, set back a little way from the lake, though the lake itself is visible from the top.There is also a rooftop swimming pool. Service is good.However, Jagat Niwas is a heritage property right on the banks of the lake. The views from the lake facing rooms / suites are incredible. They have a very romantic dining room at the top overlooking the lake Palace & Jagmandir island. Service & food is good. If you care for a heritage property, imo Jagat Niwas fits the bill. However, it may be diificult to get a reservation, if not dealt with immediately.
b. Rawla Narlai, infact belongs to Ajit Bhawan. At Ranakpur, you also have Fatehbagh run by the HRH group. It is indeed a fine translocated haveli. The rooms are well appointed. You also have a water reservoir next door, where you can take a picnic lunch. btw, you may still get to see the Indian gharial, right in front of the hotel in a natural pool, though I reported him to the wildlife gaurds, last November & may have been removed to the reservoir, it's original home, by now! Kumbhalgarh is a good 32 miles east of Ranakpur. The views from the fort are fascinating.
c. Taj Hari Mahal is a wonderful property. Incase, you do not get a reservation there, Ajit Bhawan is the next best. Umaid Bhawan is awfully expensive, though top-of-the-line.
Happy Travels!

vp - thanks for this. Is it feasible to travel from Devi Garh to Rawla Narlai visiting both Ranakpur and Kumbhalghar en route? I am running out of days and trying to make best use of my time. I'm not sure how much time is needed for Kumbhalghar - it looks as though it might be quite a climb up to the fort or can cars get quite close??

Lyall, the company is excellent and 100 percent reliable. We spend 3 days in Jaipur, for example, and our driver simply put together itineraries for us each day following a general discussion as to what we wanted...

Like most, our driver "had a friend who sold clothing", and I thought, "here we go again...he'll take us to hard nosed stores and I won't get away without buying anything, and it will all be rubbish..."

But the store was good quality and the sales people were nlt at all pushy, and it was infinitely better than doing battle with stall holders on the main tourist drag.

The vehicle assigned to us actually had seat belts! (A rarity). And the air conditioning was good. He even carried bottled water for us.

The fact the driver wore a uniform made the operation seem very professional, and it was.

After days of using other vehicles, and having some of the mnost hair-raising journeys of my life, it was a pleasure to be driven by a company that obviously takes no chance son the road, and takes good care of its clients.

Finally, I believe it to be very safe abd would have no hesitation in using them again. Sure, they might be a trifle more expensive that just hiring a driver in the street, but at least you know they have insurance, have undergone defensive driving courses, and are operated a by guy who lived and worked in Australia, so he has a good idea of the expectations of westerners.

(Written in hastes..apologies for typos!).

Thanks!
It is quite possible to do both Kumbhalgarh Fort & Ranakpur on your way to Ravla Narlai. The distances are small. You can do Fort Kumbhalgarh in the morning, the car will reach you till the gate & thereafter either less than a mile on foot or you may hire a camel to take you to the top. The fort is the finest example of defensive fortifications & definitely worth a visit. Proceed therfrom to Ranakpur Jain Temples (opens to visitors at 12:00pm) & and ask the tall, middle-aged & handsome 'pujari' (caretaker priest) of the main temple to tell you something about the temples, give him the customary offering of about Rs. 50, as he applies the 'tilak to your forehead...do give my 'salaams' greetings to him! Takes about an hour. Off you are to Ravla Narlai & in good time!!
I do not agree with the poster that you leave your precious holiday to a'discussion' with your driver...who would probabaly take you to places where 'he has friends' to offer you deals!!
Happy travels!

VP - thanks again for your help. I have come up against a further problem - booking on-line with Jet Airways. It seems they do not accept credit cards unless issued in India. This must be something new as I have booked on a number of occasions in the past. I am being advised that I should book on arrival in India which I am not prepared to do - in October I would probably struggle to get the flights I want. Any thoughts on this??

Mitch - sorry I should also have thanked you for your advice. I have been in touch with 4WD Rajasthan and they are sorting me out with car and driver for a couple of days. They sound very efficient as u said.

in delhi we stayed last november in the nikko, which was a notch down from imperial and quite relaxed...

Weird re Jet Airways. I booked on Orbitz using a US credit card at the end of last year, but it sounds like things may have changed.

I used Jet and booked with my travel agent before leaving for India. I have no idea about the credit card business, but I found Jet exceptionally good, and better than the domestic airlines in Australia.

Arkshardham if well worth a visit. But you're right - no photographs. Bags and cameras have to be left in the luggage room.

Mitch - apparently a new security measure, but 4WD Rajasthan have sorted this out for me. They have booked the flights and I have reimbursed them. What a find!!

Featherbrain Shame about Akshardham - I enjoy photography and it looks a great subject. Will visit anyway - looks too good to miss.

rhkkmk - I have stayed at the Nikko which was OK but wanted something smaller and have now booked The Manor. Hope its OK!

I have noticed that a couple of the smaller hotels have requested payment upfront. Is this usual??

I stayed in JasVilas in Jaipur, and can highly recommend it. Small family hotel that is a genuine oasis. Great pool, comfortable rooms, and meals served by the pool. It has less than a dozen rooms, and spotlessly clean. I have pics of it, if you are interested, Email me on [email protected]

I, too, am going to Rajasthan in November, for 3 weeks. What I'm struggling with is whether or not all nights in lodgings should be booked in advance.

Based on previous trips (such as to Kenya, where I served in the Peace Corps) I know that over-planning a trip can be very stifling. It effectively eliminates those spontaneous opportunities to head somewhere off the beaten track as per the recommendation of a fellow traveler, stay an extra day in a place you love, or find yourself spending the night somewhere unforgettable (for better or for worse!).

On the other hand, my husband and I would hate to find ourselves closed out of at least a semi-decent place to stay the night because we failed to secure a room in advance. We're long beyond the age where we can adapt to just about anything.

Finally, has anyone gone to the tiger sanctuary in Ranthanbhore? Is it worth it? Recommendations of where and how long to stay? Thanks!

We are organising a trip at present with Anil of india Four Wheel drive.
It is a 2 week trip for 2 couples and Anil has managed to book great places to stay. I have been to India before, so I knew what I wanted!
However, we have to pay for all the accommodation now and am a little nervous about doing this. any comments?
I realize this is Pushkar Fair time so heavy bookings.
Thanks in anticipation of positive feedback
Mandy

I can only reinforce my earlier comments. I found Rajasthan 4-wheel drive to be excellent, and Anil especially so. He knows about forums such as Fodors, and understands that if he stuffs things up, word will get around that will adversely affect his business. Personally, I don't think you are taking a chance at all.