Driver in India
 

Hi,
I’m looking for a driver to take us from Agra to Jaipur to Delhi (not in one day!). Does anyone know if Anil Sinha and Ramesh Meena are from the same company? They were both recommended on this forum and both have an @fourwheeldriveindia.com email address, but they have different websites.
Thanks!

i don't know either of them but the driver i used is not longer in india but his cousin took up the business and lcuy gives him great marks....

you can reach him at: [email protected]

they are a fantastic family and i think you would enjoy him....ask for an SUV for added comfort...

Ramesh Meena used to work for Anil Sinha and has started his own business. We used Ramesh when he worked for Anil and he was an excellent driver. Others have used him since he left Rajasthan Four Wheel Drive and have been very pleased with his services as well. He did a fabulous job for us -- saving us from a bad situation with a different driver from RFWD. (If you don't have it already, his contact info: phone numbers - 919829807074 and 91925246594; email addresses - [email protected] and [email protected]).

Thanks for clearing that up. I emailed Ramesh and Anil. Ramesh got back to me and quoted INR 18,900 ($390) to pick us (two people) up in Agra in the afternoon, drive us to Jaipur, take us around Jaipur the following day, then drive us to Delhi later that same day. I know that’s a lot of driving, but compared to prices other people have mentioned here that seems pretty high, no?

He is driving us for a much longer trip through Rajasthan and MP for about INR 3000/day.

Will Ramesh be the actual driver? In my emails with him it sounded like someone who works for him would be driving us.
I heard back from Anil, too, and his price quote was 8000 less, for the same itinerary.

Did you contact Narender at [email protected]?

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...sthan-tour.cfm

http://fourwheelsdrive.blogspot.com/

Well, travelaw/balkishan - are you getting a percentage? lol. I assume ramesh has used your comments with permission.

But Detective Dog's left nostril is twitching. I have to run out right now, but I'll be back. Ramesh has left quite a large cyber-trail.

Trav - you are my friend. I have been silent till now. But... having seen that outrageous quote, I think it's time to tell all. Later.

lcuy, I did email Narender, based on your and rhkkmk's recommendations. Just waiting to hear back.

Not sure what you are talking about dogster -- who is balkistan? Percentage? I am just recommending based on my personal experience. I know nothing else, so I am curious. What Ramesh quotes is not my baliwick. He was honest with us, so who knows what the deal is.

trav: click on the second link - there are your words from the first link: you have assumed a new identity, 'Balkistan', courtesy your nearest and dearest friend Ramesah. Go look.

Yeah, I know you're cool with Ramesh. So am I. I know your recco is based on personal dealings. No probs. But he is a bit of a naughty fellow on the internet. I'll be back.

Is that all you've got dogster? Someone trying to promote his own new business? Where is the large cyber-trail? For all I know Balkistan or Blakishan or whomever he is works for Ramesh -- he isn't running some self internet promotional scam. He's not making anything up -- I don't blame him for cutting and pasting my good comments about him - and yes, he is welcome to post my comments. Did you ever ponder that he might be protecting my identity -- you of all people should understand that. (In fact, I have stayed quiet about you my friend -- remember I found out your name from my stay in Varanasi.) Naughty fellow on the internet? The name of his business is right on top of the blog. Look, I don't know why he gave ray such a high quote -- it looks very high to me too. Seems like an outlier to me -- perhaps some mistake, but if its not, that is his mistake. (His quotes to others here have been completely in the ball park -- see Indianapearl's post above.) And you don't have to get sarcastic and call him my "nearest and dearest friend" -- he was just a good driver whom I felt should be recommended to people who have asked about drivers in India. I've used many, many drivers all around the world -- and three others in India. He is one of the best I've employed. So what? Don't recommend him? It isn't like I've started a special thread about him -- I have been responding to people who have asked. And bonnieheather also used him and liked him --she talked about him extensively in her thread. I am not sure what is going on here. No one seems to have a problem with you consistently recommending apu villa or pandaw or bob recommending narender or Icuy recommending anoop. Why besmirch me and imply I am getting a percentage -- even as a joke? People may think it is true -- see monica's post. Thanks a bunch. Either you've got way too much time on your hands or have smoked too much charras, but your grand conspiracy theory really IS laughable. My experience with this young fellow Ramesh is that he is reliable and safe. I will continue to recommend him to those who ask.

There's no vendetta here, BTW, just full disclosure. I rather admire Ramesh's entreprenurial nature. And I certainly trust travelaw's endorsement.

Just on the quote: I went to
http://savaari.com/user/step1.php
to check on what it might be thru a normal company [of which there are MANY] No guide, no hand-holding, just do what you want.

'to pick us up in Agra in the afternoon, drive us to Jaipur, take us around Jaipur the following day, then drive us to Delhi later that same day...' [and you have to allow for the car to return to base the next day]

It's an easy site, double check. I might be wrong but...
I came up with Non A/C Tata: 5222 rupees,
SUV A/C: 7466 rupees.
That's with a minimum paid 750 k.

So, depending on the make of car and allowing for his profit and extra $$ for lerve and care, looks like Anil is closer to the money.

OUCH! Well. I just wrote this huge grovelling apology to trav and it got eaten.

It was particularly inspired, and now I've forgotten most of it. Basically, it said 'Ouch trav, I'm really sorry you misunderstood my attempts at humour. I'd hate to make an enemy over a misunderstanding, particularly YOU.' I don't disagree with your assessment at all. It hadn't occurred to me that someone would read my comments without my laconic Australian accent. How many ways can I say I'm sorry? Sorry. Deep breaths. We all make mistakes. I'll see if I can get the offending post removed.

But no, that is not all I got. Not by a long shot. There are some interesting issues at play. But something tells me I'd better shut up on this topic.

So, you know my name, eh? I missed that. Google is a terrible thing. Damn - we all leave a trail.

I am in the doghouse, Marija.

Just for everyone's clarification, Balkishan Sharma is the "General Director" of Four Wheels Drive India. Ramesh Meena is the "Managing Director" of the same company. I'm not sure who reports to whom. Anil Sinha is not affiliated with either of them at present. He must be from Ramesh's previous company. I know these things because I am (1) omniscient, and (2) I had an e-mail exchange with the two of them at the beginning of June.

My dearest spouse, indianapearl, has occasional delusions of omniscience - but she did have the e-mail exchange with Balkishan and Ramesh ;=)

dogster....please plan to join a number of us in bkk on nov 25 for a mini GTG at kineree restaurant on soi 8 for dinner....some of your most ardent supporters will be there: gpanda, kathie and others...

Well my friend, you never know.

Today I lay on a table while a kind young man gelled me up and then appeared to scan me for an undiscovered pregnancy. After much gelling, $$ and scanning comes the inevitable referals till I am placed under the knife of Doctor Death to fix my bunged up veins.

I am encouraging Surgeon Sweeny Todd to get it done fast, thereby freeing me up for The Ganges trip in Sept/Oct/Nov
by which point I may actually be able to walk more than half a block. I'd like that. So, we'll see if money can buy the surgeon's love.

Should all this occur, then it may be possible. I can see my cover is being slowly blown anyway. Now you know all of my filthy secrets, there's little left to fear.

Sorry to hear you have bunged up veins. And I thought Aussies had national health care, so am also sorry to hear you are spending lots of money -- but I'm glad you're not pregnant!