Hello
Would someone be able to please cast their eye over my route for Rajasthan?
Delhi (2/3 days)
Jaipur (how long?) - stopover at Pushkar?
Udaipur (how long?)
Jodhpur (how long?)
Jaisalmer (2/3 days for camel safari!)? long enough??
Bikaner (how long?)
Jaipur (pass through to Agra)
Agra
We are then going to Varanasi then Kolkatta hence the way round we have done it.
Is this OK?
ta
mark
I did more or less the same. A few things I would do a little different. In Delhi I would spend a day or five (also to get used to India if you have never been before). But this includes a daytrip to Agra from Delhi. You can take the fast Shatabdi express train from Delhi which arrives in Agra 2 hours later (in the evening you take this train back).
Then go to Jaipur from Delhi by train. I didn't found this a really interesting city. But there is the Hawa mahal and the city palace which is are highlights. Two days here should be enough.
From Jaipur go by bus to Pushkar. Stay two days in this relaxing place. Take the bus to Udaipur and visit monsoon palace, two days.
From udaipur take the bus to Jodhpur. This city I find one of the highlights of India. The houses are all coloured in bleu. The Merangarh fort is rising above the blue houses, fantastic. Go to Cozy guesthouse which is really relaxing (book ahead). If you stay here you could easily spend a day or five.
From Jodhpur you best take a bus to jaisalmer because the train on this track is rather slow. I did a camelsafari for 5 days. But 3 days is more then enough. Its a great experience good that you decided to do this. From jaisalmer take a bus to Bikaner. Here is the (in)famous rattemple. Two days.
From here go back to Delhi by train. It takes approx. 10 hours with the Bikaner mail. Take some rest in Delhi (one day) and book your ticket(s) for Varanasi and Kolkata here.
Hope this helps, good luck
Wouter
Hi wouterrr
your reply was fantastic, thanks a lot, some really useful information there. Just one more from me, how long are the bus trips between:
Jodhpur -> Puskar
Pushkar -> Udaipur
Udaipur -> Jodhpur
Jodhpur -> Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer -> Bikaner
Ha ha i knew i had heard of the Bikaner before, forgot it was because of the Rat Temple!
many thanks
mark
Mark,
The first one I think you mean: Jaipur - Pushkar: approx. 4 hours
(Jodhpur -Pushkar: 5 hours)
Pushkar - Udaipur approx. 8 hours
Udaipur - Jodhpur approx. 8 hours
Jodhpur - Jaisalmer approx. 5,5 hours
Jaisalmer - Bikaner approx. 7 hours
Cheers,
many thanks you have been a great help, i take it they are pretty cheap and safe as long as youre sensible? and they run all the time?
ta
mark
Wouter you really are full of usefull information about India and thanks Mark you just gave me a good starting itinerary though not looking forward to all those hours on the bus!! When you going there Mark?
As a lone female traveller can you tell me is it easy to book accommadation in the various places?
Also any ideas/information on the camel safaris would be appreciated, thanks 
Quoting ainsworth1
many thanks you have been a great help, i take it they are pretty cheap and safe as long as youre sensible? and they run all the time?
I think they are safe. There are people I know though who not dare to get into an Indian bus. But if there is no better alternative this is a good and relatively safe option.
They don't run all the time. It depends on the place and the place you are heading for. Sometimes a few a day, sometimes just one a day. There are also different kind of busses. I recommend to always travel with private companies instead of the government busses. Private companies have more luxerous coaches and are much more comfortable. Government busses are most of time wore down and dirty and very uncomfortable. Just pay a few rupees more, its still extremely cheap. A busdrive from Udaipur to Jodhpur will cost you with a private company 125 rupees (=little more then 2 euro) in a deluxe coach. You should always book as far as ahead as possible. at least one day before departure. I always booked my bus to the next destination the day I arrived. I always got a ticket.
[ Edit: Edited on Jan 10, 2007, at 7:54 AM by wouterrr ]
[/quote]though not looking forward to all those hours on the bus!! When you going there Mark?[/quote]
Hi hamjunki, it's part of the charm of travelling. You will never forget those sticky, hot and loud on hindipop/bhangra bus drives. Its great. Take a nap after and you will be fresh as a bird
.
[/quote]As a lone female traveller can you tell me is it easy to book accommadation in the various places?[/quote]
Don't be worried about that. Many travellers are independent, also many women. If hotelowners would not accept individual travellers they could better stop. Its their main income. In the hotels that are listed in the main travelguides, such as Lonely planet, you won't face any problem. Succes guaranteed.
[/quote]Also any ideas/information on the camel safaris would be appreciated, thanks [/quote]
This is easy. Just go to any travelagency in Jaisalmer or Bikaner and arrange a safari for a couple of days (3 days is perfect). Many hotels also provide camelsafaries as well. I went with Anurag hotel in Jaisalmer. During the safari I could put my bags and belongings in my room for only 50 rupees a day (normally 150 rupees). A full package costed me around 500 rupees a day (in 2003, around 10 euro). I went 5 days. The package includes a camel (off course) and a guide who also cooks for you 2 times a day (in the morning you get biscuits, eggs and tea). They will bring enough bottles of mineral water. You will pass several silent villages with a lot of children, who ask for a pen or a rupee or both (penrupee). In the night you sleep on a sanddune in the middle of the Thar desert. Never I experienced such a silence and so many stars. Its a great experience. Definitly a highlight in India.
[ Edit: Edited on Jan 10, 2007, at 8:12 AM by wouterrr ]
Well it could be like this
Delhi to jaipur by delux private coach 4-5 hours journey dont take night bus that may drop you in jaipur at odd hours.Just take early morning bus to reach by noon.Good hotels near sindhi camp bus stand which is last stoppage mostly.A hotel"pearl palace" is best run by sikh find details in google search.2 days enough.
Catch a train for jodhpur 6 hours by train,can stay at guest houses near clock tower or you can be our guest I am a member of hospitalityclub.org
2 days for jodhpur,one day for palace and fort and second for mandore and clock tower.
Jaisalmer by delux bus at 5.45am reaches by10.30 am charges 120/-Rs.3 days for jaisalmer .Only one and half dayfor camel ride,join some group,dont go alone with cameldriver,check his ID for authanticity,given by tourist deptt.Rajasthan.
To pushkar again bus8 hours whole night journey take only direct bus no changing bus at jodhpur in odd hours.
All RUSHING of so far is over.very small village,calm,cool and serene place I wont say no even in 5 days.
Head to udaipur 8 hours by bus enjoy city of lakes for 2 days.
vipingoyal
all replies have been fantastic, really helped me out, thanks to everyone
how long would people recommmend to do all this in? 2/3 weeks with reasonable pace?