Trip through India – Rajasthan !

 

Recently I went to India for a trip and I thought I would share the story for anyone wishing to complete the same !

 

Delhi – I stayed in Nirvana Hostel after some research on the internet which was a great decision! They offered a free airport pickup , or you can get a prepaid taxi from Delhi Airport for about 270 Ruppees which Sunny ( The owner) will reimbursh you for upon request. The hostel is run by a guy called Sunny who has an amazing life story. He also has hostels in Agra and Jaipur run by his father and mother  respectfully and they made the gold triange route hassle free and great fun, offering Free wifi , breakfast , dinner train/airport pickup and air conditioned rooms.

Sunny gave me a cheat sheet of Delhi with all the places to visit and how to get to them from the hostel. Most of these where by the Metro, which is supper convenient and cheap for about 22 Rupees for a single. After a whole day of sightseeing, I came back to the hostel to meet a load of people from all different nationalities doing the same “Golden Triangle” route Delhi – Agra – and Jaipur that I was , always the great travelling way. We where due for a party to start this trup off however due to it being a Sunday all the off licenses in Delhi where closed, the hostel owner Sunny changed our luck around , but driving to the next state and collecting party supplies!

The next hassy day we organised our trip to Agra , there was a train for 600 Ruppees or Sunny would arrange a private air conditioned car for the day which included a return trip from Delhi for 800 Ruppees each in a 7 seater. We choose this as we would visit 4 temples in this day and the taxi would also drop us off in our hostel in Agra.

Agra is a small city so you only really need a day there to look at all the sites ( main one being the Taj Mahal at 750 Ruppees for Tourists or 20 Ruppees for Locals!). When we got to the hostel run by Sunny’s father , he booked a bus from Agra to Jaipur for 325 Ruppees each which left the next morning which took about 5 hours. When on the bus, we upgraded our seats to beds for an extra 125 Ruppees each and slept for most of the way inbetween people jumping on the bus to sell Bombay mix , preach religion and promote tiger balm!

Jaipur – Suny’s mother who we nicknamed Mummy! arranged for Sameer to collect us from the bus station, unfortunately after being told we where at the right stop twice we go off at the wrong stop however Sameer found us! I highly recommend this driver , he showed us all Jaipur in 2 days including all the temples ( Amber etc) and also the wholesale factory’s for Jewelery, Textiles ( Camel Hair Carpets) and Blue pottery the things that Jaipur are famous for. His number for anyone interested is 0091 9799866374 Email : [email protected] he has 2 x seaters , 2 x Normal Cars and 2 x Tuk Tuk which he manages.

View from Lake Shore Hotel

Udapuir

( White and Black City) the Venice of India some people call it. I had been recommended the Lake Shore Hotel which is right on the river front and run by a guy called Sameer. He arranged for us to be picked up from the train station and for a double room right by the lake it will cost 500 Ruppees for the room. The location is perfect , on the river , has a terrace desk where he cooks fresh food for you , and it’s 10 minute walk to any of the main sites in Updapuir ( Temple or the Lake Palace).  Jamil is the driver for this hotel and we had a drive round the city on his Tuk Tuk for 100 ruppees and he even let us all take a turn drivings! His number is : 00919928637227

Mumbai – I stayed in the Anjali Inn which was 1000 Ruppees for a double room. The room has Air Con, TV and Shower , only thing it really missed was a common room! I took a ferry to Elephanta Island to see the Elephanta Caves which I recommend. It will take you the whole day to organize as you need to take a 30 minute ferry and they run every other 30 minutes!

I will get out to South India at some stage as I’ve been told by people traveling from the south , Goa , Hampi , Kerala are a must see!