In November 2003 we took a SmarTours group tour of north-central India
and Nepal, including visits to Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, and Kathmandu
When that tour ended in Delhi on 24 November Virginia and I remained in
India on our own for two additional weeks to visit the fascinating Indian
state of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is an Indian state extending from about fifty miles(80km)
southwest of Delhi to the border with Pakistan about 500 (800km) miles
away. Much of eastern Rajasthan consists of rocky semi-desert, while most
of western Rajasthan generally is completely barren. Until India obtained
its independence in 1947, what is now Rajasthan consisted of several feudal
principalities ruled by princes known as Rajahs or Maharajahs who built huge
fortifications and magnificent palaces (some recently converted into hotels).
To help guide our way we carried with us two very practical guidebooks for
independent travelers, "India" published by Lonely Planet and "Footprint
India" published by Footprint Handbooks. These two books do a good job
of specifically suggesting destinations, transportation, hotels, restaurants,
etc.
From Delhi our first destination was Jaisalmer in the far western desert, a
fascinating romantic fortified town with magnificent palaces. Our next stop
was Jodhpur with its famous Meherangarh Fortress. Then we enjoyed a
few days in Mandore, a village a few miles from Jodhpur. Our final
destination in Rajasthan was Udaipur with its magnificent lake and lakeside
palaces. We planned to stay in each town about three days but had no
advance transportation hotel reservations except for the sleeper trains
from Delhi to Jaisalmer and from Udaipur to Delhi; we made those two
reservations in India while we were on the early part of our group tour
through north-central India and Nepal.
Below is a map or Rajasthan showing the cities of Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur
and Udaipur. Mandore, about six miles east of Jodhpur is not shown. The
map shows no scale, but from Delhi to Jaisalmer is about 500 miles 800km),
Jaisalmer to Jodhpur 200 miles (320km), Jodhpur to Udaipur 150 miles
(225km), Udaipur to Delhi 500 miles (800km). The violet area on the left
part of the map is Pakistan.
and Nepal, including visits to Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, and Kathmandu
When that tour ended in Delhi on 24 November Virginia and I remained in
India on our own for two additional weeks to visit the fascinating Indian
state of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is an Indian state extending from about fifty miles(80km)
southwest of Delhi to the border with Pakistan about 500 (800km) miles
away. Much of eastern Rajasthan consists of rocky semi-desert, while most
of western Rajasthan generally is completely barren. Until India obtained
its independence in 1947, what is now Rajasthan consisted of several feudal
principalities ruled by princes known as Rajahs or Maharajahs who built huge
fortifications and magnificent palaces (some recently converted into hotels).
To help guide our way we carried with us two very practical guidebooks for
independent travelers, "India" published by Lonely Planet and "Footprint
India" published by Footprint Handbooks. These two books do a good job
of specifically suggesting destinations, transportation, hotels, restaurants,
etc.
From Delhi our first destination was Jaisalmer in the far western desert, a
fascinating romantic fortified town with magnificent palaces. Our next stop
was Jodhpur with its famous Meherangarh Fortress. Then we enjoyed a
few days in Mandore, a village a few miles from Jodhpur. Our final
destination in Rajasthan was Udaipur with its magnificent lake and lakeside
palaces. We planned to stay in each town about three days but had no
advance transportation hotel reservations except for the sleeper trains
from Delhi to Jaisalmer and from Udaipur to Delhi; we made those two
reservations in India while we were on the early part of our group tour
through north-central India and Nepal.
Below is a map or Rajasthan showing the cities of Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur
and Udaipur. Mandore, about six miles east of Jodhpur is not shown. The
map shows no scale, but from Delhi to Jaisalmer is about 500 miles 800km),
Jaisalmer to Jodhpur 200 miles (320km), Jodhpur to Udaipur 150 miles
(225km), Udaipur to Delhi 500 miles (800km). The violet area on the left
part of the map is Pakistan.
