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Fast Facts
Getting to Jaipur from New Delhi
Jaipur is six hours away from New Delhi by road on the NH 8. Rajasthan Roadways runs regular hourly services. Buses depart from the giant interstate bus terminal located in Old Delhi, near Kashmiri Gate.
Or contact Delhi Tourism offices to arrange a journey by car or coach. Their offices are located at
- DTTDC, N-36, Connaught Place, Middle Circle,
tel # 011-3315322, 3314229.
- Or at DTTDC, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New New Delhi, tel # 011-3365358, 3363607.
- Or in Bombay at Madame Cama Road, tel # 022-2856736, 2026713, 2026784.
- Or in Calcutta at 4, Shakespeare Sarani,
tel # 033-2425454, 2421402, 2425813.
- Or in Bangalore at Government of India Tourist Office, KFC Building, 48, Church Street, phone: 080-5585417.
- Or in Madras, Hotel Tamil Nadu, 3, E V R High Road, tel #: 044-589132.
The route to Jaipur is via Gurgaon, Neemrana, Bahrur, Kotliputli, Shahpura, Dand and Amber.
At Bahrur is located the Sawan Bhadon Motel that offers decent meals and rooms, even for use during the day. For a more scenic and interesting stop over try Neemrana, where the Neemrana fort is located. The fort which is the site of a hotel is a very atmospheric place to spend a few hours or the night.
Another alternative is to take a detour to Alwar which located 58 km off the highway at Bahrur. Rajasthan Tourism runs the Lake Palace, tel # 0144-22991, there, which offers rooms with a splendid view. and the city offers palaces, museums and temples to sightsee. The Sariska tiger reserve is located just off the NH 8, 37 km from Shahpura. There are a number of places to stay near the reserve including the Kushalgarh Palace, tel # 0146-524260 or the Sariska Palace, tel # 0146-524247.
Where to Stay in Jaipur
There are plenty of places to stay at in Jaipur. Some of the best choices are:
- Narayan Niwas, Kanota Bagh, N S Road, tel # 91-141-561291, fax # 91-141-563448. The hotel charges about Rs 1500 plus taxes per night for an air conditioned double room. It's a proper palace and is what is locally called a heritage hotel. A swimming pool, and restaurants serving Indian, South Indian, Continental and Chinese food. It is a very atmospheric place to stay.
- Bissau Palace, Chandpole, tel # 91-141-30444371, fax # 91-141-304628. The hotel charges about Rs 1900 plus taxes per night for an air conditioned double room. It offers a swimming pool, tennis, arranges camel safaris. It is another hotel in a palace and a heritage hotel. The hotel has portrait galleries, a royal museum, an armoury, a library among other interesting features. Located near the Nahargarh Fort, it is an quirky place to put up at. Interesting. Rooms differ in their shape, structure and facilities so it is important to choose a room carefully. Located fairly city centre.
- Mehru Palace, Sawai Ram Singh Road, tel # 0141-371111, 371112, 371113, fax # 0141-563767, 91-141-378882. It charges about Rs 1800 plus taxes per night for an air conditioned double room. The hotel offers Indian and continental food. It is located city centre and has a 24 hour coffee shop, a travel counter and a shopping arcade. The hotel however is located in a modern building and does not offer historical ambience as such.
- Arya Niwas, Sansar Chandra Road, behind Amber Towers, tel # 0141-372456, 370612, 368524, fax # 0141-364376. Its rates: Rs 800 for an air conditioned double room per night. It is a one star hotel. A big, clean hotel and part of a modernised old palace and the hotel is surrounded by some pleasant gardens . The feedback for this hotel is excellent. Serves vegetarian food and eggs. It is located city centre and service is good.
Getting to Agra from Jaipur
It is a 230 km and 4-5 hour journey from Jaipur to Agra on the NH 11. Rajasthan Tourism runs a regular service The route runs through Kanota, Basi, Dausa, Sakrai, Mahua, Halaina, Bharatpur and Fatehpur Sikri.
Kanota, 14 km from Jaipur, offers a great stopover for the night at its 200-year old Royal Castle hotel, tel # 0141-563448. Mohanpura, also not far out of Jaipur, is also the site of a heritage hotel, The Retreat, tel # 0141-310371, 317628 and a convenient stay over. Mahua offers typical rest stop facilities, reasonable but very basic
Bharatpur with its bird sanctuary and wonderful countryside all around, its forts and palaces is another wonderful choice for a stop-off. The ITDC runs a lodge, tel # 056644-22722 in the park and the Rajasthan Tourism runs the Saras, tel # 0141-23700 outside the park.
Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Utopian city, across the border in Uttar Pradesh of course is a must stopover. UP Tourism runs a simple hotel, Gulistan Tourist Complex, tel # 0562-418317, that offers decent rooms for the night.
Where to Stay in Agra
There are a number of places to stay in Agra. Some of the best choices are:
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Hotel Amar, Fatehbad Road, tel # 0562-360695, fax # 0562-330299. The hotel charges about Rs 1500 or more per night for an air conditioned double room. Its a three star and has a swimming pool and health club. Decor is unattractive but the hotel all in all is comfy. Amar is located city centre but not that close to the Taj Mahal. Chinese, continental and Indian
food available at the hotel.
- Hotel Swagat, 29, Hari
Nagar, Samshedbad Road, tel # 0562-365490. It charges Rs 600 or more
per night for an air conditioned double room. of this hotel. It is a budget hotel
- Hotel Agra Deluxe, PO Box 7, Fatehbad Road, tel #
0562-330110, fax # 0562-331330. Its rates for an air conditioned double room vary between Rs 750 and Rs 1540 per night depending
on the plan and the type of room. A simple hotel offering basic facilities. The rooms are carpeted and are equipped with a TVs and a telephone. The hotel provides a variety of
food – Gujarati, Indian, South India, Chinese and continental.
- Agra Ashok, 6B The Mall, tel # 0562-361223-32, fax # 91-562-361620.
A five star hotel, government owned. It has all the required luxuries
including a coffee shop, pool, shopping arcade, and in house
restaurants serving Chinese, Indian and continental food.
Its rates are about $ 75 for an air conditioned double room per night. Located city centre and
near the railway station Agra Ashok is a bit far from the Taj Mahal.
- Hotel Trident, Fatehabad Road, tel # 0562-331800, 331824, fax #
0562-331827, 331812. Its charges about US $ 65 per night for an air conditioned
double room. Located city centre and near the railway station but not
that near the Taj Mahal. A three star. It offers a swimming pool and comfortable rooms.
Part of the reliable Trident chain of hotels.
- Hotel Great Value, 10-Bansal Nagar, tourist Complex Area, Fatehabad
Road, tel # 0562-330225, 330249, fax # 0562-330349. Its rates
for an air conditioned double room are about Rs 1400 per night. Located city centre and near the
railway station Great Value is not that close to the Taj Mahal. This hotel
belongs to the UP hotels group and they are middle range hotels
offering decent accommodation. The hotel restaurant offers Indian and
continental food
Getting to New Delhi from Agra
The NH 2 connects Agra with New Delhi and goes via Sikandra, Mathura, Chomar, Chhata, Kosia Kalan, Hodal, Palwal, Ballabgarh and Faridabad. It is a five hour drive. The journey entering New Delhi on Mathura road is very busy and the highway packed with traffic. The route traverses areas located in the river bed of the Yamuna and the countryside is very green. Good stop over possibilities -- the Haryana Tourism motel at Hodal or at the many hotels located in Mathura.
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