Welcome to the most picturesque state of India, Rajasthan. The culturally
rich state of Rajasthan is popular for a range of things. The elephants,
camels, bird sanctuaries, festivals and fairs, forts, luxury trains, folk
dance/music, arts/crafts, and royalty… you name it and Rajasthan has
it. So the next time you are planning a vacation for yourself, family or
friends do consider the royal land of Rajasthan. In case you have already
been there, for sure you would love to visit it again.
Rajasthan Physical Features
Rajasthan is separated from the Ganga basin by the watershed of the
Aravalli Mountains. This runs from the northeast to the southwest and is
displaced by a deep fault, which moved the mountains some 1,225 km (765
miles) in its central position and 300 km (190 miles) in its eastern portion
near Delhi. The topographical regions into which Rajasthan can be divided
are the northeastern hill tract, the Vindhyan plateau extensions in the
southeast, the basins of the Chambal and Banas, the Aravalli backbone, the
Shekhawati uplands in the northwest and the Luni basin of the southwest,
merging into the large area on the west - the desert which occupies some
213,000 sq. km (82,000 sq. miles).
Climate in Rajasthan
The state witnesses a pleasant period during the winters with temperature
getting as low as -3 degrees Celsius in Mt. Abu and an extremely unbearable
temperature in summer with a maximum of 52 degree Celsius at Jaisalmer. The
best time to visit is from October to March.
Winters are mild in Rajasthan with the temperatures ranging between 22°C
and 8°C. The climate of Rajasthan is characterized by dry and hot
winds. The rainfall, which is characteristically scanty, comes during the
month of July and September. However rainfall is comparatively high in the
hilly Aravalli range. The southwest region of the state, being on the
tropical region is considerably humid.
Language in Rajasthan
Hindi is the official language of the state. But the principal language is "Rajasthani",
and the four major dialects are Marwari in the west, Jaipuri in the east,
Malwi in the southeast and Mewati in the northeast. But Hindi language is
replacing Rajasthani. Moreover, you will find English speaking people in all
the major cities, and in remote villages also you will find someone who can
speak and understand English. But other languages are completely unknown.
You may ask Tour Operators to help you on this and they do have guides who
knows almost all the languages.
Rajasthan Travel Information
Documents
You should have a valid visa to enter India. Nationals of Bhutan &
Nepal only needs identification. You can obtain visa from your nearest
Indian consulates. Usually a multi entry visa for a period of 120 days is
granted to tourists. Visa fee vary according to Nationality. Always keep
photocopies of important documents like passport, visa and other documents.
What to take
All the usual stuff you need when you travel. Be light, you can always
purchase something you forget. But still you should bring the following for
Rajasthan:
- Loose fitting, light cotton cloths are ideal for days wear, women should
wear ankle length cloths.
- Sweater, sandals, thongs, cotton hats, sunglasses, T-shirts, sun screen
cream etc
- Medicines (includes inhalers and anti malaria drugs), toiletries are
available here, binoculars
- Budget Travelers may need Sleeping bags, ear plugs, good padlocks,
mosquito net, heavy-duty chain for securing luggage.
Women Travelers
It is relatively safe for women to travel around, but your privacy rarely
respected. Staying safe is a matter of common sense. There is special ladies
queue and also separate railway compartments. But, still you might be
harassed and touching up. Best way is to avoid eye contacts, never stay late
out side, and wear decent cloths (try the local dress called salwar kameez,
very cheap and practical)
Traveling with children
Children of all ages are welcomed, being greeted with warmth. Winter is
recommended when traveling with children. Diarrhoea and vomiting are the
most common problems, so take the usual precautions. Also take enough sun
cream, as in winter also the days are quite hot. Avoid tap water, only
mineral water (of good company) is recommended.
Transportation in Rajasthan
Transportation will be required to move from one city to other and also
when you want to move in a city. Following type of travel mode are available
in Rajasthan and can be arranged in advance:
Air: Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are connected by air. There are
regular flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
Railways: All the major cities of Rajasthan are connected by trains
and also to other metro cities of India. Train Journey is also very
comfortable. We also have a luxurious train called "Palace on Wheel",
highly recommended if you can spend money.
Buses: Rajasthan Roadways have very good bus service from Delhi to
Jaipur (deluxe and AC coaches). You will also find many private company
owned buses, but we will recommend you to take Rajasthan Roadways where
possible. They also have ordinary buses.
Car/Taxi: In Rajasthan you will not find car on rental basis. When
you book for taxi, you will also get driver. And is also recommended that
you do not drive, as the traffic is not organized and changed traffic rules.
You can ask your tour operator to arrange for the car. You will find all
make of cars from standard Ambassador to luxurious Mercedes.
Money/Currency
Indian Currency is the Indian Rupee (Re/Rs). Since you are not allowed to
bring in Indian currency, your best option is the airport bank. Indian Rupee
notes are printed in denominations of Rs 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 10. The
Rupee is divided into 100 Paise. You will see only 1, 2, 5 Rs coins, though
coins below 50 paisa are rarely seen.
You should keep small denominations notes for the small payments like tips,
bus tickets, and meals. When going to a remote area or small town where
encashing of travellers cheque will be difficult you can take 1000 Rs and
500 Rs notes, but you should be careful when using them and should not be
confused with 100 Rs.
Travelers Cheques
Traveller's Cheques issued by reputable companies (eg Thomas Cook, American
Express) are accepted without difficulty. Traveler's Cheques exchanged in
banks or hotels, and can only very rarely be used directly for Payment. You
need identification documents like a passport to be shown. Except in hotels,
encashing Traveler's Cheques nearly always takes up to 30 minutes or longer,
So it is worth taking larger denomination Traveler's Cheques and changing
enough to last for some days. Banks accept both Dollar and sterling. Other
major currency Traveler's Cheques are also accepted in some larger cities.
If you are traveling to remote areas it is advised that you buy Indian Rupee
Traveler's Cheques from a major bank, as these are more widely accepted than
foreign currency ones.
Credit cards
Major credit cards are increasingly accepted in the main centers, though in
smaller cities and towns it is still rare to be able to pay by credit card.
Visa and Master Card have a growing number of ATMs in major cities, but many
ATMs only deal with local account holder. HDFC bank have the facility of
withdrawing money from you overseas account. You can use their ATM m/s to
withdraw money in Indian Rupee, presently there branches are in Jaipur,
Jodhpur and Udaipur only in Rajasthan. Railway Reservation center 17 major
cities are now taking payment for train tickets by visa card which can be
very quick as the queue is very short.
International transfers
Don't run out of money in India unless you have a credit card against which
you can draw traveller's Cheques or cash. You can also use HDFC ATM facility
to withdraw money from your overseas account, but there is a limit of Rs
15,000 in a day. Having money transferred through the banking system can be
time consuming. It's usually straightforward if you use a foreign/private
banks elsewhere it may take a fortnight and will be a hassle.
You can also use Western Union for money transfer and they are having
agents in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Travel Tips
Things to Remember
¤ On the streets, wear shoulder bags across the body
(impossible to snatch), and keep all money and valuables out of sight (never
in unzipped pockets). Beware of being frisked by beggars pretending a
friendly hug. Never give anyone your camera, radio or walk man to 'look
at',unless you feel quite sure of getting it back again.
¤ On trains, where there is much robbery, use your ruck-sack
or bag as a pillow(or stash it under your knees)when sleeping. If going to
the bathroom, bolt your bag to a fixed compartment attachment or to a window
bar.
¤ On crowded local buses, keep a constant eye on your
luggage.You may be asked to put your bags under a seat to make room for
other passenger. Don't do it.
¤ In cheap lodging, double-lock the door(with combination
padlock) and secure all windows before retiring for the night-thieves are
adept at creeping into unsecured hotel rooms.
¤ If leaving your luggage for anywhere, for any reason,
padlock it to a pipe, a bedstead, or anything that cannot be moved. Some
hotels will remind it for you-but always get a receipt,and always check
nothing's missing on your return.
¤ Don't accept any food or drink from total strangers,
especially on trains or buses. There are good chances that it might be
drugged.
¤ Fear, anger or carelessness all attract theft; calm
confidence and alertness deter it. If you become a victim, report your loss
to the police by all means(you will need their report for any insurance
claim), but do not expect a lot of sympathy. India is for the self-reliant
-a quality that some travellers have to learn the hard way.
Time difference
Official time difference is GMT +5 1/2 hours through out the year (USA,
EST+10 1/2 hours). In India you will not find different time zone.
Best Time to Visit Rajasthan
The best time to visit is from October to March.
