Rajasthan
EASTERN
R AJASTHAN
Rajasthan
GETT iNG T HERE
& A WAY
Rajasthan
JA iPUR
train station (%2200778; Platform 1; h24hr);
main bus station (%5064102; Platform 3;
h10am-5pm Mon-Fri) Has free maps and bro-
chures on Jaipur and Rajasthan, organises city
tours, private taxis and government-registered
guides.8 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Away
AIR
Air India (%2743500, airport 2721333; http://www.
airindia.com; Tonk Rd, Nehru Place) To Delhi
and Mumbai daily.
IndiGo (%2743500, 5119993; http://www.goindigo.
in; airport) To Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,
Bengalaru and Hyderabad.
Jet Airways (%1800 225522, 2725025; http://www.
jetairways.com; airport; h5.30am-9pm) To
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, indore,
Raipur and Hyderabad.BUS
Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation
(RSRTC) buses all leave from the main bus
stand (Station Rd), where there’s a left-luggage
‘cloakroom’ (₹10 per bag for 24 hours), as well
as a prepaid autorickshaw stand.
Ordinary buses are known as ‘express’ buses,
but there are also ‘deluxe’ buses (coaches really,
but still called buses; usually with air-con but not
always), these vary a lot but are generally much
more expensive and comfortable than ordinary
express buses. Deluxe buses leave from Plat-
form 3, tucked away in the right-hand corner of
the bus station. Unlike ordinary express buses
seats on them can be booked in advance from
the reservation office (%5116032) here.
With the exception of those going to Delhi
(half-hourly), deluxe buses are much less fre-
quent than ordinary buses.CAR
Most hotels can arrange car and driver hire. Or
else go to the RTDC Tourist Reception Centre
(p121) at the train station. They have a list of
prices for different types of vehicles. At the
time of research it was ₹7 to ₹12 per kilometre,
depending on the type of car, with a minimum
rental rate equivalent to 250km per day. Also
expect to pay a ₹150 overnight charge, and note,
you will have to pay for the driver to return to
Jaipur even if you aren’t.MOTORCYCLE
Hire, buy or fix a Royal Enfield Bullet (and
lesser motorbikes) at Rajasthan Auto Centre
(%2568074, 9829188064; http://www.royalenfield-
salim.com; Sanjay Bazaar, Sanganeri Gate;
h10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm Sun), the
cleanest little motorcycle workshop in india, run
by the affable Mr Salim. To hire a 350cc Bullet
costs ₹500 per day (including helmet) withinJaipur; outside ₹600. No deposit required; just
show and photocopy your passport, visa and
driving licence. You can buy second-hand En-
fields here too (₹40,000 to ₹50,000).TRAIN
The efficient railway reservation office (%135;
h8am-9pm Mon-Sat, 8am-2pm Sun) is to your
left as you enter Jaipur train station. it’s open
for advance reservations only (more than five
hours before departure). Join the queue for
‘Freedom Fighters and Foreign Tourists’
(counter 769).
For same-day travel, buy your ticket at the
northern end of the train station on Platform
1, window 10 (hclosed 6-6.30am, 2-2.30pm &
10-10.30pm). The railway inquiries number is
%131.
Station facilities on Platform 1 include an
RTDC tourist information bureau, Tourism As-
sistance Force (police), a cloakroom for left
luggage (₹10 per bag per 24 hours), retiring
rooms (s/d ₹225/450, with air-con from ₹750),
restaurants and air-conditioned waiting rooms
for those with 1st class and 2AC train tickets.
Nine daily trains go to Delhi (1am, 2.50am,
4.40am, 5am, 6am, 8.45am, 4.30pm, 5.50pm
and 11.15pm), plus others on selected days. The
6am double-decker does the trip in 4½ hours,
others take five to six.
Three daily trains leave for Agra (6.15am, 3pm
and 5.10pm), taking 4½ hours. Second-class
seats cost ₹82.
Three go to Bikaner (3pm, 9.15pm and
12.50am), taking six, seven and eight hours
respectively. Sleeper tickets cost ₹200 to ₹240.
Four go to Jodhpur (11.35am, 5pm, 11.45pm
and 12.15am), taking five to six hours.
Three go to Udaipur (6.45am, 2pm and
10.30pm), in seven to eight hours.
Four go to Ahmedabad (4.25am, 9am, 8.35pm
and 12.35am). The 12.35am is quickest (
hours), others take 11 to 13 hours. Sleepers cost
around ₹250.
For Pushkar, 11 daily trains make the two-hour
trip to Ajmer, plus many more on selected days
so you rarely wait more than an hour. Unre-
served ‘general’ tickets cost ₹42.
For Ranthambhore, six daily trains go to
Sawai Madhopur (5.45am, 11.05am, 2.10pm,
5.25pm, 5.35pm and 11.30pm), plus plenty more
on selected days. Unreserved ‘general’ tickets
for the two-hour trip cost ₹50.
Only one train (11.45pm) goes to Jaisalmer.8 Getting ̈Around
TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
There are no bus services from the airport,
which is 12km southeast of the city, although a