Rajasthan
EASTERN
R AJASTHAN
Rajasthan
iNFORMAT
iON
Rajasthan
BHARATPUR
tasty dishes and cold beer. Packed lunches
and guided tours for the park are available.
Wi-fi in reception only.oBirder’s ̈Inn ̈ HOTEl $$$
(%227346; http://www.birdersinn.com; Bird Sanctuary Rd;
s/d incl breakfast from ₹1950/2400; aiWs)
Rightly the most popular base for explor-
ing the park. The atmospheric garden is a
great place for a drink and to compare bird-
watching stories. The rooms, which are set
around the garden, are airy, spacious and
nicely decorated with with LCD TVs. There’s
a small pool, a decent restaurant and a bar
(beer from ₹200). Staff can also arrange pick
up from Delhi airport and other taxi services.
The free wi-fi does not extend to the rooms.Laxmi ̈Vilas ̈Palace ̈Hotel ̈HER iTAGE HOTEl $$$
(%223523; http://www.laxmivilas.com; Old Agra Rd,
Kakaji-ki-Kothi; s/d ₹5500/6500; ais) This
exquisite heritage hotel, a short rickshaw
ride from both the national park and the
town centre, was once owned by the young-
er son of Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Arched
ceilings and heavy old furniture make for
atmospheric rooms, set around a courtyard.
And the pool is gorgeous. Hotel rates do not
include breakfast (₹300), lunch (₹600) or
dinner (₹750).8 Information
Perch Forex & Travels (New Civil lines;
h7am-10pm) Fast-connection internet cafe
(per hour ₹40) that also changes money and
offers travel-agency services.
Tourist Reception Centre (%222542; h9am-
5pm) Opposite where Agra-to-Jaipur buses
drop off passengers; hands out free maps of
Bharatpur. Off to one side of the building is a
handy train ticket reservation office (h9am-
2pm Mon-Sat).8 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Away
For car hire to onward destinations, ask at Bird-
er’s i nn or at the Tourist Reception Centre.BUS
Buses running between Agra and Jaipur will drop
you by the Tourist Reception Centre or outside
the park entrance if you ask.
Buses from Bharatpur bus station include:
Agra (₹45, 1½ hours, every 30 minutes, day
and night)
Alwar (₹87, four hours, every hour until 8pm)
Deeg (₹29, one hour, every hour until 8pm)
Delhi (₹145 to ₹165, five hours, half-hourly
from 6am to 7pm, then hourly until 11pm)
Fatehpur Sikri (₹25, one hour, every 30 min-
utes, day and night)
Jaipur (₹146, 4½ hours, every 30 minutes, day
and night)TRAIN
There are four daily trains to Delhi (6.15am,
8.10am, 9.25am and 3.04pm), plus others which
run on selected days. The journey takes around
four hours. Second-class seats (or ‘general
tickets’) cost around ₹50; sleeper tickets around
₹120.
Four daily trains also make the two-hour trip
to Agra (9.10am, 5.32pm, 8.10pm and 8.19pm).
Others run on selected days. Second-class seats
cost ₹24; sleepers are around ₹120.
Daily trains go to Jaipur at 6.10am, 7.16am,
5.05pm, 7pm, 8.48pm and 9.15pm). The journey
takes three to four hours. Second-class seats
cost around ₹50; sleeper tickets around ₹120.
For Ranthambhore National Park, six trains
run daily to Sawai Madhopur (8.25am, 10.30am,
3.50pm, 5.40pm, 7.42pm, 9.42pm). it takes two
to three hours. Second-class seats cost ₹87;
sleepers cost ₹140. These trains all continue
to Kota (four hours) from where you can catch
buses to Bundi.8 Getting ̈Around
A cycle-rickshaw from the bus station to the
park entrance is around ₹20; and shouldn’t be
much more than ₹30 to any of the hotels. Add an
extra ₹10 on top of that for a trip from the train
station.MAJOR ̈TRAINS ̈FROM ̈BHARATPUR ̈
DESTINATION TRAINDEPARTURE
TIMEARRIVAL
TIME FARE (₹)
Agra Cantonment 19666 Udz-Kurj Exp 9.10am 11am 120/610 (A)
Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) 12059 Kota-Jan Shatabdi 9.25am 12.30pm 82/ 275 (B)
Jaipur 12036 AF-JP Shatabdi 5.05pm 7.50pm 363/ 770 (C)
Sawai Madhopur 12904 Golden Temple Mail 10.30am 1.01pm 140/640 (A)Fares: (A) sleeper/2AC, (B) 2nd-class/AC chair, (C) AC chair/1AC