Rajasthan
WESTERN
R AJASTHAN
Rajasthan
GETT iNG A ROUND
Rajasthan
AROUND
J ODHPUR
to and from Bikaner also stop at Raika Bagh
Train Station.
Two daily trains make the six-hour trip to Jais-
almer (5.10am and 11.45pm).
Four daily trains go to Bikaner (10am,
10.45am, 2pm and 8.15pm). Most take 5½ hours,
although the 2pm takes more than seven.
Five daily trains go to Jaipur (6.10am, 9.45am,
8pm, 8.30pm and 11pm) in five to six hours.
Two daily trains go to Delhi (8pm and 11pm),
arriving at 6.25am and 11.10am respectively.
Two also go to Mumbai (3pm and 6.45pm),
arriving at 9.40am and 11.35am respectively.
For Mount Abu, three daily trains go to Abu
Road (6am, 3pm and 6.45pm) in 4½ hours.
Sleepers cost around ₹150.
For Pushkar, only one train per day goes to
Ajmer (7am).
There are no direct trains to Udaipur.8 Getting ̈Around
TO & FROM THE AIRPORT
The airport is 5km south of the city centre; at
least ₹100/200 by auto/taxi.AUTORICKSHAW
Autorickshaws between the clock tower area and
the train stations or central bus stand should be
about ₹20 to ₹30.Around Jodhpur
The mainly arid countryside around Jodh-
pur is dotted with surprising lakes, isolated
forts and palaces, and intriguing villages.
It’s home to a clutch of fine heritage hotels
where you can enjoy the slower pace of rural
life.Osian
This ancient Thar Desert town, 65km north
of Jodhpur, was an important trading cen-
tre between the 8th and 12th centuries. It
was dominated by the Jains, whose wealth
left a legacy of exquisitely sculptured, well-
preserved temples. The Mahavira ̈Temple
(indian/foreigner free/₹10, camera/video ₹50/100;
h6am-8.30pm) surrounds an image of the
24th tirthankar (great teacher), formed
from sand and milk. Sachiya ̈Mata ̈Temple
(h6am-7.15pm) is an impressive walled com-
plex where both Hindus and Jains worship.
Prakash Bhanu Sharma, a personable
Brahmin priest, has an echoing guesthouse
(%02922274331, 9414440479; s/d without bath-
room ₹250/300), geared towards pilgrims,
opposite the Mahavira Temple.
Gemar ̈ Singh (%9460585154; http://www.hacra.
org), a native of Bhikamkor village north-
west of Osian, arranges camel safaris, home-
stays, camping, desert walks and jeep trips
in the deserts around Osian and their Raj-
put and Bishnoi villages. His trips receiveBORDER ̈CROSSING ̈– ̈ ̈
TO/FROM ̈PAKISTANFor Karachi (Pakistan), the 14889 Thar
Express, alias the Jodhpur–Munabao
Link Express, leaves Bhagat Ki Kothi
station, 4km south of the Jodhpur Train
Station, at 1am on Saturdays only,
reaching Munabao on the India–
Pakistan border at 7am. There you
undergo lengthy border procedures
before continuing to Karachi (assuming
you have a Pakistan visa) in a Pakistani
train, arriving about 2am on Sunday.
Accommodation is 2nd-class and
sleeper only, with a total sleeper fare of
around ₹400 from Jodhpur to Karachi.
In the other direction the Pakistani train
leaves Karachi at about 11pm on Friday,
and Indian train 14890 leaves Munabao
at 7pm on Saturday, reaching Jodhpur
at 11.50pm.MAJOR ̈TRAINS ̈FROM ̈JODHPUR ̈
DESTINATION TRAINDEPARTURE
TIMEARRIVAL
TIMEFARE (₹;
SLEEPER/3AC)
Ajmer 54801 Jodhpur-Ajmer Fast Passenger 7am 12.40pm 88/362
Bikaner 14708 Ranakpur Exp 10am 3.35pm 146/394
Delhi 12462 Mandor Exp 8pm 6.25am 272/734
Jaipur 14854 Marudhar Exp 9.45am 3.30pm 158/428
Jaisalmer 14810 Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Exp 11.45pm 5.30am 155/419
Mumbai 14707 Ranakpur Exp 3pm 9.40am 323/912