[gianni66]

It's 9 days to my flight... planning the last details, I need some hints from someone who know the places better:

- having to reach Bundi as my first destination, I will take a train from Delhi to Kota arriving in Kota at 19:40; is it safe to travel by bus at this hour, or it would be better to sleep in Kota and take a bus the morning after, or maybe take an overnight train from Delhi arriving in Kota in the morning?

- my second destination will be Nawalgarh, and from here Bikaner; I was thinking to take the overnight train fro Sikar to Bikaner (departure 00:25, arrival 06:15), but the owner of a guesthouse in Nawalgarh has discouraged me to choose this option, since I should reach Sikar by bus first and take the very late train from here, suggesting to leave the morning after by bus. It seems that there is a concern in travelling with the dark by bus, and also in the night train to Bikaner, can someone confirm this?

I have already travelled overnight by train in India without any problem, buit never in the evening or night by bus.

[cyberhippie]

It's not far by bus from Kota to Bundi, and Bundi itself is a fairly laid back kind of place, So arriving at 9pm wouldn't be a big deal. Grab a rickshaw up to the old town for the best guesthouses I like the Lakeview and Katkoun, The Katkoun is the better hotel by far but the Lakeview has that little something!!

Try the lassis at Sathi's lassi shop just down from the main gate to the fort!!  

Mmmm, his err special bhang cake is pretty good too!!

The stepwells here are awesome and the fort a labyrinth where your free to wander. take a ball of string!

[gianni66]

cyberhippie, on Feb 13 2007, 11:38 PM, said:

It's not far by bus from Kota to Bundi, and Bundi itself is a fairly laid back kind of place, So arriving at 9pm wouldn't be a big deal. Grab a rickshaw up to the old town for the best guesthouses I like the Lakeview and Katkoun, The Katkoun is the better hotel by far but the Lakeview has that little something!!

Try the lassis at Sathi's lassi shop just down from the main gate to the fort!!  

Mmmm, his err special bhang cake is pretty good too!!

The stepwells here are awesome and the fort a labyrinth where your free to wander. take a ball of string!

Yes, I have already booked three nights at Kautkon Haveli!

I plan to spend two full days in Bundi, leaving then to Nawalgarh for the Shekawati region. From Shekawati, the last two days in Bikaner.

Definitively, a "minor" Rajasthan, but I prefer to avoid the major tourist destinations to visit more relaxing and authentic places!

I will report at my return, surely!

SEVEN DAYS TO LEAVE!!!!!  

Gianni

[cyberhippie]

Dare I say it but the info from the guesthouse owner seem a little overprotective to me, as Indian tend to be with their guests!

Check around but so long as you prepared to set off for Sikar early and wait at the station I doubt if the train will be as dangerous as he makes out!!

[gianni66]

cyberhippie, on Feb 14 2007, 01:48 PM, said:

Dare I say it but the info from the guesthouse owner seem a little overprotective to me, as Indian tend to be with their guests!

Check around but so long as you prepared to set off for Sikar early and wait at the station I doubt if the train will be as dangerous as he makes out!!

Hi Cyber; I think that the real concern of the Nawalgarh guesthouse owner is related to the trip (only 30 km.!) from Nawalgarh to Sikar at late evening, maybe the roads are in bad conditions are it's not wise to drive after dark. I don't think that the overnight train to Bikaner is really dangerous, I would travel in 2A class, and although it's a metre gauge train, I guess that the safety of this train will be the same as per the other trains which I have experienced last summer.

Maybe the best solution could be to go to Sikar before dark, have dinner there and then wait at the station for my train.

Definitively I prefer to travel by train overnight than spend 5-6 hours on a bus in the morning!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Gianni

[cyberhippie]

Yeah leave around 7 you'll be there for 8 find a nice dhaba. get some food inside you and then off to the train station and a good book whilst you wait for the train!!

[gianni66]

cyberhippie, on Feb 14 2007, 04:12 PM, said:

Yeah leave around 7 you'll be there for 8 find a nice dhaba. get some food inside you and then off to the train station and a good book whilst you wait for the train!!

I have finally purchased an e-ticket for the night train from Sikar to Bikaner.

My plan is complete, now! Two days in Bundi, half-day in Jaipur 8for the train connection), two days in Nawalgarh, two days in Bikaner, last day in Delhi.

I have just to board my flight now!!  

Coming back!!!

Gianni