A-Z: A Handy Summary of Practical Information
A
Accommodation
Accommodation in Rajasthan is extremely varied, ranging from ultra-cheap and unsavoury local dives through to extravagant palaces boasting every conceivable luxury. At the bottom end of the scale are small local guesthouses, often family run. The best places have a real home-from-home feeling, with friendly hosts offering a window into local life and good home cooking. Itâs also possible to arrange homestays or to rent rooms with families through various organisations and websites, including Servas (www.servas.org), Air BnB (www.airbnb.com), CouchSurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) and Homestay.com. Smaller local business hotels are also often comfortable and inexpensive places to stay, although usually lacking in much character.
Most of Rajasthanâs more expensive accommodation can be found either in so-called âheritage hotelsâ set in converted palaces, forts or havelis (traditional courtyard houses), or in heritage-style properties, located in modern replicas of traditional buildings. Heritage properties can be found all over India, but Rajasthan has a particular abundance of such places, with literally hundreds of them all over the state, from city-centre mansions to remote forts. A selection of some of the top places can be found at www.indianheritagehotels.com.
Heritage hotels come in every conceivable shape and size. Some of the cheaper places are stronger on atmosphere than on creature comforts and modern facilities, although the very best places, like the famous Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur or the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, offer the quintessence of Indian style and luxury at suitably stratospheric prices. There are also a number of marvellous heritage-style resorts including several run by the countryâs leading Taj and Oberoi hotel chains, featuring opulent Rajasthani styling and world-class facilities.
In general, it is always wise to ask to see the room first before committing yourself (rooms often vary widely, even within the same hotel, especially in heritage establishments). It is also a good idea to ask if there are any discounts, especially out of season or if youâre going to be staying for longer than a couple of nights.
For a list of recommended hotels in Rajasthan, see the relevant destination content in the Insight Guides Walking Eye app.
Addresses
Addresses in India are less widely used than in the West, and streets signs are generally lacking, while out in the backstreets of smaller towns the streets themselves may well not have an official name. Indians tend to navigate (and give directions) in terms of major landmarks, naming a place in reference to a well-known building, monument, roundabout or road junction â donât expect rickshaws or taxi drivers to be able to find somewhere by the address alone, and if you think somewhere is going to be tricky to find, ring ahead for directions if possible.
Admission charges
The majority of tourist sites in Rajasthan charge admission fees, although these arenât too punitive, even at major attractions (entry to Jaipurâs City Palace, for example, currently costs Rs 400 (around ÂŁ4.50/$6), while entrance charges at more modest sights may be no more than $0.80/$1 or so â although youâll often have to buy an extra ticket for your camera and/or video, which can bump prices up slightly.
B
Begging
Visitors to Rajasthan will inevitably encounter a fair number of beggars along the way â although these are far less common now than even a decade ago. Beggars particularly congregate around temples, mosques and other shrines, and on railway and bus journeys. Many beggars are physically disabled and they have no way of getting money except by asking for it. Itâs up to you whether you give or not, of course, although any offering will be gratefully received and even a small sum may make a big difference â but try to give discretely or every other beggar in the vicinity will make a beeline for you. You should, however, avoid giving money to begging children or apparently well-off adults who might simply be chancing their arm in the hope of getting some free cash out of a gullible visitor.
Budgeting for your trip
To a large extent, a visit to Rajasthan can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Double rooms in inexpensive but acceptable hotels can be had for a little as Rs 800 (ÂŁ9/$12) per night, while a room at one of the stateâs top places can cost over ÂŁ1,000; Rs 4,000 (ÂŁ50/$65) will get you a decent room at a mid-range hotel. Food is generally inexpensive. Cheap main courses in local cafes and tourist restaurants can go for around ÂŁ1.50/$2 or less, while five-star hotel restaurants arenât astronomical, and are certainly cheaper than in the West. Alcohol is relatively expensive, but still not exorbitant: a large bottle of local beer will go for around Rs 175 (ÂŁ2/$3) in a cheap tourist cafĂ©, although imported wines are pricey. Transport is extremely good value. The train journey from Delhi to Jaipur, for example, costs as little as Rs 120 (ÂŁ1.40/$1.80) in second class reserved, rising to Rs 1380 (ÂŁ16/$21) in first class on Shatabdi services. Bus fares are similar. Admission prices will also add to your daily budget, as will of course, additional costs like tours, car hire and so on (for ideas of rickshaw, taxi and car-hire prices, see the âTransportâ section).
C
Children
Indians love children and are very tolerant and indulgent with them, which significantly eases the stress of negotiating India with young ones in tow. The problem is that children can be more easily affected by the heat, unsafe drinking water and unfamiliar food seasoned with chillies and spices. In case of diarrhoea, rehydration salts are vital. Keep the child away from stray animals, especially dogs and monkeys. To avoid the risk of rabies, it may be safer to give children an anti-rabies vaccine.
For infants, it is difficult to find nappies and places to change them. Consider bringing a supply of disposables, or changing to washable (which can be given to the hotel laundry or â once you have rinsed them out â the dhobi). A changing mat is essential, as is powdered milk of a brand with which your child is familiar.
For touring, walking and hiking, a child-carrier backpack is well worth its weight.
Children get half-price admission to some sights, but youâll have to pay full fare on buses (unless they sit on your lap), and half-price fares for kids aged 5â12 on Indian Railways were abolished in 2016, meaning youâll have to pay the full adult ticket price for them there as well.
Cinema is massively popular in India â over 2 billion tickets were sold in 2015, around eight times more than any other country in the world â while top Bollywood stars enjoy almost god-like status. The country is also the worldâs most prolific producer of films, with almost a thousand flicks made every year, not only in the Bollywood studios but also in other cities including Chennai (âKollywoodâ) and Kolkata (âTollywoodâ). Cinema buffs shouldnât miss visiting the spectacular Art Deco Raj Mandir Cinema (Bhagwan Das Road, Off M.I. Road, tel: 0141 237 4694, www.therajmandir.com), a major Jaipur landmark and a great place to enjoy a night of blockbuster Bollywood action.
Climate
Rajasthan is predominantly hot for most of the year, except in a few elevated places like Mount Abu. Rain is infrequent, except during the monsoon.
October to March is the âcoolâ season, with average daytime temperatures of between around 20°C and 25°C, although it often rises above 30°C during the hottest part of the day, and falls below 10°C at night. This is the peak tourist season in Rajasthan (NovemberâJanuary in particular), with prices at their highest and pressure on accommodation at its greatest. February is quiet...