When & How
Jaipur
It’s best to come to Jaipur between October and March, when the heat is most manageable and the sky is free of rain and gloom. If you want to enjoy off-season discounts, September is a great month to visit. Of course, if you’re coming to shop and you’ve seen the sights then Jaipur is open for business all year round.
Getting around
Autos are the most convenient way of negotiating the city. We used Raju, based outside Diggi Palace (mob 9829156896), and found him very reliable. For a little more luxury, luggage or shopping space, or protection from the elements, taxis, often booked by the day or half-day, are a good bet. Your hotel or guesthouse will always be able to arrange a taxi, and you can also contact Metrocab on 0141 4244444 and choose from a variety of vehicles.
How to get there
Jaipur’s not far from Delhi, and the highway between the two cities offers excellent connectivity. Taxi services ply the route 24/7, and because of this there are great rates to be found even for one-way trips. The city is also easily accessible by bus, train and by air: the short flights from Delhi and Mumbai are the most popular, but the airport is connected to most others in the country as well.
By air:
Jaipur’s airport is located to the south of the city, and 13km from the heart of the old, or ‘pink’, city.
The airport is well served by domestic Indian airlines from all the major cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.
It is the only international airport in Rajasthan, though the only real international flights are from destinations in the Middle East. Some flights do come in from Europe but these inevitably go via Delhi or Mumbai.
Catch a pre-pay cab from the airport or ask your hotel to collect you.
By rail:
Jaipur’s main railway station is in the heart of the city (Bani Park) and is well connected with the rest of Rajasthan as well as with Delhi and even Agra. The Ajmer Shatabdi train between Delhi and Jaipur runs daily and takes about 5 hours. There are autos aplenty which can ferry you from the station to your final destination.
By road:
Driving to Jaipur is not a bad option if coming from Delhi, which is 260km away. Take the NH8 which runs directly between the two cities, it’s about a 5-hour journey and the road is good.
Likewise, there are good bus services – especially from Delhi – operated daily by the Rajasthan government (www.rsrtc.rajasthan.gov.in) with buses departing Delhi near to India Gate.
From Delhi we actually took a taxi and used Mr Kumar on 9829334040, his drivers are reliable, safe and polite.