Dera Mandawa
Jaipur, Rajasthan
The 100 year old home on Sansar Chander Road (SC Road) is just a short rickshaw ride from Chandpol, at the edge of the Old City with most of the sightseeing options nearby such as the Pink City (just 2km away).
How to get there:
The best way to get to Jaipur is by plane, but from Delhi in particular, train, bus or car are all easy.
Dera Mandawa will pick you up, for free, from the railway station or airport.
By air:
Jaipur International Airport is located to the south of the city, and about 13km from Dera Mandawa
The airport is well served by domestic Indian airlines from all the major cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.
Jaipur 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 the hotel to collect you (chargeable).
By train:
Jaipur’s main railway station is well connected to the rest of Rajasthan as well as to Delhi and even Agra. The train from Delhi is quite good and takes 5 hours.
The station is located in the centre of town, 2.5km and 10 mins from Dera Mandawa. Take an auto from the station or ask the hotel to collect you (chargeable).
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 is a good ‘volvo’ bus service from Delhi operated by the Rajasthan State Transport Board (www.rsrtc.rajasthan.gov.in) with buses departing Delhi near to India Gate.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 13km / 40 mins
railway stations: 2.5km / 10 mins
When to go:
The best period to visit Jaipur is from mid-October to March, with the end of January being the most pleasant time, temperatures then rarely exceed the low 20 degrees C and the nighttime gets as low as 2 degrees C.
Daytime temperatures from March to the end of November can exceed 30C.
The months of May and June, before the monsoons arrive, can be extremely hot and visiting at this time is not recommended.
During July, August and September, humidity, rainfall and thunderstorms are the norm. If cheap hotel rates are a priority, this is the time to go, though Jaipur is not the most romantic or attractive city when it rains.
Getting around:
You can walk from Dera Mandawa to the Pink City and to some of the best markets.
To get around town or to visit some of the nearby forts, you can take an auto but be sure to bargain hard, fix the price, and stick to what you want to do; drivers will often receive commission from taking you to certain restaurants and shops so don’t be waylaid by this tactic.
Download taxi apps (like Uber and Ola) on your phone for a wider and more convenient choice.
For an easier time (albeit more expensive) and longer journey, ask the hotel to arrange a car for you.