Raas
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Raas is well located in the north of Jodhpur within the old, walled city and about 5 minutes walk (or longer in a car depending on cows and traffic) from the famous clock tower. The entrance to the hotel is surprisingly discreet but everybody knows the place so if lost you can just ask a passerby.
How to get there:
The best way to get to Jodhpur is by plane from either Mumbai or Delhi.
By air:
Jodhpur’s airport is located to the south of the city but only 5km from the centre of town, and only 6km from Raas.
The airport is small and only served by Air India and Jet, but regularly so throughout the day. You can only fly here from Mumbai or Delhi.
Catch a pre-pay cab from the airport or ask the hotel to collect you (chargeable).
By train:
Jodhpur has a few stations, the main one being Jodhpur Junction in the centre of town. The city is well connected to the rest of Rajasthan and is also easy to get to from Delhi (10 to 12 hours) and Mumbai (approx 18 hours).
Take an auto or a taxi from the station or ask the hotel to collect you (chargeable).
By road:
Driving to Jodhpur from Delhi – 600km away – will take you upwards of 10 hours. If you plan on doing a stop in Jaipur – and possibly on to Udaipur or Kumbhal Garh national park afterwards – then it may be worth it, but otherwise it’s more relaxing to get the bus.
There is a good A/C bus service from Delhi operated by the Rajasthan government (www.rsrtc.rajasthan.gov.in) with buses departing Delhi near to India Gate. The journey takes about 12 hours. There are cheaper private buses also available but the RSTC buses are the best option. From Mumbai, Neeta Tours and Travels runs A/C buses with the journey taking around 22 hours.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 6kms / 20-30 mins depending on time of day and traffic.
railway station: 2kms / 10-15 mins
When to go:
The best period to visit Jodhpur is from the end of November to the end of Feb, with January being the most pleasant time, temperatures then don’t get too far above the low 20 degrees C, and the nighttime can get as low as 1 or 2 degrees C.
Daytime temperatures from March to the end of November will exceed 30C, and more.
The months of April, 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.
Getting around:
You can get around on foot which is good fun here in the old city and much easier than using a car. For journeys outside of the old town use the hotel auto or have the hotel arrange a driver for you.
Remember to bargain hard with autos, fix the price and stick to what you want to do; drivers may receive commission from taking you to certain restaurants and shops so nip this in the bud if you feel it may be the case.