Hill Forts of Rajasthan

[daft009]

I'm not sure I want to ask why there was a bucket and jug - if it's gross just ignore the comment

That set is for bathing.
There will be another smaller jug for your bottom near the toilet.

 

[JohnM]

Yes, I was wondering too. I assumed for anyone who wanted to bathe sitting down. Sit on the white thing, collect water in the bucket, ladle it over yourself with the jug.

That's what I've always assumed. The bucket and ladle is fairly common in Indian hotels

 

[RooFlyer]

Overall, the hotel is a wow! The downside is that there are stairs - sometimes old, steep fort type stairs to everywhere. The original fort on the left; the new wing which i think has the wedding etc facilities on the right.













I discovered to my horror on check-in that there was a wedding there that evening! I was on the opposite side, facing away, so I hoped for the best. In the event, it was the pre-wedding that night, done in the village below, and finished by about 9pm. The next night however, would have been a bit louder!

 

[RooFlyer]

The bar and restaurant didn't match the splendour of the overall hotel.







This place trades on it being set in a fort, and does that very well. The rest of it - room comfort, facilities etc let it down, except, I would think, in the 'new' wing. I'd recommend a stay, but just for the novelty.

 

[RooFlyer]

The next morning my driver walked me to a step well close to the hotel that I wanted to see. Its one of the deepest step wells in India but unfortunately hasn't been maintaied and is in a state of decay, although restoration works have begun.

Looking back to the old fort part of the hotel on the walk to the well:



Top of the well structure:



this one is designed in a straight flight of 200-odd steps straight down, rather than curling around the opening like many do:








A long climb back out:





After that, we hit the road for Delhi airport, as my flight to CMB-MEL was in the afternoon. An easy drive and we arrived in good time.

DEL:





I bade my driver, Vijendra farewell at the terminal. If any of you use Magan's tour services (PM me for details; excellent value), I'd thoroughly recommend Vijendra - good English, excellent driving and very obliging in doing lots of extra things - like negotiating to buy a SIM card for me, taking on the extra small tour features etc.

 

[RooFlyer]

As usual with indian airports, you need to show a copy of your ticket to be allowed into the terminal. I've found security at Indian terminals to be pretty tight and no-nonsense.

I was a bit early, but check-in for my UL flight to CMB opened at about T-3.5 hrs. There was a DYKWIA type ahead of me in the J queue, but after being a bit abrupt and rude to the check-in person, he got bounced for an over-weight bag.

UL use a Plaza premium lounge, and it was OK, if a bit gloomy:



I went to get a drink from the bar and encountered the bare-foot Aussie bogan in front. (To the barman) "Dude, can you fix a couple of mojitos?" After about 4 he and his mate were swearing loudly etc and eventually got ejected.

A320 in a 2-2 config in J



Dinner was a curry of course and not bad.



A transit in CMB and the Serendip lounge, discussed in the first part of this TR. Then on the UL A330 to MEL. After the flight up to DEL, I changed my seat from a window (which I found had a very narrow bed-space) to one of a middle pair, which was wider.









Menus for CMB-MEL. There were two 'mains' served, rather than a main and a breakfast or snack, as I would have expected.





The trio of rice with fish curry in the first main was excellent:



As before, not a very comfortable J bed. Feet in a small box and not much room. Never-the-less we made it to MEL about 4pm and very quick through immigration and customs.

Then i connected to a MEL-HBA flight, stock standard etc etc.

So, there you have it. I really enjoyed India again. At the end of the year its cool (low 20s) but you do have a risk of fogs in Delhi ad some low air quality elsewhere in the north. Magan's tours are well organised, with very good drivers and are not expensive for what you get Take his hotel suggestions.

India is a big country, and I've now done 3 trips there, but only seen the north-west. I had another trip, t the foothills planned for next Easter, but have now changed that. Might now make it the south, next!

UL are a good option for a relatively cheap J ticket short-medium range, but I wouldn't like to take them MEL-CMB-LHR, although someone who sleeps easier on planes would probably be OK.

 

[VPS]

Thanks for the interesting TR - well done

 

[rginoz]

Thanks RooFlyer for another very informative and enjoyable TR. I really appreciate the detailed information that you provide about your travels. Best wishes to you for the New Year and for your future travels.

 

[drron]

Great to go along for the ride.always interesting.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Thanks RooFlyer; I glad Magan looked after you and the hotels worked out OK

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, for me, who always books his own hotels, it was a bit of a leap of faith - and wasn't without its issues, but worked out well in the end.

 

[daft009]

In the North I'd also recommend Shimla, Darjeeling, kullu, Manali.

South is completely different to the north, most say better (cleaner, people are friendlier). I'd like to do a house boat in the backwaters of Kerala and have an on board chef for a few days

 

[daft009]

Loved the TR, thanks for sharing!

My dad is in India right now for 3-4 months, in our ancestral village running our charity school. Trying to get more students from neighbouring villages.. Education is the key to their future!

 

[tgh]

I haven't been to India… yet …. but this (typically) excellent tr makes me want to go.
I have read a few books that make India seem super interesting .. and then friends come back with all the usual dirt and s**t everywhere stories..
Well dun roof_lyer

 

[Jacques Vert]

In the North I'd also recommend Shimla, Darjeeling, kullu, Manali.

South is completely different to the north, most say better (cleaner, people are friendlier). I'd like to do a house boat in the backwaters of Kerala and have an on board chef for a few days

Shimla and the toy train were a highlight of our trip last year; worth the effort to get there (and some nice hotels).

Also a vote for Varanasi.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I haven't been to India… yet …. but this (typically) excellent tr makes me want to go.
I have read a few books that make India seem super interesting .. and then friends come back with all the usual dirt and s**t everywhere stories..
Well dun roof_lyer

India is all of those things: interesting, dirty, incredible, s**t everywhere, crowded, great food, crazy...
Just do it.

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for another fascinating TR.

 

[daft009]

India is all of those things: interesting, dirty, incredible, s**t everywhere, crowded, great food, crazy...
Just do it.

Yeah exactly. It's a polarising thing, either you'll love it or hate it.

I'm not a fan... After a few G&Ts I could start but I shall refrain. I was born there but we migrated here when I was still in primary school

 

[LadyC]

Just catching up on this TR - very interesting, thanks for posting.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have read a few books that make India seem super interesting .. and then friends come back with all the usual dirt and s**t everywhere stories..

Those two things should not be mutually exclusive . 'The Last Mughal' by William Dalrymple is excellent.