India Travel

Keoladeo National Park Practicalities East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

Related Properties from Gurgaon

East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

The fertile area east of Jaipur, interspersed with the forested slopes of the Aravalli Hills, holds an inviting mixture of historic towns and wildlife sanctuaries. The fortified town of Alwar to the northeast, fought over for centuries before its incorporation into Rajasthan in 1949, served as refuge for the exiled Pandava brothers of the Mahabhamta during their thirteenth year of hiding, before Krishna helped them in the fierce battle against their cousins, the Kauravas, chronicled in the Bhagavad Gita. Not far from Alwar, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is renowned for its tigers, while further east are the former princely capitals of Deeg

Bharatpur and Keoladeo National Park of Jaipur in Rajasthan

The walled town of BHARATPUR is just a stone's throw from the border with Uttar Pradesh, 150km east of Jaipur, and a mere 18km from Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's deserted capital. Though it may not hold any especially distinguished attractions, it's fun to explore by bike or on foot, with traditional markets, mosques, temples and a massive fort encircled by a wide and murky moat. However, the real reason to come here is to visit India's most famous bird sanctuary, the Keoladeo National Park, just a short way south of the town. Even if you're not particularly interested in ornithology, this

Sawai Madhopur and Ranthambore National Park Practicalities East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

Sawai Madhopur is served by trains on the main Mumbai-Delhi line, and is thus easily accessible from Bharatpur, Agra, Jaipur and Delhi, as well as destinations further south, such as Kota. The train tracks divide the main residential side of town to the north from the industrial zone, known as Sawai Madhopur City, to the south (where you arrive when travelling from Shivpuri). The station is midway between the two, close to the bus stand and bustling Bazriya market area, near the cheapest lodges. About 100m southwest along the train lines (toward1; Mumbai and Jaipur) is a flyover carrying the

Rajaji National Park and around east of Haridwar at Uttaranchal

Around 830 square kilometres of the Himalayan foothills immediately east of Haridwar are taken up by RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK (mid-Nov to mid-June; Rs100 for three days, Rs50 each additional day, plus Rs20 per vehicle, Rs500 with video camera), which belongs to the same forest belt as Corbett National Park, 180km east. Although not geared for tourism to the same extent as Corbett, the park is absolutely beautiful, with a similar range of wildlife -most notably elephants, but also antelope, leopard and even a rare species of anteater - although no tigers. There are eight entry gates into the national park

Keoladeo National Park East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK (daily 6am-6.30pm; Rs100 [Rs20]), formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, was for sixty years a royal hunting reserve. However, against the odds, the avian population survived and the area became a sanctuary in 1956, receiving total protection in 1981 when it was recognized as a national park. Today, Keoladeo's 29 square kilometres of swamp and lakes constitute one of the most important breeding and migratory areas in the world. Species include the majestic saras crane, which stands as tall as a man, and a staggering two thousand painted storks, whose nesting cries, from Bharatpur's partially submerged trees,

Moving on from Kota East of Udaipur in Rajasthan

Kota is well connected by bus to destinations in Rajasthan and across the state border to Bhopal and Indore. Services to Bundi leave more or less every half an hour, taking around one hour. Travellers heading northeast towards Agra often pass through Kota to pick up the main broad-gauge line, which is also the most straightforward approach to Sawai Madhopur, jumping-off place for Ranthambore National Park. The recommended service here is the Paschim Express #2955, which leaves at 8.50am and arrives one-and-a-half hours later. There are also six daily trains to Delhi (most of them via Jaipur and Bharatpur). The easiest

Practicalities Between of Kota and Bundi in Rajasthan

Buses run between Kota and Bundi (1hr) every half-hour, and cover the journey to Chittaurgarh (5hr) three times a day, two of them continuing to Udalpur; better still, jump on the 8.10am train from the station on the southern edge of town (only 3hr 30min). Coming from Chittaurgarh, you can avoid a long and tedious road journey by catching the 2.30pm train, which gets you in here at 6pm. Bundi is also connected by hourly buses to Ajmer (165km; 4hr),Jaipur (210km; 8hr) andjodhpur (11hr). For Pushkar, there are three daily direct buses (7hr 30min): Sawai Madhopur (for Ranthambore National Park)

Sawai Madhopur and Ranthambore National Park East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

In no Indian nature reserve are you guaranteed a tiger sighting, but at Ranthambore National Park, 10km west of the rail junction and market town of SAWAI MADHOPUR, the odds are probabk better than anywhere else. This has less to do with the size of the population, which is perilously small due to a recent spate of poaching, than because the tigers themselves are famously unperturbed by humans, hunting in broad daylight and rarely shying from cameras or Jeep-loads of tourists. Combine the big cats' bravado with the park's proximity to the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur "Golden Triangle" (Bharatpur is only 180km northeast

Palamau (Betla) National Park

In a remote and lawless corner of the state, 170km west of Ranchi, the beautiful forests of the PALAMAU NATIONAL PARK (also known as Betla), cover around 1000 square kilometres of hilly terrain rising south towards Madhya Pradesh. Part of the Project Tiger scheme (see Contexts, p. 1532). Palamau has been hard hit by drought, and even optimistic estimates of its tiger population stand at a mere sixty.Tiger sightings, more common in the hot season, are proudly announced on a noticeboard at the park offices. Like many national parks, Palamau consists of a buffer zone, open to visitors, surrounding a core

Practicalities East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

The bus stand in the west of Alwar sees services to and from Deeg and Bharatpur (every 15min), and Sariska (every 30min or so). Frequent buses also run north to Delhi and south to Jaipur (both 2-3hr). Several food stalls at the bus stand sell drinks and fiery curries, and there's a bike rental shop near the exit. The railway station, receiving trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Deeg and Ajmer, is a few kilometres away on the east side of town, and has retiring rooms.You can change currency and travellers' cheques, albeit at a thumb-chewingly slow speed, at the

Park practicalities: Madia at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh

The village of MAD LA, 24km southeast of Khajuraho near bridge across the picturesque River Ken, is the most convenient point of access to the park, and has the nearest accommodation. Giles' Tree House, booked through the Raja Cafe in Khajuraho, is a fairly professional operation and serves meais (order all food at least 4hr before leaving Khajuraho). You can sleep on the beautiful opal platform of the branches or camp by the riverbank below. Car hire (alsorom Raja Cafe) for the roundabout trip to the Tree House is Rs500. Madias more upmarket Ken River Lodge consists of comfortable modern mud

Pushkar Practicalities East of Jaipur in Rajasthan

Most long-distance journeys to and from Pushkar have to be made via Ajmer. Pushkar does not have a railway station. The Ajmer bus stand in the east of town is served by buses from Ajmer and Jaipur, while travellers from destinations further afield, such as Delhi, Jodhpur and Bikaner, arrive in the north of town at Marwar bus stand, to be besieged by accommodation touts.The lack of rickshaws means that you'll have to walk to your hotel (though there are bicycles for rent right by the Ajmer bus stand, and hand carts for transporting luggage). Pushkar doesn't have a tourist office.

By bus in Delhi

Delhi is at the centre of an extensive bus network covering much of north India's neighbouring states. Buses can often be quicker than trams, but the long-distance ones especially tend to be uncomfortable. On long-distance routes there's usually a choice between ramshackle state-run buses and smart soft-seated coaches run by tourist offices, hotels and private agents. Use these as much as you can — outside the main cities, all buses are state-run. The vast majority of state-run buses depart from the Inter-state Bus Terminal near Kashmiri Gate in Old Delhi, which has a cafe and left-luggage counter. However, services for some

Practicalities Nawalgarh of North Jaipur in Rajasthan

Nawalgarh s bus and jeep stand is about 2km west of town, served by buses from Jhunjhunu (ever}1 30min; lhr) via Dundlod (15min) and Mukundgarh (20min); Sikar (every 30min: 40min); Jaipur (every 30min; 3hr 30min), and Ajmer (1 daily; 5hr).Jeeps leave when they're full.The railway station is about 500m west, with four daily services in each direction from Sikar to Jhunjhunu (three from Jaipur). Incoming trains tend to arrive in the dead of night (when all the hotels are shut), but you can catch a conveniently timed service from here to Delhi at around 10pm (the Shekhawati Express; #9734), which

Jhunjhunu Practicalities of North Jaipur in Rajasthan

Buses from the chaotic government stand in the south of town run to Nawalgarh (every 30min; 40min-lhr) and towns throughout Shekhawati, as well as to Bikaner (5 daily; 5hr 30min), Jaipur (every 30mm; 5hr) and Delhi. The stand for private buses is east of the mam bazaar; tempos and shared auto-rickshaws run between the two via Gandhi Chowk. Four train services arrive at the station on the southern edge of town from Sikar via Nawalgarh (three of them from Jaipur), and there are four services running the other way from Loharu (one of which starts in Delhi), but they get

Sariska East of Jaipur in Rajesthan

Alwar is the jumping-off point for the beautiful Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park, a former maharaja's hunting ground managed since 1979 by Project Tiger. Like irs more famous counterpart Ranthambore, the sanctuary encompasses abundant woodland dotted with evocative rums. including a popular Hanuman temple (only open to the public two days per week) and an old fort. Wildlife here includes sambar, nilgai and chital, wild boar, mongooses, monkeys, peacocks, parrots and other birds, but poaching has regrettably decimated Sariska s population of tigers and sightings are less frequent than at Ranthambore. The poaching problem came to a head in

Sariska Practicalities East of Jaipur in Rajesthan

The 37-kilometre journey by bus to Sariska from Alwar (lhr) can be very crowded. Tours run by the Atavali Hotel in Alwar cost well over the odds for a trip in a packed minibus that rushes through the park, with a minimal chance of any sightings. If you choose to stay in Sariska there are two options. RTDC Hotel Tiger Den, set in peaceful gardens right next to the park entrance, offers well-kept spacious rooms and a cheap dorm. Otherwise, get your credit card out and head for the totally extravagant Sariska Palace, the former maharaja's hunting lodge, which charges Rs3000

Information of Jaipur in Rajasthan

RTDC has a handy tourist information office on Platform 1 of the railway station (daily 6am-8pm; 0141/315714).There's a second branch at the Tourist Hotel (0141/360328), and an unusually hopeless Government of India tourist office at the Khasa Koihi hotel (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1.30pm; 0141/315461). To find out what's on, you're better off consulting the monthly Jaipur Vision, available at Books Corner on MI Road (Rs25). Changing money can be time-consuming at the city's banks, but there are plenty of private exchange places in Jaipur offering more or less the same rates, where you can cash travellers' cheques quickly and easily in air-conditioned

Panna National Park at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh

The vast PANNA NATIONAL PARK (Nov-June; Rs100 including obligatory guide, vehicle extra), known for its large cats (including tiger), deer and antelope (nilgai), lies a short way east of Khajuraho, spreading across a landscape of rocky hills and ravines covered mostly by scrubby deciduous forest. Access is easier than in some of India s better-known sanctuaries - you can even go in on foot if you take along an armed guide. It's best visited in winter, as the entire area gets extremely hot during summer - though there is a better chance then of seeing tigers as they emerge in

Arrival and information of Jaipur in Rajasthan

Jaipur's Sanganer airport, 15km south of the centre, is served by domestic Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights from Delhi and Mumbai. An airport bus into town costs Rs30; taxis charge more like Rs250. The railway station is lkm west of the Pink City, very close to the main concentration of hotels, while state buses from all over Rajasthan and further afield pull in at the more central Inter-state Bus Terminal on Station Road. Arriving from Delhi, you skirt the south side of the city, stopping briefly at an intersection called Narayan Circle, where rickshaw-wallahs frequently board the bus saying it's