Ajmer-Pushkar-Jaipur

On 18^th Aug’12 we set out for Ajmer and boarded the BDTS-AII express from Borivali. We arrived Ajmer on 19^th Aug at around 9.30 A.M. The station is relatively cleaner and has facilities like rest room, wash room and accommodation (which is never vacant), the toilets were stinking however could be managed. We kept our luggage in the cloak room which surprisingly is at the very entrance to the station on the first platform. The cloak room accepts luggage which are locked and post submission of Identity proof. (Photocopy could be taken from shops near the station which charge INR 10 per copy).

There are small shops, eateries, small hotels near the station along with ATM (SBI, PNB, and BOI). One could have in breakfast Kachori with Cholle , Samosa , Poha.

We proceeded towards Dargah-Sharif which was almost 15-20 walk from the station. One could ask the locals for the direction which is fairly simple route and is studded with shops on both sides selling various articles like perfumes, prasadams, chaddar to be offered at the mosque, etc. The bye-lanes are quite narrow and are hounded with sounds of bikers which keep on honking regularly and at times are quite irritating. At the entrance we were flanked with shop-keepers who allow you to keep your belonging along with shoes and give you option of selecting thali with chadder etc to be offered in the mosque. Total Damage: INR 350/- We were accompanied with a representative inside the mosque which is quite magnificent and were taken straight inside the main tomb, where were asked for offering donations to the shrine, Damage: INR 251/-. The shrine is quite crowded inside and were offered blessings by the fakirs, followed with a request for offering , Damage: INR 51/-. The top of the tomb is adorned with Gold and the entire structure is of marble. There are Qawwals from all over the world that come here to sing in praise of the lord. The entrance also has two magnificient cauldrons weighing 2240 and 4480 kg of rice and offerings which are then sold as loots.We were asked for donations at this loot. The bylanes are quite crowded near the mosque with small shops, hotels selling non-veg foods etc. We proceeded towards Dhai-Din Ka Jhonpra which is at a walk of roughly 10 mns from the mosque. This mosque is said to be erected for Mohammed Ghauri in 2 and half days and hence the name and the pillars in the mosque are not identical and the surroundings still resemble temple which was destroyed to build the mosque.

There is a Taragarh on a small hill; however one can approach by maruti vans which go to the top once the entire vehicle is filled up and usually charges INR 60/- for two for return fare. The entire vehicle could be booked for INR 400/-. We skipped this since we had to move to Pushkar and we took a hand-rickshaw to visit NASIYAN, a Digambar temple accompanied with Swarna Nagri Hall , entrance fee of INR 10 per person. This hall exhibits a glass mosaic and illustrates birth and life of Adinath, the first Jain Tirthakar.

Close-by is Hotel Rasna wherein we took lunch ( Rajasthani – Dal, Baati & Choorma), the hotel had good hygiene, clean and food was good. Total Damage: INR 240. One can walk towards the station which takes almost 10-15 minutes from this hotel and we proceeded towards Pushkar. Reaching Pushkar turned to bit uncomfortable journey since we had to rely upon state transport buses which could be caught exactly opposite the railway station. The buses are usually crowded and ply with a gap of 20-25 minutes. This place is separated by a hill at a distance of around 14 km and takes around 35-40 minutes to reach. The town is dusty and small and there is a single approach road to the Famous Brahma Temple. The distance is almost a walk of almost 25 -30 minutes and could be trying and hence we took a hand-cart rickshaw and asked him to take us to the entire spectrum of temple to be seen. Our first stoppage was Pushkar Lake, which is said to be created by falling of lotus petal from Lord Brahma. There are around 52 bathing ghats around its believed that taking a dip in the ghat washes away the sin. Since the Brahma Mandir opens at 4.00 P.M. we proceeded towards the temple and after reaching the temple we put our belongings to one of the shops which will take care of our stuff provided one take Pooja Thali , Damage: INR 50. There are numerous shops in front of the temple and the temple is studded with silver coins on the walls and floors. There is a Shiva temple inside the complex in a cave and also several other small temples.

We moved to other famous temples like Warah Temple, Rahgji, Mahadeo. There is a Savitiri temple on a mountain top which we skipped since that entailed covering numerous steps. All temples are in vicinity of 1-2 K.M. however one could take a dharma –shala to park luggage etc. Damage: INR 150.

We caught the bus and proceeded towards Ajmer once again to catch a bus towards our other destination: Jaipur. Damage: INR 20 for 2 people. We arrived at the bus stand which is outside the main city and one can get buses for Delhi, Jaipur, and other important parts of rajasthan. The bus stand has toilet facility too and is reasonably ok. We caught the VOLVO which came at 7.40 P.M., delayed by 45 mns and one could also take local bus which leaves for jaipur every 20 minutes. The distance for Jaipur is 136 k.m. and cost INR 190 per person. The roads are quite good for Jaipur and in 2 hours we reached Jaipur bus stand (sindhi stand) which is in heart of the city and is close to railway station. Since our hotel was already booked in advance, we reached our Hotel Shiv Shakti by travelling for almost 25 minutes, which is towards Jal Mahal. The hotel was quite decent with larger rooms, balcony and good shower arrangement. Damage: INR 1250 per night. Since it was already 11.00 P.M. we had dinner inside the hotel and went to sleep.

Our visit was planned and we left the hotel at 10.00 A.M. and our first destination was Jantar Mantar which is in the city itself it’s a UNESCO site and has an entrance fee of INR 20 /- per person, since we had a guide for our entire trip it was quite comforting in understanding the place. The visit was worth the buck and we enjoyed watching ancient marvels. Our next destination was City Palace which was at 2 minutes walk and had an entry fee of INR 75/ -per person with a separate charge for using cameras. The mahal is still the residing place for the prince and one could see various articles displayed for common people. This place should be visited since its quite unique in terms of experience one gets. One could also visit the actual place where the prince resides by paying an entry fee of INR 1000/- per person.

Our next stoppage was Jaigarh fort which was outside the city and was roughly at a distance of 15 k.m. from the main city on a hill. The journey to this place is quite interesting since there is lush greenery on the way and the place is bit cooler. The best part is one could take its vehicle to the top of the fort and there is an entrance fee towards this. The attraction is Jai- Ban cannon, which is world’s biggest cannon and photography could be taken post paying a fee. The jal mahal could be seen from this fort and the views are really great from this place.

We proceeded towards Nahargarh fort and could take its car to the top of the fort after paying an entrance fee of INR 10- per person. One could see the entire jaipur city from this fort and is worth a visit. There is also a small place which showcases cannon, archers, guns etc.

We proceeded for lunch and near jal mahal , we took a rajathani food at ‘’Dhaba’’ and was really good to taste local stuff. Damage: INR 130/- per thali.

We proceeded towards AMER Fort the main attraction, the approach is bit shabby however the vehicle goes to the top of the fort. The fort is quite majestic and the star attraction according to me is the connectivity at the basement which is fantastic and is believed there is one route which connects to Jaigarh.

Our final desination was Jal Mahal where one could take photraghs of this place and enjoy camel ride for INR 150- per person.

Since we covered the entire place in one day, we decided to see the night life and hence took an auto and reached market place like Nehru bazzar, Bapu bazaar and Indira market ( auto charges INR 100- one way). One could visit GUDDU for fabulous ice-cream, kulfi etc at reasonable rate at Nehru market and could take dinner at Mahaveer dhaba which is a small outlet but provides fantastic food.

In Jaipur one need to visit Rawat sweets , which is near the station to have a great taste of Kachauri, sweets, mirchi-vada etc. lunch & dinner could be taken at thali which is near rawat , near the station and one could keep the luggage at cloak room and visit by paying INR 30 for the hand-cart rickshaw.

Shopping for dresses could be done at MI Road, Karni is one shop which is worth and is economical at Ganpati Plaza. Our journey came to end on 21^st and we caught the train for Mumbai at 8.40 P.M.

Tripoli bazaar and others are shopping places but one needs to be cautious since there are numerous fake articles and one need to bargain hard.

Key Take away- Jaipur could be covered in one day; local places are covered by rickshaw where one needs to bargain. As tourist spots are outside the city, trying staying close to Jal  Mahal , however one can also stay in the heart of city and travel by booking a vehicle.