From My Eyes - South Rajasthan

Trip Duration September 19th to September 26th 2010


We left Mumbai by 4708 Ranakpur Express from Bandra Terminus at 15:00 19th September and reached Abu Road at 04:28 on 20th September (before schedule). We were contemplating about when to leave for Mt. Abu. A taxi wallah approached us and quoted Rs 200/- for Mt. Abu. We decided to wait for some time before leaving to Mt. Abu. Around 05:10 we decided to leave for Mt. Abu. As soon as we left the station complex 2 taxi wallah approached and quoted Rs 250/- and Rs 300/-. In a span of around 35 minutes got 3 quotes from 3 different taxi wallahs. Searched for the first one and was not able to find him. Took the Rs 250/- taxi wallah and started out journey to Mt. Abu. The first bus to Mt. Abu is at 07:00 from Abu Road. On the way a few shops were open and when inquired with the driver, he informed that they are open through out the night. We reached Mt. Abu by 6:00 and reached Hotel Shikar (managed by RTDC), where we had already booked for our accommodation.

Baba Gaadi

20th we took rest at the hotel, had our bath and breakfast. Slept till afternoon, had lunch and rested again. In between I made some inquiries at the hotel about cab for sight seeing in Mt. Abu and our journey to Udaipur at the reception. I was informed that for Mt. Abu sight seeing for 8 hrs the charge is Rs 800/- and for trip to Udaipur the charge is Rs 1650/- per day for a Non-AC Indica (300 kms @ Rs 5.50). I was also advised to see a couple of places on route to Udaipur and keep the vehicle for Udaipur sightseeing and relieve the cab by 15:00. With this information I decided to see 2 places on the first day at Mt. Abu and the remaining places of Mt. Abu on the next day. The cabs are not allowed entry to the sunset point. The view point is around a kilometer away from where the cabs drop you. The available options are a horse ride, a baba gaadi or walking till the point. I took a baba gaadi for my wife, son and mother-in-law. The charges are Rs 30/- per adult and Rs 20/- per child. I saw a lot of crowd at the sunset point. There are many view points from where a person can see the sunset.


21st was a very tiring day for me specially. Most of the temples except Delwara temples are situated on some or the other hill. I had been to all the temples alone except the Dattatreya temple where my family also came. While going to the Acahleshwar Temple you have a pay a toll of Rs 3/- per adult at the Oriya Gram Panchayat. Achaleshwar Temple, Achalgarh Adeshwar Jain Temples around 10 minute steep climb, Gurushikar around 350 steps, Arbuda Devi temple around 360 steps and Ganesh Temple around 50 steps all one way. We had our lunch before going to the Delwara temple at a hotel which had Gujarati Thali for Rs 50/- a plate. Photography is not allowed inside the temples. You will have to submit your cameras and mobile phones with camera in the cloak room before entering the temple. The cloak room fees in Rs 5/-. The security guards check each person before you enter the temple. 

Ranakpur Jain Temples

22nd we left for Udaipur visiting Ranakpur and Haldighati on the way. At this the driver (Inder Singh) informed about the SRP inn at Mt. Abu which has standard rooms for Rs 350/- and suites for Rs 750/- with 24 hour running water and restaurant. There are three tolls on the route to Ranakpur (Banas Bridge Rs 15/-, Swaroopganj Rs 35/-, and Malera Rs 45/-). Most of our journey was on NH-76 and then a diversion around 60 kms ahead of Ranakpur. We left our hotel at 09:45 and reached Ranakpur at 12:45. We had our lunch at the Bhojanshala near the car parking and saw the temple. Photography is allowed in the temple only after 12:00 noon, so keep that in mind when you plan to visit Ranakpur. We left Ranakpur at 14:30 and reached Haldighati at 16:30. There is another toll on route to Haldighati (Jaswant Rs 50/-). Haldighati is the place where Maha Rana Pratap had his famous battle with the army of Akbar. There is a small museum and a sound and light show. Construction work was still going on. Chetak’s memorial is a 5 minute drive from Haldighati. Left Haldighati at 17:45 and reached Udaipur at 18:45. The entry fee Haldighati Adult Rs 30/- Camera Rs 20/-. We checked in at Hotel Kajri (RTDC) pre-booked accommodation.

City Palace Udaipur

23rd we left at 10:30 for local sight seeing. First stop was City Palace. Here we met our guide (a sardar who has spent 35 years as a guide in the City Palace) inside the palace. He showed us around the palace which is a 4 storied building. We completed the tour in 1 ½ hours. City Palace entry fee Adult Rs 50/- Camera Rs 200/- Guide Rs 100/-. If you take a guide outside the entrance of City Palace the charge is Rs 150/-but if you take a guide inside the City Palace the charge is Rs 100/-. The next stop was Rana Pratap Memorial on Moti Magri Hill. We passed by the Fateh Sagar Lake. On top of the hill is a statue of Rana Pratap perched on his horse Chetak. There is also a light and sound show organized which we did not attend. Moti Magri entry fee Adult Rs 50/-, Camera Rs 15/- Car Rs 25/-. If you attend the light and sound show the charges are different. After that we did some shopping and reached Sahilyon ki Bari where we spent around 30 minutes there. This is the place where the princess and her friends used to while their time. Sahilyon ki Bari entry fee Adult Rs 5/- and car parking Rs 15/-. After that we reached Sukhadiya circle and had our lunch in a road side stall. By the time we reached the hotel it was 15:00 and we ended the services of the vehicle taken in Mt. Abu. We paid him a total of Rs 4400/- for his services. (Rs 800 local sight seeing Mt. Abu, Rs 1650 for 2 days (Rs 3300/-), Rs 150/- driver charges and Rs 150/- toll charges). I had booked an auto for 16:30 for Fateh Sagar Lake, shopping and Doodh Talai. We hired a motor boat for 15 minutes charges Rs 300/- for having the boat for your self, did shopping at Hathi pol and went to Doodh Talai. I wanted to go there to catch the sunset but shopping took a lot of time. I had 2 ladies with me so you can think the time spent in shopping. When we reached Doodh Talai the sun had already set and the electricity went off. We sat on the lake front for around 20 minutes and saw the Lake Palace and the Jag Mandir Palace. We reached the hotel at 20:00.

Chittorgarh Fort From Victory Tower

24th booked a non AC Logan for Chittorgarh visit. Left hotel at 08:45 and reached Chittorgarh at 11:15 with a 15 minute halt for tea. There is toll of Rs 85/- at Narayanpur (return). We hired a guide who took us around the fort and explained about the history of different palaces and temples in the fort. Chittorgarh entry fee Car Rs 15/-. Do not remember the charges for Adult and camera. Guide charged us Rs 450/- for showing all the important spots in the fort. He will either travel with you on your vehicle if there is space or will come in ride motorbike along with your vehicle. We spent around 2 hours in the fort and had lunch at RTDC Panna which is in the town. On the way back we checked the royal cenotaph’s at Ahar. Near the cenotaphs there is a notice board which states that photography is not allowed. When I asked the security guard about photography he whispered “Take the snaps discreetly” and asked for “chai pani”. Gave him Rs 20/- as “chai pani”. We reached our hotel at 17:00. We spent the rest of the day in the hotel.

City Palace From Doodh Talai

25th we were to check out at 12:00 and our train was at 21:30 so we decided to have a late checkout at 19:00. We relaxed in the hotel, had our dinner and did some shopping (again) in the hotel complex. I booked the same auto again for visiting Doodh Talai and if time permitted Sukhadiya Circle. We left the hotel at 16:45 and reached Doodh Talai at 17:15. Visited the garden and then went up to take the rope way to the top of the mountain where there is a temple of Karni Mata. There is also a path leading to the top of the mountain for keep who are fitness conscious. The ticket per person is Rs 66/-. There are a total of 4 cars on the ropeway, 2 for going up and 2 for going down. The maximum capacity in each car is for 6 people. It is also possible to book the entire car for yourself by paying for 6 people. I went alone in the rope way took some snaps of the Lake Palace, Jag Mandir Palace and Udaipur city from the top of the mountain and the rope way. This is a good spot to see the setting sun against the back drop of Pichola Lake. Reached hotel at 18:30 and checked out at 19:00. I had asked the hotel for an Indica to leave us at the railway station.
26th reached Mumbai safely.