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Rajasthan 2023 – Photo Gallery

Jal Mahal, the “Water Palace”, Jaipur

Rajasthan has immensely changed since my first trip back in April 2012! The first thing that immediately stroke me was the mere fact that now tourism is mainly local. The most surprising fact was maybe how well organized & clean the major spots of Rajasthan now are. Only once we were back to Delhi had we the impression we had escaped this “sanitized experience”. Then, what were hidden gems 10 years back are now surrounded with 5 stars resorts full of SUVs, catering for the new middle / upper class of India discovering their own country. All in all? Rajasthan is far easier to travel than it once was, and quicker! Better infrastructure and improved organization make your life so much easier. Of course, it will appear less confusing and more “On the main touristic tracks” than it was 10 years ago. Continue Reading →

An Itinerary in Rajasthan – 2 Weeks

Taj Mahal, Agra

Rajasthan has immensely changed since my first trip back in April 2012!

  • The first thing that immediately stroke me was the mere fact that now tourism is mainly local (maybe 90%, from what I could observe).
  • The most surprising fact was maybe how well organized & clean the major spots of Rajasthan now are. Only once we were back to Delhi had we the impression we had escaped this “sanitized experience”.
  • What were hidden gems 10 years back are now surrounded with 5 stars resorts full of SUVs, catering for the new middle / upper class of India discovering their own country.
  • All in all? Rajasthan is far easier to travel than it once was, and quicker! Better infrastructure and improved organization make your life so much easier. Of course, it will appear less confusing and more “On the main touristic tracks” than it was 10 years ago.

Continue Reading →

Budget Guide To Rajasthan (Updated)

Elephant and Rickshaws at Sardar Market, Jodhpur

One Of The Cheapest Places To Splurge A Little Or Upgrade Your Travel Style…

Type Of Travel

The 4 trips to Rajasthan were really different from one another, and this actually also shows in the budget spent:

  • During the first 2 trips (2012 & 2013), with limited time at hand (each time 12 days) and India being a rather cheap country, I opted against traveling low budget. Instead, I frequented “mid-range” hotels or Havelis and pleasant local restaurants. This trip could definitely have be done a lot cheaper than spending 44 and 48 Euros per person per day (this amount does not include the international flight or the visa fees).
  • For the last 2 trips (2015 & 2023), I went for the “upper mid-range” type of travel to ensure a nice level of comfort and enhance the mobility: nice Havelis or small Boutique hotels, nice restaurants, at times a car with driver… The budget almost doubled, not surprisingly.

Continue Reading →

Gangaur Procession in Jodhpur

Gangaur procession in the streets of Jodhpur

Highlights are where and when you do not expect them, aren’t they? I honestly had never heard of Gangaur, so when we stumbled upon a group of Indian ladies, young and old, in traditional dresses, in the streets of Jodhpur, we had no idea what it was all about… Well, the explanations given over the hours that followed created more confusion than anything else… We somehow understood that they took care of idols praying for a “good husband” (whatever that means…). Continue Reading →

Holi Festival of Colors in Mathura and Vrindavan

Holi Festival of Colors in Shri Krishna Temple in Mathura

You thought you really experienced the “Holi Festival of Colors”, that heralds the arrival of spring, when Indians throw color onto each other and wish each other “Happy Holi”? Have you experienced the Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan and discovered the religious / spiritual part of this Hindu Festival? Continue Reading →

Rajasthan – A Selection of 70 Pictures

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

In April 2012 I had my first brush with India, to be precise Eastern Rajasthan: for 11 days I gazed at the most incredible Moghul architecture in Agra and Jaipur. I also threw in a bit of wildlife by visiting Ranthambhore National Park. When I returned in March 2013, I headed for the Southwest of Rajasthan for 12 days, to marvel at these impressive forts & palaces in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Bundi, Chittorgarh and last but not least Pushkar & Ajmer. Delhi was my hub during both trips.

In March 2015, I went back to Rajasthan for one full month, and made an extensive loop through this area of India: Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri & Abhaneri, Jaipur, Pushkar & Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Kumbalgarh & Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner & Nawalgarh. I ended the trip in Amritsar (Punjab) to marvel at the Golden Temple.

Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Rajasthan

Grand Architecture, Vivid & Colorful Street Life And Holy Cows

Witnessing one of the many processions (this time for peace in the world…) in Jaipur

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In April 2012 I had my first brush with India, to be precise Eastern Rajasthan: for 11 days I gazed at the most incredible Moghul architecture in Agra and Jaipur. I also threw in a bit of wildlife by visiting Ranthambhore National Park. When I returned in March 2013, I headed for the Southwest of Rajasthan for 12 days, to marvel at these impressive forts & palaces in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Bundi, Chittorgarh and last but not least Pushkar & Ajmer. Delhi was my hub during both trips. Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Rajasthan

One Of The Cheapest Places To Splurge A Little Or Upgrade Your Travel Style…

In the streets of Bundi, Rajasthan, India

In the streets of Bundi, Rajasthan

Type Of Travel

The 3 trips to Rajasthan were quite different, and this shows in the budget spent:

  • During the first 2 trips, with limited time at hand (each time 12 days) and India being a rather cheap country, I opted against traveling low budget. Instead I frequented “mid-range” hotels or Havelis and pleasant local restaurants (classic Flashpacking trip). This trip could definitely be done a lot cheaper than spending 44 and 48 Euros per person per day (this amount does not include the international flight or the visa fees).
  • The third trip, I was traveling with my 77 year old father and went for the “upper mid-range” type of travel to ensure a nice level of comfort and enhance the mobility: nice Havelis or small Boutique hotels, nice restaurants, at times a car with driver… The budget almost doubled.

Continue Reading →

10 Lesser Known Highlights In Rajasthan

Kumbhalgarh Fort and the "Indian Great Wall", Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, India

Kumbhalgarh Fort and the “Indian Great Wall”, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan abounds with stunning but extremely popular highlights, so it is extremely tempting to stay “On The Beaten Track” and focus on a very classic route, rushing from one monument to the other, especially if you have a limited amount of time at hand. This is all the more true as regular trains connect those major points of interest very efficiently and very cheaply, keeping you focused on few places. Continue Reading →

The Golden Temple In Amritsar

A Photo Essay

Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) or Darbar Sahib, also referred to as the "Golden Temple", a prominent Sikh Gurdwara or Sikh temple, at night, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, also referred to as the “Golden Temple”, Amritsar, Punjab

At each of my two visits to the Golden Temple, my expectations were very high and as we all know, such are usually not met. But Amritsar proved this theory wrong, both times! Continue Reading →