New Delhi to Ranthambore - the conclusion

Rajasthan, episode 7

This will be the last blog post on our travels from New Delhi to Ranthambore. After Ranthambore, we remained in Rajasthan on the edge of the Great Thar desert at Roop Niwas and Dundlod, the HQ of the 81st Endurance event. For those of you who have not seen my web site, I would urge you to do so. There are many images showing what a wonderful place India is – you must go there.

There are a number of people I would like to thank for ensuring our stay and travels through Rajasthan were as stress free as possible. The first is ‘Jaipal Singh’ our driver. For two weeks, Jaipal drove us from New Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Japur, Roop Niwas, Dunlod and back to New Delhi. Not once did he miss a beat. His driving was impeccable and even Memsahib felt comfortable the whole trip.

Jaipal works for ‘Royal Expeditions', the company that organized all our hotels, city guides, and anything else you can think of. One example of customer service: When we were in Jaipur, I realized I had left my jacket in the hotel at Ranthambore, some 4 hours driving distance. I mentioned this to our driver, Jaipal, and he phoned Royal Expeditions HQ to see what could be done. This was at 9.00am in the morning. By the time we returned to the hotel in the evening, about 6.00 pm, my jacket was waiting for me in reception. I was amazed! A young man was sent on the train from Jaipur to Ranthambore and back to collect my jacket – at no cost to me. WOW, what about that for service?

Royal expeditions can be contacted at http://www.royalexpeditions.com/. Please use them if you are travelling anywhere in India.

The person who was primarily responsible for our trip was Caroline Moorey. Caroline is chair of the "Friends of Marwari / Kathiawari Horse UK" and one of the GB Team riders. Please support this web site http://www.friendsofmarwari.org.uk/ there is lots of information about the indigenous horse breeds in India.

I leave you with a few pictures of Indian transport. The pictures bring a smile to my face every time I see them. I trust you have enjoyed our Rajasthan blog series over the last few months.





Rajasthan, episode 6: Tigers and Ranthambore

From Delhi to Roop Niwas by road and by train

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Rajasthan, episode 2

Our road travels took us from Delhi, Agra, Bharatpur and on to Ranthambore by train, back on the road to Jaipur and onto our final destination, Roop Niwas Kothi, Nawalgarh (Shekhawati).

Of all the road trips I have made, either as a driver or passenger, this journey was the most memorable. Never before have I witnessed so many people in so many different modes of transport mixed in with camels, donkeys, horses, ‘sacred cows’, monkeys, dogs and anything else that pops up! Yet, for some reason, the number of accidents are few. However, when you are exposed, for the first time, to rush hour traffic in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, you cannot believe that all these people manage to get to their destinations intact. Road rage does not exist, but everybody sits on their horns.

Let's have a look at some of the more interesting images:

We took the option to visit Old Delhi where our transport was a three-wheeled bicycle resembling a type of Rickshaw.

Yours truly and Memsahib about to depart in the capable hands of our ‘Wagon Master’

Over a twenty minute period we wove and maneuvered through the pedestrians, scooters, motor bikes, bicycles and other forms of wheeled transport.

Old Delhi: Some of the scenes as we passed by

“Another one of the ‘I don’t believe it’ sights to behold was the electricity distribution system!”

The Central Baptist Church ‘bus’ picking up children on their way to school. There looks to be about six children in the ‘bus’ with two more trying to get on.

Travelling between the major cities and out of in the more rural areas, the volume of traffic decreases, but not the intensity of the driving. Roundabouts and central reservations are often the reserve of small family units and their livestock. On more than one occasion, we encountered cows and cattle walking in the middle of the road towards the oncoming traffic. What is amazing, the traffic swerves round the animals, which are totally oblivious to the dangers around them. You have got to see it to believe it.

Street life:

Sacred cow lying in the road at the edge of a roundabout

The village bus off on another journey

A long rest after a busy morning waiting for trade

One of the intersections in Jaipur

A woman collects water from one of the municipal pumps in Jaipur

Rajasthan, episode 1: Rajasthan - a photographer's paradise

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