Rajasthan Tour

This is a trip report about India. My wife and I just returned from a month trip to Rajasthan and loved every minute of it. It was our dream to be there at least once but finally we found this country so different and interesting to come back again some time.

We start our trip from Delhi then by train to Amritsar ( Golden temple) our driver was waiting for us there at the train station, next destination was Bikaner by car – Jaisalmer ( Thar desert) – jodhpur – Luni – Ranakpur beautiful Jain temples – Udaipur – Khempur ( one of the most authentic non touristy village where we enjoy lot and like the most, we never heard about this place but it was recommended to stay at least one night there) – Pushkar -Ranthambhore national park ( we were lucky to see tigers first time in our life) – Jaipur – Agra ( the Taj Mahal, its so beautiful) – Gwalior fort – Orchha – Khajuraho ( kamasutra temples ) – next day we took flight to Varanasi ( so different then any other town of India, quite different feeling, we had great experience to see all the ghats on Ganges by boat) – Train to Delhi in first class air-con cabin.

We were never sick, ate everything with no problems and had the best time. Sure there is poverty and dirt and many other things may be you don’t like but it is one fascinating country so if you have thought about it …just go!

Wish you all the best.

Bon Voyage.

India

A hundred lifetimes is not enough to absorb the culture, the land and the people of this amazing country. Many a seeker has found nirvana here. Goa is one of many places where hippies congregate. Other groovy places are Kerala State in the south, full of canals, Rajastan, deserts and forts, Benares if you want to get holy, the foothills of the Himalayas to get high on the mountains and charas.

Telephone and Internet Access in India

The country code for India is 91. India is then divided into area codes, known locally as STD codes. See individual city guides for the area codes.

 

In acronym-happy India, a phone booth is known as a PCO (Public Call Office) and they usually offer STD/ISD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing/International Subscriber Dialing), or national and international long distance respectively. These are usually staffed, and you dial yourself but pay to the attendant after the call is over. Metering is done per pulse and a service charge of Rs 2 is added to the bill. Larger cities also have Western-style unmanned public phones, which are usually red in colour and accept one rupee coins.

 

Local phone numbers can be anywhere from 5 to 8 digits long. But when the area code is included, all phone numbers in India are 10 digits long, including cellphones (which usually start with ‘9’). When calling from a landline phone, the syntax varies based on where you are calling to, as India is divided into circles that are almost, but not quite, the same as states. For example, for phone number 1234567 in area code 22 (Mumbai):

 

Calling from Price Syntax Example

Same city Local number 21234567
Same circle Local 95area codenumber 95-22-21234567
Different circle STD 0area codenumber 022-21234567
Overseas ISD +91area codenumber +91-22-21234567
Toll-free numbers start with 1-800 or 1-600, but they are operator-dependent: you can’t call a BSNL/MTNL number from an Airtel landline, and vice versa.

 

To dial outside the country from India, prefix the country code with 00. E.g a US number would be dialed as 00-1-555-555-5555. Calling the USA/Canada/UK over the normal telephone line will cost you about Rs. 7.20 per minute. Calls to other countries, particularly to the Middle East, can be more expensive.

Mobile

India uses GSM and mobile phones are widely available. Major operators include Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Bharti Airtel , Idea Cellular and Hutch . As roaming charges can be very steep, it makes sense to get a local SIM card: prepaid starter kits are available for around Rs. 500, including several hundred rupees of call time, and local calls cost as little as Rs. 1 per minute. Bring along your passport when applying and get ready to pose for a photo (or bring your own).

 

When calling from a mobile phone, you need to prefix the STD code even for a local call.

Internet

Internet kiosks are everywhere nowadays.Beware of using your credit cards online as many cases have come forward regarding credit cards thefts using keyloggers. Calling overseas is also very cheap if you use the many booths that advertise ‘Net2Phone’ service. Basically it is calling over the Internet. The quality ranges from tolerable to excellent, and the price is very good, with calls to the USA ranging from Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 per minute.

Staying Healthy in India

Going to India, you have to adapt to a new climate and new food. Most travellers to India will become at least slightly ill during their stay there – even Indians returning from abroad. However, with precautions the chance and severity of any illness can be minimized. Don’t stress yourself too much at the beginning of your journey to allow your body to acclimatize to the country. For example, take a day of rest upon arrival, at least on your first visit. Many travellers get ill for wanting to do too much in too little time. Be careful with spicy food if it is not your daily diet.
 
No vaccinations are required for entry to India, except for yellow fever if you are coming from an infected area such as Africa. However, Hepatitis (both A and B, depending on your individual circumstances), meningitis and typhoid shots are recommended, as is a booster shot for tetanus.
 
Tap water is generally not safe for drinking. However, some establishments have water filters/purifiers installed, in which case the water is safe to drink. Packed drinking water (normally called mineral water) is a better choice. But if the seal has been tampered, it could be purified tap water. So always make sure that seal is intact before buying. At some places, you will have to pay extra to get “chilled” bottle of water.
 
Diarrhea is common, and can have many different causes. Bring a standard first-aid kit, plus extra over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea and stomach upset. A rehydration kit can also be helpful. At the least, remember the salt/sugar/water ratio for oral rehydration: 1 tsp salt, 8 tsp sugar, for 1 litre of water. Most Indians will happily share their own advice for treatment of illnesses and other problems. A commonly recommended cure-all is to eat boiled rice and curd (yoghurt) together for 3 meals a day until you’re better. Keep in mind that this is usually not sound medical advice. Indians have resistance to native bacteria and parasites that visitors do not have. If you have serious diarrhea for more than a day or two, it is best to visit a private hospital. Parasites are a common cause of diarrhea, and may not get better without treatment.
 
Malaria is endemic throughout India. CDC states that risk exists in all areas, including the cities of Delhi and Mumbai, and at altitudes of less than 2000 metres in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, and Sikkim; however, the risk of infection is considered low in Delhi and northern India. Get expert advice on malaria preventatives, and take adequate precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Use a mosquito repellent when going outside (particularly during the evenings) and also when sleeping in trains and hotels without airconditioning. A local mosquito repellent used by Indians is Odomos and is available at most stores.
 
Getting vaccinations and blood transfusions in India increases your risk of contacting HIV/AIDS-even in many private hospitals.
 
If you need to visit a hospital in India, avoid government hospitals. The quality of treatment is poor. Private hospitals provide better service.

Source: Wikipedia