We were in Rajasthan in August for about 15 days, five of us.
At first we wanted to travel independently: we are people who don't much like organised trips or being tied down by commitments. Since for most of us it was the first time in India, we thought that, in so little time and on our own, we would never manage it. By chance we saw Karni's agency on the internet and tried contacting him… thinking that if we didn't find anyone at the airport it would be fine anyway (we had only asked for a car with driver). For us Westerners it seemed like magic that someone would turn up just on the strength of arrangements made by email, and yet… The experience was unique. Despite the short time we managed to visit everything that interested us. Beyond the splendid monuments we saw, what touched our hearts and spirits most were the people we met along the way, the intensity of their smiles and their gazes, the simplicity and kindness of their manners… the hospitality.
The first proof that these qualities belong to the Indian people came from Karni, in his care and speed in answering the emails to make arrangements, and in keeping his word.
The second came from spending our holiday days with Sanjay, our driver, who patiently listened to our requests and wishes, who with his kind manners answered our questions about what we didn't know, and who looked after us attentively and discreetly throughout our days in Rajasthan.
Itinerary – Departure – 11 August 2010 [Wednesday] 10:00 hrs on CHINA AIRLINES
Return – 22 August 2010 [Sunday] 13:50 hrs on CHINA AIRLINES
11 August [Wednesday] – Arrival and continue to Agra, night in Agra
12 August [Thursday] – Jaipur
13 August [Friday] – Amber / Jaipur
14 August [Saturday] – Pushkar / Udaipur
15 August [Sunday] – Udaipur
16 August [Monday] – Ranakpur / Jodhpur
17 August [Tuesday] – Osian / Jaisalmer
18 August [Wednesday] – Khuri / Jaisalmer
19 August [Thursday] – Ramdeora / Deshnoke / Bikaner
20 August [Friday] – Mandawa
21 August [Saturday] – Delhi
22 August [Sunday] – Morning departure at 10.50 hrs
Written by the traveller and first published in Italian on our former Italian website. Translated from Italian.