From the airport to the city centre Rajasthan

Delhi

- Cabs. From Indira Gandhi International Airport, cabs await you at the exit of each terminal. Go to the "Pre-paid cab" counter and tell the employee your destination. You pay the fare at the counter, then hand the voucher to the driver. You should expect to pay between Rs. 700 and Rs. 900 for a trip to the city center.

- Buses. Buses run from Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport to the capital's "Inter State Bus Terminal" bus stations: Kashmiri Gate ISBT in north Delhi, Anand Vihar ISBT in the Yamuna district and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT in southeast Delhi. Departures are approximately every 30 minutes. The fare from the airport to Connaught Place is Rs. 90. Because of Delhi's legendary traffic jams, the bus is not the most practical means of transport.

- Metro. An automated metro line (Airport Express Line) links the airport to New Delhi's NDLS central station in 30 minutes. The metro runs approximately every 10 minutes between 5.15 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. Ticket price: Rs. 60. This is undoubtedly the quickest and most convenient way to reach the city center. The stop is located in front of Terminal 3, the international flight terminal.

Jaipur. Sanganer airport is 13 kilometers from the city center. Apre-paid cab stand is located in front of the arrivals terminal. Allow Rs 500 and 30 minutes to reach the city center.

Arrival by train Rajasthan

Delhi. Delhi has a number of railway stations. Trains to Agra leave from Hazrat Nizamuddin, to the east of the city and close to Humayun's tomb. Trains to Jaipur mostly depart from Delhi Junction (DLI) station, north of Old Delhi. A few trains leave from New Delhi Central Station (NDLS) north of Connaught Place.

Jaipur. Jaipur Junction station is located in the center of the city. Metro, cabs and auto-rickshaws can be found in front of the station.

If you prefer, you can take the train.

For the rest of the country: India's rail network is the second largest in the world, serving virtually every region of the country. Far less expensive than air travel, the train is the best way to get around cheaply, but it's not very fast. The average speed is 50 km/h, if the train doesn't stop at every station(passenger train) or in open country for no apparent reason. The rail network is not double-tracked everywhere, and you often have to wait to let an oncoming train pass. Indian Railways is making great strides in terms of regularity, and trains running several hours late are increasingly rare. Travelling by night train can save you a night's hotel accommodation and a day's travel, if you're short of time. How the network works and the different train categories and comfort classes may seem confusing at first.

- Train categories. There are several categories of train, offering different levels of comfort and priority on the tracks. Each train has a " general car" for passengers traveling without a reservation. While this is the best way to meet the locals and experience adventure, they are always crowded and not air-conditioned.

Express trains are divided into two sub-categories.Berth trains andchair trains. They come in several comfort classes. Many of them cover very long distances and are equipped with berths, even if you only use them for a few hours during the day. Passenger trains are local trains that stop at all stations. They take hours to cover short distances and have no priority. They therefore often stop for long periods at stations or in rural areas. Tickets cannot be booked, and they are often overcrowded. Shatabdi trains run only within a state, with few stops. There are no couchettes on these trains, only armchairs. There are several comfort classes. Rajdhani trains link Delhi with the capitals of other states. They make few stops and have priority on the tracks. These are air-conditioned sleeper trains, with classes ranging from 3AC to 1AC. Meals are included in the ticket price.

- The different comfort classes. There are 5 different classes. Not all trains offer these 5 levels of comfort. It depends on the distance traveled and whether the trains are sleeper or seat trains.

For sleeper trains, the different classes are : 1AC - air-conditioned 1st class with closed compartments of 2 or 4 berths; 2 AC - air-conditioned 2nd class with open compartments of 4 berths and 2 in the corridor; 3 AC - air-conditioned 2nd class with open compartments of 6 berths and 2 in the corridor; sleeper - non-air-conditioned 2nd class with open compartments of 6 berths and 2 in the corridor; General car or chair car - carriage at the end of the train with wooden benches for passengers traveling without reservations.

For trains with seats, there are 3 different categories. CC(chair car) - air-conditioned carriages with reclining seats; 2S(second seating) - carriages with non-air-conditioned seats or benches; General car or chair car - carriage at the end of the train with wooden benches for passengers travelling without a reservation.

If you're not keen on the pleasures of promiscuity, you'll opt for the 1AC or 2AC. In the sleeper, the benches are a little hard and it's best to bring a blanket in winter (December to February).

- On-board services. If you're traveling by night train, pillows and blankets are provided in 3AC, sheets in 2AC and a comforter in 1AC. In all three classes, the carriages are air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter. The passage between carriages in the different classes is locked at night. While there is no on-board catering service, street vendors regularly pass by offering snacks and chai. You can also buy supplies at the station during a long stop.

- Fares. In India, the train is a very affordable way to get around. Fares are proportional to the distance traveled and the class chosen. The longer the journey, the lower the price/km ratio. By express train, you can expect to pay around Rs 315 for 500 kilometers in sleeper class, Rs 815 in 3AC, Rs 1,135 in 2AC and Rs 1,885 in 1AC.

Booking a train ticket.

You can book your train ticket at station ticket offices (often in the courtyard), on the Internet or through a local agency. Reservations open 3 months before train departure. Seats on night trains and long-distance trains can go very quickly, especially during the high season, Indian school vacations (April to June) and festivals (Diwali, Eid...). It's best to plan ahead.

- If you go to the ticket office, you'll have to fill in a form giving your identity, age, train name and number, departure and arrival stations, and desired comfort. There's no need to queue if you haven't filled in the form beforehand. You can ask for it at the ticket office. Visit www.erail.in for all the information you need. Enter your point of departure and destination, choose the date and the site will show you the trains in circulation. You'll also get the fare (move the mouse over the desired class) and the number of seats remaining (click on the desired class). Stations in very large cities sometimes have a reservation counter for foreign tourists, who benefit from a special quota, but it is limited. To get a seat on this quota, you'll need to show your passport.

- You can book online by visiting the Indian Railways website www.irctc.co.in. The procedure is complex, as you need to register in advance, providing an e-mail address and a cell phone number. Make a note of your username and password. Validation of the application is done manually and can take at least 48 hours. Until your account has been validated, you cannot make a reservation. As with a ticket office booking, please have all the information about the train you wish to use at hand. If you wish to book several tickets, you will have to repeat the operation, as it is not possible to make several bookings and pay at once. This can lead to payment problems, as your bank may block the transaction if you make more than one reservation. As far as possible, it's best to limit yourself to one booking per day. You will receive confirmation and your ticket by email. You'll also receive an SMS confirmation on the day of your train's departure.

- If you use a local agency, you won't have to worry about anything, but you will pay a small supplement for the service.

-Waiting List. Indian Railways practices overbooking. Many cancellations occur just a few days before departure. You can therefore reserve a ticket by placing yourself on thewaiting list. You take little risk up to the 25th seat, except on the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer night train, where only one carriage is open for reservations. You can check the status of your reservation at www.indianrail.gov.in. Choose the "PNR Status" option and enter your booking reference. You can be sure of getting a seat as soon as your reservation status changes to RAC(Reservation Against Cancellation). The definitive list of reservation status is drawn up two hours before the train departs from the initial station. It is displayed in the station. If you are in RAC status, contact the ticket inspector who will assign you a seat. If you have a confirmed seat, join the car and seat number assigned to you. If you don't have a seat, you can get your money back, but only before the train departs. To do this, you need to go to a station.

- Tatkal ticket. If you haven't been able to book a train ticket in time, or if the waiting list is too long, nothing is lost. You can buy a tatkal ticket the day before the train departs. Be sure to check the train's departure date and time from its original station. Indian Railways keeps a quota of places on sale at the last minute. Prices are obviously much higher than for a normal ticket. You must present yourself at the tatkal ticket office at a station at 10 a.m. (better to come a little earlier if it's busy).

- IndianRail Pass. There's a pass for foreign travelers that allows you to take the train at will over a given period. Fares vary according to duration (24 hours to 3 months) and class. But the price is high and not at all advantageous. Best to book as normal.

Public transport Rajasthan

Delhi

- Metro. Delhi's metro network continues to expand. It now has 12 lines criss-crossing the city and its suburbs, and 286 stations. Prices vary according to distance traveled. You can buy tokens from the machines in the stations' "pas-perdus" rooms, or buy a transport card to recharge. The card costs Rs 50 and is valid for 10 years. There is also a tourist pass, the Tourist Card, valid for 1 or 3 days. The daily rate is Rs 200 and Rs 500 for 3 days. If you return your card, you will be refunded Rs. 50. The card can be purchased at the ticket offices in the stations.

- Bus. The bus network is very dense, but unless you know Delhi very well, it's difficult to get around. On the other hand, it's guaranteed to get you stuck in traffic jams, often in overcrowded vehicles. If you wish to take the bus, tickets can be purchased on board from the operator standing by the door.

Jaipur

- Metro. Jaipur is in the process of building a metro system. After years of work, it has finally been completed in the old city. At present, there is only one line, which you can take between the railway station and Badi Chaupar in the Pink City. Fares vary according to the number of stations: Rs. 6 for 2 stations, Rs. 12 for 3 to 5 stations, Rs. 18 for 6 to 8 stations and Rs. 22 for 9 to 11 stations.

- Buses. Often overcrowded, buses and minibuses tirelessly criss-cross Jaipur's thoroughfares and surrounding areas. Not the most convenient means of transport, except when travelling to Amber from Badi Chaupar (Hawa Mahal). You can take bus no. 29 or no. 113. The fare is Rs. 15.

Bike, scooters & co Rajasthan

Getting around India's major cities by bicycle is a suicidal undertaking. There are, however, a few companies offering tourist itineraries in Delhi and Jaipur. In general, tours start very early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic and the heat.

With a driver Rajasthan

Delhi

- Cabs. There are a number of cab companies in the city, whose contact details you'll find on our pages. Make sure the driver sets the meter at the start of the journey, to avoid any problems later on.

- VTC. The Uber and Ola companies are present in Delhi. You can download their apps from Google Play Store or Apple Store. However, you will need a local SIM card in your cell phone.

- Auto-rickshaw. The rickshaw is the most convenient way to cover the last mile. They wait patiently outside metro stations, or you can hail them in town. Most rickshaws won't give you a meter, so you'll have to negotiate the fare. Expect to pay between Rs 30 and Rs 100 for short journeys.

Jaipur

- Cabs and VTCs. There are several cab companies in Jaipur, whose contact details you'll find on our pages. Uber and Ola are present in the city. You can download the apps from Google Play Store or Apple Store. However, you will need a local SIM card in your cell phone.

- Auto-rickshaws. You can hail an auto-rickshaw just about anywhere in the city. Drivers tend to quote prohibitively high fares to tourists. Ask your hotel beforehand for the estimated fare and be prepared to negotiate hard.

Chauffeur-driven car. A chauffeur-driven car is the best way to plan a tour of Rajasthan. While it's easy to get around the state by train or bus (and cheaper), the car allows you to get off the beaten track a little and stop as you please. The average speed of travel is identical to that of the trains, so you won't lose any time. You should expect to pay at least Rs. 3,000 per day for a small car (Indigo type) with air conditioning.

By car Rajasthan

We strongly advise against renting a car in India. Traffic is eccentric, to say the least, and in addition to other vehicles, you'll have to watch out for the many two-wheelers, pedestrians, animals crossing the road and vehicles travelling the wrong way. On the other hand, there are very few car rental companies, as this service has not yet become commonplace.

Accessibility Rajasthan

In general, India is not a recommended destination for people with physical disabilities or small children. Sidewalks are poorly levelled (where they exist), railway or metro stations are rarely equipped with elevators, hotels rarely have rooms adapted for PRMs, etc.

Tourist traps Rajasthan

When you arrive at the airport or train station, you will inevitably be confronted by a tout who will offer you a cab, a rickshaw, a hotel and who will try to divert you from official or secure services. Ignore them.