[libranof1987]

Hey, you could go thru' my TL : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post2334378

for route query from Pune - Udaipur and sightseeing there.

Originally Posted by athanedar

1. I believe Pune Ahmedabad is 650 kms.
Can I reach Ahmedabad around 3:00 pm with decent speeds not more than 100 kmph ( I am sedate driver) and required breaks ? Need suggestion for hotel here. Budget around Rs. 2000 per night.
Also any good Gujrathi restaurants which I should not miss ?

The time you expect to travel is peak season so not sure of the rates.

We started from Pune at around 5.30am and reached Baroda around 4. Add around 2 hours for Ahmedabad. So, reaching at 3 doesn't seem possible. Note : I'm a sedate driver too, don't cross the needle beyond 90km/hr.

Key is to cross Ghodbunder by 7am, that way you'll reach quicker.

4. I was thinking of staying either at Hotel Jagat Niwas palace or Hotel Lake Pichola in Udaipur which are bang on the lake with great lake views (Courtsey tripadvisor) . Anybody stayed here. Need reviews from team bhpians.

We stayed at Hotel Pichola when we we travelled there. It is a really good hotel; nice rooms and excellent service. By all means, you can try it.

[adityamunshi]

Hotel Sheraton in Udaipur, has a very VFM package incl breakast. Restaurants to try out there would be Ambrai and 1559 AD.
I found very few options for traditional Rajasthani food, finally got tired of having to choose from the same punjabi menus everywhere and resorted to eating at the hotel. Maybe someone else on the forum can help.

[dave7377]

i can assist you from ghodbunder road. For an average sedate rider , Ghodbunder road to surat (bypass) should take 4 hours on an average. Surat (on Nh-08) to Baroda should take 2hr 30 min provided you pass through GOlden Gate in Ankleshwar City and not through the main highway. Baroda -Ahmedabad through expressway should take 1 hr.
So that a total of 7hr 30 min.

Also i guess the thread may be merged with "Mega road thread" and further updates can be posted there.

[ampere]

I think you have not looked at this:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ity-world.html


All you have to do is to repeat the same!

[ANUJ GEORGE]

There are many hotels in Udaipur. I would suggest you to pick a hotel with good lake view. Also watch for the fireworks in the evening over the lake. Avoid driving into the old city (City Palace area) during rush hours. Very narrow roads with two way traffic. Many shopping options are available in that area though.

Cristal palace (its a part of the City Palace) was a good treat to eyes, but they charge Rs.500 per head for entry.

Consider the possible traffic jam at the Anklwswar - Bharuch bridge when you calculate the driving time to Ahmedabad. I was held up for a good two hours on the bridge. Left most lane is reserved for cars during the traffic jam (I guess so!!)

[athanedar]

This is the wonderful travelogue which has inspired our trip.
I have many questions listed in my original post which are unanswered hence started this thread.

Originally Posted by ampere

I think you have not looked at this:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ity-world.html


All you have to do is to repeat the same!

[athanedar]

Originally Posted by ANUJ GEORGE

There are many hotels in Udaipur. I would suggest you to pick a hotel with good lake view. Also watch for the fireworks in the evening over the lake. Avoid driving into the old city (City Palace area) during rush hours. Very narrow roads with two way traffic. Many shopping options are available in that area though.

Cristal palace (its a part of the City Palace) was a good treat to eyes, but they charge Rs.500 per head for entry.

Consider the possible traffic jam at the Anklwswar - Bharuch bridge when you calculate the driving time to Ahmedabad. I was held up for a good two hours on the bridge. Left most lane is reserved for cars during the traffic jam (I guess so!!)

Is there a way to avoid the Ankleshwar - Bharuch bridge altogether ?

[mathranik]

Originally Posted by athanedar

Hi all,

My questions :

1. I believe Pune Ahmedabad is 650 kms.
Can I reach Ahmedabad around 3:00 pm with decent speeds not more than 100 kmph ( I am sedate driver) and required breaks ? Need suggestion for hotel here. Budget around Rs. 2000 per night.
Also any good Gujrathi restaurants which I should not miss ?

3.00pm is a very optimistic target. Pune to Ahmedabad would take no less than 12 hours, with very small breaks. The roads, I agree, are great throughout, except for the portion where you cross the Mumbai city.
Ahmedabad has many good hotel options, almost more than half of them fitting in your budget. As you get off the expressway, take a left to find a few hotels on that very road. It is the N.H.8 that you connect to, when the N.E.1 ends.

2. We might have some part of evening for roaming around in Ahmedabad. My wife likes to shop (whose wife doesnt? ) So need suggestions for window shopping. No malls please.

Visit Law Garden for some traditional shopping. Relief road has some good shops too, and finally - head off to C.G. Road, which basically is the central shopping district of Ahmedabad.

3. Need hotel suggestions in Surat ? Any must see attractions here?

Surat - you could put up at The Grand Bhagwati (though it is deep in the city). Better would be to put up at Lord's Park Inn or Best Western Yuvraj, both of which are a stone throw distance from the Railway Station. Remember though, that to stay the night in Surat city, you would be taking a detour of 18 kms from the highway. There isn't a lot to see in the city, except for the great road infrastructure. Take a drive through Dumas Road.

6. Should I stay in Mt. Abu and return to Pune from Mt. Abu without going back to Udaipur. Need suggestions for good hotels in Mt. Abu in our budget. What is must see attraction at Mt.Abu?
Can it be done in 4-5 hours?

Mt. Abu to Pune is a direct route, that does not have Udaipur on the way. Take Abu Road - Ambaji - Palanpur - Mehsana - Ahmedabad route. Extremely good roads. Mt. Abu can and cannot be done in 4-5 hours, depending on what you want to see. Nakki laka and Dilwara temple are good attractions, and there are various vantage points that you might want to have a look at. Mt. Abu is beautiful in monsoons.



Regards

Originally Posted by athanedar

Is there a way to avoid the Ankleshwar - Bharuch bridge altogether ?

The only best way to really avoid the traffic jam on that bridge is to go on the wrong side of the road around 4 kms before the bridge. You can see a lot of small cars (locals) take the wrong side, because that is the only possible way to avoid the jam. It is safe, and sane too.

Alternatively, you could go through Ankleshwar town and take the old Golden Bridge, but these days that bridge is jam packed too. I suggest you take my first advice. We do it all the time.

Good luck with your trip, and have fun. You have chosen some great roads to drive on, the best season and a beautiful destination too.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by athanedar

Me and my wifey are thinking of driving up to Udaipur during the diwali week from Pune. ......

Me too planning the same, starting from Pune on 28th but my only concern is the bad road between Ghodbunder > Tandul Pada > Manor. This is a 50-60 kms stretch full of craters and the vehicle takes a severe beating.

I have asked this question in the "Monsoon road update" thread ....

How long do they usually take to fix this stretch after the rains?
And do I need to put a yellow strip on the headlight when in Gujarat?

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

And do I need to put a yellow strip on the headlight when in Gujarat?

Yes you do; especially in and around Ahmedabad. I learnt it the harder way the moment I entered A'bad city. The A'bad cops aren't really reasonable; they love their challans. FYI : the challan is issued for "breaking signal". Despite objecting to this, the cop wouldn't even justify it.

[Turbanator]

Is there a way to avoid the Ankleshwar - Bharuch bridge altogether ?

Thanks to tip by HVK , I was able to cross this bridge yesterday without any fuss both times while going from Ahmedabad to Surat & back . Tip is to take extreme left at Toll while coming from Bharuch side - continue on the old bridge which is open only for Light vehicles . When you are coming from Ankleshwar side you have to travel on wrong side for some distance from a cut which leads to Jhagadia Industrial Area - you can easily see lot locals using this . You can in fact travel a little further and take right hand cut near the police post on bridge but you have to be really lucky to reach this far without getting in jam so the best will be to use the right hand road as soon as you start seeing the jams , normally police constables posted on bridge don't object to this .

[athanedar]

I am planning to book RTDC hotel in Udaipur. There are two hotels Kajri and Anand Bhawan. Has anyone stayed in any of these RTDC hotels. Need first hand reviews.
On the internet I found 7 good reviews for Kajri but there are absolutely none available for Anand Bhawan (neither good nor bad).
From the photos on website Anand Bhawan looks better than Kajri but then since no reviews of Anand Bhawan available I am kinda confused.
Kindly help out.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by athanedar

I am planning to book RTDC hotel in Udaipur. There are two hotels Kajri and Anand Bhawan. Has anyone stayed in any of these RTDC hotels. Need first hand reviews.
On the internet I found 7 good reviews for Kajri but there are absolutely none available for Anand Bhawan (neither good nor bad).
From the photos on website Anand Bhawan looks better than Kajri but then since no reviews of Anand Bhawan available I am kinda confused.
Kindly help out.

Almost all the Tbhpians doing this route,tend to stay in Kajri.Havent heard of Anand Bhawan ever.

[libranof1987]

My time to ask queries in this thread!

We intend to travel to Jaipur from Gurgaon on thursday and have 4 days in hand (expect to be back in Gurgaon by sunday late evening).

Although we have made a list of all the places we should see in Jaipur, any specific places that are not mentioned on websites but are worth visiting?

Also, from the perspective of camping at one hotel and roaming around the city all 3 days, which are the among the best places to stay in Jaipur?

[deky]

About Jaipur

The known tourist circuit:
1. Amber fort
2. Light and sound show at Amber fort in the evening
3. Nahargarh fort
4. Jai garh fort
5. Drive past Jal Mahal at night
6. City palace
7. Jantar mantar
9. Hawa mahal

Not so known tourist places
1. Gaitore Chattris (cenotaphs)
2. Alber hall (museum)
3. swargahshuli/ Isar Lat

Parks
1. Central park
2. Sisodia Rani Park

Temples
1. Govind dev Ji temple (in city place)
2. Galta temple
3. Laxmi narayan temple (birla temple)


Restaurants
1. Chokhi Dhani (veg)
2. Niros
3. Spice court
4. Indian Spice (veg)
5. Handi

Important telephone numbers
1. Railway station tourist office: 0141-2315714
2. RTDC: 0141-2202586
3. Tourist info : 0141-2530264
4. Tourist reception centre : 0141-5110598/5110595/6

Places around Jaipur
1. Step wells at Abhaneri (100kms)
2. Samode Palace (50kms)

Lemme know if you need to know anything else

Regards