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get a little frustrated with the back-and-forth) institution. Parcels need to be wrapped according to the rules, so stand back and watch the parcel-packing wallah (10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday) in the foyer, who will pack, stitch and wax seal your parcels for a reasonable fee.
R A JASTHAN E A S T E R N R A J A S T H A N
Tourist Information The Tourism Assistance Force (police) is stationed at the train and bus stations, the airport and at Jaipur’s major tourist sights. Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO; %2618508; City Palace Complex; h10am-5pm Mon-Sat) Any applications for visa extensions should be lodged at the FRRO at least one week before the visa expires. It is somewhat hard to find behind the Hawa Mahal, so ask around. The likelihood you’ll get an extension on a tourist visa is slight – see p1174 for more details. Government of India Tourist Office (GITO; %2372200; Khasa Kothi Circle; h9am-6pm Mon-Fri) Inside the Hotel Khasa Kothi compound (go through the arch and look to the left). Provides brochures on places all over India. RTDC Tourist Reception Centre Main branch (%5155137; www.rajasthantourism .gov.in; Room 21, former RTDC Tourist Hotel; h9.30am-6pm Mon-Fri); airport (%2722647); Amber Fort (%2530264); Jaipur train station (%2200778; Platform 1; h24hr); main bus station (%5064102; Platform 3; h10am-5pm Mon-Fri) Has maps and brochures on Jaipur and Rajasthan.
8 Getting There & Away
Air For details of international airlines, see p1175. Offices of domestic airlines: Air India/Indian Airlines (%2743500; www. indian-airlines.nic.in; Nehru Place, Tonk Rd) IndiGo (%2743500; www.goindigo.in; airport)
Jet Airways (% 5112225; www.jetairways.com; Room 112, Jaipur Tower, MI Rd; h9.30am-6pm Mon-Sat) Kingfisher Airlines (% 4030372; www.flyking fisher.com; Usha Plaza, MI Rd; h9.30am5.30pm Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun). Bus Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC, aka Rajasthan Roadways) buses all leave from the main bus station (Station Rd), picking up passengers at Narain Singh Circle (you can also buy tickets here). There is a left-luggage office at the main bus station (₹10 per bag for 24 hours), as well as a prepaid autorickshaw stand. Deluxe or private buses are far preferable to RSRTC Blue Line or Star Line or local buses, which stop in small villages and are usually crowded bone rattlers with questionable safety. Deluxe buses all leave from Platform 3, tucked away in the right-hand corner of the bus station, and seats may be booked in advance from the reservation office (%5116032), which is within the main bus station. For long journeys, the RSRTC Volvo and Gold Line buses are easily the most comfortable and safe AC services. There is a cluster of private offices along Motilal Atal Rd, near the Polo Victory Cinema. Car You can arrange car and driver hire directly with the driver at the taxi stand at the train station. Usually the drivers need only a day’s notice for a long trip. A much easier way to do this is to utilise the services provided by your hotel. Most hotels will be able to contact drivers (with cars) that are known to the hotel. These drivers value the work they obtain through the hotels and that provides you with greater security and service standards. A reasonable price is non-AC/AC ₹7/8 per kilometre, with a 250km minimum per day and an overnight charge of ₹150 per night.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS FROM JAIPUR There are plenty of domestic flights from Jaipur, mostly run by Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways, who offer similar prices. Other airlines serving Jaipur include IndiGo and SpiceJet. Fares and schedules vary widely and these are just indicative fares at the time of writing. DESTINATION
FARE (US$)
DURATION
Ahmedabad
110
1hr
Delhi
55
40min
Jodhpur
100
40min
Kolkata (Calcutta)
145
2hr
Mumbai (Bombay)
70
1½hr
Udaipur
110
1¾hr