Bharatpur, Jaipur - Accommodation and places to eat

	Bharatpur, Jaipur - Accommodation and places to eat
Home \| Rajasthan \| Ajmer \| Taragarh \| Bikamer \| Jaipur \| Udaipur \| Jaisalmer \| Jodhpur \| Mount Abu \| Pushkar

Few people stay in Bharatpur proper - the entrance to the park is 7km south of the railway station on the far side of town, so to be well placed for an early start it's a better idea to spend the night in one of several assorted hotels and guesthouses along NH-11, which skirts the northern edge of the park. Best of the bunch for budget travelers are the Kiran and the four guesthouses just north of the main crossroads, run by four brothers and their families. Further up the scale, the options are more limited, with most hotels ranged along the noisy highway, giving them a motel-like feel that's not at all in keeping with wildlife watching. Wherever you stay, in peak season (mid-Nov to late Feb) it's a good idea to book a room in advance, as places fill up early in the day.

Bharatpur Forest Lodge , in the park phone 05644/22760. This is the only hotel actually inside the park grounds. You pay well over the odds for the privilege, but the rooms are very comfortable, with a/c and balconies that are great for bird-watching. Book in advance. Rs2500 and upwards.

Birders' Inn , NH-11 phone 05644/27346, fax 25265. Newest of the mid-price places along the main road, with large, scrupulously clean rooms set well back from the traffic, large, modern tiled bathrooms and a quality restaurant. Rs600-900.

Eagle's Nest , NH-11 phone 05644/25144. Impersonal but efficient mid-range hotel on the main highway. The rooms are spacious and clean, with attached bathrooms and 24hr hot water, and the restaurant is one of the best in town, serving mainly north Indian specialties, and chilled beer. Rs400-600.

Evergreen , near the tourist office phone 05644/25917. Congenial family-run guesthouse near the highway junction. Immaculate rooms (most with bathroom), relaxing roof terrace and good home cooking (try their delicious misi rotis for breakfast, cooked on a wood-and-dung fire in the back garden). Bikes and binoculars available. Rs100-300.

Falcon , 1km northwest of RTDC Saras phone 05644/23815. Set back from the main road junction on a quiet suburban street, this modern guesthouse has a range of spotlessly clean and comfortable rooms on two floors (those on the upper storey are best, with more space and thick mattresses) and a small lawn-side restaurant with an open fire in the back garden. The best choice in this price bracket. Rs100-400.