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Kai31410 · 06-11-2009, 08:17 PM

Hi...
Usually I'm quite happy to make my own way around a place, but after reading so many helpful postings from Namaste India Tours (full of sensible advice and never touting for business), and finding myself in Delhi, I decided to check out their services first hand and I was very glad I did.Among other things, they do City Tours... you can plan out your own tour or just leave it up to them to make suggestions. I'd already been to the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb the day before and now I wanted to go a bit further afield. Jawahar, one of the very nice owners of the business, came to meet me at my hotel and delivered me into the capable hands of Mr Singh, my driver for the afternoon. We manged to fit in all I wanted (Safdarjang's Tomb, Lodi Gardens, Qutb Minar, Bahai Temple, and the sunset qawwali session at the Shrine of Nizam-ud-din) in six hours.

Completely hassle free - whereas bargaining for rickshaws from any of the main attractions involves negotiating the number of shops he'll take you to, i.e. "How much?" "Eighty rupees" "No, 30 rupees" "40 rupees and two shops" "No shops" "60 rupees and one shop" "No shops!!" etc. etc.

And able to dawdle for as long as you like at each site... and I do tend to do that. This is a big plus over one of the city bus tours.

Mr Singh was great - knowledgeable, a good driver, and off driving someone around Rajasthan, Hampi and Varanasi for 3 weeks. They have other drivers though.

So, if you are after a city tour, or a longer trip out of Delhi in the comfort and convenience of a car, or even if you just want to be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel YOU want to go to rather than one the taxi driver wants to take you to...

06-11-2009, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kai31410 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	Re: India tours Hi... Usually I'm quite happy to make my own way around a place, but after reading so many helpful postings from Namaste India Tours (full of sensible advice and never touting for business), and finding myself in Delhi, I decided to check out their services first hand and I was very glad I did.Among other things, they do City Tours... you can plan out your own tour or just leave it up to them to make suggestions. I'd already been to the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb the day before and now I wanted to go a bit further afield. Jawahar, one of the very nice owners of the business, came to meet me at my hotel and delivered me into the capable hands of Mr Singh, my driver for the afternoon. We manged to fit in all I wanted (Safdarjang's Tomb, Lodi Gardens, Qutb Minar, Bahai Temple, and the sunset qawwali session at the Shrine of Nizam-ud-din) in six hours. Completely hassle free - whereas bargaining for rickshaws from any of the main attractions involves negotiating the number of shops he'll take you to, i.e. "How much?" "Eighty rupees" "No, 30 rupees" "40 rupees and two shops" "No shops" "60 rupees and one shop" "No shops!!" etc. etc. And able to dawdle for as long as you like at each site... and I do tend to do that. This is a big plus over one of the city bus tours. Mr Singh was great - knowledgeable, a good driver, and off driving someone around Rajasthan, Hampi and Varanasi for 3 weeks. They have other drivers though. So, if you are after a city tour, or a longer trip out of Delhi in the comfort and convenience of a car, or even if you just want to be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel YOU want to go to rather than one the taxi driver wants to take you to...