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Spicy weekend daytrip to Jaipur with Spicejet Q400

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  • Spicy weekend daytrip to Jaipur with Spicejet Q400

    Background

    This is going to be a short trip report but I would like to share it because I was very much inspired by the beauty and splendour of this exotic city close to the desert and I would like to share it with the world. The inbound was by flight with Spicejet and the outbound by Indian Railways.

    The Flight

    Flight number: SG 2623
    Route: DEL-JAI
    Aircraft type: Q400 (VT-SUH)
    Seat: 3D (window)
    Class: Y

    Since it was a day trip, I had to take a very early morning flight to Jaipur with a departure of 7am. I arrived at DEL T1D before dawn on a cold cold late winter morning.



    As usual, only departing passengers can enter the terminal so our IDs had to be checked against our itinerary. How this actually secures the terminal has always confounded me because printed itineraries can always be faked if someone is determined to get in to create terror.



    There was not a very long queue at the check-in counter and in minutes, I had my boarding pass in hand.



    A quick breeze through security and then I found myself in a rather quiet waiting hall. On a weekday, this place would have been really busy at the same time.



    I went down to the ground floor where the bus gates are located.



    All departures from this terminal are from remote gates so they have a whole row of bus gates at the ground floor. Each airline has their own buses.



    It was then a long drive to a really remote gate where our Q400 was parked.

    It’s a small aircraft (I think it’s the smallest I had ever been on) and it’s like boarding a bus.



    I like Spicejet’s colours and fonts – very bold and catchy.



    And one last look before entering the aircraft.

    Last edited by SQueeze; 15 March 2015, 08:33 AM.

  • #2
    The cabin looks very new and is very clean. I am impressed.



    The legroom is amazing too. Compared to the sardine cans flying Southeast Asian skies, this feels like first class for LCCs.



    Inflight magazine



    And the route map. They fly mostly domestically but they do have some regional routes to the Gulf, Kabul, and Bangkok. At one point, I believe they also flew to Guangzhou.
    Looks like they also have tie-ups with Tiger Airways but I am not sure at what capacity. I don’t think they code-share and buy each other’s tickets at each other’s websites.



    I have always been wary of their on-time performance ever since recent events but our flight departed right on time. Well done Spicejet.



    I am not on turboprops very frequently and found it amusing to be on the take-off roll with all the intense bobbing up and down and the sideways lateral movement on the runway. The sound of the engine was very loud and sounded different than jets.
    We took off successfully. Phew!



    And going higher over the hotel complex near the airport. There are thousands of rooms here I have no idea how they are going to ever fill those up.



    It was a short 30 minute flight and there was no service. This sector must be an easy job for the crew.

    Since it was an early morning flight, most passengers were sleeping.



    Descending over Jaipur. It’s quite a large city seen from this angle and I don’t feel anything exotic about it from here. It looks just like any other Indian city.



    And then we landed safely and taxied to the terminal building.



    The terminal building is newish and is quite nice.



    With a toilet that is fit for maharajahs?

    Last edited by SQueeze; 13 March 2015, 05:13 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Splendour of Jaipur

      Jaipur is the largest of Rajasthani cities. From feedbacks from other travellers, it is usually their least favourite with the bustle, noise, touts, and peddlers. At least that’s
      what I have always been hearing. But to my surprise, I didn’t encounter anything like it. I think it’s a pleasant city and I was really impressed by the glitters, splendour, and playfulness of the monuments. I am now even more intrigued to visit other Rajasthani cities which others always praise even more.

      Here’s a photo tour of this amazing colourful city.

      Leaving the generic typical urban sprawl behind to enter into the old city



      Jaipur is called a pink city. Well, not quite pink, more reddish to me.





      The City Palace was my first stop.

      Entrance gate to the palace



      Very elaborate details worthy of its world heritage site status



      The main courtyard of the palace







      The audience hall at the centre of the courtyard.



      Lots of beautiful details everywhere and this is just one of them over one of the doors.

      Last edited by SQueeze; 14 March 2015, 05:05 PM.

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      • #4
        I spent two hours walking around in marvel and then went to the next attraction nearby which is the Jantar Mahal. This was astronomy playground for Jaipur’s princes.

        I was awed by all the futuristic devices they had invented to observe the skies.













        Next stop was the Hawa Mahal, the grand dame of Jaipur. Look at the exquisite façade.



        It’s also impressive ffrom the inside. This is a brilliant colourful hall which is part of the complex. They were really having a lot of fun with the architectural design.



        And the windows are intricate. You can look out but nobody can look in from the busy streets outside. This palace was for women.





        Nobody actually takes pictures of the back corridors but as I explored, I discovered lots of opportunities even in these areas. The play of light and shadow is amazing. This is an architectural masterpiece really worth of its world heritage status.

        Last edited by SQueeze; 13 March 2015, 07:20 PM.

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        • #5
          Having spent half a day in the amazing centre, I spent the other half venturing out to the outskirts to visit Amer Fort. This is an impressive defensive structure perched on top of a hill which is completely overshadowed by the size of the fort.



          It’s a series of zigzags of steps to the top.



          Encountered a very cool goat on the way up.



          This may be a defensive structure (a fort) but all the decadent lifestyle is catered for. This is the hammam and it’s such a beautiful interior.





          The observations towers are works of art.



          I am impressed by Jaipur. Now time to plan for the next Rajasthan trip.

          Comment


          • #6
            The Train

            At the end of the day, my rental car dropped me at the train station to catch the Shatabdi train back to Delhi.



            Just out of my curiosity, I had to check out the ticketing hall which looks like something that came from another century. There was actually no need to. Indian Railways are computerised and they had issued me e-tickets with reserved seats. They are actually quite advanced when it comes to technology as even tuk-tuks (3-wheelers) now can also be booked online!



            I still had more than an hour left so I walked around to explore.

            The waiting hall is spacious but I was bored after a few minutes there.



            So I walked around the platform.





            2nd class unreserved carriage. I used to be in one of these a couple of years back. One does not know what crowded means until one has taken one of these. After that episode, I avoid it completely. Haha  And I think this one is still alright, at least there should still be some standing space.



            For tonight, I would be taking the Shatabdi train which is a premium express point-to-point train with less stops. But the journey to Delhi would still take 4 hours + compared to the 30 minutes by flight.

            I would be on an aircon carriage.



            And all the seats are by reservation so there is no overcrowding. I had to check my name against this piece of paper outside the carriage.



            The seats are airplane style but with much more spacious legroom. The recline is a lot too. It’s like 90s-style business class with economy class widths.





            But as expected in India, the seats are quite ill-maintained and many of them are falling apart although they are still quite comfy. Look at the misaligned button / knob.



            The train departed on time. The system is prone to delays and while we departed on time, we arrived an hour late. Welcome to Indian Railways time zone.

            Comment


            • #7
              I didn’t expect food to be served but discovered that there is a crazy amount of food on Shatabdi trains. One will not starve.

              An hour into the journey, snack was offered. This consisted of a vegetarian sandwich and a kachori (potato fritters). Yes, they are all carbo-bombs. They were served on a tray by ‘stewards’.





              I thought that was the only meal served. But no … an hour later, bread sticks and tomato soup were served. This came with hot tea as well which I didn’t take photo of.



              I thought that was about it, but no … an hour after that, the actual meal then arrived. And it was a full set meal (dal, rice, curry). It tasted fine although it was quite a basic offering.



              I thought that was about it, but no … an hour after that, ice cream arrived.



              Phew, the entire journey was a culinary multi-course experience. And I thought they would be no serving food at all.

              We arrived into New Delhi station an hour late. I am not sure where we got delayed but in India, no explanation is expected. You accept it as fact of life.



              The end

              Thank you for reading and I hope readers are inspired too to go to Rajasthan in Incredible India
              Last edited by SQueeze; 18 March 2015, 11:01 AM.

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              • #8
                Great TR and fantastic photos that give you a real sense of the place.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi SQueeze, I think the registration should be VT-SUH instead of 9V-SUH.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by laimd View Post
                    Hi SQueeze, I think the registration should be VT-SUH instead of 9V-SUH.
                    LOL, indeed.
                    I love SQ too much I guess.

                    Now changed to VT-SUH

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thanks for posting, SQueeze! Wonderful pictures of India.

                      I especially enjoyed reading about your ride on the Shatabdi train...must have been quite an experience! Amazing catering on this train service.

                      I don't often get to fly a turboprop (whether a Q400, ATR or an Embraer) but I usually grab the opportunity when it arises. I am usually much more enthusiastic about flying those than yet another 737/A320...

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