Rajasthan Travel Amer Fort

Rajasthan Travel has changed drastically after the pandemic, it’s a bellwether of trends giving us serious goals and to-dos for our bucket lists. Search queries for destination weddings and holiday bookings have surged but it is primarily for drive-to locations where affordable yet premium villas and boutique hotels are booked for staycations. Working professionals prefer the workation-life, a holiday where work and fun go hand in hand. Some find joy in ‘glamping,’ where the rough parts of jungle camping are skipped for leisure and swoon-worthy views via luxury tents or homestays.

Rajasthan travel by road

Rajasthan’s rich folklore and crafts unearthed in its city palaces, temples, forts and villages amongst a vibrant landscape of deserts, lakes, jungles and hills are what keeps the fervent traveller coming back for more. Touring Rajasthan is most convenient due to connectivity via national highways. Multiple suburban towns thrive along these highways if you choose to steer clear of bustling city streets. A great example is a serene hamlet Ranakpur, just off the state highway 32, where you can visit the glorious Ranakpur Jain Temple, the lush green Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and the exciting Jawai Safari while maintaining social distance. Saying goodbye to globetrotting has been hard but Mana Hotels in Ranakpur make it worth your while. Their entire staff is vaccinated and ensures ‘Enhanced Cleaning’ measures at all times. Each guest is welcomed with folded hands and the sweet, ‘Padharo Mhare Des.’

Rajasthan Travel Mana Hotels Ranakpur

Latest Covid 19 Rajasthan Travel Guidelines updated 5-02-2022

  1. For domestic passengers inoculated with 2 shots of vaccine, no -ve RT PCR test is required for entry into the state. However, they must carry a copy of their vaccination certificate for checking as may be required
  2. RT PCR -ve test report for passengers who have not received both doses of the vaccine is mandatory. The report must not be older than 72 hours
  3. There is no requirement of E Pass for entry into Rajasthan
  4. The daily night curfew has been removed
  5. There is a weekend curfew from 11:00 p.m. Saturday night to 5:00 a.m. Monday morning
  6. Covid appropriate behavior must be followed by all persons and imposed by local authorities
  7. Keeping in mind the increasing cases, all hotels are requested to entertain cancellation requests from persons who may have booked rooms at the hotels & resorts in Rajasthan. The advances already paid against such bookings should be refunded or consumed when these events are postponed to future dates.
  8. Any social, religious, spiritual or wedding program will be allowed for upto 250 guests. The count of the support staff, caterer’s, event planners etc will be outside this limit of 250 persons. Prior intimation of any such event has to be given on the on the following link https://ssoapps.rajasthan.gov.in/AMI/IntimationForm.aspx or by calling 181. Other important information pertaining to such events is as follows:
    1. The host of the event along with local authorities will be responsible for ensuring that Covid appropriate behavior such as thermal screening, wearing masks, maintaining social distance, hand sanitization etc. are followed at all times
    2. The host of such events are required to arrange for videography at the event which will be scrutinized by designated authorities to observe any transgressions of rules.
    3. Local officials will be designated for on the spot checking of such events by being present at the location
    4. All members participating in the event must be vaccinated with both doses or must possess a RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours prior to the start of the event
  9. Given the importance of tourism to Rajasthan’s economy, special permissions will be given to tourism & film related arrangements based on establishment on isolation zones. An isolation zone must be established in such a manner that all personnel associated with such an event be constrained to the establishment where such an event is to be carried out. Following conditions will have to be satisfied:
    1. Only those hotels/resorts which are spread over an area of above 4000 sq meters or have more than 40 rooms will be eligible to be considered as an isolation zone
    2. Prior intimation of any such event has to be given on the on the following link https://ssoapps.rajasthan.gov.in/AMI/IntimationForm.aspx or by calling 181.
    3. Number of guests/persons to be part of the event will be decided on a case to case basis
    4. Organizers of such events must ensure that Covid appropriate behavior is followed under all circumstances
    5. All persons who enter the isolation zone once must not leave the premises till the time the event has concluded
    6. All persons who are within the isolation zone for the duration of the event will be thermally screened and checked for oxygen saturation on a regular basis. In addition, all premises of the isolation zone will be sanitized on a regular basis
    7. The organizers must ensure that during the course of the event, no outsiders should be allowed to enter the premises
  10. All eligible persons above the age of 18 years must be vaccinated with both shots of the vaccine. The institution or organization where all such individuals are employed or are associated with will be held liable if this deadline is not met
  11. All religious places in the state will be open for Darshan as per their regular pre-covid timings. All persons visiting such religious places must follow Covid appropriate behavior. Carrying garlands, prasad or other articles for worship is now permitted.
  12. Instructions for home isolation are available at the following link: https://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in/writereaddata/GovtOrders/01052022181445PMRevised_Home_Isolation_Guidelines_05012022.pdf
  13. List of at risk countries is available at the following link: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ListofCountriestobereferredtoincontextofGuidelinesforinternationalarrivalsdated7thJanuary2022.pdf
  14. For other details please visit: https://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in/guidlines-for-lockdown.aspx

20th Oct 2021:

Following are the guidelines for International travellers:

  • Submit a self-declaration form at the Air Suvidha portal (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/) before the scheduled travel.
  • Upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report. This test should have been conducted within 72 hrs before undertaking the journey.
  • Each passenger shall also submit a declaration concerning the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution.
  • Travellers from certain specified Countries (based on the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in those Countries) are identified for additional follow-up.
  • Travellers under home quarantine or self-health monitoring, if develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 on re-testing, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number.
  • International travellers arriving through seaports/land ports will also have to undergo the same protocol as above.

Nov 19th, 2021: 

CM Ashok Gehlot chaired an emergency meeting after a person’s Covid-related death was reported after nearly 3 months. In the meeting, the following concerns were addressed:

  • The veracity of booster dose measures was discussed and a letter to explore its possibility was written to the Centre about the same.
  • District officers were advised to implement social distancing behaviours and conduct sero surveys and genome sequencing tests.

To combat the first signs of the third wave, many important decisions were taken. However, till Diwali, the state recorded 50 active cases but post-mid-November this figure touched 95. This also could be due to the ease of curbs in weddings, schools, and cinema halls open with 100% capacity.

Dec 22nd:

Omicron is considered 3 times more transmissible than Delta, hence the Centre has already issued warnings to all the states. The following steps are advised:

  • Activating war rooms and considering night curfews to curb rising cases.
  • Strict regulation on large gatherings and curtailing numbers in permissible social events.
  • Ramping up the testing-surveillance model. 
  • Containment zones were to be notified and isolated from larger public access.
  • States were also advised to keep buffer stock of medicines, oxygen cylinders, ambulances, and isolation ward beds ready.

Strategies were advised to be implemented in state districts so that the virus could be contained at the local level before spreading to the other parts of any state.

Dec 25th:

Rajasthan reported 42 cases in a single day on 24th Dec 2021; due to this, the state government announced that vaccination is mandatory in the state for public well-being.

Refusal for vaccination would be met with deprivation of government benefit schemes, as stated by the CM Ashok Gehlot. Night curfews from 11 pm to 5 am were to be implemented. The state government would seek booster doses from the Central Government to combat Corona.

Dec 31st:

Rajasthan imposes a night curfew from 8 pm on the last day of 2021 till 6 am on 1st Jan 2022, only in cities having one lakh population and more. In these places, busy markets were forced to shut shop from 7 pm onwards. Social gatherings for celebrating the New Year were restricted and the bursting of crackers was banned.

Religious places were to maintain 6ft distancing, wearing of masks, and proper sanitisation.

Unvaccinated persons would be refused entry in higher schools, colleges, cinemas, malls, markets, and other public places after January 31st, 2021. Thus full vaccination will be made mandatory for residents of the state. 

1st – 3rd Jan 2022:

Due to the surge in Omicron cases throughout the country, Rajasthan has imposed a fresh set of restrictions. Considering the new variant is considered mild, hospitalizations were still reported across the country. Rajasthan’s curbs were announced in a meeting chaired by CM Ashok Gehlot.

  • Those flying into the state from abroad will have to get the mandatory RT-PCR test in Rajasthan and are ordered to follow institutional or home quarantine for seven days or more till test results are safe. 
  • Domestic travellers will have to produce their double vaccination reports in hard or soft copy, OR negative RT-PCR reports not older than 72hours.  
  • Night curfew of 11 pm till 5 in the morning shall continue.

Travel Guidelines 7th Jan:

  • Mandatory filling up of ‘Self-Declaration Form’ and uploading of negative RT-PCR reports for all international travellers.
  • Airlines to ensure reports are checked before boarding.
  • If coming in from ‘at risk’ country, travellers are to undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival:

If negative, then the following steps are advised: 

  • Home quarantine for 7 days, followed with retest on 8th day. If negative, upload the test upon Air Suvidha Portal. Self-health monitoring for a week is advised. If testing positive, follow the guidelines issued below.

If positive upon arrival, then the following is advised: 

  • Send a sample for the genome sequence test. Admittance at the isolation facility will be followed up by protocol-aligned treatment. Discharged only after clearance is given by the treating physician.
  • If coming in from a non-risk country:

Then random sampling is done where 2% of travellers are RT-PCR tested. All travellers are then advised home quarantine of 7 days along with upload of testing done on 8th day at Air Suvidha Portal. If negative, home surveillance is advised to all. If a test is positive the following steps to be taken are mentioned as above. Sample to be sent for genome testing and all treatment shall take place as per state-advised protocols.  

Guidelines from MoHFW issued on 17th September 2021 effective from 20th September 2021:

  1. Wedding programs will be allowed for upto 200 persons. Precautions to be taken while carrying out such programs will be as per previous guidelines.
  2. Social programs will be allowed for upto 200 persons. Precautions to be taken while carrying out such programs will be as per previous guidelines. Such events will be allowed between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. only and all persons participating in such programs must be vaccinated with atleast 1 dose of the Covid 19 vaccine.
  3. Swimming pool operation and use will be permitted. However, only those persons will be allowed to use the pool who have had atleast the 1st dose of the Covid 19 Vaccine

For additional details, please visit https://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in/guidlines-for-lockdown.aspx

Guidelines from MoHFW issued on 25th August 2021:

  1. There shall be no restrictions on inter-State travel by air, rail, water, or road.
  2. In case RT-PCR or RAT tests are required prior to entry in a State, as notified by the State govt, the same must be publicized widely to maximize traveller convenience.
  3. Asymptomatic persons who have been vaccinated with both doses of the COVID 19 vaccine and 15 days have lapsed since the administration of second dose of the vaccine and are in possession of the final vaccination certificate issued through the COWIN portal, such persons may be exempted from mandatory requirement of possessing a negative RTPCR report or RAT test on their entry into the State.
  4. Passengers who are found symptomatic on arrival shall be subjected to Rapid Antigen Test at the Terminal to aid early identification.
  5. In the event of unusual surge in cases in any State/UT, the States/UTs may institute appropriate public health measures promptly.
  6. States may implement additional restrictions, based on local requirements.

For the detailed guidlines, please visit the following link:

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guidelinesfordomestictravelflighttrainshipbusinterstatetravel.pdf

Timeline of Rajasthan travel restrictions 2021:

On 21st March:
  • There was an increase in positive cases hence the Rajasthan Government decided to impose a night curfew in 8 cities. A negative RT-PCR report (not older than 72hrs) was mandatory for those travelling into the state. Ajmer, Bhilwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Sagwada, and Kushalgarh were under strict lockdown from 11 pm to 5 am. All markets in these urban and suburban bodies would close by 10 pm.
On 4th April:
  • Multiplexes, gymnasiums, and swimming pools were closed. Schools for classes 1 to 9 were shut for two weeks. The maximum number of people at a social gathering was reduced to 100. Home delivery of food was allowed but dining in restaurants and hotels was prohibited during amended curfew hours of 8 pm to 6 am. Inter-state travel was advised as only to be undertaken if necessary.
Rajasthan Travel Drone

The restrictions under the curfew called ‘Public Discipline Fortnight’ came into force on April 19 and were effective till May 3. Micro-containment of Covid-afflicted households; responsible Covid-appropriate behaviour; stepped-up vaccination and measures to reduce crowding, such as reducing the hours for which shops stay open and running extra buses was introduced. All congregations and rallies were advised to cease and disband.

On 19th April:
  • Under the Public Discipline Fortnight, new rules of closure of offices and markets till May 3rd were enforced. Only shops and offices providing essential services would be allowed to operate. The sale of fruits and vegetables was allowed only till 7 pm. The negative RT-PCR test report for those entering Rajasthan would stay mandatory. Vendors were allowed to distribute newspapers from 4 am to 8 am. Educational and coaching institutes too would be shut till April 30th.
  • Weddings, functions, and other social gatherings of up to 50 persons were allowed. And only 20 persons were allowed to attend funerals in the state.
  • Cinema halls, multiplexes, and amusement parks stay closed.

Rajasthan saw strict lockdown in 2021 from 10th May till the 24th. Only essential services were allowed during this period. These were the changes made at the beginning of the summer lockdown for enhanced safety of the citizens:

  • Intra-state travel between districts, cities, and villages was prohibited.
  • For people, coming from different states, a negative RT-PCR report was made mandatory. Anyone who failed to do so had to go in for a quarantine of 15 days.
  • Social events like marriages were allowed only after May 31st with a rider that they are small-scale with “not more than 11 attendants.”
  • Court Marriages were allowed, after registering online for them.
  • Special transport buses would be allowed for medical staff, construction, and factory workers.
  • Religious places and markets were closed, to help curtail crowd gatherings.
  • Separate guidelines would be announced for those attending to care of Covid patients in hospitals.
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act also known as MGNREGA, all of its rural development work was stopped. Due to the fast rise in cases seen among the working laborers of the countryside.

Lockdown was never a magic pill. Like the first year of the pandemic, the news of a lockdown had triggered migrant workers’ displacement. When the working-class population leaves cities to head back to the hinterland there can be an exodus of mutations in the virus that can spiral out of control. This particular section being vaccine-hesitant needs to be educated.

Rajasthan’s second wave saw an increase in the spread of infection to areas not affected in the first wave. The reason being weddings and reverse migration from high-risk states like Maharashtra. Rajasthan’s travel restrictions were imposed after several other states had already gone in lockdown mode to curb the spread of the virus. Later this timeline was extended till the 8th of June. Weddings were again banned till June 30th. However, some commercial activities were allowed with relaxations, to help boost the economy, only for districts that had managed to improve the Covid-19 situation.

The national capital, Delhi was in lockdown from April 19th to June 7th in 2021.

Rajasthan Travel Thermal Screening

Rajasthan State’s Measures post-lockdown for Rajasthan Travel:

  • The government planned to import 50,000 oxygen concentrators to address the shortage of life-saving gas. Some 1,250 had been procured from Russia. Talks are on with other manufacturers in China and Dubai to meet demands in the state.
  • A specialized drive was undertaken by the civil force to check social distancing, wearing of masks, and following other codes of conduct in public places. The fine upon those not wearing masks at public places or workplaces was increased from Rs.500/- to Rs.1000.
  • Special efforts to undertake vaccination awareness.
  • Strictness on airports, including thermal body scans and RT-PCR reports checked.

Present Restrictions in Place:

Rules do keep changing from time to time, it is best to refer to Rajasthan state’s official Covid-19 website for constant updates:

https://covidinfo.rajasthan.gov.in/guidlines-for-lockdown.aspx

International Travellers can refer to the pdf given below for detailed information:  http://rajswasthya.nic.in/PDF/COVID%20-19/TRAVEL%20ADVISORIES/Guidelines%20for%20international%20arrivals.pdf

Domestic Travellers can refer to the pdf given below:

20-5-2020

http://rajswasthya.nic.in/PDF/COVID%20-19/TRAVEL%20ADVISORIES/Guidelines%20for%20domestic%20travel.pdf

25-8-2021

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guidelinesfordomestictravelflighttrainshipbusinterstatetravel.pdf

This is India’s national Covid-19 website: https://www.mygov.in/covid-19

Rajasthan Travel with Safety

Friendly Suggestions for tourists considering Rajasthan Travel:

  1. Keep hard copy’s of Test reports, vaccination certificates handy for smooth passage through check points
  2. Wear Masks at all times, whether it be in public places or any social gathering. Being vaccinated does not mean we undertake an offhand attitude towards protocols.
  3. Carry Sanitizers while out and about. Do not avoid sanitizers when they are offered.
  4. Avoid the jams! Skip any place that reeks red flags for catching an infection. Physical Distancing remains an objective for curtailing the spread of infection and thus travel if necessary must be with minimal members.
  5. Road Trips are a healthier option than overcrowded buses, trains, and airplanes. Plan a detailed itinerary and travel as close as you can for a refreshing experience. Rajasthan is close to Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. Making it a doable drive-through this summer!