FAQs

Question

Do I need a visa to travel to India?

Answer

Yes. Travelers must enter with a visa in their passport. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond date of visa application to obtain a visa. Please find the State Department page on India travel here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html.

Question

Where am I staying?

Answer

Lodging will be provided February 2nd and 3rd nights. You will be given a room either at Samode Palace or at Samode Bagh.

Question

What do I need to check in?

Answer

Credit card: although you will be asked for your credit card, lodging expenses have been taken care of for the duration of your stay. You will be responsible for incidental expenses, such as laundry services, ironing services, or drinks/food to your room (see room service below). Passport and OCI Card/Visa - make sure you have these important items with you to check in. Where: Check in will be at your assigned venue - Samode Bagh or Samode Palace. You will be notified where you have been assigned a room several days in advance of the wedding.

Question

Getting to the Venue

Answer

Both Samode Bagh and Samode Palace are about an hour away from Jaipur International Airport (JIA) and about 3-4 hours drive from Delhi airport (IGI). It may be difficult to get UBER or OLA to go to Samode as it is in a rural area. One option is a private driver and car that you can hire. The best option is to contact Samode Palace (Mr. Pawan Singh, # +91 9828584454) and they can arrange transportation for you. It will cost Rupees 4500 ($50) from JIA and 15,000 Rs ($167) from IGI. Travel between Samode Bagh and Samode Palace - The distance between the two venues is 3 km. It is about a 10-15 minute unpaved drive through Samode village. There will be shuttle service available between Samode Bagh and Samode Palace at all times.

Question

How do I travel between Samode Palace and Samode Bagh?

Answer

The venues are approximately 10 minutes away from each other. Samode Hotels will provide vans that will run back and forth between the two venues, free of cost.

Question

I'm arriving a day early. Where should I stay?

Answer

Our recommendations for lodging the night before include: Hotels near the airport: Hyatt Place Jaipur ($$) Hotels near the city: Fairfield by Marriott Jaipur ($$) and Umaid Bhawan ($) At the palace venue: Samode Bagh ($). You can reach out to Mr. Pawan Singh (pawan@samode.com) if you would like to reserve a room for February 1st at Samode Bagh. You will get a room at a discounted rate.

Question

What kind of outfits should I bring? Where can I buy them?

Answer

Guests will need a total of four outfits for the following events: 1) Haldi 2) Sangeet/Garba 3) Wedding Ceremony and 4) Reception. The gallery includes photos of clothes Roshan and I have worn to other Indian functions, if helpful to get a sense. Please view the Schedule section for the planned attire for each event or click this link for an outfit guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j8byyxbSkiAvPL64cbsUp8VRssj8okweVf6hI3WJp8g/edit?usp=sharing If you are shopping for clothes in the US, there are several stores in NYC (Jackson Heights), New Jersey (Edison) and DC/Virginia (e.g., Saree Shop in DC, Meenal's Indian Fashions). You can also buy clothes online at Trendia, Mirraw, Zeel Clothing, CBazaar, and Manyavar. If you are arriving in India early, you can also consider buying some outfits in India before the wedding. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions about outfits or where to buy!

Question

Are there specific foods or drinks to avoid while traveling in India?

Answer

We recommend always drinking bottled water. At lower-end/cheaper establishments, we recommend travelers avoid raw vegetables/fruit, meat, and seafood.

Question

How many days should I spend in Jaipur?

Answer

If you are visiting Jaipur for the first time, we recommend spending an extra day or two in the city sightseeing (see the tab "Things to Do"). The two days of wedding festivities will be packed, so we definitely recommend carving out additional time! You can also fine more at this link: https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/india/jaipur-city-guide-where-to-stay-eat-what-to-see-37jkg5q7z.

Question

Medicine/Vaccinations?

Answer

MEDICINES/VACCINATIONS Bring your usual travel and prescription medications with you and some extra days supply just in case. Please consult with your individual physicians before travel.

Question

Weather

Answer

It will be quite cold in the mornings and evenings in Samode village. There may be a difference of 3-4 degrees in temperature between Jaipur city and Samode village as Samode Palace/Bagh is at a higher altitude. It is recommended you bring warm clothes (shawls/sweaters) with you.

Question

Who are key contacts in case of emergency?

Answer

Nitya's dad: +1 602-300-6510 Nitya's mom: +1 480-265-5837

Question

Is there anything else I should keep in mind during my stay at Samode?

Answer

- There will be an ironing service, in case you need any outfits ironed. - Pack a swimsuit! There are pools available in both venues as well as jacuzzis in Samode Palace. - There will be chai and coffee available all day from 7am to 7pm in both Samode Palace and Samode Bagh. - Take photos in your free time at Sheesh Mahal and Sultan Mahal in Samode Palace! Those are beautiful photo spots. - Sometimes the electricity may go out for a few minutes (very common in India) and it'll become pitch black in your room or bathroom for a few minutes. We recommend keeping your phone next to you always so that you have some light at all times.

Question

Any items I should buy before going to India?

Answer

Buy an adapter to charge your phone or other electronic devices!