Jun 21, 2010 03:32 PM
19386 Views
My name is BP Bhat, from Bangalore. I am a frequent traveler. I have seen the entire states of KA, KL, TN, MH, CH and DL. I have also seen many places in the states of AP, OR, WB, SK, UP, UK, JK, PB, RJ, HR, GA, PY, Andaman etc. I have also seen Kailash Mansarovar. I keep trekking, touring and travelling alone as well as along with my family and friends.
Before commenting on anything, we should know how that industry works. Travels is basically a service industry. In a service industry, it is extremely difficult to satisfy one-and-all as the taste differs from person to person. Also here, there is no concept of production-stock-and-sale like manufacturing industries, but giving only service to the tourists.
Normally a tour operator announces a date for any tour, and waits for the responses from the public. If he gets enough number of enquires (i.e break-even numbers), then he goes ahead with the tour plan. Otherwise he drops the tour. Initially he will collect only a token amount, and after the tour is confirmed, he will collect the balance full amount.
I wanted to undertake Golden-Triangle (Agra, Jaipur, Delhi) and Haridwar tour. So I approached Vikram Travels (VT) on 4.5.10. They told me that there is one such tour starting from 7.6.10 to 19.6.10. I booked my seat by giving a token advance. As I wanted to book the return Air-Ticket (Del-Bng) myself, I waited for their confirmation of the tour plan. On 13.5.10 they told me to go ahead with the air ticket booking, and I did the same. On 26.5.10, I paid the balance amount and got the confirmation.
The tour was supposed to start on 7.6.10. On 4.6.10, VT called me and said "Sir, 10 people of a family, who had booked for the tour like you, have cancelled their participation. Are you ready to forgo Haridwar part of the tour, and go to Vaishnodevi along with Golden Traingle?". As I had already seen Vaishnodevi earlier, I was not interested in that.
So I spoke to their owner Mr Shivanand. I told him - "If you take me, then I am ready to tour Haridwar alone. Or you can show me any place in UP, RJ, HR, PB, JK which I have not seen. You may include me in any other tour operator's programme also, but it must be under your name and responsibality. But donot cancel the tour at this juncture".
He asked for an hours time, and called me back. He said "Sir, we are ready to take you to Haridwar part of the tour. But you will have to agree to two conditions. First, you will be sharing the room with our tour manager, and Second, we will be giving you hotel food instead of our South Indian Food". As I am used to such things in my trekking, I gladly agreed.
So the tour started on 7.6.10. From Bng, we went to Agra by train. VT gave me food in the train also. (Most of the tour operators do'nt do that). At Agra, I came to know that there were only three tourists (Me plus a husband-wife pair). I really appriciated VT, because, once the tour plan was confirmed, they didnot cancelled the tour even if there were only 3 tourists. We saw Agra fort, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur-Sikri, Mathura, Jaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer and Delhi. In all the places, VT placed us in A.C. Rooms. The Boarding as well as the food was good and clean. A Tata-Indica was hired for only 3 of us (plus tour manager and driver). The entrance fees, Guide charges, and even shoe-stand charges were paid by VT. As we were only 3, on our request, they showed us other places that were not in their itenary.
After Delhi, I along with a tour manager, went to Haridwar. We (only two) were at Haridwar for 3 nights. We saw Haridwar and Rishikesh by Auto and cycle-rickshaw. And to Dehradoon-Mussorie-Kempty Falls, an Indica was hired. It was hired only for me. The Lodge in Haridwar was decent, if not good. And the food there was not to my satisfaction. But it is the problem with the place and has nothing to do with VT.
On 19.6.10, we came back to Delhi at 12 noon. I was supposed to proceed to Air port at 5pm. For this just 5 hours stay at Delhi, VT gave me an AC room in a decent hotel at Delhi.
All in all, their committment to go ahead with the tour once it is fixed, really surprised me. The stay at all the places were good. The service of the tour staff was good. At Delhi, we had the food cooked by their own staff, and it was also good.
Vikram means Victory. And with this tour, I am sure, if you travel with VT, your tour will also be VIKRAM.
In case of any guidance on any places that I have seen so far, anybody can contact me at bpb.sharadhi@gmail.com.
