I’m just back from Gujarat and Rajasthan, This is my experience with possibly the worst tours and travels I’ve heard of.
My Grandmother passed away a few months back. She wanted to take all her children for a pilgrimage to some Jain temples in Gujarat and Rajasthan. To fulfill her dream my grandfather, 75, planned a pilgrimage for thirty family members for a week. We were a group of 10 senior citizens, 15 women and 10 Children. He had booked everything personally and taken great interest in every aspect of the pilgrimage. He is not computer savvy and used directories and other methods to book this tour.
Jain travels was booked for our 40 seater bus and was paid Rs.15000 advance and we were supposed to start at 6AM from Ahmedabad railway station. Despite trying to get in touch with the travels for 2 hours none of our calls were taken approx. 10 people trying to get in touch for 2 hours. more than 200 hundred calls later, he says the bus will come in 10 minutes. It came after an hour.
Anyway when the driver arrived his body looked weak, eyes were droopy and was a complete no-no. on asking he said he just came from a 10 day trip from Rajasthan and didn’t go back home and slept in office that why he was in this state.
We started with a prayer and just after reaching 20Km away from Ahmadabad the driver stops the vehicle and talks to his boss. His boss calls my grandfather and says “hand over 45000 to the driver else he will not drive the vehicle any further” we were all shocked and furious. He actually blackmailed a 75 year old person who wants to fulfill his dead wife’s wish. Oh God.
The driver went to a nearby Dhaba and we were left stranded on a highway. We had almost made up our mind to call the Police but my grandfather said it was ok and everything will be ok. We sorted it out by paying Rs.30000 but it had spoiled everyone’s mood already. Driving was decent but the driver kept stopping every 30mins or 1hr. He was getting weaker and his fever was growing and at one point gave up saying he can’t go on anymore. Poor soul. We called Jain travels who would not take our calls.
Then we asked our relative to visit their office to inform them about the same. he called the driver and asked him to continue. despite our request to send another driver instead the agency forced him to continue. We didn’t know what to do. again he stopped and said I can’t drive. He was in pain. We asked another driver at the dhaba to get us to Jaipur asap. After hospitalizing him we called the agency several times they did not show any interest in any of our calls and sms. Next morning the poor driver passed away.
In just three days despite what had happened he became like our family. all of us were destroyed.
No one can explain what was happening. we decide to cancell the rest of our tour and get back immediately.
We spoke to the concerned people and the agency and since the health of my uncle was deteriorating we had to leave. My cousins were at the hospital at Jaipur and left after two days.
This can happen to anyone, all I want to say is do not use such inhumane travels or service providers. They have no pain or remorse. They do not care about anything but money. I’m not here to tarnish anyone’s image or reputation but I do not want your family to go through what we’ve been through.
All proofs are available along with call records and sms. Receipts and other documents too.