Unfortunately my honeymoon travel involved a journey from Delhi to Manali and back with Raj travels. We traveled Delhi to Manali on 7th July 2009 by Raj’s bus numbered DL-1P B 8342 (Photo attached with this review). It was a horrible experience.
We boarded into Raj at Delhi 5:30 pm. The poor external looks of the bus only deterred us from getting in! So unmaintained old kind of bus. I really doubted whether it will make it to Manali !
The AC in the volvo (supposed to be) was hardly working while the outside temperature was 39 degree celsius ! Everyone uneasy inside. Moreover the sticky black leather seats to add to the harassment. Within a couple of hours somewhere near Sonepat suddenly the AC totally stopped working !
Oh God ... that was a nightmare thereafter. A non AC bus.. in delhi heat .. no windows can be opened since its a volvo bus.. ppl literally boiled inside. The driver and his assistent stopped the bus at some hotel and wasted 3-4 hours trying to repair the AC but in vain.
Finally I called up their head office at 11PM night, they responded me that their ppl (driver n assistant) are trying to repair with on phone assistance from Delhi mechanic [great.. remote vehicle repair service] and they cannot arrange for another bus !
After hours of hopeless efforts they decided to move on without AC. Terrible journy. I could not sleep for a minute. It was all sweating, doubtful and dusty throughout the journey until we reached Manalu 9AM next morning!
I experienced the driver and assistant were rude and not answering properly in return journey. Passengers were not provided with water and blankets in onward journey but got blankets on return journey.
Repeated bus break-downs of buses owned by Raj only prove that they do not take adequate care of their buses. The buses are old. Do not get fooled by the interior images of the bus posted at their website. I would recommend you all NOT to mess up your travel by choosing Raj National Express.