Pali
Introduction
Pali is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, on the banks of the river Bandi. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Pali district, and it lies roughly 70 km south east of Jodhpur.
Getting there
Pali sits about 70 km south east of Jodhpur, and the city is well connected by both road and rail with Jodhpur and Beawar. If you are coming by train, Pali Railway Station has services from major city stations including Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Bikaner, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
By air, the nearest option is Jodhpur Airport, roughly 75 km away, which has regular domestic flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
Getting around
Pali has no airport of its own, so you will arrive by train, bus or car and then get around the city by car, taxi or bus. Pali Marwar is the main station, on the Jodhpur route, with services from cities including Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Bikaner, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. Marwar Junction, the only railway junction in the district, connects the area with southern India and with Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad. Other stations in the district include Rani, Jawai Bandh, Sojat Road and Falna, the last a significant station on the Ahmedabad route; if your train does not stop at Pali Marwar, one of these may serve as an alternative, but you will need to arrange onward road transport, as they lie outside the city centre. Travel agents in Pali can handle rail bookings, among them Srinath Travel Agency on Sumerpur Road, Chandra Travels opposite Town Hall, V K Jain Marwar Travels opposite the Session Court, New Kalpana Travels at the Old Bus Stand, M R Ambika Travels near Manthan Cinema on Station Road, and Laxmi Tours and Travels in Shubhash Nagar; opening hours vary, so call ahead.
By road, Pali is connected to all districts of Rajasthan and to major Indian cities, with private and government buses running to Sirohi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jodhpur and Delhi. The government network is operated by RSRTC, and online booking lets you choose seat and bus type and pay by card or net banking. Within the city, the main ways to move around are car, taxi and bus. Local buses cover the city and are the cheapest option for short trips, while cabs and taxis can be hired for fixed periods through the city's taxi hiring agencies, which offer vehicles to suit different budgets — useful if you plan several stops in a day or want a vehicle on standby. For longer or more flexible journeys, hiring a car or taxi is the more practical choice. Book train and bus tickets in advance where possible, especially on long-distance routes, and if you arrive at a station other than Pali Marwar, arrange road transport onward before you travel.
Where to stay
The source material for Pali offers no accommodation details, so there is nothing to say about where to stay.Food & drink
Pali's table is built on the staples of Rajasthani home cooking. Look for dal-bati, the round wheat dumplings served with lentils, and churma, the sweetened crushed-wheat preparation that often accompanies them. Lapsi, a sweet made from cracked wheat, is another local favourite worth trying. The source material lists no bars, cafes or drink specialities for the city, so plan your eating around these traditional dishes rather than any established drinking scene.What to see and do
In Pali you can visit the Bajarang Bagh Temple and the Lakotia Mahadev Temple, and further out near Jojawar you'll find the Maili Mata Temple. For a look at the region's past, head to the Bangar Museum in Nehru Nagar, Mahaveer Nagar, close to the old bus stand, where a small collection of stone artifacts gathered from across Rajasthan is displayed alongside costumes, coins and arms.Three days in Pali
Day one: Arrive at Pali Railway Station, the town's main railhead, with connections to Jodhpur, Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Ajmer. If you come by air, Jodhpur Airport is the nearest option. Settle in and orient yourself around Station Road and the Old Bus Stand, where travel agencies such as Srinath Travel Agency, Chandra Travels, Jain Marwar Travels, New Kalpana Travels and Ambika Travels can help with onward tickets. Nearby landmarks include Manthan Cinema, Town Hall and the Session Court. Pali is a Marwar town in Rajasthan, so expect warm, dry days for much of the year and a monsoon that can make the heat humid.
Day two: Use Pali as a base for the surrounding Marwar countryside. Marwar Junction and Pali Marwar are the other rail points serving the area, while Sojat Road, Falna, Jawai Bandh, Sumerpur Road and Rani lie within reach for a longer day out. Beawar and Bandi are also part of the wider region. Keep your plans flexible: travel in this part of Rajasthan is often by road, and the desert climate means hot afternoons and cool nights.
Day three: Spend a final morning around the town centre before leaving. If your route continues, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Bikaner, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Agra, Mumbai and Chennai are all connected by rail from Pali Railway Station. Confirm departures in advance through one of the agencies near the Old Bus Stand or Station Road, and allow extra time in the hotter months.