Moving 15 or 16 people around Rajasthan is a bit of a project. Two cars are not enough. Three cars is a mess. Somebody always gets lost, and somebody always says they’ll just “meet you there.” So most families end up looking for one big vehicle. That’s when the 16 seater Urbania comes up.
It’s a good vehicle. But it’s not right for every group, and I’d rather tell you that now than have you find out at pickup.
Count your people, then count your bags
This sounds boring, but it’s the most important step. Sixteen seats means sixteen seats. Your bags have to fit in the same van.
A short trip with small bags is easy. A week in Rajasthan with one big suitcase each is not. Before you phone anyone, jot down how many people are going and how many of them are bringing a big bag.
Also, don’t book for “around sixteen.” If you might be seventeen, look at the tempo traveller 17 seater instead. Adding a seat later is a headache. Booking the right size from the start is not.
What it feels like inside
An Urbania has a tall roof. Nobody has to bend down to walk to their seat, and the older folks in a group really do appreciate that. On the highway it also feels calmer and less noisy than the older tempo traveller shape. After four or five hours in the seat, you notice the difference.
Seats are different from van to van, though. Some are simple pushback seats. Some are nicer. So ask how the 16 seats are set up, and don’t just ask if it has 16. To see how the whole range fits together, read about the Urbania tempo traveller.
The luggage question
Here’s what I’d ask on the phone. Can the van take a roof carrier, yes or no? Don’t guess. Some vans can and some can’t. It depends on the exact vehicle that is coming to you.
If the answer is no, and everyone in your group has a big suitcase, think again. A normal 16 seater tempo traveller is usually easier for heavy bags, because the carrier is easier to get.
A few small things help either way. Soft bags fit better than hard ones. Keep your water and medicines near you. And tell the operator early if you’re bringing a pram or a wheelchair.
Who sits where?
This sounds small, but it matters on a long drive.
Put the grandparents near the door. Getting in and out is hard for them, more than sitting is. Keep the kids close to the parents. The back rows are fine for teenagers, as long as the AC reaches them.
That’s the part to check when the van arrives. Stand in the last row for a minute. If it’s cold in front and warm at the back, say so right then.
Urbania or a normal tempo traveller?
I get asked this one the most. Both hold 16 people. They’re just good at different things.
| 16 seater Urbania | 16 seater tempo traveller | |
|---|---|---|
| Highway ride | Smoother and quieter | Good, a bit bumpier |
| Inside | Tall roof, van style | Older, traditional shape |
| Luggage | Mostly inside, ask about a carrier | Roof carrier is usually easy |
| Price | Usually higher | Usually lower |
| Best for | Comfort first, lighter bags | Heavy bags, smaller budget |
And if your group is closer to 20, don’t squeeze. The 20 seater tempo traveller is a better idea than two half-empty vans.
When I would say no
Honestly, there are a few cases where I’d tell you to book something else.
If you’re only going around Jaipur for half a day, you don’t need it. A smaller vehicle is cheaper and does the same job.
Say everyone has a big bag and nobody wants to pack lighter. Then I’d look at a vehicle with a roof carrier first.
And if the number of people keeps changing every other day, hold off till it settles.
And don’t book just because the photos look nice. The photo is never the exact van that shows up. Ask for the year it was registered and a fresh picture of the van you’re getting.
What about luxury?
Size and trim are two different choices. A normal Urbania is already comfortable. A luxury one has better seats and a nicer inside. It’s worth it on long days, or when you have guests you want to impress. You can read what changes on the luxury Urbania tempo traveller page, and see what’s available on luxury Urbania in Jaipur.
Need wider seats for only a few people? Ask if the layout can change a little. A full Maharaja seat tempo traveller layout has fewer seats, so it only works if your group is smaller. For a small family, the 9 seater Urbania with Maharaja seats fits better. The 12 seater Urbania is the one in the middle.
How to read a price
Two quotes for the same trip can look very different and still cost the same. The gap is usually what’s left out.
So ask for one total and find out what’s inside it. The driver, fuel, tolls, parking and the night stay are where quotes usually differ, and so is the daily km limit and the rate for extra km. Ask them to send all of it on WhatsApp, because you’ll want to look back at it later.
Rates rise in busy weeks too, think wedding dates, Diwali or the Pushkar fair. Those dates shift each year, so look them up. In weeks like that I’d book around two weeks ahead. In a normal week, a few days is usually okay.
Where it works best
The 16 seater Urbania is best on long highway days. Jaipur to Udaipur, Jodhpur or Jaisalmer is where you’ll feel the smoother ride. Pushkar and Ajmer work well too, and so does the Golden Triangle as long as the bags aren’t crazy.
Some trips mix a day of city sightseeing with a long drive out of town. If yours does, tell the operator all of it on the first call so they can plan it as one trip. To compare every size side by side, there’s the tempo traveller on rent page.
In short
Count your people and your bags. Ask about the roof carrier for your exact van. Check the AC in the last row. Get one clear price in writing.
Do these four things and a 16 seater Urbania in Jaipur is an easy way to move a big group. Skip them, and this is the bit of the trip everyone ends up grumbling about.
If you want to know whether a van is free for your dates, call or WhatsApp the Rajasthan Travel Operator team on +91 9251041418.
