Special Villages?

Sharonov

After posting my last question regarding what to do for a month in India (group, private guide, independent) hubbie and I have decided to spend our entire month in the North. We'll be going from January 12, 2005 to February 14.

Since we'll have more time to really explore, can anyone suggest any really special non-touristy (if possible) villages that we might want to visit? I assume we'll be going to the usual Jodhpur, Jaisalapur, Delhi, Jaipur, Udiapur, Rathman-something nature preserve, Varanasi, etc, with a side journey to Nepal--but what about the places in between?

Also, which of the above places (other than Delhi) would warrant a longer stay than most of the tours provide?

And last--for those who have been to more than one nature preserve, which would you rank as number 1? After reading Frommer, I'm almost tempted to take a flight to Periyar, even though it's at the southern tip!

cyberhippie

Non touristy villages are to be found all over but I guess you mean somewhere less frequented by tourists.
Well Bundi in South East Rajasthan certainly warrents a visit has pretty much everything Jaipur/Udaipur/Jodhpur have to offer without the big tourist influx.
Kumbhalgargh and Ranakpur are wonderfully quiet options with forts and temples set amongst pristine wooded countryside!
Or the Shekawati region in Northern Rajasthan offers a glimpse of the timeless village life of Rajasthan!
As far as wildlife parks go I reckon Corbett is probably the best bet for the area you're in, although I have heard good reports about Ranthambore (as well as bad ones)
If your willing to forego the chance of spotting the big cats or elephants then a wander around the bird park at Bharatpur is very rewarding. Take a guide in order to get "full tour"
This is also a good spot to base yourself if you want to see the Taj and Fatehpur Sikri or indeed Deeg!
If you had the time Bandhavgarh was just amazing, wonderful rugged countryside and probably the best chance of spotting a tiger anywhere in India, this would be my number 1 but for your itinery I fancy it's a bit far in the wrong direction.

Hope that's filled you in a little!!!

SitaParityaga

Sharanov,
Read your earlier post, and like you, my husband and I are early fifties types....having travelled in India in a variety of ways in the past, in the north and the south: at this time of our lives the car/driver, independent mode of travel really worked out well for us.

We're just not the group tour type of people....one of the reasons being the need for spontaneous stops in more out of the way places. We enjoy a combination of big city and small villages, so the car/driver style was very satisfying.

I am also planning a trip through Rajasthan...so I really appreciate your info, cyberhippie...sounds good to me!

We did a trip through the south last winter, and spent a few days in Periyar. We liked it....but would not recommend going so far out of your way to include it in your trip, when there are plenty of places in the north "along the way".

If after travelling in the north you get the itch to return, the south is also wonderful and you'll end up wanting to spend some indepth time there as well, like you're currently planning for the north.

You'll find people have different tastes for different places, of course. I spent some months in the north years ago...got to Varanasi and couldn't leave for two weeks I loved it so much. Even though it's on the tourist path...it really didn't spoil it at all for me. I love people watching, and for me Varanasi is just so fascinating, so full of the total spectrum of life.

When I go, I like to get in a good festival of some type. You'll be there during the time of the Bikaner camel festival (Jan. 24 + 25)...I have not been, and may-be others who have been recently can comment on whats its like.

Have a wonderful trip, and I hope to hear from you after your return: your trip sounds similar to the next one I'm planning.

Jeroen

You're cramming a lot in those 4 weeks... but it's all beautiful, if somewhat touristy compared to the rest of India.

Skip the Red Fort in Delhi - all the Rajastan palaces are better than that - but do see the Qutb Minar, Lotus temple and the mughul tombs scattered around south Delhi.

Villages: I strongly suggest you do a 2-day trip from Udaipur north to see the huge castle (forgot the name now) and the Ranakpur Jain temple. Ranakpur has good and peaceful accommodation options. ALong the way you pass over good though narrow and windy roads through beautiful countryside with plenty of traditional villages where you can stop off... make sure your driver can do a bit of translating. It's the only place in India where I've seen bullock-operated water pumps (ie a line of buckets down a deep well). It can just be done in one day too, but will be too rushed for my liking.

Between Jaisalmer and Bikaner (4km from the main road and railway line) is the desert village of Keechen, surrounded by big dunes that are home to 5-6000 cranes in winter, worth stopping there if you like birds. The Bharatpur park is very good too - I spent all day cycling around there.

Near the entrance to Rathambore park is a village where the people have been resettled that used to live within the park. There's a project whereby the women learn to make pretty nice handicrafts and sell them at good rates - excellent place to do shopping and wander around the scruffy village.

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