The best laid plans of mice and men...

renedu · Apr 11th, 2005, 03:07

Does anyone ever stick to their original travel plan in India?

I am leaving on Friday, have a month (free ticket) and hope to do :

Mumbai
Jodhpur
Jaisalmer
Delhi (transit)
Amritsar
Varanasi
Delhi

I don't move fast, last time I stayed in Mumbai a month instead of a few days. I always feel torn between the things I want to do and see, and how once you are there, it is just enough to be there.

Anybody else feel the same?

claurianta · Apr 11th, 2005, 03:17

I did stick to my plan in India, but then again I was moving at break-neck speed and therefore bought all my train tickets in advance in Amritsar after I crossed the border. In 19 days I visited Amritsar (2 days), Dharamsala (3), Jodhpur(1), Udaipur(1), Ahmedabad(1), Ajanta&Elora Caves(2), Hyderabad(1), Tirupati/Tirumala(3), Mysore(1), Ooty(1), Kochi(1), Keralan backwaters (1) and flew out of Trivandrum. God I love overnight trains. I had a good time doing it though others will call me crazy. Then again, to get to Amritsar, I went overland from Damascus in 16 days.

claurianta · Apr 11th, 2005, 03:27

BTW, if you're railing, the daily Ahmedabad Jammu Tawi Express runs through Jodhpur (20:35) to Jalandhar City (12:45) which is 80km from Amritsar. Might be useful if you don't want to head all the way to Delhi enroute to Amritsar.

lostinasia · Apr 11th, 2005, 22:42

Gotta ask... how DOES one get overland from Damascus to Amritsar *period*?

I carefully planned a one month trip to India and bought a bunch of train tickets. Wound up cancelling all but one of them. I managed to get the money refunded to my credit card.

Actually, India's one of the few places where I've left cities EARLIER than I planned because I didn't particularly enjoy them. This was in Northern India... I think Jaisalmer's the only place where I wished I'd had more time. Oh, and Orchha too. And Bundi. Was glad to see Varanasi and Khajuraho and Udaipur and Jodhpur and New Delhi but felt no desire to linger. Wasn't particularly glad to have even seen Jaipur. I AM sorry I missed Mumbai and Amritsar but either would have taken too much extra transit time.

Varanasi of course is the place where lots of people seem to linger and linger and linger. You may want to allow flexibility for that option.

Dr Funkenstein · Apr 12th, 2005, 00:55

I never have a plan: I'd end up worrying I was missing something if I did.

I usually have a few ideas of places I'd like to see but mostly I just make my mind up when I'm there. Plus, once I get somewhere I like I tend to stay put. Sometimes for months on end.

I find some of the itineraries that some people tie themselves down to on these boards incredible. I know it's difficult if time is tight but, personally, I'd rather stay in one nice place for two or three weeks than rush around three or four different ones and (as is likely) never really get to see any of them properly.

claurianta · Apr 12th, 2005, 19:27

Well, to get overland from Damascus to Amritsar is not too difficult. Hop on the weekly train from Damascus to Tehran via Turkey, then a train to Kerman in Iran, bus to Zahedan, Iran, taxi to the Paki border, minibus across Baluchistan desert to Quetta, train to Lahore, bus to Wagah, taxi to Amritsar. Of course, I made a few more stops along the road, but that's the basic route you'd take.

Apr 11th, 2005, 03:07	#1
renedu Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 112	The best laid plans of mice and men... Does anyone ever stick to their original travel plan in India? I am leaving on Friday, have a month (free ticket) and hope to do : Mumbai Jodhpur Jaisalmer Delhi (transit) Amritsar Varanasi Delhi I don't move fast, last time I stayed in Mumbai a month instead of a few days. I always feel torn between the things I want to do and see, and how once you are there, it is just enough to be there. Anybody else feel the same?

Apr 12th, 2005, 00:55	#5
Dr Funkenstein Joolay !!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh Posts: 854	I never have a plan: I'd end up worrying I was missing something if I did. I usually have a few ideas of places I'd like to see but mostly I just make my mind up when I'm there. Plus, once I get somewhere I like I tend to stay put. Sometimes for months on end. I find some of the itineraries that some people tie themselves down to on these boards incredible. I know it's difficult if time is tight but, personally, I'd rather stay in one nice place for two or three weeks than rush around three or four different ones and (as is likely) never really get to see any of them properly. __________________ Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

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Apr 11th, 2005, 03:17	#2
claurianta Global Nomad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 121	I did stick to my plan in India, but then again I was moving at break-neck speed and therefore bought all my train tickets in advance in Amritsar after I crossed the border. In 19 days I visited Amritsar (2 days), Dharamsala (3), Jodhpur(1), Udaipur(1), Ahmedabad(1), Ajanta&Elora Caves(2), Hyderabad(1), Tirupati/Tirumala(3), Mysore(1), Ooty(1), Kochi(1), Keralan backwaters (1) and flew out of Trivandrum. God I love overnight trains. I had a good time doing it though others will call me crazy. Then again, to get to Amritsar, I went overland from Damascus in 16 days.

Apr 11th, 2005, 03:27	#3
claurianta Global Nomad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 121	BTW, if you're railing, the daily Ahmedabad Jammu Tawi Express runs through Jodhpur (20:35) to Jalandhar City (12:45) which is 80km from Amritsar. Might be useful if you don't want to head all the way to Delhi enroute to Amritsar.

Apr 11th, 2005, 22:42	#4
lostinasia Lost In Asia Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Taiwan Posts: 46	Gotta ask... how DOES one get overland from Damascus to Amritsar period? I carefully planned a one month trip to India and bought a bunch of train tickets. Wound up cancelling all but one of them. I managed to get the money refunded to my credit card. Actually, India's one of the few places where I've left cities EARLIER than I planned because I didn't particularly enjoy them. This was in Northern India... I think Jaisalmer's the only place where I wished I'd had more time. Oh, and Orchha too. And Bundi. Was glad to see Varanasi and Khajuraho and Udaipur and Jodhpur and New Delhi but felt no desire to linger. Wasn't particularly glad to have even seen Jaipur. I AM sorry I missed Mumbai and Amritsar but either would have taken too much extra transit time. Varanasi of course is the place where lots of people seem to linger and linger and linger. You may want to allow flexibility for that option.

Apr 12th, 2005, 19:27	#6
claurianta Global Nomad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 121	Well, to get overland from Damascus to Amritsar is not too difficult. Hop on the weekly train from Damascus to Tehran via Turkey, then a train to Kerman in Iran, bus to Zahedan, Iran, taxi to the Paki border, minibus across Baluchistan desert to Quetta, train to Lahore, bus to Wagah, taxi to Amritsar. Of course, I made a few more stops along the road, but that's the basic route you'd take.

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