Flying Versus Land Travel |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 21:03
| #1 |
| Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 10
| Flying Versus Land Travel We have just 14 days for a first trip to India and would like to visit as many cities as possible. Thinking of flying most places: 1) Delhi to Varanasi; 2) fly to Khajuraho; 3) surface to Agra; 4) fly to Jaipur; 5) fly to Udaipur; 6) fly to Jaisalmer; 7) fly to Jodhpur; 8) fly to Delhi. Our plan would be to have a car and driver wherever necessary for local sightseeing. I know we could take overnight trains to some of these destinations, but I worry about how well we would sleep -- losing the next day to exhaustion. Otherwise, many of these legs are 5-6 hours by car. Tiring and time-consuming. Are there some portions of this trip that are particularly wonderful by land? Aside from cost, what are the reasons not to fly? Thanks. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 22:43
| #2 |
| Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Back home for now
Posts: 64
| "Aside from cost, what are the reasons not to fly?" As many will agree, travelling by train in India is great. It is nice to watch the scenery passing by, to meet the people in the trains, to see the action at the train stations. The chai-wallahs, newspaper-wallahs, food-sellers all make a journey on a train a wonderful thing. Besides that, by travelling on a train you pollute the environment much less. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 22:58
| #3 |
| Forum Leader  Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad
Posts: 2,083
| For a road/rail journey that is less than 6 hrs a flight is not a good option. any flight, regardless of the distance between the start and end point will take minimun 3 hrs counting travel from hotel to airport, check in and security in airport, actual flight time, flight delays(most of these flights will be small legs of multileg flight schedules), baggage retreival and drive to hotel. you will have a much interesting time driving from one city to another at your own pace than driving to and from airports facing delays etc. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 23:02
| #4 |
| 10 year Visa okee dokee  Join Date: May 2005 Location: Western NC USA
Posts: 2,767
| Since you want to basically have a "fly-over India" experience, why not just get a two week tour which will also give you the highlights of a few cities and you don't have to think about getting yourself from place to place. I'm not being sarcastic or negative. I honestly think with only 2 weeks you will see very little and will be totally exhausted, even flying (which will still use at least 1/2 a day), with your suggested itinerary. Like coming to the US and flying every 2 days from place to place (NY City, Wash. DC, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, etc.) Look at this tour as another idea. It includes airfare & does a good job of hitting the highlights. http://www.smartours.com/india.htm We took this company to Thailand/Cambodia & thought they did a very good job at a very fair price. |
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My selected India photos |
Jan 4th, 2009, 23:35
| #5 |
| Porcinus Canis  Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ireland
Posts: 29
| Hi NewHope, All I can say is 'TAKE THE TRAIN' I would be very disapointed if I ever had to take an internal flight in India. And, believe me, I love flying!! I have a pilot's licence and love nothing more than getting my feet off the ground. But travelling by train in India is one of the essentially idiosyncratic experiences of India. Please, for your own sake, don't miss it. And don't worry about sleeping! If you're worried about sleeping, it'll keep you awake!!  The one thing you need to learn about India is that sometimes you need to go limp and just go with the flow. And once you accept that you'll get the most out of your trip. So just book your trains, bring a pillow, nestle into your bunk at night and go limp (metaphorically and literally). You'll be asleep in no time and have the experience of a lifetime.
__________________ Long time listener, first time caller. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 23:42
| #6 |
| Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 10
| Package Tours On using a package tour, I worry about spending too much time in rug shops and gift stores. We aren't big shoppers. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 23:46
| #7 |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MUMBAI
Posts: 2,516
| All I can say is, since you're thinking of flying, now is a particularly good time, as the fares have gone down considerably. Now just the low-cost airlines, even Jet, Kingfisher and Air India are offering good deals to lure travelers. |
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Jan 4th, 2009, 23:51
| #8 |
| On the Road, wherever I am  Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho . . . now the red-rock plateau of southern Utah
Posts: 1,163
 | I agree, with almost everyone above. Camelgirl/nayan's points about the exhaustion that comes with flying/checking-in/out . . . IMHO, if you can afford to fly, hire a car. After five trips to India I took a ten day road trip, round trip from Varanasi through Khajuraho/Orrcha/Agra/Mathura. GREAT way to see things, parts of country not available from a train (which is still my All-Time-Favorite way to travel in India, the longer the ride, the better), you stop when and where you want, stay, or go, as you like, without being at whims of prearranged reservations. Go through a reputable agency, let them know at the outset that you want to do/see certain things, and certain things only - and no shopping, or at least at your whim, and not the driver's.
__________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson |
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Jan 5th, 2009, 00:11
| #9 |
| . . . _ _ _ . . .  Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,403
| Remember that 5-6 hours by car replaced by a 1 hour plane trip won't get you much farther ahead. 1 hour drive to airport 1 hour for check in 1 hour flight 1 hour to disembark and get your bags 1 hour drive to your hotel...... You definitely want to include an overnight train journey. It's a piece of India you can't miss. |
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Jan 5th, 2009, 00:12
| #10 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hottingen
Posts: 178
| I think it's rather save to fly in India. Trains are save too. But I am probably the wrong person, cause I am totally oblivious of danger. Even if know beforehand something is going to happen, I go onto a bus(and indeed accidents happened..). As soon, as I have set foot on the subcontinent, I decide to be save... Kind of strong autosuggestion/selffullfilling prophecy. Yeah trains number 1. Cheap, comfy and you get to see some countryside! Most of us have enough time to take trains and accept delays.. Costs are cheap either way, don't worry! What I found cool about flying is, you meet upperclassy people, which can be interesting and also helpfull!  But hey, let's be all a wee more green and think about pollution and stuff. I have taken a plane once in India and regretted it. Who likes airports and planes? If you don^t have a windo seat you see shit,so what's the point? If you have little times, weaks nerves and don^t like the filthy part of India too much, then planes are a blessing! anyway, ecologically and economically it's plain bs! And, yes, cut the route, India is an adventure an dwill change you anyway, no need to fly around like a bee
__________________ I believe in incarnation  |
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Jan 5th, 2009, 00:22
| #11 |
| Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 10
| Thanks for all the advice. We will revisit our plans to fly and do some combination of car, train and plane. |
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Jan 5th, 2009, 00:25
| #12 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hottingen
Posts: 178
| Welcome. Good choice! |
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