2-3 months north then 2-3 months south

laratigger

I been given 7 months off work and my husband and I are heading to India. Our budget is mid-range, happy to splash out here and there, or rough it if necessary. We've only been to Goa before - spending a month at a time there. I'm 37, hubby is a very fit 56. Hubby is type 1 diabetic, well controlled - which worries me a little, but I understand the medical facilities are generally pretty good.

Interested in taking the opportunity to learn yoga (never really done before but would like to try), indian cooking, curious about the ashram experience. Hubby is particularly interested in wildlife, walking and too many temples bores him. We would like to get off the beaten track, mix with the people as opposed to just being tourists as much as possible.

We're starting in, stopping midway (New Year) and ending in Goa (April). We fly into Goa on 12 September.

Rough itinerary - we'd like to visit wildlife santuarys where we can:

Goa - 2 weeks

Delhi - Agra - 2-3 days
(Alternative start was Goa to Kolkatta to Darjeeling - but was concerned about the flooding.)

Fly to Bagdogra for Darjeeling and Sikkim - hoping to do some treks - would like to spend 2-3 weeks in the area.

Train to Varanasi, Bodhagaya, Rajgir - 1 week

Betla National Park?

Rishikesh yoga??

Amritsar

Rajasthan - 2-3 weeks

Gujarat - 2-3 days

Goa - 1 week

Then south from January to end March - haven't planned this yet but would like to spend a couple of weeks in Kerala, visit a hill station, Pondicherry.

I was wondering whether it would be better to get to Rajasthan from Varanasi area by going south of Delhi as currently we're thinking of going north.

I would be grateful for any feedback on the length of time to spend in any one place - ie. is 2-3 weeks in Sikkim area and Rajasthan too much.

We we're intending of going direct Gujarat to Goa, but was wondering whether we are missing out on any must see places by doing.


Thank you in advance for any responses.

anar

in kerala, don't miss: varkala, munnar, fort cochin. and you could do your yoga at sivananda ashram near nayyar dam in the hills, not too far from trivandrum.

capt_mahajan

I would

-make the Delhi/Agra 7/10 days. There is enough to do and see in Delhi.

-Gujarat 2/3 days is not enough, but I think you are just working your way to Goa and so maybe ok.

-When you hit the South, I suggest (not suggesting temples because I don't know anything about them)
- Hampi, Srirangapatnam, Mysore, Coorg, Jog falls in Karnataka
-Rameshwaram, Mahabalipuram in Tamilnadu
-Pondicherry
-Kerala backwaters and Munnar.

This is a decent place to start for Statewise wildlife sanctuaries
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/wildlife/index.html

And 2/3 weeks in Rajasthan is not too much. Sikkim it may be, but if you want to relax a bit, 2 weeks is fine.

anar

eravikulam national park, 13km outside munnar is a well-organised place where the endangered nilgiri tahr (species of mountain goat) wander untrammelled about the pristine ghats. also the location for the spectacular once-in-twelve-years flowering of the kurinji bloom (the whole site turns blue when this happens). this event took place last year, i caught the tail-end (pic attached).

laratigger

Great photo. Thanks all for your advice.