24 days in India when to train when to fly what to skip what not to miss

pdza · Nov 5th, 2009, 12:28

Wow, what a fantastic site. So much valuable information. My husband and I are going to India in less than 2 weeks and we have no reservations but I would like to try to do so in advance. We fly into Dehli and out of Bangalore. Our tentative plan is a couple of days in Dehli, then Agra for Taj Mahal, a couple days in Varanasi, ? Rishikesh, off to Rajasthan for Pushkar (I think), Udaipur, ? Jaiselmar (? worth the time, trouble, etc to get there) and then down to Kerala for a backwater houseboat, Cochin, maybe hilltowns for tea plantation and hopefully ending with some purer relaxation and then overnight train to Bangalore for departing to the U.S. Would love suggestions on where to fly, where to take trains (would like to do 1st class A/C), what is worthwhile, what we should skip and is this unrealistic in 24 full days (this does not include travel time to/from U.S.). Thanks in advance!!!

vikramkyy · Nov 5th, 2009, 20:23

hi how are you.
welcome to india
as you have 24 days --and you are arriving at delhi so first --go to delhi to rishikesh/haridwar(3days)--
---then rishikesh to delhi--take flight for varanasi---2 days stay
then take train from mugalsarai station for agra-- 2 days..

then you can come back to delhi visit delhi one day--
then moov to jaipur ---2 days-- Pushkar 1 day-- Udaipur --2 days--- SKIP---Jaiselmar--
come back to delhi ---take flight to bangalore----3 days in bangalore and maysure...
then go to kerla---3 days --
come back to bangalore take rest ---- go back to U.S.A

pdza · Nov 8th, 2009, 11:46

Thanks for your reply. We weren't really thinking to spend much if any time in Bangalore because we would prefer to spend time in smaller places or nature. Do you have any other suggestions for what to see in Kerala? So you think Rishikesh is worth seeing? Thanks for your input.

Amalfi · Nov 9th, 2009, 21:41

Sorry to say but I differ with the advice given by Vikramyy on your itinerary

This is how you can break up your stay :

Delhi - 2 Days

Agra - 1 Day - 2 if you wish to see sunrise at Taj

Rajasthan - 10 days ( Jaipur - 2 days , Jodhpur -1 day , Jaisalmer - 3 days , Udaipur - 3 Days)

Varanasi - 3 days OR Haridwar/Rishikesh - 3 Days

Kerala - 7 days - Cochin , Allepey (Backwaters) , Periyar Reserve (Forest/Wildlife ) , Munnar (Hills) , Varkala (beach)

Skip Pushkar as the main attraction of the place - the Lake is completely dry and resembles a dust bowl and it's not going to fill up before monsoons next year.

Ignore advice to skip Jaisalmer. It remains one of India's most magical places.

Considering your time consraints make a choice beween Varanasi and Rishikesh/Haridwar. Rishikesh is a short haul from Delhi, is at the foothills of the Himalayas and the Ganges is crysal clear and ice cold. Varanasi is to watch Hindu religiousity and spiriuality at it's unadorned peak , warts and all. Haridwar is the more sanitised version.

Take overnight train journeys to save on travel time and hotel costs. This site has travel advice on all the above areas.Ideally your train tickets should have been booked by now considering you are travelling in peak tourist season. If you can make up your mind fast on your itinerary , suggest make as many train bookings on the net as possible.

Nov 5th, 2009, 12:28	#1
pdza Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: United States Posts: 3	24 days in India when to train when to fly what to skip what not to miss Wow, what a fantastic site. So much valuable information. My husband and I are going to India in less than 2 weeks and we have no reservations but I would like to try to do so in advance. We fly into Dehli and out of Bangalore. Our tentative plan is a couple of days in Dehli, then Agra for Taj Mahal, a couple days in Varanasi, ? Rishikesh, off to Rajasthan for Pushkar (I think), Udaipur, ? Jaiselmar (? worth the time, trouble, etc to get there) and then down to Kerala for a backwater houseboat, Cochin, maybe hilltowns for tea plantation and hopefully ending with some purer relaxation and then overnight train to Bangalore for departing to the U.S. Would love suggestions on where to fly, where to take trains (would like to do 1st class A/C), what is worthwhile, what we should skip and is this unrealistic in 24 full days (this does not include travel time to/from U.S.). Thanks in advance!!!

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Nov 5th, 2009, 20:23	#2
vikramkyy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: dehradun Posts: 210	hi how are you. welcome to india as you have 24 days --and you are arriving at delhi so first --go to delhi to rishikesh/haridwar(3days)-- ---then rishikesh to delhi--take flight for varanasi---2 days stay then take train from mugalsarai station for agra-- 2 days.. then you can come back to delhi visit delhi one day-- then moov to jaipur ---2 days-- Pushkar 1 day-- Udaipur --2 days--- SKIP---Jaiselmar-- come back to delhi ---take flight to bangalore----3 days in bangalore and maysure... then go to kerla---3 days -- come back to bangalore take rest ---- go back to U.S.A

Nov 8th, 2009, 11:46	#3
pdza Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: United States Posts: 3	Thanks for your reply. We weren't really thinking to spend much if any time in Bangalore because we would prefer to spend time in smaller places or nature. Do you have any other suggestions for what to see in Kerala? So you think Rishikesh is worth seeing? Thanks for your input.

Nov 9th, 2009, 21:41	#4
Amalfi Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 208	Sorry to say but I differ with the advice given by Vikramyy on your itinerary This is how you can break up your stay : Delhi - 2 Days Agra - 1 Day - 2 if you wish to see sunrise at Taj Rajasthan - 10 days ( Jaipur - 2 days , Jodhpur -1 day , Jaisalmer - 3 days , Udaipur - 3 Days) Varanasi - 3 days OR Haridwar/Rishikesh - 3 Days Kerala - 7 days - Cochin , Allepey (Backwaters) , Periyar Reserve (Forest/Wildlife ) , Munnar (Hills) , Varkala (beach) Skip Pushkar as the main attraction of the place - the Lake is completely dry and resembles a dust bowl and it's not going to fill up before monsoons next year. Ignore advice to skip Jaisalmer. It remains one of India's most magical places. Considering your time consraints make a choice beween Varanasi and Rishikesh/Haridwar. Rishikesh is a short haul from Delhi, is at the foothills of the Himalayas and the Ganges is crysal clear and ice cold. Varanasi is to watch Hindu religiousity and spiriuality at it's unadorned peak , warts and all. Haridwar is the more sanitised version. Take overnight train journeys to save on travel time and hotel costs. This site has travel advice on all the above areas.Ideally your train tickets should have been booked by now considering you are travelling in peak tourist season. If you can make up your mind fast on your itinerary , suggest make as many train bookings on the net as possible.