3.5 weeks in Jan: Delhi - Rajasthan - Varanasi - Bhopal - Mumbai

annietea · Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:51

Hi everyone,

I'm arriving in Delhi at the beginning of December and will be spending a month there with a group. During that time I plan to take a short trip to Agra and weekend trip to Amritsar (have been warned about the cold!!). After that I'm going to be traveling on my own (female in early 20s) although hopefully will find lots of other travelers on my way!

I'm planning on traveling by 2AC class overnight trains most of the way and have a budget of about 1000Rs/day, although not too worried about stretching this for Mumbai. I have already checked out these trains so I know they run on the days I have planned so far and plan to buy tickets as soon as I feel confident (or at least a little more confident!) about the whole route.

3rd Jan
O/n train from Delhi to Jaisalmer

4th - 7th
Time in Jaisalmer, camel trek on one of the days
Originally wanted a longer trek but don't know how uncomfortable it could be and can't get an idea of prices.. also would it make a difference or be more difficult to join a group as I am traveling alone?

7th
Train to Jodhpur, arrive evening

8th - 9th
Time in Jodhpur
Are there any good day trips from here? Or are 2 days needed for Jodhpur?

10th
Travel Jodhpur to Udaipur
Not sure how to do this yet, is a bus the best option?

11th - 12th
Time in Udaipur

12th
O/n train to Jaipur

13th - 15th
Time in Jaipur
I know the Kite Festival is on the 14th, does this mean that I'll have to book a room in advance or do you think I will still be able to find somewhere in my budget when I first arrive by train? Are prices inflated at this time?

15th
O/n to Varanasi

16th - 20th
Time in Varanasi
Day trip to Sarnath
Any other recommended day trips from here?

20th
O/n to Bhopal
Wasn't sure if it was worth stopping at other places before getting to Bhopal in MP due to my time constraints - perhaps I could take off a couple of days at Varanasi?

21st - 23rd
Day trip to Sanchi, maybe another day trip from Bhopal in this time.

23rd
O/n train to Mumbai

24th
Hoping to visit Matheran on way to Mumbai, potentially staying a night. Is this another place where I would need to book both the toy train and bed far in advance?

25th - 27th
Time in Mumbai, not sure where to begin here! It seems so much further away than the rest of the trip that I might plan this part more when I'm over there..

27th
Leave for home!

Is any of this too packed or perhaps unnecessary? There seems to be a lot of different opinions about cities in Rajasthan, which is why I'm trying to just see the main ones that have been recommended, although if there are any good day or half day trips from any of the cities I would be interested in those.

Any advice is appreciated!

vonkla · Oct 23rd, 2009, 17:04

I think your trip is well balanced and very well doable.

Another other option between Jodhpur ans Udaipur is to hire a car, so you can visit the temple of Ranakpur en route. Nice day trips from Jodhpur are to Osian or to the Bishnoi villages.

An alternative for Varanasi-Bhopal is Varanasi-Jhansi and then a trip to Orchha. Next from Jhansi to Bhopal

annietea · Oct 25th, 2009, 16:52

Thanks Vonkla. Is it easy to hire a car to do an Orchha day trip? Or are there buses that run regularly there? I have heard of Osian and the Bishnoi villages before on this forum I will look into those!

vonkla · Oct 25th, 2009, 17:25

We stayed some days in Orchha and took for 225 rs a rickshaw from the Jhansi station.
It was a drive of something like half an hour.

Oct 23rd, 2009, 10:51	#1
annietea Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 12	3.5 weeks in Jan: Delhi - Rajasthan - Varanasi - Bhopal - Mumbai Hi everyone, I'm arriving in Delhi at the beginning of December and will be spending a month there with a group. During that time I plan to take a short trip to Agra and weekend trip to Amritsar (have been warned about the cold!!). After that I'm going to be traveling on my own (female in early 20s) although hopefully will find lots of other travelers on my way! I'm planning on traveling by 2AC class overnight trains most of the way and have a budget of about 1000Rs/day, although not too worried about stretching this for Mumbai. I have already checked out these trains so I know they run on the days I have planned so far and plan to buy tickets as soon as I feel confident (or at least a little more confident!) about the whole route. 3rd Jan O/n train from Delhi to Jaisalmer 4th - 7th Time in Jaisalmer, camel trek on one of the days Originally wanted a longer trek but don't know how uncomfortable it could be and can't get an idea of prices.. also would it make a difference or be more difficult to join a group as I am traveling alone? 7th Train to Jodhpur, arrive evening 8th - 9th Time in Jodhpur Are there any good day trips from here? Or are 2 days needed for Jodhpur? 10th Travel Jodhpur to Udaipur Not sure how to do this yet, is a bus the best option? 11th - 12th Time in Udaipur 12th O/n train to Jaipur 13th - 15th Time in Jaipur I know the Kite Festival is on the 14th, does this mean that I'll have to book a room in advance or do you think I will still be able to find somewhere in my budget when I first arrive by train? Are prices inflated at this time? 15th O/n to Varanasi 16th - 20th Time in Varanasi Day trip to Sarnath Any other recommended day trips from here? 20th O/n to Bhopal Wasn't sure if it was worth stopping at other places before getting to Bhopal in MP due to my time constraints - perhaps I could take off a couple of days at Varanasi? 21st - 23rd Day trip to Sanchi, maybe another day trip from Bhopal in this time. 23rd O/n train to Mumbai 24th Hoping to visit Matheran on way to Mumbai, potentially staying a night. Is this another place where I would need to book both the toy train and bed far in advance? 25th - 27th Time in Mumbai, not sure where to begin here! It seems so much further away than the rest of the trip that I might plan this part more when I'm over there.. 27th Leave for home! Is any of this too packed or perhaps unnecessary? There seems to be a lot of different opinions about cities in Rajasthan, which is why I'm trying to just see the main ones that have been recommended, although if there are any good day or half day trips from any of the cities I would be interested in those. Any advice is appreciated!

Oct 23rd, 2009, 17:04	#2
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 559	I think your trip is well balanced and very well doable. Another other option between Jodhpur ans Udaipur is to hire a car, so you can visit the temple of Ranakpur en route. Nice day trips from Jodhpur are to Osian or to the Bishnoi villages. An alternative for Varanasi-Bhopal is Varanasi-Jhansi and then a trip to Orchha. Next from Jhansi to Bhopal __________________ . See our travel journals Mumbai-Dehli in three months; From Kochi to Delhi

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Oct 25th, 2009, 16:52	#3
annietea Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 12	Thanks Vonkla. Is it easy to hire a car to do an Orchha day trip? Or are there buses that run regularly there? I have heard of Osian and the Bishnoi villages before on this forum I will look into those!

Oct 25th, 2009, 17:25	#4
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 559	We stayed some days in Orchha and took for 225 rs a rickshaw from the Jhansi station. It was a drive of something like half an hour.