3 week itinerary?: Oh Well..

Hi everyone in India mike
Your tips are being very helpful in the plannig of my 3 weeks in September trip to India.
Now that my itenerary is almost composed, I'd like you to see it and tell me your opinions on:
- Is it worth it?
- Is it doable (as in distances, for ex.)
- Advice in transportation between places
- Are there other places you think I should include?

So here it goes:

Arrival - Calcuta on 3rd September (don't want to stay there more than necessary) heading to ---> VARANASI ----> KAJURAHO -----> RISHIKESH ------>BIKANER -----> JAIPUR / JODHPUR / UDAIPUR ------> JAISALMER -----> GOA

I don't exclude doing one or two plain trips.

YOUR THOUGHTS AND ARGUMENTS PLEASE!


Thank you so much ... agaaaaiiin
Juliana

I'd say forget Goa -- it is too far out of your way and it will be far less than optimum in September anyway. If you are looking for some beach time, Diu would be a more convenient option with your tentative itinerary. If possible, you should arrange your flight home from Mumbai or Delhi to minimize back-tracking.

Sounds a bit amibitious for three weeks, even if you fly everyplace that is possible. You can fly from Kolkata to Varanasi and V to Khajuraho and K to Delhi. You'll have to come back to Delhi after Rishikesh. You need about 14 days to do all the cities you mention in Rajasthan. It's possible to do it less, if you don't mind spending all your time in transit. And then there is no time left for Goa. We don't see how it is possible, or at least, what would be the point as you'd always be in transit.
Don't short cut Kolkata, it is a fascinating and vibrant city.

I agree with what the others have said. Three weeks is not much time, and you are planning on covering too much ground to make it really worthwhile. Getting around takes longer than you'd expect.

e.g. Even tho I tried to take overnight trains, they often still cut well into the next day, e.g. 17 hours Agra to Varanasi.

The train from Varanasi to Jaipur takes *24* hours. That's a whole day out of a 21 day trip.

I had also planned to go to Kolkata as well on that trip, but realised it was just too much travelling and not enough experiencing.

If you can afford to fly then that'll help fit in more. Much as I like to have everything planned out before I go, after two trips to India I have come to realise it's best to have notes on the places you most want to visit, but just play it by ear after you arrive.

Have to agree with the others ditch Goa you just don't have the time for some beach time try Puri south of Calcutta the beach is not the best in India but a walk of about 1 kilometer will take you beyond the public toilet and you can sample the delights of Indian sea food!! It's also an interesting little town!!
From here you can train it direct to Varanasi!!
Also on your Rajasthan itinery I would seriously consider dropping either Jaipur or Johdpur very similar scenarios on a short trip like this you don't really need to see both!!
Travel in India is hard work and should be approached with caution otherwise you'll quickly tire of traveling and of India
Leave yourself a bit of time to recover and to soak up the atmosphere of the places you visit!!

Happy Travelling

I can understand your cultural attachment to Goa - and if you do a quick tour, combining Calcutta(now Kolkatta) - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Udaipur (six days) by air and then Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Jaipur by road (ten days) , you can still have a few days in Goa but that leaves Rishikesh out.

Interested? I'll work out a more detailed itinerary for you.

noa to goa