5 Week Wonder - The Perfect Itinerary

Crauf

Hello,

My names Rich and I'm a newly signed up member of this website. I'll save proper introductions for the correct forum but just briefly explain that I'm 25 and I have been following everyones comments on this site from a far for some time. I will shortly be setting off on a year long visit round the world. It will be my first time travelling and I will be travelling with a friend. I'm managing to remain calm and positive despite my travel buddies insistance that I am the better organiser.

Anyway ... the point: Our first destination on our travels is India where will arrive in Delhi on October 2nd. We expect to spend around 5 weeks in India in total although our outwards tickets are flexible. We fly out of Mumbai at the end of the trip and have a reasonable budget. However with the rest of the world to see any savings would be appreciated.

As well as trying to get my head round going away for a year I have been trying to put together an itinerary for India but have realised that there is just SO much to see and do that it's just too much for my already frazzled brain.

So far I'm thinking of staying in Delhi for perhaps 3 or 4 days, using one of these days to hire a driver and take a day trip to Agra and see the Taj. Everyone has a lot of good things to say about Jaipur and Udaipur and I understand it might be worth spending a number of days in these locations. We wont be too upset if we don't see every temple and would rather do the more unique things such as ride elephants etc. Travelling around we would be happy to use the train and would prefer overnight trips unless it is particularly scenic. However, I have seen a number of posts about organising the whole trip from Delhi and wondered about the views on this?

After what is probably a fleeting tour of Northern India (sadly we won't be able to do everything) we would like to head south. We have budgeted for a flight to do this but I have yet to check where the best place to fly south from is. Ideally we'd like to fly all the way to Thiruvanathapuram but am beginning to realise it's more feasable to fly to Cochin. Here we would like to do a backwater trip on a boat.

As for travelling up the west to Mumbai, I admit I have yet to fully consider but since Goa is on the way it would seem a sensible stopping point. We dont wish to spend any length ot time in Mumbai it would simply be a stop before flying out.

Any comments on this apologetically weak itinerary and any suggestions on how people would spend their time given these ideals would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance to the wise people of this forum (yes ... I'm sucking up now),

Rich

PS I've just realised this post is epic. I apologise

gregornot

Namaste,
I am also a first time traveler to India, you are going around the world. I would think that most IM's would suggest more time in India. Just wondering where else you will be going? What time allotment do you have for those places? Where are you starting from or what country do you live in? A year planning INHO woulod take a while to plan and you are leaving in less than two weeks. Slow down and get the advice that is sure to follow from the IM's,but they favor India,

Are you on any other forums of other places?
best wishs and have fun, gregor

__________________
To conclude with the ever inspiring words of the Buddha:
"If the roots remain untouched and firm in the ground,
a felled tree still puts forth new shoots.

If the underlying habit of craving and aversion is not
uprooted, suffering arises anew over and over again."
~Dhammapada XXIV verse 338

Crauf

Thank you for the quick response and advice,

I am currently in the UK which is where I will depart from. I should probably ellaborate by stating that after India we will be travelling to Thailand. Only recentley several friends who are already in Thailand mailed us with a proposed itinerary knowing that my travel companion and I were at a point in our lives where travel seemed a good idea. A short time ago we booked our tickets where were given the option of flying to India prior to our main trip. This should go some way to explaining why our India trip is a little unprepared.

cyberhippie

How about
Delhi
Rishikesh
Bharatpur (which is a great base for seeing the Taj and Fatehpur Sikri as well as a fabulous bird park)
Agra (transit)
Gwalior
Jhansi (for Orcha, Datia and Sonigiri)
Bandhavgarh (tigers)
Pachmeri (hill Station)
Mandu/Maheshwar (lonely Fort and Afghan style ruins)
Adjanta Caves (Wonderful carved caves)
Goa (well you probably know what that's all about)
Badami (more caves)
Hampi (ruins city amongst the strangest landscape)
Dandeli (jungle rafting)
Gokarne ( beach again????)
Madekeri
Cochin
Munnar (tea everywhere)
Thekkady (elephant park)
Varkala (beach, and holy town)
Mumbai

That will let you see a fair bit, of what India has to offer, the possibilities are endless of course

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Crauf

Just to update: I ended up spending most of the night reading the hundreds of nuggets of sound advice on this web site and leafing furiously through my travel guides. I'm not sure what time I eventually went to bed but when I woke up this morning I found I had managed to bodge together the following itinerary for the northern leg of our India trip.

Mon 02/10: Arrive Delhi. Settle in. Possibly see light and sound show at Red Fort on evening.

Tue 03/10: Spend whole day sightseeing in Delhi inc Quatab Minar, Tomb, Ghats, Old Delhi etc.

Wed 04/10: Mid morning flight to Varanasi. Had a look about and reckon this will be about £33. Spend afternoon in Varanasi exploring. Visit Monkey Temple and possibly visit steam rooms / massage.

Thu 05/10: Spend day in Varanasi then later catch overnight train to Agra.

Fri 06/10: Whole day in Agra. I appreciate that the Taj isn't open on a Friday but I believe other places will be open.

Sat 07/10: See Taj at sunrise. Hire a driver to Ranthambore National Park via Fatephur Sikri. Possible evening tour of RNP.

Sun 08/10: Possible morning tour of RNP. Hire driver to Jaipur.

Mon 09/10: Day in Jaipur including elephant ride to fort, city palace and palce of the winds. possibly observatory as well. Evening market.

Tue 10/10: Driver from Jaipur to Udaipur taking in Ranakpur Temple and Kumbhal Garhft on journey. Arrive Udapair evening time.

Wed 11/10: Whole day in Udaipur.

Thu 12/10: Fly from Udaipur south.

Any comments would be more than welcome.