6 Days in India in December - Suggestions for additional stop(s)?

I posted this on Lonely Planet, but figured I should post it here as well for some additional suggestions.


So my brother and I are heading to India in December. We are both first time goer's and have a short time there.

We arrive in Delhi on December 21st at 6:20PM. We then have 6 full days to explore India between the 22nd - 27th, before we fly out of Delhi in the early hours of the 28th.

Our current plan is to spend 2 days in Delhi, 1 day in Agra, and 2 days in Jaipur in no particular order. That leaves us with 1 day remaining to go somewhere else if possible. I was thinking about doing a 1 day safari, if that exists, at the Corbett National Park, but I am not sure if that is feasible.

Should I subtract a day from Delhi or Jaipur to fit in Corbett, or should I just skip Corbett altogether?

Any suggestions on MUST SEE destinations not too far from Delhi, Agra, or Jaipur?

Here are a list of things we would like to do while we are out there:
Eat, Eat, Eat
Monuments
Temples
See Wild Animals

Thanks in advance

Steve

Corbett would be too far for a day from Delhi.
Instead check out Ranthambore ... you can visit it on your way to Jaipur.
Safe Travels,
Madhu

I agree with Madhu but would also like to throw in suggestions of Sariska or Keoladeo. But if it was me I'd go to Ranthambhore (again ).

None of these are out of your way and almost en-route.

Thanks for the tips.

I will look into Ranthambhore, Sariska, and Keoladio

Should I take a day off from Delhi or Jaipur to roam around one of these 3 spots?

Welcome to IndiaMike, gochoo.

It's good you're taking on India. But six days only? One shakes one's head in despair. Still, you're limiting your travel more sensibly than most newbies.

As to your things to do:

Eat, Eat, Eat – easy, and a good choice
Monuments – easy, they're everywhere
Temples – if you're after marvelous old temples, not so many in your choice of cities.
See Wild Animals – what, tigers? Forget it.


We have visited many wildlife sanctuaries in India (though admittedly not these). It is our experience that one does not roam. Instead, you'll be obliged to take a "safari" with jeep and driver and guide, who will take you over pre-set routes. You will see some animals most likely, but on a flying visit you will be very very lucky to see a tiger. Moreover, you're best chance to see animals will be on a very early safari or a dusk one. Either way, it's tough to fit one in without scheduling at least one night on site. But given how little time you have in India, and given the amount of time it will take you to travel between the places you've already mentioned, I can't see how you can reasonably fit a wildlife sanctuary into your schedule.

Don't forget there's a half day of travel between your major destinations. I'd abbreviate the Jaipur stay if necessary. If you stay in Old Delhi you'll be near to some good food and tourist attractions.

Hiring a car and driver is probably the most efficient way to travel

I think in this case, given that a visit to a national park is on the cards, a car+driver is the only way to go. I went with Namaste India Tours, other tour operators are available of course.

Keoladeo (near Bharatpur) is perhaps your best bet but it's a bird park, there's not a whole host of other animals there. The nice thing about it is that you walk or cycle around the park, hiring bikes or a cycle-rickshaw driver for the time you're there. It's slap bang between Agra and Jaipur so you could arrive at Bharatpur in the evening, spend the night, wake early to visit the park as this is the best time anyway, then head off to Jaipur even getting time to do some sight seeing there in the afternoon.

It is possible to use trains for all of this, even to include Ranthambhore (Delhi - Agra - Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Delhi) or Keoladeo (Delhi - Agra - Bharatpur - Jaipur - Delhi). However you'd need to go through from pain of getting registered to book train tickets - see http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...phone-t154338/ . Hiring a car and driver means you won't have to keep trying to arrange/find a taxi nor wait in train stations, so it will save you time in the long run.

gochoo/OT

This thread gives a more concise introduction to booking Indian trains from outside India

http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...012-a-t165379/

There can be problems with fog in the Delhi/Agra area in December which might cause delays to land (and air) transport. I think that OT's suggestion of hiring a car and driver is probably better suited to your needs as you will have flexibility in adverse weather.

One monument I would recommend is Fatehpur Sikri, the remains of an abandoned city, about 40km from Agra heading towards Jaipur.

As regards eating one of our favourites is Karim's in Old Delhi.

Karim's

This is what I posted to some replies I got on Lonely Planet.


Thanks for all the tips.

Here are a couple other things I have failed to mention that may or may not be considered.

This trip to India is just a portion of my entire vacation. I depart Los Angeles on December 17 for Tokyo. Arrive in Tokyo on the 18th and spend 2 days there before I head to Delhi on the 19th.

I leave Delhi on the 28th for Seoul on the 28th and spend 3 days there before I head back home in Los Angeles.

I work in an industry where I fly a lot domestically in the US. I rack up a lot of frequent flyer miles as well as hotel points.

I was lucky enough to be able to book this entire trip flying in International First or Business Class using my miles.
I have never flown internationally in these classes so I don't know if there will be much jet lag to deal with. Let me know if it still might be a problem.

Hotel wise, let's just say I have a lot of Hilton points, so at least for Delhi, I don't have to worry about spending any money on accommodations. The other places I may end up going to, I figured low/mid budget recommendations on trip advisor was the way to go. Let me know if that's not the way I should be going about it.

Anyways, I think I am leaning towards the following for the India portion of my trip.

December 21 - Arrive in Delhi at 6:20pm. Get situated at hotel, grab dinner, sleep.

December 22 - Take express train to Agra at 6:15am. Arrive in Agra at 8:12am. Spend day morning at Taj Mahal. Grab lunch. Spend afternoon at Agra Fort. Take 5:40pm train to Jaipur. Arrive in Jaipur at 10:20pm. Check into hotel and sleep.

December 23 - Grab breakfast. Check out Amber Fort. Grab lunch. Check out City Palace and maybe another site in Jaipur if there is time. Grab dinner. Take 5:50pm train to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi at 10:40pm. Check into Hotel and sleep.

December 24 - Hire car with guide and spend the day in Delhi. Take 10:40pm train to Ramnagar. Arrive next morning at 4:55am.

December 25-26 - Check out the Corbett National Park for 2 days. On the night of the 26th, take the 9:55pm train back to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi the next morning at 3:55am.

December 27 - I probably will have to book a hotel for the 26th-27th and request late checkout at 4pm for the 27th. Check into hotel. Sleep for a few hours. Grab breakfast. See some sites we weren't able to from the 24th. Grab lunch. See some more sites or relax. Checkout of hotel by 4pm. Take luggage to a train station where we can store our bags. Grab dinner. Explore some more. Head back to train station to grab bags. Head to airport by midnight.

December 28 - 2:20am flight Seoul via Hong Kong.


Let me know if this is just cramming too much.

Thanks

Steve

Definitely, it's a gem.

Definitely, it's a gem (again).
Here's my blog stuff about Karim's:
http://monsoon-meandering.winchcombe...so-for-veggies
http://monsoon-meandering.winchcombe...rant-the-video

Alternatively, I could take out Corbett and do the Ellora Caves instead by flying to Aurangabad. This might be more manageable and gives us more time in Delhi.

New itinerary would be:

December 21 - Arrive in Delhi at 6:20pm. Get situated at hotel, grab dinner, sleep.

December 22 - Take express train to Agra at 6:15am. Arrive in Agra at 8:12am. Spend day morning at Taj Mahal. Grab lunch. Spend afternoon at Agra Fort. Take 5:40pm train to Jaipur. Arrive in Jaipur at 10:20pm. Check into hotel and sleep.

December 23 - Grab breakfast. Check out Amber Fort. Grab lunch. Check out City Palace and maybe another site in Jaipur if there is time. Grab dinner. Take 5:50pm train to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi at 10:40pm. Check into Hotel and sleep.

December 24 - Take 6:35am flight to Aurangabad. Arrive at 8:25am. Head over to Ellora Caves. Explore all day. Spend the night in Aurangabad.

December 25 - Take 11:15am flight back to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi at 1:10pm. Check into hotel. Grab Lunch. Spend the rest of Christmas Day exploring the city.

December 26 - 27 - Grab breakfast. Hire a car and a guide and explore the city some more. Grab lunch. See some more sites or relax. Checkout of hotel by 4pm. Take luggage to a train station where we can store our bags. Grab dinner. Explore some more. Head back to train station to grab bags. Head to airport by midnight.

December 28 - 2:20am flight Seoul via Hong Kong.

Just cramming too much.

Never mind the bit about slowing down and smelling the roses. Your problem will even seeing the roses.

Low-mid budget hotels are the way to go for me. I'd even consider saving your points and staying somewhere with character in Delhi.

I'd drop one location, too. Remember that a short plane trip needs 2-3 hours of taxis and check-ins at either end. India is a place to savor and experience. You're ticking a lot of boxes but the essence of the country might elude you.

We agree with Hal.

On our first trip to India we traveled too fast: we hit all the right places, but we ended up in a daze – and we were going at less than half the speed you're planning.

We remember the compulsion to see everything in one go, but it's a snare and a delusion. Fewer places and a slower pace will make for a much more rewarding trip, we think.

Since you have buckets and buckets of miles, you'd probably be better off thinking in terms of several trips to India over the years. We've been at it for eight years now, with one or two six-week trips a year, and we've still barely scratched the surface. And yet with all there is still to do, we find we do it better by going slower and slower.

It depends on what alliance's carriers you are going to use. More or less, Asian partners of AA are better than AA, which it comes to seating in front of the plane. Even in a flat bed, you will have some jetlag. Specially since NRT is your first stop.


You are cramming too much, I'd just cut into half what you have in mind for India. I'd just do Delhi & Agra and drop the rest.