70 days in India, too much time in the north?

timeo · Dec 17th, 2007, 12:20

Hello everyone,

I posted in November about some tentative thoughts that I had for the southern aspect of my trip, entitled 40 days and 40 nights in Southern India, which was very helpful for me in determining which cities I should expunge from my list so that I could have a more relaxed trip. Thanks everyone.

Since then, I have booked my flight to and from India so I have a definitive timeframe in which I need to work within, and it's starting to cause me some grief. I have many questions, and not much idea of whether my current itinerary (incl. the north) is feasible or even logical. I am interested in seeing everything and anything, but I know that that is not possible. Still, the inner explorer would like to possibly add in some hill stations like Shimla or Ooty or add in some extra time to relax in the backwaters.

Looking at my schedule, I have allotted 4-5 days each in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur. Is this too much for each? It seems like every other traveler has put in maybe 3 days max, and I am not sure whether I am putting too much emphasis on these places. Similarly, I am spending 43 days in the south, is this excessive? There just seems to be so many fascinating things, especially the temples and food.

Here are some jpg's of my schedule made via Word (click to expand!):

I guess I would like to know if whether I am putting too much time into the south or to Rajasthan, and whether I should try squeezing in Shimla or Ooty and have a little more time relaxing in the backwaters. I am also a little hesitant about whether there needs to be THAT much time spent in places like Madurai/Trichy and the like. Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? Ideas?

Thanks everyone,
Tim

Nick-H · Dec 17th, 2007, 12:44

Mod Note:
That's an interesting way of presenting your itinerary: the visual aspect can make stuff so much clearer than a list.

If you or others want to do this again, though, we'd prefer you to either use thumbnail links, or post small versions of the files as attachments to your post.

Rather than external links, that is

dhans · Dec 17th, 2007, 12:49

Looks great. I would fit in Agra between Jaipur and Varanasi, but for the rest the schedule looks well thought out and reasonably relaxed. Have you considered mixing in Udaipur in the schedule/ There seems to be room for that.

Have fun,

Hans

timeo · Dec 17th, 2007, 13:35

Oh I guess I didn't explain the entirety of the situation, I'm actually meeting a friend around the 31st of March/1st of April in Delhi, so we were thinking of just doing Delhi and Agra together as opposed to Varanasi and Delhi which would be more difficult to accomplish. Hence, me skipping Agra along the way and biting the crazy long train ride to Varanasi.

I have thought of adding Udaipur in, but I was hesitant due to first and foremost, the lack of good rail connections and my reluctance to take long bus rides, but also because Udaipur didn't seem immediately appealing as some of the other destinations. Am I insane?

SteamBuff · Dec 17th, 2007, 18:13

The only thing that worries me are the flights on the 29th of January. I assume you are flying from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London Heathrow and then onto Mumbai. You only have 1Hr 25mins in London ... Is this enough? What if the flight is late? You appear to be Flying BA from LHR, are you flying BA to LHR? if not you may have to collect your baggage and then check-in again at Heathrow.

I would fly to London on a earlier flight.

Also on your return you have 4Hr 20mins ... should be enough but what if your inbound flight is delayed?

Dave

ranjan154 · Dec 17th, 2007, 19:30

I would say that it is a well planned itinerary that gives you enough time not only to see the particular destination but get a bit feel of it, moreover you have given yourself enough time to relax. That is very important. Have a great journey.

timeo · Dec 18th, 2007, 06:59

In my haste to hang around with a friend in Glasgow as long as possible, I decided to take the 6:40PM flight rather than one that was a few hours earlier. It's possibly a little sketchy that it's so close, but I'm hoping for the best and praying that nothing will go wrong (though one never knows!!!) I will be flying British Airways, so from what I understand after talking to the CSR, my baggage will be automatically transferred from the Glasgow-Heathrow flight to the Heathrow-Mumbai flight and I won't have to go through security/checking in all over again. I would change the flight, but that would entail me paying me some charge of $100 or so. I'm cheap, I'm young, I'm probably going to risk it. Thanks for the concern though, it's appreciated.

I was wondering still, do you think it would be worth the effort to go to Munnar or Shimla or even Ooty when I'm in those areas?

Dec 17th, 2007, 12:20	#1
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	70 days in India, too much time in the north? Hello everyone, I posted in November about some tentative thoughts that I had for the southern aspect of my trip, entitled 40 days and 40 nights in Southern India, which was very helpful for me in determining which cities I should expunge from my list so that I could have a more relaxed trip. Thanks everyone. Since then, I have booked my flight to and from India so I have a definitive timeframe in which I need to work within, and it's starting to cause me some grief. I have many questions, and not much idea of whether my current itinerary (incl. the north) is feasible or even logical. I am interested in seeing everything and anything, but I know that that is not possible. Still, the inner explorer would like to possibly add in some hill stations like Shimla or Ooty or add in some extra time to relax in the backwaters. Looking at my schedule, I have allotted 4-5 days each in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur. Is this too much for each? It seems like every other traveler has put in maybe 3 days max, and I am not sure whether I am putting too much emphasis on these places. Similarly, I am spending 43 days in the south, is this excessive? There just seems to be so many fascinating things, especially the temples and food. Here are some jpg's of my schedule made via Word (click to expand!): I guess I would like to know if whether I am putting too much time into the south or to Rajasthan, and whether I should try squeezing in Shimla or Ooty and have a little more time relaxing in the backwaters. I am also a little hesitant about whether there needs to be THAT much time spent in places like Madurai/Trichy and the like. Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? Ideas? Thanks everyone, Tim Last edited by timeo : Dec 17th, 2007 at 13:06. Reason: oops! sorry mods!

Dec 17th, 2007, 12:44	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,952	Mod Note: That's an interesting way of presenting your itinerary: the visual aspect can make stuff so much clearer than a list. If you or others want to do this again, though, we'd prefer you to either use thumbnail links, or post small versions of the files as attachments to your post. Rather than external links, that is __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 17th, 2007, 12:49	#3
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,541	Looks great. I would fit in Agra between Jaipur and Varanasi, but for the rest the schedule looks well thought out and reasonably relaxed. Have you considered mixing in Udaipur in the schedule/ There seems to be room for that. Have fun, Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Dec 17th, 2007, 18:13	#5
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	The only thing that worries me are the flights on the 29th of January. I assume you are flying from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London Heathrow and then onto Mumbai. You only have 1Hr 25mins in London ... Is this enough? What if the flight is late? You appear to be Flying BA from LHR, are you flying BA to LHR? if not you may have to collect your baggage and then check-in again at Heathrow. I would fly to London on a earlier flight. Also on your return you have 4Hr 20mins ... should be enough but what if your inbound flight is delayed? Dave __________________ Huffing & Puffing along ... The Steamy One!

Dec 17th, 2007, 19:30	#6
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 848	I would say that it is a well planned itinerary that gives you enough time not only to see the particular destination but get a bit feel of it, moreover you have given yourself enough time to relax. That is very important. Have a great journey. __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

Dec 17th, 2007, 13:35	#4
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	Oh I guess I didn't explain the entirety of the situation, I'm actually meeting a friend around the 31st of March/1st of April in Delhi, so we were thinking of just doing Delhi and Agra together as opposed to Varanasi and Delhi which would be more difficult to accomplish. Hence, me skipping Agra along the way and biting the crazy long train ride to Varanasi. I have thought of adding Udaipur in, but I was hesitant due to first and foremost, the lack of good rail connections and my reluctance to take long bus rides, but also because Udaipur didn't seem immediately appealing as some of the other destinations. Am I insane?

Dec 18th, 2007, 06:59	#7
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	In my haste to hang around with a friend in Glasgow as long as possible, I decided to take the 6:40PM flight rather than one that was a few hours earlier. It's possibly a little sketchy that it's so close, but I'm hoping for the best and praying that nothing will go wrong (though one never knows!!!) I will be flying British Airways, so from what I understand after talking to the CSR, my baggage will be automatically transferred from the Glasgow-Heathrow flight to the Heathrow-Mumbai flight and I won't have to go through security/checking in all over again. I would change the flight, but that would entail me paying me some charge of $100 or so. I'm cheap, I'm young, I'm probably going to risk it. Thanks for the concern though, it's appreciated. I was wondering still, do you think it would be worth the effort to go to Munnar or Shimla or even Ooty when I'm in those areas?

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