Agra - Kajuraho - Varanasi - Ellora/Ajanta - how to do this?

anubisgrau

I'm wondering what would be the best route/transport to connect these.

I'm arriving to Delhi and departing from Mumbai and these are the places I wouldn't love to miss.

The only thing is that these are pretty far from each other: would any of you experienced travellers have a good advice what and how to do.

I'm fine with anything except for bus ride. Trains and planes certainly more preferred, but driver is fine too for rides no loger than 6-7-8 hours per day. Night trains preferred for longer distances (Agra - Varanasi for example).

Also I would be thankful for thoughts on realistic (not too much rushing) time needed for places. In Agra we wanna do Taj morning and day or day and night, plus Fatihpur Sikri. How many days for Kaju? I assume Varanasi could be anything, from 2-3 days to 6 months. Finally, caves, 1 night/2 days enough?

I would also appreciate a tip for some other nice place around these, just to maybe stay away from the tourist hordes for a day or two. Last year we adored Bundi for that, but not sure if there is another Bundi in India (although food was a serious crap there). We've also enjoyed Udapuir for vibe despite lots of tourist.

Any tips? Thanks a lot

machadinha

Sorry, no advice on your other questions.

You were asking about Maharashtra on another thread; again, I've never been there.

However, between Aurangabad and Ellora lies the (deserted, I think?) hilltop fortress of Daulatabad. This was built in the 14th century by an insane Sultan of Delhi, who decided to move the capital here -- and marched the entire population over (1100 kms.!) The project was abandoned just 17 years later, when he marched them all back. Needless to say, many did not survive the ordeal.

While a gruesome story, the fort is supposed to be magnificent and an eerie experience. (And according to Wikipedia, its history is quite a bit more involved than this legendary story alone.)

3 Kms. from Ellora is the walled town of Rauza (or Khuldabad), described in LP as the holy shrine of Deccan Muslims (and as a sleepy village, btw). No idea how welcoming the place is to tourists, but it sounds very interesting.

Aurangabad itself is said to have some decent sights btw.

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

jyotirmoy

It was Tughlaq who ordered the people of Delhi to march to Daulatabad. Tughlaq was paranoid about the invading Mongols and also local kings and decided to move away from the north. After the dead line his soldiers searched every nook & corner of Delhi and any one found hiding was killed. Thousands died while marching to Daulatabad. Now the Tughlaqs are gone, gone are the citadels.... what still remains is the Dargha of Baba Nizamuddin in Delhi and another small Dargha in Daulatabad.