BIG Itinerary!! Help xxx

Effie08 · Apr 9th, 2008, 03:30

Hay every one, what a great website!!

I really need some help

. Im going to India at the end of December 08, the boss has just given me the ok for 3 months off so i will have about 12 weeks out there Coming back at the end of March 09.

Im going to be going on my own and am female (incase that makes a difference to my itinerary?)

I have been checking out all the websites for travelling around India and reading though my 'Rough Guide'.

I have come up with this itinerary but i think maybe i am trying to fit in too much and im not sure if im going to the right places at the right time, not sure how well it would work in practice.

Just wanted some advise from people if there is anything i should miss out or add in?

Well here it is:

DELHI (starting point)

UTTAR PRADESH
Agra
Fatehpur Sikri

RAJASTHAN
Jaipur
Jodhpur
Jaisalmer
Udaipur
Chittaurgarh
Bundi

MADHYA PRADESH
Orchha
Khajuraha??
Mandu (via Indore)??
Ujjain (then Mandu)??

MAHARASHTRA
Ellora
Nasik
Mumbai

Fly to GOA

KARNATAKA
Gokarn
Mysore

KERALA
Thrissur (Kerala) Alleppey/ Coir Village (Thirukunapuzha)
The backwaters
Kottayam
Varkala
Kovolam

TAMIL NADU
Kanniyakumari
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Thanjavur
Kumbakonam
Chidambaram
Pondicherry
Tiruvannamalai
Mamallapuram
Chennai (Fly to)

WEST BENGAL
Kolkata! (Train to)

UTTAR PRADESH
Varanasi (Sarnath)
Lucknow

DELHI

HARYANA & PUNJAB
Amritsar
Chandigarh (Rock Garden)

DELHI (Fly home)

All advise is welcome to help me get a little organised, plus any hints and tips on what i might need to take would be cool.

Cheers people

Darmabum · Apr 9th, 2008, 04:57

our own paces . . . I'm a dawdler . . . I prefer a more leisurely approach and itinerary than you've proposed for yourself. A full plate in front of you, and a tasty one! It can be done, probably has been done by many on this site . . . I would only say that travel itself, moving, can be tiring in India. Though you will get many responses I would suggest spending a week each place (each major stop) - this includes travel time. When all is said and done, I'd say this: start out with what you have in mind, along the way define your own travel style, find your own pace, your own threshold for moving . . . then come back and remind us of your original itinerary, then tell us where you actually went. Stay flexible, you may hear of places from other travelers that you hadn't heard or dreamed of. Most of all, Enjoy!

vandy · Apr 9th, 2008, 06:51

Hi there, WOW !!! what a Teriffic & Exciting Itinery you have there.

Couple of places which may be of interest along your Travels is Hampi after Goa on way to Bangalore
& then Mysore,Possibly, Hill Station Ooty after
Mysore, and can also highly reccomend Hill Station Munnar in Kerala.

You have got plenty of time to TRY and team up with other Travellers if you choose to do so.

There is a Check out Forums section which has a Travel Partners section for this.There is also a section for Females travelling alone & India for
Beginners.I also suggest a Lonely Planet Guide book as it has some very Helpful Information.

You will allready be aware by now that travel in India is very Tiring & Frustrating at times.

Your Planning so far looks sensible eventhough you have got a lot on your plate, you have 12 weeks on your side.

Happy Planning you Lucky thing.

vandy

zoltan · Apr 9th, 2008, 08:14

Hi Effie,

May I make a suggestion that you fly into Delhi & out of Kolkata - it will save you the doubling back to Delhi which may save you some time.

As for what to see, here's a few thoughts:

DELHI: go on the New Delhi Tourist Development Commission all day tour of Delhi. It will cost you around rp500 - you can get a whirlwind of what's there & the next day, you can go back to anything that grabs your interest.

Agra / Fatehpur Sikri: a max. of 1 day at each then time to move on.

Jaipur: didn't think much of it (personally). You may want to skip here or get reviews from others.

Jodhpur: the Maharaja's *old* palace is worth at least a 1/2 day to walk through & take in the environment

Jaisalmer: the fort; camel trek; prostitutes gate; the nearby lake; the havellis; the markets (it's a great place to spend a few days).

Udaipur: the lake; nearby Ranakpur (for the Jain temple)

Orchha /Khajuraho: Both interesting places. 2-3 days in Orchha to walk around the temples & palaces & relax & recharge your batteries. Khaj. 1-2 days (max). The temples are beautiful.

Ellora /Ajanta (you should include both). There's a tour operating out of Aurangabad that can take you to both on separate days. Easy to get around on a group tour.

Also add to the temples, *the* best fort ever... Dalautabad. It's located around 5km out of Aurangabad & well worth going through - after you see it (if you do the guided tour of Ellora, you'll most likely get taken to the fort), go back again for a longer period of time.

Mumbai: Elephanta island; the city architecture; Gateway of India; various markets

Mysore: a lovely spot - Maharaja's palace (no photos permitted inside the palace itself); Charmundi hill (although very commercial now); the zoo; the city surrounds. A days visit to Bylakuppe is also worth the effort - if you want to stay overnight you *must* have a restricted area permit - available from the Mysore police headquarters (at no cost), but it may take a few weeks to organise - get this done before you leave.

The backwaters: do one of the ferry rides from one end to the other - it's an enjoyable experience.

Kanniyakumari: OK for a 1-day stop but that's about it - the sunset /sunrise is beautiful but there's not a lot else to see/do there.

Madurai: the temple in the centre of the city. I didn't like this place too much - way too many touts - it reminded me in many ways of Agra.

Thanjavur: A nice place to relax - not too many touts; some lovely temples & surrounding villages.

Pondicherry: another place that I didn't think much of.

Mamallapuram: excellent stone carving craftsmen here. Also Krishna's butterball & the caves which date back many centuries.

Chennai: worth a day or two to look around - but not a highlight for me.

Kolkata: as above...

Varanasi: a really interesting place worth at least a few days.

Amritsar: another place worth looking at for a day or two - the Golden Temple is spectacular. Best photo opportunities are towards sunset & at sunrise.

If you have other questions, please feel free to ask - I know that when I first went,I had many so many things I wanted to ask & get comfortable with.

Cheers
Zoltan

Effie08 · Apr 10th, 2008, 04:17

Hay guys, thanks for all your responses! Great stuff.

Darmabum, I’m with you, I don’t want to be rushing around, I’m not likely to get another 3 month holiday so I want it to be as enjoyable as possible. I’m happy to mix it up with a spate of travelling followed by a week of doing nothing other than watching the world go by.

Vandy, great heads up about Hampi, I was lucky enough to go there in December (went to Goa for a couple of weeks and went on a trip to Hampi is what made me decide I had to come back!).
Yep fingers crossed I will meet lots of other travellers heading in some of the same directions as me. Everyone is very friendly when travelling so I’m sure it will be cool.

Zoltan, what can I say I’m honoured lol, I have seen your advise on lots of other pages, you really seem to know your stuff!
Flying out of Kolkata was an idea but I was cost cutting, its about £300 cheaper to fly to and from Delhi.
I’m grateful for the advice on Ellora /Ajanta that’s good to know that I can sort out day trips for both of them. Will be cool to do it in a group too.
Aurangabad sounds amazing, I’ll be sure to include it.
I have heard a few negative things about Pondicherry so it might be one I cancel off the list or might just make it a short visit.

There is one question, may seem silly but what do people do about money?? I was going to take a combination of traveller’s cheques (but how many?) Dollars, Credit and Debit card? Is that the normal?
Also I was wondering about getting cash out at the bank, at my hotel in Goa they were always trying to give me Rp500 note which was impossible to change up.

And one more thing is it easy/safe to post stuff home? I’m like a magpie around shiny things!! I get the feeling my backpack is going to get very heavy very quickly!

Cheers again guys, all this is helping lots xx

Uncle_Martin · Apr 10th, 2008, 07:26

What an Itinerary, sure gotta do Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, however at the risk of being

...

The Rajahstan part is great and Jaipur should not be missed, I had a great time going from Jodhpur to Udaipur by road calling at a complex of Jain temples on the way and an excellent archaeological site which was about half an hour from Udaipur which was listed in the RG, this route went through some very interesting areas and towns, especially if you have a passing interest in physical antropology ... almost made a chap want to get the calipers out to measure heads

because I was with my family the cost of a shared car was not too excessive ...

As for MP (try the MP tourism hotels) Kajuraho is a must, Orcha is fantastic, the sunsets down by the river wow, Mandu is a bit of a bother to get to, but the bus journey from Indore can seem too much, but is surprisingly much easier than one might fear ... and Mandu is a great place to relax and recharge ones batteries ... but get the direct bus to Indore on your way out. Indore I found boring perhaps because I couldn't get a train to Mumbai when I wanted,

... you could screw up your courage and 'enjoy' the overnight coach journey to Aurungabad for Ajanta and Ellora, Zoltans advice about the fort is sound but be braver than me and hire a guide to go through the maze as described in the RG.

As for Goa ... Like Lucknow a tad corrupt don't you think?

Fort Kochi is really something ... well worth a day or two and a second visit. Alleppy is yuk but the beach is nice and the cheap cruise down to Quillon is a nice way to experience the backwaters and get that sunset snap of the palm trees, the water and the fisherman in the dug out canoe. Otherwise use the bus boats ... unless you fall in with convivial and compatible company for an expensive but nice chill on a houseboat. My older daughter said Varkala was over-rated and full of tw*ts, poseurs and people enjoying being ripped off by charlatans, so I guess she didn't like it.

perhaps she was sober and a

smoking mixture was called for

As for Tamil Nadu wonderful itinerary, I liked Kanniyakumari, but then I like the fading seaside resorts of Withersea, Morecambe and Skegness, not that Kanniyakumari is fading, it is well worth accepting for what it is. Lots to see in the area as well. My youngest daughter found Pondi both odd, interesting and

but quoted Voltaire's cliche about once a seeker after knowledge twice a pederast back to me when I asked her to explain what she meant.

Do you really want to do Goa again, I found the casualties who thought they were in Paradise a bit much, and i knew Howard Mr Nice before he got more involved with the funnies and gangsters

..there are many nicer beach scenes further south in Kerela which when my daughter visited them after a month in Goa ... she said that with 20:20 hindsight she'd wasted about 4 weeks on the tawdry. She liked the scene across the river at Hampi and said that it was a great place to relax and hear films at 3 in the morning

But if you did the Karnatka beaches you could go from Mangalore to Hassan, taking in the sites at Halebeedu and Belur before heading to Mysore for the delights described by Zoltan. Accept the stalls as part of the pilgrimage package ... ever been to Lourdes? (my excuse was that I wanteed ot see a hill called Bigorra)

Oh and if you have any interest in Wittgenstein and analytic philosophy or logical positivism do visit the old guy at the tourist office in Hassan and have a fascinating discussion (just don't mention the Norwegian choirboys OK), he has many other topics of conversation as well.

As for Tamil Nadu wonderful itinerary, I liked Kanniyakumari, but then I like the fading seaside resorts of Withersea, Morecambe and Skegness, not that Kanniyakumari is fading, it is well worth accepting for what it is. There is also quite a bit to see in the surrounding area. My youngest daughter found Pondi both odd, interesting and

but quoted Voltaire's cliche about once a seeker after knowledge twice a pederast back to me when I asked her to explain what she meant.

If you could squeeze in Bhubaneswar and the caves at Khandagiri & Udayagiri,(1-2 days) and Puri and the sun temple at Konark (2-3) days before going to Kolkata you might just be doing yourself a favour, but that could mean passing up on some other attractions.

Kolkata is something else ... I wouldn't miss it.

If you could pass on Lucknow you could substitute Bodhgaya in between Kolkata and Varanasi. Sarnath I liked so much that I can reduce my blood pressure by imagining/remembering the deer park, but then I had great fun by chanting Hare Krishna and setting off the alarm on a cardiac monitor ... shouldda seen the fat nurse run

Sadly you have the choice of seeing the effin' lot (except Assam) or being able to take your time and chill en route and being nice to the man to get another 3 months because you can do all this, but at the price of looking back and doing what I'm doing now , which is wishing I'd stayed longer in nearly bl**dy everywhere. Your itinerary could fill two or three 12 week trips, especially if you included a few of the place you omitted.

Oh and you'd still sit back and think I wish I's stayed there just another...

zoltan · Apr 10th, 2008, 09:36

Hi again,

> Zoltan, what can I say I’m honoured lol, I have seen your
> advise on lots of other pages, you really seem to know your stuff!

Thank-you

> I’m grateful for the advice on Ellora /Ajanta that’s good to
> know that I can sort out day trips for both of them.
> Will be cool to do it in a group too.

Doing the group thing will mean mostly locals but a few tourists in the mix as well. The MTDC do a reasonable tour & speak Hindi & English for the groups. It's also considerably cheaper to do it this way.

> what do people do about money?? I was going to take a
> combination of traveller’s cheques (but how many?) Dollars,
> Credit and Debit card? Is that the normal?

That's a good plan. Keep in mind ATM cards can be retained; lost; stolen & some bank machines just won't accept them (I had this happen a few times & had to rely on the C/card to get me through).

As for the mix, take a few hundred in dollars (US$50's or US$100's) as emergency money; enough T/C's to get you through the main part of the holiday & some cash available on the cards. Remember that some bank fees are as higher on ATM cards than they are for T/C's.

> Also I was wondering about getting cash out at the bank, at my
> hotel in Goa they were always trying to give me Rp500 note

Most banks are happy to give you the denominations you ask for - if you want hundreds they'll give you hundreds. ATM's are much the same - you'll get a blend of 500's & 100's.

> And one more thing is it easy/safe to post stuff home?

It's relatively easy - get your purchases put into a plastic bag & then put that into a box (to help in case it gets caught in the rain anywhere). Take the box to a tailor & ask them to make up a package.

They will put calico on the outside; stitch it up; put on the sealing wax & then you write your addresses (to & from) and take it to the post office.

I've not yet had one package (of many items) go missing. BUT be aware that items of value (jewellery; electronics; etc) can easily go missing - they are things you should take with you & don't rely on posting.

Textiles; carvings & the like are not an issue - just make sure anything fragile is well padded.

Cheers
Zoltan

ggraves · Apr 10th, 2008, 10:37

I was in India in February and March of this year.

I took about $3700 US with me, $3000 in travelers cheques and $700 cash.

I returned with $3000 in travelers cheques and $300 in cash. I changed $400 in currency the first two days I was there (Mumbai) and after that I decided to try my debit card.

I found that the best real exchange rate we could get for cash, after discounts and fees, was about Rs 37 / $1 from money changers (even though the posted rate was much higher.) My debit card gave me slightly different amounts varying from Rs 39.87 to Rs 40.11, and there were no fees at all on top of those rates. No haggling either.

I withdrew in various amounts from Rs 2000 to Rs 8000 from the machines I encountered and never hit a limit. I withdrew in places like Bhuj, Pushkar and Dwarka with no problem.

I did encounter a problem in Jaipur on a Sunday but I later learned that my US bank was out for maintenance during the period so I assume the problem was here. The same card worked in a different bank later the same day.

My advice would be to take two debit cards, one as primary and one as backup. Before you go, ask your bank for the number to call from India if your card is lost or stolen. They should have an international number and it may cost very little to call if there is an issue. Also tell your debit card issuers that you'll be in India and the approximate dates.

Learn to use online banking. If a card does go missing, you should be able to transfer funds out of that account online so you are reasonably well protected. Of course you'll need to set all this up before you leave.

I feel comfortable carrying two debit cards on my person, one in a pocket and one in my day pack. I feel uncomfortable carrying large sums of money, even travelers cheques, on my person or leaving it in my hotel room. Hence my advice. Your comfort level may be different.

Have a great trip, but consider the time it takes to get from point to point in India. Lots of roads can only be travelled at 50 Km/H tops. We spent a couple of overnights on the trains and we needed a day afterward to recover from each trip. Road journeys can be slow and jolting so like others, I would encourage you to pace your journey and not try to hold hard and fast to a schedule you put together at home. Staying several days in a village can be fun, relaxing and educational.

Warmest regards,
George

Effie08 · Apr 11th, 2008, 01:21

Uncle Martin did you really know Mr Nice!?? His autobiography was one of my favourite books!
Thank you for your advice its helping give me a clearer picture of the kind of places I would like to visit.
When I was in Goa I was in the south I didn’t make it to the north but I’m told there is quite a difference. The south was really peaceful and I really liked it, but as soon as I left Goa and went to Hampi and talked to locals and took a stroll around town I soon realised the difference between the more ‘affluent’ Goa and ‘real’ India. I would like to return to Goa though as I made some great friends and they will be there around the same time as me so will be nice to hook up again.
Varkala sounds funny, I wonder what other people think about it, I love your daughters interpretation it paints a clear picture ha ha.

The old guy in Hassan sounds great. I will look out for him if I make it there.

I would love to have more than 3 months but my boss was only going to let me have a month originally so I’m pushing it with 3. Maybe I will get another chance in the future but I won’t hold my breath.

Zoltan thank you for letting me know about cash and post, I’m sure I will have many more questions for you over the coming months

Ggraves, thank you too for the advice its reassuring to know that I will be ok with cards, and it’s a great idea to take two cards, I will get onto the bank nearer the time to sort that out.
I defiantly plan to stay in some places for a few days especially in off the beaten track kind of towns for the real experience (hope I’m not sounding cliché).

Thanks again guys you really are being so helpful.

KABAARY · Apr 11th, 2008, 02:17

Chennai: worth a day or two to look around - but not a highlight for me.

Kolkata: as above...

If Kolkata is to be compared to Chennai as a tourist spot to visit, I have nothing to say...just bemused.

Itinerary seems very touristy drawn out from forums and guidebooks but that's another story...

Why Nasik ? If Udaipur, why not also travel a bit to Kumbhalgarh ? If Orcha, why not Shivpuri ? Should not Agra/FS precede the MP trip - i.e. Rajasthan -> Agra -> M.P. ? Too much emphasis on Tamil Nadu, too little on Kerala & Karnataka - Kovalam in Kerala ?? Yuck !

Effie08 · Apr 11th, 2008, 02:47

Itinerary seems very touristy drawn out from forums and guidebooks but that's another story...

It seems that way because it is that way. I have not been travelling to india before so I can only go on the guide books and what people advise. I very much hope to find little places not mentioned in the guide book but i havnt found them yet so cant include them. Im hoping that by posting this itinery it will get people telling me what to miss and what to see.

Im happy to take out 'touristy' places to make room for places a little less well known.

Why Nasik ? If Udaipur, why not also travel a bit to Kumbhalgarh ? If Orcha, why not Shivpuri ? Should not Agra/FS precede the MP trip - i.e. Rajasthan -> Agra -> M.P. ? Too much emphasis on Tamil Nadu, too little on Kerala & Karnataka - Kovalam in Kerala ?? Yuck ![/quote]

Im not sure about Nasik and on second thoughts might remove it from the list. I intend to visit Kumbhalgarh but i just thought it came under Udaipur as it is so close so i didnt put it on the list. I will be going to surrounding areas when staying in any main place.
I had not heard of Shivpuri but will look it up if you recommend it.

Im still trying to get my bearings on which way round is best I was trying to work it out travelwise as to where to go and when. If you say Agra/FS should precede MP i will look into that and see if rearranging works better.
I have got a map of india on its way to me so that should help

Can you advise where to miss in Tamil Nadu and where i should go in Kerala and Karnataka?
I take it you're not impressed with Kovalam due to its touristy atmosphere? Would you say thats one to take off the list?

Thanks for your comments.

KABAARY · Apr 11th, 2008, 03:21

Skip Kovalam...rest I'm too sleepy to comment about right now - I guess my Nth peg of rum is taking its toll...

vonkla · Apr 11th, 2008, 03:50

Quote:

Im happy to take out 'touristy' places to make room for places a little less well known.

Look for these places at
http://www.indiamike.com/india/off-t...-in-india-f45/

Quote:

Im still trying to get my bearings on which way round is best I was trying to work it out travelwise as to where to go and when.

As it happens we plan a three month trip during the same time. Since it is not our first long itinerary it is easier for us to skip a lot of places. To give you an idea we think of the the following itinerary
-Start in Kerala, together with Tamil Nadu and south Karnataka we stay there for 5 weeks in maybe 10 places. This part ends in Bangalore
-From Bangalore we fly to Bhubanewar. From there we make a, rather expensive, trip with a travel agent to Bhitar Kanika and the tribal area in northern Orissa and Chhattigarh. These two weeks end in Amarkantaki
-From there to Varanasi and then to to west: Mandu, Rajesthan and maybe Amritsar and Hardiwar. We fly back from Delhi.

We are a little older and like to stay some days in each place instead of trying to visit as many cities as possible.
It is a pitty but you never can see all the things you want but in my opionion it is important to try to get as much variety between the places you visit.

Uncle_Martin · Apr 11th, 2008, 06:26

Effie08 ... don't worry about places being touristy, accept them for what they are, your Tamil Nadu itinerary sounds good and includes most of the main sites ... the only fault I can find with your well balanced literary, apart from Goa, but hey you got friends to see ... is that you seem to be avoiding the hilly bits ... looking for unspoilt places off the tourist track is a little like Erica J. and the "zipperless fuck" ... its better to be able to just accept them as you blunder across them

Start

Now Howard ... that guy had, for want of a better term, charisma ... we had quite a number of friends in common and worked together on a project for a few months ... but luckily my friends weren't the ones he sold up the river ,,, Howard could do that and with a few words charm you into accepting that it was all for the best ,,, but having known Howard is very 'touristy' not

... now Phil,

the mad hippy of Mattala, there was a guy, friends since we were eleven and yes he knew Mr Nice too and

End

As regards ATM be careful ... for preference use those with a security guard and 1)don't let anyone else in the cubicle with you 2) don't let anybody hassle you out of the secure cubicle space before you are good and ready; and most importantly open an account that lets you use your card abroad without the penalty of £n charge for each foreign transaction, both my daughters and my partner/wife prefer to have an account they pre-load with cash and top up as and when needed when they travel abroad ... me I just bumble through with a mixture of cash TCs and ATM withdrawals. Euro's seem to be preferred to dollars at the moment but that could change by the time you go. £s can be exchanged all over India and you don't have the double wammy of dealers margins on two exchange trasactions.

One last thought, some places are off the tourist track for good reasons, but be prepared to go with advice on places to see from people (other than fellow back-packers) you get chatting to as you travel around.

Effie08 · Apr 12th, 2008, 04:01

Vonkla, thanks for the indiamike link that looks good, I will spend some time looking at it as soon as I get a chance.

It sounds like you will have a wonderful time, I would like to go off to less well known areas but as I will be travelling alone (hopefully not the whole time) but mainly alone and being a 25yr old female I feel it is better for me to stick to the more well known areas until I meet some people and get to know them well enough then maybe trek out a little more.

Uncle Martin thanks for the advice about the ATMs I will take note of that and make sure I’m careful.
Thanks to Vandy I have been looking into Ooty and Munnar which I believe are a little more hilly and they both look like nice places to spend a couple of days chillin so I may see how I can fit them in and maybe remove a couple of the bigger towns.

I’m sure if I mix it all up enough with beach, city, temples and hill stations I will soon find what’s my cuppa tea and stay longer in my favourite places.

Again that you for all the responses.

Apr 9th, 2008, 03:30	#1
Effie08 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 7	BIG Itinerary!! Help xxx Hay every one, what a great website!! I really need some help . Im going to India at the end of December 08, the boss has just given me the ok for 3 months off so i will have about 12 weeks out there Coming back at the end of March 09. Im going to be going on my own and am female (incase that makes a difference to my itinerary?) I have been checking out all the websites for travelling around India and reading though my 'Rough Guide'. I have come up with this itinerary but i think maybe i am trying to fit in too much and im not sure if im going to the right places at the right time, not sure how well it would work in practice. Just wanted some advise from people if there is anything i should miss out or add in? Well here it is: DELHI (starting point) UTTAR PRADESH Agra Fatehpur Sikri RAJASTHAN Jaipur Jodhpur Jaisalmer Udaipur Chittaurgarh Bundi MADHYA PRADESH Orchha Khajuraha?? Mandu (via Indore)?? Ujjain (then Mandu)?? MAHARASHTRA Ellora Nasik Mumbai Fly to GOA KARNATAKA Gokarn Mysore KERALA Thrissur (Kerala) Alleppey/ Coir Village (Thirukunapuzha) The backwaters Kottayam Varkala Kovolam TAMIL NADU Kanniyakumari Madurai Tiruchirapalli Thanjavur Kumbakonam Chidambaram Pondicherry Tiruvannamalai Mamallapuram Chennai (Fly to) WEST BENGAL Kolkata! (Train to) UTTAR PRADESH Varanasi (Sarnath) Lucknow DELHI HARYANA & PUNJAB Amritsar Chandigarh (Rock Garden) DELHI (Fly home) All advise is welcome to help me get a little organised, plus any hints and tips on what i might need to take would be cool. Cheers people

Apr 9th, 2008, 04:57	#2
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 764	We all have our own ways to travel, our own paces . . . I'm a dawdler . . . I prefer a more leisurely approach and itinerary than you've proposed for yourself. A full plate in front of you, and a tasty one! It can be done, probably has been done by many on this site . . . I would only say that travel itself, moving, can be tiring in India. Though you will get many responses I would suggest spending a week each place (each major stop) - this includes travel time. When all is said and done, I'd say this: start out with what you have in mind, along the way define your own travel style, find your own pace, your own threshold for moving . . . then come back and remind us of your original itinerary, then tell us where you actually went. Stay flexible, you may hear of places from other travelers that you hadn't heard or dreamed of. Most of all, Enjoy! __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Apr 9th, 2008, 08:14	#4
zoltan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 462	Hi Effie, May I make a suggestion that you fly into Delhi & out of Kolkata - it will save you the doubling back to Delhi which may save you some time. As for what to see, here's a few thoughts: DELHI: go on the New Delhi Tourist Development Commission all day tour of Delhi. It will cost you around rp500 - you can get a whirlwind of what's there & the next day, you can go back to anything that grabs your interest. Agra / Fatehpur Sikri: a max. of 1 day at each then time to move on. Jaipur: didn't think much of it (personally). You may want to skip here or get reviews from others. Jodhpur: the Maharaja's old palace is worth at least a 1/2 day to walk through & take in the environment Jaisalmer: the fort; camel trek; prostitutes gate; the nearby lake; the havellis; the markets (it's a great place to spend a few days). Udaipur: the lake; nearby Ranakpur (for the Jain temple) Orchha /Khajuraho: Both interesting places. 2-3 days in Orchha to walk around the temples & palaces & relax & recharge your batteries. Khaj. 1-2 days (max). The temples are beautiful. Ellora /Ajanta (you should include both). There's a tour operating out of Aurangabad that can take you to both on separate days. Easy to get around on a group tour. Also add to the temples, the best fort ever... Dalautabad. It's located around 5km out of Aurangabad & well worth going through - after you see it (if you do the guided tour of Ellora, you'll most likely get taken to the fort), go back again for a longer period of time. Mumbai: Elephanta island; the city architecture; Gateway of India; various markets Mysore: a lovely spot - Maharaja's palace (no photos permitted inside the palace itself); Charmundi hill (although very commercial now); the zoo; the city surrounds. A days visit to Bylakuppe is also worth the effort - if you want to stay overnight you must have a restricted area permit - available from the Mysore police headquarters (at no cost), but it may take a few weeks to organise - get this done before you leave. The backwaters: do one of the ferry rides from one end to the other - it's an enjoyable experience. Kanniyakumari: OK for a 1-day stop but that's about it - the sunset /sunrise is beautiful but there's not a lot else to see/do there. Madurai: the temple in the centre of the city. I didn't like this place too much - way too many touts - it reminded me in many ways of Agra. Thanjavur: A nice place to relax - not too many touts; some lovely temples & surrounding villages. Pondicherry: another place that I didn't think much of. Mamallapuram: excellent stone carving craftsmen here. Also Krishna's butterball & the caves which date back many centuries. Chennai: worth a day or two to look around - but not a highlight for me. Kolkata: as above... Varanasi: a really interesting place worth at least a few days. Amritsar: another place worth looking at for a day or two - the Golden Temple is spectacular. Best photo opportunities are towards sunset & at sunrise. If you have other questions, please feel free to ask - I know that when I first went,I had many so many things I wanted to ask & get comfortable with. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

Apr 10th, 2008, 10:37	#8
ggraves George Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA Posts: 6	Money in India, etc. I was in India in February and March of this year. I took about $3700 US with me, $3000 in travelers cheques and $700 cash. I returned with $3000 in travelers cheques and $300 in cash. I changed $400 in currency the first two days I was there (Mumbai) and after that I decided to try my debit card. I found that the best real exchange rate we could get for cash, after discounts and fees, was about Rs 37 / $1 from money changers (even though the posted rate was much higher.) My debit card gave me slightly different amounts varying from Rs 39.87 to Rs 40.11, and there were no fees at all on top of those rates. No haggling either. I withdrew in various amounts from Rs 2000 to Rs 8000 from the machines I encountered and never hit a limit. I withdrew in places like Bhuj, Pushkar and Dwarka with no problem. I did encounter a problem in Jaipur on a Sunday but I later learned that my US bank was out for maintenance during the period so I assume the problem was here. The same card worked in a different bank later the same day. My advice would be to take two debit cards, one as primary and one as backup. Before you go, ask your bank for the number to call from India if your card is lost or stolen. They should have an international number and it may cost very little to call if there is an issue. Also tell your debit card issuers that you'll be in India and the approximate dates. Learn to use online banking. If a card does go missing, you should be able to transfer funds out of that account online so you are reasonably well protected. Of course you'll need to set all this up before you leave. I feel comfortable carrying two debit cards on my person, one in a pocket and one in my day pack. I feel uncomfortable carrying large sums of money, even travelers cheques, on my person or leaving it in my hotel room. Hence my advice. Your comfort level may be different. Have a great trip, but consider the time it takes to get from point to point in India. Lots of roads can only be travelled at 50 Km/H tops. We spent a couple of overnights on the trains and we needed a day afterward to recover from each trip. Road journeys can be slow and jolting so like others, I would encourage you to pace your journey and not try to hold hard and fast to a schedule you put together at home. Staying several days in a village can be fun, relaxing and educational. Warmest regards, George

Apr 11th, 2008, 01:21	#9
Effie08 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 7	Uncle Martin did you really know Mr Nice!?? His autobiography was one of my favourite books! Thank you for your advice its helping give me a clearer picture of the kind of places I would like to visit. When I was in Goa I was in the south I didn’t make it to the north but I’m told there is quite a difference. The south was really peaceful and I really liked it, but as soon as I left Goa and went to Hampi and talked to locals and took a stroll around town I soon realised the difference between the more ‘affluent’ Goa and ‘real’ India. I would like to return to Goa though as I made some great friends and they will be there around the same time as me so will be nice to hook up again. Varkala sounds funny, I wonder what other people think about it, I love your daughters interpretation it paints a clear picture ha ha. The old guy in Hassan sounds great. I will look out for him if I make it there. I would love to have more than 3 months but my boss was only going to let me have a month originally so I’m pushing it with 3. Maybe I will get another chance in the future but I won’t hold my breath. Zoltan thank you for letting me know about cash and post, I’m sure I will have many more questions for you over the coming months Ggraves, thank you too for the advice its reassuring to know that I will be ok with cards, and it’s a great idea to take two cards, I will get onto the bank nearer the time to sort that out. I defiantly plan to stay in some places for a few days especially in off the beaten track kind of towns for the real experience (hope I’m not sounding cliché). Thanks again guys you really are being so helpful. __________________ The world is big enough to share.

Apr 9th, 2008, 06:51	#3
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 520	Hi there, WOW !!! what a Teriffic & Exciting Itinery you have there. Couple of places which may be of interest along your Travels is Hampi after Goa on way to Bangalore & then Mysore,Possibly, Hill Station Ooty after Mysore, and can also highly reccomend Hill Station Munnar in Kerala. You have got plenty of time to TRY and team up with other Travellers if you choose to do so. There is a Check out Forums section which has a Travel Partners section for this.There is also a section for Females travelling alone & India for Beginners.I also suggest a Lonely Planet Guide book as it has some very Helpful Information. You will allready be aware by now that travel in India is very Tiring & Frustrating at times. Your Planning so far looks sensible eventhough you have got a lot on your plate, you have 12 weeks on your side. Happy Planning you Lucky thing. vandy

Apr 10th, 2008, 04:17	#5
Effie08 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 7	Hay guys, thanks for all your responses! Great stuff. Darmabum, I’m with you, I don’t want to be rushing around, I’m not likely to get another 3 month holiday so I want it to be as enjoyable as possible. I’m happy to mix it up with a spate of travelling followed by a week of doing nothing other than watching the world go by. Vandy, great heads up about Hampi, I was lucky enough to go there in December (went to Goa for a couple of weeks and went on a trip to Hampi is what made me decide I had to come back!). Yep fingers crossed I will meet lots of other travellers heading in some of the same directions as me. Everyone is very friendly when travelling so I’m sure it will be cool. Zoltan, what can I say I’m honoured lol, I have seen your advise on lots of other pages, you really seem to know your stuff! Flying out of Kolkata was an idea but I was cost cutting, its about £300 cheaper to fly to and from Delhi. I’m grateful for the advice on Ellora /Ajanta that’s good to know that I can sort out day trips for both of them. Will be cool to do it in a group too. Aurangabad sounds amazing, I’ll be sure to include it. I have heard a few negative things about Pondicherry so it might be one I cancel off the list or might just make it a short visit. There is one question, may seem silly but what do people do about money?? I was going to take a combination of traveller’s cheques (but how many?) Dollars, Credit and Debit card? Is that the normal? Also I was wondering about getting cash out at the bank, at my hotel in Goa they were always trying to give me Rp500 note which was impossible to change up. And one more thing is it easy/safe to post stuff home? I’m like a magpie around shiny things!! I get the feeling my backpack is going to get very heavy very quickly! Cheers again guys, all this is helping lots xx

Apr 10th, 2008, 07:26	#6
Uncle_Martin Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: W.MidsUK Posts: 90	What an Itinerary, sure gotta do Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, however at the risk of being ... The Rajahstan part is great and Jaipur should not be missed, I had a great time going from Jodhpur to Udaipur by road calling at a complex of Jain temples on the way and an excellent archaeological site which was about half an hour from Udaipur which was listed in the RG, this route went through some very interesting areas and towns, especially if you have a passing interest in physical antropology ... almost made a chap want to get the calipers out to measure heads because I was with my family the cost of a shared car was not too excessive ... As for MP (try the MP tourism hotels) Kajuraho is a must, Orcha is fantastic, the sunsets down by the river wow, Mandu is a bit of a bother to get to, but the bus journey from Indore can seem too much, but is surprisingly much easier than one might fear ... and Mandu is a great place to relax and recharge ones batteries ... but get the direct bus to Indore on your way out. Indore I found boring perhaps because I couldn't get a train to Mumbai when I wanted, ... you could screw up your courage and 'enjoy' the overnight coach journey to Aurungabad for Ajanta and Ellora, Zoltans advice about the fort is sound but be braver than me and hire a guide to go through the maze as described in the RG. As for Goa ... Like Lucknow a tad corrupt don't you think? Fort Kochi is really something ... well worth a day or two and a second visit. Alleppy is yuk but the beach is nice and the cheap cruise down to Quillon is a nice way to experience the backwaters and get that sunset snap of the palm trees, the water and the fisherman in the dug out canoe. Otherwise use the bus boats ... unless you fall in with convivial and compatible company for an expensive but nice chill on a houseboat. My older daughter said Varkala was over-rated and full of twts, poseurs and people enjoying being ripped off by charlatans, so I guess she didn't like it. perhaps she was sober and a smoking mixture was called for As for Tamil Nadu wonderful itinerary, I liked Kanniyakumari, but then I like the fading seaside resorts of Withersea, Morecambe and Skegness, not that Kanniyakumari is fading, it is well worth accepting for what it is. Lots to see in the area as well. My youngest daughter found Pondi both odd, interesting and but quoted Voltaire's cliche about once a seeker after knowledge twice a pederast back to me when I asked her to explain what she meant. Do you really want to do Goa again, I found the casualties who thought they were in Paradise a bit much, and i knew Howard Mr Nice before he got more involved with the funnies and gangsters ..there are many nicer beach scenes further south in Kerela which when my daughter visited them after a month in Goa ... she said that with 20:20 hindsight she'd wasted about 4 weeks on the tawdry. She liked the scene across the river at Hampi and said that it was a great place to relax and hear films at 3 in the morning But if you did the Karnatka beaches you could go from Mangalore to Hassan, taking in the sites at Halebeedu and Belur before heading to Mysore for the delights described by Zoltan. Accept the stalls as part of the pilgrimage package ... ever been to Lourdes? (my excuse was that I wanteed ot see a hill called Bigorra) Oh and if you have any interest in Wittgenstein and analytic philosophy or logical positivism do visit the old guy at the tourist office in Hassan and have a fascinating discussion (just don't mention the Norwegian choirboys OK), he has many other topics of conversation as well. As for Tamil Nadu wonderful itinerary, I liked Kanniyakumari, but then I like the fading seaside resorts of Withersea, Morecambe and Skegness, not that Kanniyakumari is fading, it is well worth accepting for what it is. There is also quite a bit to see in the surrounding area. My youngest daughter found Pondi both odd, interesting and but quoted Voltaire's cliche about once a seeker after knowledge twice a pederast back to me when I asked her to explain what she meant. If you could squeeze in Bhubaneswar and the caves at Khandagiri & Udayagiri,(1-2 days) and Puri and the sun temple at Konark (2-3) days before going to Kolkata you might just be doing yourself a favour, but that could mean passing up on some other attractions. Kolkata is something else ... I wouldn't miss it. If you could pass on Lucknow you could substitute Bodhgaya in between Kolkata and Varanasi. Sarnath I liked so much that I can reduce my blood pressure by imagining/remembering the deer park, but then I had great fun by chanting Hare Krishna and setting off the alarm on a cardiac monitor ... shouldda seen the fat nurse run Sadly you have the choice of seeing the effin' lot (except Assam) or being able to take your time and chill en route and being nice to the man to get another 3 months because you can do all this, but at the price of looking back and doing what I'm doing now , which is wishing I'd stayed longer in nearly bl*dy everywhere. Your itinerary could fill two or three 12 week trips, especially if you included a few of the place you omitted. Oh and you'd still sit back and think I wish I's stayed there just another...

Apr 10th, 2008, 09:36	#7
zoltan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 462	Hi again, > Zoltan, what can I say I’m honoured lol, I have seen your > advise on lots of other pages, you really seem to know your stuff! Thank-you > I’m grateful for the advice on Ellora /Ajanta that’s good to > know that I can sort out day trips for both of them. > Will be cool to do it in a group too. Doing the group thing will mean mostly locals but a few tourists in the mix as well. The MTDC do a reasonable tour & speak Hindi & English for the groups. It's also considerably cheaper to do it this way. > what do people do about money?? I was going to take a > combination of traveller’s cheques (but how many?) Dollars, > Credit and Debit card? Is that the normal? That's a good plan. Keep in mind ATM cards can be retained; lost; stolen & some bank machines just won't accept them (I had this happen a few times & had to rely on the C/card to get me through). As for the mix, take a few hundred in dollars (US$50's or US$100's) as emergency money; enough T/C's to get you through the main part of the holiday & some cash available on the cards. Remember that some bank fees are as higher on ATM cards than they are for T/C's. > Also I was wondering about getting cash out at the bank, at my > hotel in Goa they were always trying to give me Rp500 note Most banks are happy to give you the denominations you ask for - if you want hundreds they'll give you hundreds. ATM's are much the same - you'll get a blend of 500's & 100's. > And one more thing is it easy/safe to post stuff home? It's relatively easy - get your purchases put into a plastic bag & then put that into a box (to help in case it gets caught in the rain anywhere). Take the box to a tailor & ask them to make up a package. They will put calico on the outside; stitch it up; put on the sealing wax & then you write your addresses (to & from) and take it to the post office. I've not yet had one package (of many items) go missing. BUT be aware that items of value (jewellery; electronics; etc) can easily go missing - they are things you should take with you & don't rely on posting. Textiles; carvings & the like are not an issue - just make sure anything fragile is well padded. Cheers Zoltan

Apr 11th, 2008, 02:17	#10
KABAARY Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: INDIA Posts: 139	Chennai: worth a day or two to look around - but not a highlight for me. Kolkata: as above... If Kolkata is to be compared to Chennai as a tourist spot to visit, I have nothing to say...just bemused. Itinerary seems very touristy drawn out from forums and guidebooks but that's another story... Why Nasik ? If Udaipur, why not also travel a bit to Kumbhalgarh ? If Orcha, why not Shivpuri ? Should not Agra/FS precede the MP trip - i.e. Rajasthan -> Agra -> M.P. ? Too much emphasis on Tamil Nadu, too little on Kerala & Karnataka - Kovalam in Kerala ?? Yuck !

Apr 11th, 2008, 02:47	#11
Effie08 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 7	Itinerary seems very touristy drawn out from forums and guidebooks but that's another story... It seems that way because it is that way. I have not been travelling to india before so I can only go on the guide books and what people advise. I very much hope to find little places not mentioned in the guide book but i havnt found them yet so cant include them. Im hoping that by posting this itinery it will get people telling me what to miss and what to see. Im happy to take out 'touristy' places to make room for places a little less well known. Why Nasik ? If Udaipur, why not also travel a bit to Kumbhalgarh ? If Orcha, why not Shivpuri ? Should not Agra/FS precede the MP trip - i.e. Rajasthan -> Agra -> M.P. ? Too much emphasis on Tamil Nadu, too little on Kerala & Karnataka - Kovalam in Kerala ?? Yuck ![/quote] Im not sure about Nasik and on second thoughts might remove it from the list. I intend to visit Kumbhalgarh but i just thought it came under Udaipur as it is so close so i didnt put it on the list. I will be going to surrounding areas when staying in any main place. I had not heard of Shivpuri but will look it up if you recommend it. Im still trying to get my bearings on which way round is best I was trying to work it out travelwise as to where to go and when. If you say Agra/FS should precede MP i will look into that and see if rearranging works better. I have got a map of india on its way to me so that should help Can you advise where to miss in Tamil Nadu and where i should go in Kerala and Karnataka? I take it you're not impressed with Kovalam due to its touristy atmosphere? Would you say thats one to take off the list? Thanks for your comments.

Apr 11th, 2008, 03:21	#12
KABAARY Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: INDIA Posts: 139	Skip Kovalam...rest I'm too sleepy to comment about right now - I guess my Nth peg of rum is taking its toll...

Apr 11th, 2008, 06:26	#14
Uncle_Martin Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: W.MidsUK Posts: 90	Effie08 ... don't worry about places being touristy, accept them for what they are, your Tamil Nadu itinerary sounds good and includes most of the main sites ... the only fault I can find with your well balanced literary, apart from Goa, but hey you got friends to see ... is that you seem to be avoiding the hilly bits ... looking for unspoilt places off the tourist track is a little like Erica J. and the "zipperless fuck" ... its better to be able to just accept them as you blunder across them Start Now Howard ... that guy had, for want of a better term, charisma ... we had quite a number of friends in common and worked together on a project for a few months ... but luckily my friends weren't the ones he sold up the river ,,, Howard could do that and with a few words charm you into accepting that it was all for the best ,,, but having known Howard is very 'touristy' not ... now Phil, the mad hippy of Mattala, there was a guy, friends since we were eleven and yes he knew Mr Nice too and End As regards ATM be careful ... for preference use those with a security guard and 1)don't let anyone else in the cubicle with you 2) don't let anybody hassle you out of the secure cubicle space before you are good and ready; and most importantly open an account that lets you use your card abroad without the penalty of £n charge for each foreign transaction, both my daughters and my partner/wife prefer to have an account they pre-load with cash and top up as and when needed when they travel abroad ... me I just bumble through with a mixture of cash TCs and ATM withdrawals. Euro's seem to be preferred to dollars at the moment but that could change by the time you go. £s can be exchanged all over India and you don't have the double wammy of dealers margins on two exchange trasactions. One last thought, some places are off the tourist track for good reasons, but be prepared to go with advice on places to see from people (other than fellow back-packers) you get chatting to as you travel around.

Apr 12th, 2008, 04:01	#15
Effie08 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 7	Vonkla, thanks for the indiamike link that looks good, I will spend some time looking at it as soon as I get a chance. It sounds like you will have a wonderful time, I would like to go off to less well known areas but as I will be travelling alone (hopefully not the whole time) but mainly alone and being a 25yr old female I feel it is better for me to stick to the more well known areas until I meet some people and get to know them well enough then maybe trek out a little more. Uncle Martin thanks for the advice about the ATMs I will take note of that and make sure I’m careful. Thanks to Vandy I have been looking into Ooty and Munnar which I believe are a little more hilly and they both look like nice places to spend a couple of days chillin so I may see how I can fit them in and maybe remove a couple of the bigger towns. I’m sure if I mix it all up enough with beach, city, temples and hill stations I will soon find what’s my cuppa tea and stay longer in my favourite places. Again that you for all the responses.

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