Comment needed on 10 days itinerary in North India!

Is this itinerary achievable? Pls comment and your advices is much appreciated!

Plan A

26/4 (Weds)

430pm: to Dharamsala by public bus (or private, depends on the condition of public bus)

Duration 13 hours; Rs 482

Overnight in Deluxe bus

If possible, to McLeodGanj fr Delhi, 740pm, 14hr, Rs494


27/4 (Thurs)

7am : Reach Dharamsala

Visit McLeod Ganj, Forsyth Ganj

Overnight in Dharamsala/McLeod


28/4 (Fri)

AM : Visit Dharamsala and McLeod

PM : check out and depart Delhi (Departure time fr Dharamsala/McLeod to be confirm thru travel agency in India)

Overnight in bus, Rs 482


29/4 (Sat)

AM : Wandering Delhi (places recommended by tour guide)

1425 (225pm) elhi to Garakhpur train; duration 14 hours; Rs 837(AC 3)

overnight in train


30/4 (Sun)

0405am reach Garakhpur, find fastest transport to Kushinagar

AM :Visit Kushinagar (bus fr Garakhpur, duration 1.5hr, Rs 25)

1245 PM : train fr Garakhpur to Hajipur, 1938(7.38pm) reach Hajipur Rs 350

then by rickshaw(45min, Rs 12) to Patna, overnight in Patna,


1/5 (Mon)

From Patna to Nalanda:

1) by train direct to Nalanda (2.5hr, Rs35) or

2) hourly buses to Bihar Shariff then jeep to Nalanda(Rs8)

Tonga to visit Nalanda(Rs8)


By Jeep (Rs8, 12km) to Rajgir, Tonga to visit Rajgir

Overnight in Rajgir


2/5 (Tue)

AM : Bus to Gaya (Rs35, 2.5hr) then to Bodhgaya (13km) by autorickshaws (Rs 50)

PM : Train to Varanasi (Rs271, 4hr) depart 21:08 reach 02:35, Rs330 OR depart 01:48 reach 06:20 (the latter we can save one night hotel stay, only save RM20 per person)

Overnight in Varanasi if we reach 02:35(Rs 200 per person roughly, guest house or hotel beside Ganges River)


3/5 (Weds)

530am early morning boat ride along Ganges River fr Dasaswamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and back (Rs 100 per hour for 4 persons; Rs 200 for 8 persons)

If tired, can make it the next morning but risk of raining..


AM To Sarnath by bus (Rs10, 45min) or by autorickshaw (Rs50, 30min) or taxi (Rs150)


Boat ride/Walking along the ghats at sunset


Overnight in Varanasi


4/5(Thurs)

AM Free in Varanasi

18:45 Train to Delhi ; duration 14hr, reach 07:45 Rs311 (SL) we shall take SL this time as its a night train, should not be very hot, and one person can save up to RM50..

Overnight in train


5/5 (Fri)

7.45 AM wandering Delhi, buying spree

PM continue buying spree

BEFORE 9PM MUST BE IN AIRPORT

0050 flight DEL-KUL





Plan B

26/4(Weds)

1520 (320pm) : Delhi to Garakhpur train; duration 15 hours; Rs 837(AC 3)

overnight in train


27/4 (Thurs)

AM :Visit Kushinagar (bus fr Garakhpur, duration 1.5hr, EF: Rs 25)

take train fr Garakhpur to Hajipur, then by rickshaw(45min, Rs 12) to Patna,

Overnight in Patna


28/4 (Fri)

Fr Patna

1) by train direct to Nalanda (2.5hr, Rs35) or

2) hourly buses to Bihar Shariff then jeep to Nalanda(Rs8)

Tonga to visit Nalanda(Rs8)


By Jeep (Rs8, 12km) to Rajgir, Tonga to visit Rajgir

Overnight in Rajgir


29/4 (Sat)

AM : Bus to Gaya (Rs35, 2.5hr) then to Bodhgaya (13km) by autorickshaws (Rs 50)

PM : Train to Varanasi (Rs271, 4hr)

Overnight in Varanasi (Rs 200 per person roughly, guest house or hotel just besides Ganges River)


30/4 (Sun)

530am early morning boat ride along Ganges River fr Dasaswamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and back (Rs 100 per hour for 4 persons; Rs 200 for 8 persons)


To Sarnath by bus (Rs10, 45min) or by autorickshaw (Rs50, 30min) or taxi (Rs150)


Boat ride/Walking along the ghats at sunset


Overnight in Varanasi


1/5 (Mon)

AM Free

315pm to Delhi ; duration 14hr, Rs728

Overnight in train


2/5 (Tue)

AM Free in Delhi

430pm: to Dharamsala by public bus (or private, depends on the condition of public bus)

Duration 13 hours; Rs 482

Overnight in Deluxe bus

If possible, to McLeodGanj fr Delhi, 740pm, 14hr, Rs494


3/5 (Weds)

7am : Reach Dharamsala

Visit McLeod Ganj, Forsyth Ganj

Overnight in Dharamsala/McLeod


4/5 (Thurs)

AM : Visit Dharamsala and McLeod,

PM : check out and depart Delhi

Overnight in bus (EF: Rs 482)


5/5 (Fri)

AM : Wondering Delhi, buying spree

PM continue buying spree

After dinner departs to airport, BEFORE 9PM MUST BE IN AIRPORT

0050 flight DEL-KUL

A crowded itinerary without having any train reservations, in peak summer !

Avoid !

Thanks SHimla! We know tat it's indeed a packed itinerary, and we'll book the train reservation once we touch down in New Delhi on 21th of April. (we'll b joining 7 days tour to Jaipur-Agra-NewDelhi).

Are we too greedy to grab all the places in such a short time?
Any advices?

fenly,

Its not a question of beeing greedy. Its just that I will not advice covering the cowbelt of India in peak summer, especially when you do not have train reservations. Its just not worth it, in my opinion.

I recommend your spending time only in the hills - as you've already decided to visit Dharamsala, proceed to Palampur, Mandi, Kullu and Manali.

Whatever you ultimately decide, you must book your train tickets NOW, without waiting to land in Delhi for doing so. Again, if you do decide to stick to the hills, then hotel accomodation must also be booked rightaway!

Please realise that you'll be travelling at a time when scores of Indian families will be travelling too.

I agree with SHIMLA, you need to book train tickets ASAP.

This train may be useful....

Train 5109 departs Rajgir (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday) at 22:30, then Nalanda at 22:42 and gets to Varanasi at 08:10 (departing at 08:40) then Sarnath at 09:20

Sleeper Class = Rs 184

Train 5110 departs Sarnath (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only) at 20:00, then Varanasi at 21:00 and gets to Rajgir at 06:00 the following morning.

Thanks guys! Ur comments are really helpful! As this is our 1st time to India, we really never realise that this is a peak season in india during the period of our visitting. Juz keep our finger cross that there are seats available for 6 of us!

Wow for 6 of you that's going to prove even more difficult, even using the tourist quota you'll find that only gives the option of four berths!!

Get booking as Shimla and Steven advised, do it online NOW