Dec 26th Jan13th Help

tails

Hi there me and my GF have just booked return flights into Delhi from London arriving Delhi on the 27th Dec and Flying out on the 12th Jan GIving us 17 days 2 1/2 Weeks to have a look around.

Neither of us have been to India before but are very keen to take in as much as possible in the time we have. We are on a medium to high budget and do not mind having to pay for a domestic flight in order to save time on long train journeys.

Travel by train is no problem but would be loking to travel through the night to make the most of the day where possible, anyhting past 12-15 hours we would prolly opt for planes.

Can anyone suggest some rough itineries where we could spend some time enjoying the triangle, new delhi, agra etc then down south to relax on the beach for maybe a week then up back through mumbai then full circle to delhi.

India i know is soo large and there is simply so much to see and do that is a little baffling at times. Unfortunately we do not have as much time as we would like so am looking for advice on some real highlights. Don't want to try and jam too much in and spend everynight on a train either, as relaxation is also important.

We have both only really been to Thailand for short bursts of time so asia particularly india is a new thing for us....

Any feedback or help gratly appreciated...

Tails

capt_mahajan

Hmm. Two and a half weeks in winter, for a first trip, and landing in Delhi.

If you want to do Delhi/Agra/Rajasthan reasonably properly, you don't have time for the 7 days at the beach.

If you want to travel by train, keep in mind that Delhi Mumbai is a days journey. And Goa is even further.

For 17 days, I would suggest stick to the North, and maybe add Uttaranchal or Himachal a bit, if you don't want to spend that much time in Rajasthan. I would also keep 2 days for Delhi.

But do tell us what your interests are, maybe somebody will come up with a good idea.

tails

We are both interested in simply taking in some indian culture, we would love to check oiut some of the main attractions i.e taj mahal etc but would also like to have a chance to get off the beaten track a little. My plan was to spend a couple of days in delhi then 5 or so days aroudn rajaastan agra jaipur then fly down south somewhere a little more temperate for 5 or so days, thinking maybe to kerala or chennai even goa, if it is goa then jump on an overnight train to mumbai have a couple of days there then fly back to delhi

How does that sound?

karuna

Sticking to my own experience, (cars rather than trains), you could start with a car journey round Rajasthan and Agra in 10 days or so; say:

Delhi (2 nights) - Agra (1)- Jaipur (2) - Pushkar (2) - Jodhpur (1) - Jaisalmer (2) take the overnight train back to Delhi (note that 1st class is not available on this route) and take a return flight Delhi to Goa (try Spicejet or Go Air) for the last seven days.

Note that this tour is totally on the beaten tourist trail however. Not sure how you can get off it in the time you have....maybe using some of the Goa threads here to find a relatively untouristy Goa beach?

Liesel

Why don't you head into the Himalayas for a couple of days - Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala?

tails

very helpful thanks for the info, in regards to the himilayas i htink that is another trip all together....
TO be honest I wasn't that keen on goa as i've heard its a little over touristy etc and was goign to try a little more authentic indian coastline

any recs outside of goa that is acessable via air transfer from delhi? dont mind having a couple of days each along a few coastlines...

karuna

Check out www.spicejet.com - they fly direct Delhi - Kochi (Kerala).
Maybe also Indian Air and some others...I've not checked. The domestic flights board may have more info.

Right now on the off-the-beaten trail board we have the Secret Beach thread, might help.