Delhi/Agra/Jaipur/Varanasi in 10 days...??!

jhiker · Mar 30th, 2007, 03:52

Hi all - first post, though I've been lurking for a while on this wonderfully informative and enthusiastic site...

I'll be coming to India solo in October this year (50 yrs. male, UK). It'll be my first trip and I'm excited and anxious in equal measure!
Here's the rub - I've only got about nine or ten days (in Friday - out Sunday or Monday) so I've got to be a bit careful not to underestimate distances or travel times and unforeseen difficulties. I'll be coming in to Delhi where I plan to spend a couple of days then I want to go to Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi.
I don't intend to spend more than a day in Agra so I've not looked at accommodation there but I have made contact with the Pearl Palace, Jaipur - Master Paying Guest House, Delhi and Schindia Guest House, Varanasi after reading many posts and recommendations on here.
Ideally, I'd like a couple of days at both Varanasi and Jaipur and I quite like the idea of travelling by train although due to lack of time I might have to consider flying to Varanasi perhaps.
My problem is that I can't decide what in order to travel - for those that have been there, and taking into account the vagaries of the transport network, is there a preferred or logical way to do this, or am I taking too much on in such a short time? I'd like to spend at least one night back in Delhi at the end of the trip before flying home.
Thanks in advance.
Jeff

nattynoo · Mar 30th, 2007, 05:05

Hi Jhiker, Welcome to Idiamike. We are doing that exact same itinary. 10 days agra/jaipur/varanasi.
Before I tell you our travel plans there's a few hints to navagating this site. There is a search tab up top & down the side & a wealth of knowledge & already discussed topics such as this one already there. Also no where else will you get such valuable information on booking trains & flights than here on IM.
Now our travel plans.
We are going to Agra day 1 by train, early morning & training it back to delhi late evening. We dont want to stay in agra.
Then next day early train to Jaipur, staying 3 days at Umaid Bhawan. Train back to delhi.
A day break back in Delhi to goto Chandi chowk, red fort etc.
Then we booked a flight to Varanasi. Staying at Hotel Alka. Then flying back to Delhi for home next morning.
Hope this helps. Others will have other ways to get about it. Perhaps an overnight train to Varanasi or Jaipur is another way.Good luck.

Epicure · Mar 30th, 2007, 11:22

Hi Jhiker,

The route that is coming to my mind is NewDelhi-Agra-Jaipur-Varnasi-NewDelhi, if you prefer going by train. Here is how it works............
NewDelhi-Agra Shatabti Express train#2002 (fare for executive class Rs725 and Chair car Rs375 both classes aircon departs NewDelhi at 6am and reaches Agra by 8am. see tajmahal, fatehpur sikri and take evening train#2988 Gwalior-Jaipur Intercity at agra fort railway station (there are three railway stations in agra) departs at 18:20 and reaches jaipur at 22:20. Fare for this train is 3tier a/c Rs385, A/C Chair car Rs309. Then afer spending some time in Jaipur, take train#4864 to varanasi departs jaipur at 15:40 and reaches varanasi next day at 08:15. Fare for this train- 2tier AC Rs1199, 3tier ac Rs842 and sleeper class (non a/c) Rs310. There are quite a few trains from varanasi to newdelhi. Some run on all week days and some other few days in a week. Am giving you the daily connectivy here.....

2559 SHIV GANGA EXP VARANASI JN 19:15 NEW DELHI 07:25
2559 SHIV GANGA EXP VARANASI JN 19:15 NEW DELHI 07:25
4257 K V EXP VARANASI JN 13:45 NEW DELHI 06:25
2391 SHRAMJEEVI EXP *VARANASI JN 15:11 NEW DELHI 05:20
2561 SWATANTRTA S EX *VARANASI JN 00:30 NEW DELHI 12:25
4005 LICHCHAVI EXP *VARANASI JN 15:45 NEW DELHI 04:35
Fare from varanasi to newdelhi is 1A Rs1985 2tier a/c Rs1153, 3tier a/c Rs820 and sleeper class (non a/c) Rs311.
Happy journey.......

anarkali · Mar 30th, 2007, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhiker

Hi all - first post, though I've been lurking for a while on this wonderfully informative and enthusiastic site...

I'll be coming to India solo in October this year (50 yrs. male, <snip>
I have made contact with the Pearl Palace, Jaipur - Master Paying Guest House, Delhi
<snip>

Hi Jeff, you're doing well to get in touch with MPGH early, as they are very popular, and rightly so. Just a thought, if you want to do their Hidden Delhi tour (I can highly recommend it, it's a gem which gave me some of my best photos and memories of Delhi) be aware, it only runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and book a few days ahead. We extended our stay in Delhi (and curtailed our stay in Agra) just so we could catch the tour.

steven_ber · Mar 30th, 2007, 13:17

Consider using overnight trains in either direction between Delhi & Varanasi, and between Varanasi & Agra.

So, either ....

Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Delhi.

or

Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Delhi.

jhiker · Apr 1st, 2007, 18:11

Good advice there - many thanks.
Tell me - what do you see and do on the 'Hidden Delhi' tour that makes it so special?

Mar 30th, 2007, 03:52	#1
jhiker Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 21	Delhi/Agra/Jaipur/Varanasi in 10 days...??! Hi all - first post, though I've been lurking for a while on this wonderfully informative and enthusiastic site... I'll be coming to India solo in October this year (50 yrs. male, UK). It'll be my first trip and I'm excited and anxious in equal measure! Here's the rub - I've only got about nine or ten days (in Friday - out Sunday or Monday) so I've got to be a bit careful not to underestimate distances or travel times and unforeseen difficulties. I'll be coming in to Delhi where I plan to spend a couple of days then I want to go to Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi. I don't intend to spend more than a day in Agra so I've not looked at accommodation there but I have made contact with the Pearl Palace, Jaipur - Master Paying Guest House, Delhi and Schindia Guest House, Varanasi after reading many posts and recommendations on here. Ideally, I'd like a couple of days at both Varanasi and Jaipur and I quite like the idea of travelling by train although due to lack of time I might have to consider flying to Varanasi perhaps. My problem is that I can't decide what in order to travel - for those that have been there, and taking into account the vagaries of the transport network, is there a preferred or logical way to do this, or am I taking too much on in such a short time? I'd like to spend at least one night back in Delhi at the end of the trip before flying home. Thanks in advance. Jeff

Mar 30th, 2007, 13:17	#5
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,243	Consider using overnight trains in either direction between Delhi & Varanasi, and between Varanasi & Agra. So, either .... Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Delhi. or Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Delhi. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

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Mar 30th, 2007, 05:05	#2
nattynoo Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 62	Hi Jhiker, Welcome to Idiamike. We are doing that exact same itinary. 10 days agra/jaipur/varanasi. Before I tell you our travel plans there's a few hints to navagating this site. There is a search tab up top & down the side & a wealth of knowledge & already discussed topics such as this one already there. Also no where else will you get such valuable information on booking trains & flights than here on IM. Now our travel plans. We are going to Agra day 1 by train, early morning & training it back to delhi late evening. We dont want to stay in agra. Then next day early train to Jaipur, staying 3 days at Umaid Bhawan. Train back to delhi. A day break back in Delhi to goto Chandi chowk, red fort etc. Then we booked a flight to Varanasi. Staying at Hotel Alka. Then flying back to Delhi for home next morning. Hope this helps. Others will have other ways to get about it. Perhaps an overnight train to Varanasi or Jaipur is another way.Good luck.

Mar 30th, 2007, 11:22	#3
Epicure Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: India Posts: 174	Hi Jhiker, The route that is coming to my mind is NewDelhi-Agra-Jaipur-Varnasi-NewDelhi, if you prefer going by train. Here is how it works............ NewDelhi-Agra Shatabti Express train#2002 (fare for executive class Rs725 and Chair car Rs375 both classes aircon departs NewDelhi at 6am and reaches Agra by 8am. see tajmahal, fatehpur sikri and take evening train#2988 Gwalior-Jaipur Intercity at agra fort railway station (there are three railway stations in agra) departs at 18:20 and reaches jaipur at 22:20. Fare for this train is 3tier a/c Rs385, A/C Chair car Rs309. Then afer spending some time in Jaipur, take train#4864 to varanasi departs jaipur at 15:40 and reaches varanasi next day at 08:15. Fare for this train- 2tier AC Rs1199, 3tier ac Rs842 and sleeper class (non a/c) Rs310. There are quite a few trains from varanasi to newdelhi. Some run on all week days and some other few days in a week. Am giving you the daily connectivy here..... 2559 SHIV GANGA EXP VARANASI JN 19:15 NEW DELHI 07:25 2559 SHIV GANGA EXP VARANASI JN 19:15 NEW DELHI 07:25 4257 K V EXP VARANASI JN 13:45 NEW DELHI 06:25 2391 SHRAMJEEVI EXP VARANASI JN 15:11 NEW DELHI 05:20 2561 SWATANTRTA S EX VARANASI JN 00:30 NEW DELHI 12:25 4005 LICHCHAVI EXP *VARANASI JN 15:45 NEW DELHI 04:35 Fare from varanasi to newdelhi is 1A Rs1985 2tier a/c Rs1153, 3tier a/c Rs820 and sleeper class (non a/c) Rs311. Happy journey.......

Apr 1st, 2007, 18:11	#6
jhiker Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 21	Good advice there - many thanks. Tell me - what do you see and do on the 'Hidden Delhi' tour that makes it so special?

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