Delhi - Bodh Gaya 16 Days January

it's my soul

My wife and I will be getting done a trip of Rajastan (including Agra)and we will have 16 more days on our own that we will use to see some of Uttar Pradesh. We will be leaving from Delhi.

I really want to see and spend time in Varanasi and Bodh Gaya.

I was also suguessted to see Orchha and Khajuraho. Are these good places to visit?

Can someone sugguest a good order to see these places in 16 days?

Also should I we any other sites in Uttar Pradesh?

I already got some places in mind to stay and i will be searching the board for much more info. Any info would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jon

wonderwomanusa

Lucknow is also in UP and a nice old city to spend a couple of days. I found it generally friendly and non-touristy.

it's my soul

Ill check out some info on Lucknow.

Has anyone been to Sarnath or Shravasti?

Lugubert

Sarnath will probably need a not too superficial knowledge of Buddhism to be really interesting. When I was there, there were lots of Japanese visitors. Still a few deer behind a fence, and sufficiently well signposted ruins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnath

For Buddhist ruins, there's also for example Nalanda. A miniscule museum, which, considering the negligible entry fee, is well worth visiting. No cameras allowed, but who cares...

it's my soul

Here is a rough outline of our trip... Please comment and sugguest:


Day 1: Delhi – Gaya (Bodh Gaya)
- Train

Day 2-6: Gaya (Bodh Gaya)
- Go to Bodh Gaya

Day 6: Gaya - Varanasi
- Train

Day 7-11: Varanasi / Sarnath
- See Varanasi
- See Sarnath

Day 11: Varanasi - Gorakapur
-Train

Day 12-16: Gorakapur / Lumbini
- See Gorakapur
- Trip to Lumbini (Nepal)
- Visit Kusinagur

Day 16: Gorakapur – Delhi

Day 17: Delhi

Day 18: Depart for home

alext

I was in Bodhgaya a few years back. I enjoyed it quite a bit really. Gaya on the other hand I didn't care for a bit. The weather was horrible (raining) which didn't help. However near to Gaya are the famous caves from... whatever that movie was called. LP lists them and recommends bringing a guide/guard with you if you do care to visit.

You may find Sarnath interesting (or not) but if you are in Varanasi, I would strongly recommend a stop there since it is so close. Also in Varanasi is a cool museum across from the "New Shiva" temple which is also nice. Both of those are on the University grounds if I remember correctly.

Edit: Oh and Bodhgaya has a big peace festival during the beginning of the year (forget when exactly) so if you didn't know that, you may wish to book ahead.

it's my soul

Thanks for all the replies. i haven't written in a while because I have been working too much and fine tuning my itinerary a bit.

i think i have a good outline, but i have a couple of questions.

day 1 Delhi - Bodhgaya (via Gaya overnight)

day 2-6 Bodhgaya

day 6 Bodhgaya to Varanasi

day 6-11 Varanasi and Saranath

day 11 Varanasi to Kushinagar (via Gorakapur)

day 11-16 Kushiangar and Lumbini, Nepal

day 16 Gorakapur to Delhi

Questions:

1. I'm still debating to go into Nepal. He are other ideas for the last 5 days of this itinerary can someone suggest something if they think it's a better idea then seeing Kushinagar and Lumbini.

2. Would it be better to see Khajuraho and Orchha? My other option is Dharamsala, but it may be too far and too cold for January?

3. If i were going to still go into Nepal, would it be better to leave from Varanasi and skip Kushinagar?

4. Ive been doing a lot of research concerning all of the transportation and places to stay... but if anyone would like to throw suggestions at me, feel free. It would be a big help.

Thanks again.

Darmabum

all the time you can. Not a city of "sites" as much as sights . . . I've lived there for over a year and still want more. Pre-dawn river trips (get on the river before the sky is light to see the ghats wake-up). Perhaps arrange for your boat the night before, just to avoid the hassles that haggling for prices can(WILL) be in the morning . . . walk along the river from the southern ghat - Asi - to the main ghat . . . get lost in the maze of lanes in the old city . . . head up Vishwanath Lane toward the Golden Temple . . . fascinating city. Intense place; (IMHO) the heart of India.

Sarnath . . . I'd go just to take a a break from Varanasi; it can be a very overwhelming place, even if you love it (as I do). It's a great restful place.

I finally got to Khajuraho/Orrcha on my last trip. Took a ten day circular road trip (non-AC Ambassador) from Varnasi-Khajuraho-Orrcah-Agra-Mathura-and back. Khajuraho is hard to get to but for me, worth the trip. Saw it off-season so not so crowded.

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