Delhi-Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan itinerary tips needed

iguani · Mar 29th, 2008, 03:36

Hello Everyone!

We're planning a month long trip starting and ending in Delhi next January-February. I was thinking of visiting places like Mandu, Udaipur&surroundings, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Bundi and one national park maybe (primary objective would be to spot a tiger...)

I'd be glad for any comments or experiences of these places and further tips on where to go - best place for the desert experience, places of natural beauty (deserts, forests, hikes etc), non-touristed small towns and villages, anything!

Thank you!

machadinha · Mar 29th, 2008, 12:13

Hi, and welcome to IndiaMike.

I've been to Rajasthan twice, and have planned to visit Madhya Pradesh for a long time. Just dropping a note that the latter is quite some ways away, I don't think I'd personally try to cram both into one month-long trip. Especially not if this is your first trip, it's unclear if it is.

It's not impossible and you don't have to follow my lead, it's just a note. Doing Rajasthan and Gujarat in a month and being acquainted with Indian travel, we saw about half of what we planned in each. Distances are great, travel is taxing, and it's over before you know it. No regrets about that trip (quite marvelous in fact, but certainly calling for more), just by way of illustration.

iguani · Mar 29th, 2008, 15:15

Thanks Machadinha!
I'm aware of the distance problem, and the more i wrestle with the itinerary the more i realize the need to "sacrifice" so many intriguing destinations!

I'm just so excited because the last time i was in India was in 2001 and i was in Karnataka and Goa. So this will be my first time to the north!! Still i know i don't want to cram too many places in there, rather i want to have time to settle a bit in a few places and just observe the people!

I'd love to hear more about people's experiences in Madhya Pradesh, there isn't so much written about the region. I'll at least have a better look at the forum...

machadinha · Mar 30th, 2008, 02:17

If you want my advice, I'd concentrate on either state (well, with possible cross-state border hops), then hope to be back for the other later. Rajasthan is of course highly touristed, however a month there would allow plenty of room to explore the less visited spots as well as the highlights which are popular for a reason, could (and will, I think) be well worth it.

My long-planned itinerary in Madhya Pradesh would roughly follow the river Narmada, with a number of sidesteps; I'm counting on about a month (but not sure if it would really take much longer or much shorter in practice) to do what I want there, at arguably a leisurely pace.

I've helped friends plot out an itinerary there in the past; they absolutely loved it, I'm not sure but I think they took a month for it indeed, from the river mouth at the coast to Jabalpur & Kanha.

Member Jorge Reverter here has traveled there, so you could look up his posts; as will have many others of course. Start in the Madhya Pradesh sub-forum by all means.

A book on the Narmada that I've yet to read but has been often recommended to me is Gita Mehta's A River Sutra, which I'd certainly plan to use as something of a guide if it suits my needs, as I suspect it might.

Back to Rajasthan, it is well-covered by guidebooks which should also point out the more off-the-track destinations. Or there's again our Rajasthan forum of course.

An Indian guidebook series that I've never used but comes well-recommended is Outlook Traveller (Hey! They do a Finland title I see now

), you could see what titles they have that suit your needs, and if you can't get them at home, chances are you'll find them in the Indian metros at least, possibly sold-out editions too. Many of their titles feature at least a table of contents and often some chapters that can be read online.

Well, good luck with it, and be sure to ask on

--> And ps I'm sure the two can be combined; it's just the eternal balancing act of quality over quantity I guess. I find my interests increasingly tilt in favor of the former, if they haven't always to begin with.

Others here arguably seem to zip around the place, so don't listen to me too much. It's just one guy's view, after all.

machadinha · Apr 10th, 2008, 02:17

Yo Iguani, so how are your plans coming along?

Just dropping a note that northern MP has some destinations that would interest me & could more easily be combined with Rajasthan, of course.

Looking on from there to say Mandu etc. you could easily be forgiven for thinking well it's not that much further... It may turn out to be though I think.

Anyway, let us know how your plans go.

Mar 29th, 2008, 03:36	#1
iguani Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2	Delhi-Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan itinerary tips needed Hello Everyone! We're planning a month long trip starting and ending in Delhi next January-February. I was thinking of visiting places like Mandu, Udaipur&surroundings, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Bundi and one national park maybe (primary objective would be to spot a tiger...) I'd be glad for any comments or experiences of these places and further tips on where to go - best place for the desert experience, places of natural beauty (deserts, forests, hikes etc), non-touristed small towns and villages, anything! Thank you!

Mar 29th, 2008, 12:13	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,642	Hi, and welcome to IndiaMike. I've been to Rajasthan twice, and have planned to visit Madhya Pradesh for a long time. Just dropping a note that the latter is quite some ways away, I don't think I'd personally try to cram both into one month-long trip. Especially not if this is your first trip, it's unclear if it is. It's not impossible and you don't have to follow my lead, it's just a note. Doing Rajasthan and Gujarat in a month and being acquainted with Indian travel, we saw about half of what we planned in each. Distances are great, travel is taxing, and it's over before you know it. No regrets about that trip (quite marvelous in fact, but certainly calling for more), just by way of illustration. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Mar 29th, 2008, 15:15	#3
iguani Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2	Thanks Machadinha! I'm aware of the distance problem, and the more i wrestle with the itinerary the more i realize the need to "sacrifice" so many intriguing destinations! I'm just so excited because the last time i was in India was in 2001 and i was in Karnataka and Goa. So this will be my first time to the north!! Still i know i don't want to cram too many places in there, rather i want to have time to settle a bit in a few places and just observe the people! I'd love to hear more about people's experiences in Madhya Pradesh, there isn't so much written about the region. I'll at least have a better look at the forum...

Mar 30th, 2008, 02:17	#4
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,642	If you want my advice, I'd concentrate on either state (well, with possible cross-state border hops), then hope to be back for the other later. Rajasthan is of course highly touristed, however a month there would allow plenty of room to explore the less visited spots as well as the highlights which are popular for a reason, could (and will, I think) be well worth it. My long-planned itinerary in Madhya Pradesh would roughly follow the river Narmada, with a number of sidesteps; I'm counting on about a month (but not sure if it would really take much longer or much shorter in practice) to do what I want there, at arguably a leisurely pace. I've helped friends plot out an itinerary there in the past; they absolutely loved it, I'm not sure but I think they took a month for it indeed, from the river mouth at the coast to Jabalpur & Kanha. Member Jorge Reverter here has traveled there, so you could look up his posts; as will have many others of course. Start in the Madhya Pradesh sub-forum by all means. A book on the Narmada that I've yet to read but has been often recommended to me is Gita Mehta's A River Sutra, which I'd certainly plan to use as something of a guide if it suits my needs, as I suspect it might. Back to Rajasthan, it is well-covered by guidebooks which should also point out the more off-the-track destinations. Or there's again our Rajasthan forum of course. An Indian guidebook series that I've never used but comes well-recommended is Outlook Traveller (Hey! They do a Finland title I see now ), you could see what titles they have that suit your needs, and if you can't get them at home, chances are you'll find them in the Indian metros at least, possibly sold-out editions too. Many of their titles feature at least a table of contents and often some chapters that can be read online. Well, good luck with it, and be sure to ask on --> And ps I'm sure the two can be combined; it's just the eternal balancing act of quality over quantity I guess. I find my interests increasingly tilt in favor of the former, if they haven't always to begin with. Others here arguably seem to zip around the place, so don't listen to me too much. It's just one guy's view, after all.

Apr 10th, 2008, 02:17	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,642	Yo Iguani, so how are your plans coming along? Just dropping a note that northern MP has some destinations that would interest me & could more easily be combined with Rajasthan, of course. Looking on from there to say Mandu etc. you could easily be forgiven for thinking well it's not that much further... It may turn out to be though I think. Anyway, let us know how your plans go.

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