Delhi, Varanasi & Raj travel plans advice wanted

Hi all

I have a 3 week trip starting sat 17th dec.

I arrive into Delhi 8.30pm
2 days in delhi
fly varanasi 9.35am - arrive 11.10am
3.5 days varanasi
o/n train 6.15pm - 5.55am to agra
stay overnight at fatehpur? or agra
6.20am train to jaipur or better by car?
3.5 days jaipur
o/n train 23.45pm to jaisalmere
3.5 days jaisalmere - is it too cold to camel safari 1 Jan?
o/n train 23.30 - 5.15am to Jodphur or by car?
1 day/night jodphur
drive udaipur via rankapur and Kumbhalgarh
udaipur 3 days
o/n train delhi 18.15
arrive delhi 6.30am - go shopping till airport at 7.30pm for 10.30pm flight

how does this sound? less/more in any one place?

I will have xmas day in Jaipur and nye will be in jaisalmere.

would love any feedback.

Caryn

G'day

Your itinerary sounds nice to me.
As The Taj Mahal's gates open at 6 am, (even 5.30 I've heard) I would stay in Agra to see the Taj' at 6 am.
Agra Jaipur there are many trains, I would take one.
A safari in the desert will be very cold at night. And camel rides are not confortable at all, one or two hours it's ok, but an all day sitting on it, and you will feel it!
Jaisalmer Jodhpur, I did it by that train, arriving 6 am.
Driving from Jodpur to Udaipur passing by Ranakpur and Khumbalgarh is great!

Enjoy!

thanks chundi, great advice

Itinerary looks good!

My favorite restaurant in all of India is in Varanasi. It's called Kesari restaurant, near the main Godaulia junction. Don't miss it! Also head out to Sarnath to see the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

One note for Udaipur, per my personal experience. It might be a good place for you to slow down for a few days and relax, but compared to other places in Rajasthan, it doesn't have many sites to see.

Also consider splitting up your Jaisalmer time with a few days in Khuri, per the recommendations here on the forum. There you can get a better taste of traditional Rajasthani village life.

thanks david, more great advice, thank you. i haven't heard of khuri. does anyone know if going for a camel trek is feasible in the winter or even worth it? what is worth it re the camels?

also will i want to relax in udaipur? it is relaxing I mean. i hear bundi is wonderful. i was imaging relaxation would come in bundi and pushkar

Also in Varanasi, check out The Kerala Cafe. GREAT south Indian dosa, always very lively with locals and dosa-lovers of all nations. My camel experience in Khuri was exceptional. Great camels, great guides. Whether you ride a camel or not in Khuri, it is a great place to relax, Udaipur worked for me too in that way.

hey thanks darmabum, another cafe to check out and nice to hear about khuri - thanks