Delhi - Varanasi - Kolkata - Andamans - Delhi (25 days), smaller stop-offs?

arturo_aquaboy

Hi everyone,

It's my first post on here but I've been reading or a while so hello!

Just wanted some advice or comments on my potential itinerary in December?

Delhi - Varanasi - Kolkata - Andamans - Kolkata- Delhi (25 days)

I am travelling with my boyfriend and neither of us has been to India before.

We are flying into Delhi. I'd like to see the Taj Mahal of course (although don't want to stay in Agra) and Varanasi sounds amazing. We'll travel to Kolkata to fly to Andaman Islands ideally in the middle of the trip because I think the cities are going to be a quite a lot to deal with for first timers and we'd like some calm time, probably for 6 or so days.

We'll be travelling by night train for most of the long journeys, I don't want to fly if I don't have to and travelling at night won't eat into our 'doing stuff' time too much.

I'd love to see some more smaller towns or villages rather than just the big cities that I have currently and love the sound of Jaisalmer but just don't think that will be feasible too? Does anyone recommend smaller, interesting non city stop-offs?

Also I want to take a zillion photos so anywhere unusual visually would be welcome!

Thanks
Arturo_Aquagirl

Mickey S

Welcome to the forum, Arturo.

Don't dismiss Agra as a place to stay. If you're into photography then you can get some very atmospheric shots of the Taj Mahal in the early morning mist or from across the river at sunset. The white marble can look very washed-out in the midday sun. Nearby Fatehpur Sikri is also a very rewarding place for photography.

I'd suggest very strongly that you try to spend two nights in Agra. Visit the Taj Mahal at dawn (it opens at 6am). During the daytime take the bus to Fatehpur Sikri. Then in the late afternoon/sunset cross the river and admire the Taj from the other side. It's a great place to lie and just take in the view.

Don't forget that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.

There is a very convenient overnight train from Agra to Varanasi, so you will not have to retrace your steps to Delhi:

Train 4854 Marudhar Express Dep. Agra Fort (AF) at 21:15. Arr. Varanasi (BSB) at 08:15 (09:30 on Mon, Thu and Sat).

Jaisalmer is great but way too far from your planned route to justify going there. Jaipur may be worth thinking about, though - you could go from Delhi to Jaipur, then to Agra and on to Varanasi.

arturo_aquaboy

Thanks so much for the tips and I didn't know the Taj Mahal was shut on Fridays so you saved me a world of pain! Good to know there are direct trains from Agra to Varanasi - I thought it was going to have to be a detour hence my reluctance to spend too much time there! Very helpful.

singsub

from varanasi check out sarnath. and from kolkata if you can go to dakshineshwar temple.

arturo_aquaboy

Thank-you! I seem to have at least a week of free days in my schedule so any other must sees welcome

singsub

depends on how much you want to deviate from the delhi-varanasi-kolkata straight line.

arturo_aquaboy

i'll go anywhere so long but i'd like to avoid plane travel. i have about 7/8 days after kolkata and i have to fly out of delhi on the last day which limits things. i'm thinking maybe jaisalmer but i am really open to any suggestions.

singsub

jaisalmer is way off the track. you could go back to delhi from kolkata via one or more of the following places - bhubaneswar (puri, konark) - bhopal (sanchi, bhimbetika, bhojpur), orcha, khajuraho, gwalior

arturo_aquaboy

Thanks for everyones suggestions'- I have decided that I am going to try to do the following schedule. Mad, maybe!. If you think I am completely insane tell me!

I am going to the East for The Andamans which is mainly for my boyfriend who loves the sea/diving etc. I REALLY want to go to Jaisalmer because I love desert-y places. I also like places where there is a general feeling rather particular sites, does that make sense? I have a short attention span. I even considered cutting out Agra - at this point I am not overly fussed about seeing the Taj and maybe I should go when I have got a bit of a feel for a little of India in general. At the moment I am kind of keeping it in because I feel I should, although I have only heard great things...

A lot depends on which flights we get for the Andamans (Deccan haven't opened their booking yet) and we might cut a day out to ease the travel. I might also add that I tend to do a lot of moving around on holiday so have at least some practice.

Thoughts would be appreciated even if they are only to laugh at the ridiculousness of my plan!

Sat 13th Dec Arrive Delhi early am Delhi
Sun 14th Delhi Eve train to Agra
Mon 15th Agra Sleeper to Varanasi
Tues 16th Varanasi Varanasi
Weds 17t Varanasi Varanasi
Thurs 18th Varanasi Sleeper to Kolkata
Fri 19th Kolkata Kolkata
Sat 20th Fly to Andamans Port Blair
Sun 21st Port Blair Havelock
Mon 22nd Havelock Havelock
Tues 23rd Havelock Havelock probably
Weds 24th Havelock Havelock probably
Thurs 25th Havelock Havelock (maybe I could cut a day out of the Andaman trip)
Fri 26th Port Blair Port Blair (if early flight to Kolkata)
Sat 27th Dec Kolkata Sleeper to Delhi
Sun 28th Dec Delhi Sleeper to just outside Jaislamer perhaps not on sleeper class
Mon 29th Mirvana Nature Resort Mirvana
Tues 30th Mirvana Nature Resort/Day trip Mirvana
Weds 31st Jaisalmer Jaisalmer
Thurs 1st Jaisalmer Sleeper to Jodhpur Fri 2nd Jodhpur Jodhpur
Sat 3rd Jodhpur Sleeper to Delhi
Sun 4th Delhi Delhi eat late to airport or eat early/sleep early at hotel
Mon 5th Plane back 4.25am so have to be there 2.25am Fly UK

Baba

I have arranged my own trip to the Andamans recently and this is what I found out: you can fly from Kolkata to Port Blair and go through to Havelock on the same day (in high season). Book an early flight and arrange for a pick-up service from the airport.
On the way back you have to spend a night in Port Blair.

__________________
Baba

arturo_aquaboy

oh thank you for that info. that would be amazing and mean we could cut a day from that part of the holiday easing the burden in the rest. where did you stay? havelock or do you recommend elsewhere?

Baba

LOL, I will arrive when you are gone! But I have booked flights and hotel already, being a compulsive organizer and knowing that Christmas can be really busy. I have booked myself into Island Vinnie (and the information is from them), but as I have never been there before...

arturo_aquaboy

i would have to but we can't book yet for really boring reasons. i have my fingers tightly crossed that air deccan don't charge through the roof when their flights go on sale. shame our trips don't overlap!