first trip to India

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 17:38

Greetings! Departing for Mumbai 28.12.09 for an 18 day visit and would appreciate general feedback regarding our proposed itinerary from expert travellers to India. The plan so far unfolds thusly: 30.12.09 - depart Mumbai for Goa. Stay 5 days, 4 nights in Goa; 4.01.10 Depart Goa for Delhi for 2 day visit Corbett Nat´l Park, plus visit Agra (Taj Mahal)and see some sites in Delhi; 8.01.10 Depart Delhi for Kochi (Cochin?) for 2 day boat cruise of backwaters of Kerala; 12.01.10 Depart Kochi for Mumbai and spend remaining 3 days of trip visiting Mumbai and environs. That´s basically it. We would like to err on the side of caution in terms of doing too much or having far reaching travel plans. We realize this involves a lot of one-way flights but we´ve done some research and these are the sites we were choosing to focus on. Any input from expert travellers to India are most welcome - Thanks!

trooooon · Sep 2nd, 2009, 17:53

Hi Salochin,
Welcome to India mike

You have a bunch of interesting things to do there, but you appear to be crossing South from Mumbai twice, doing Goa and Kerela in the same stretch would resuce your travel time.
Cochin is a very interesting place, and there is an old Jew town which you must visit!
cheers

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by trooooon

Hi Salochin,
Welcome to India mike

You have a bunch of interesting things to do there, but you appear to be crossing South from Mumbai twice, doing Goa and Kerela in the same stretch would resuce your travel time.
Cochin is a very interesting place, and there is an old Jew town which you must visit!
cheers

thank you -- yes, it´s probably better to go to Kerala from Goa, then fly to Delhi and environs, then back to Mumbai. Very curious to read about the Jewish town you referenced...! Cheers

jyotirmoy · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:20

Since you have 3 days in Mumbai I suggest you visit Ajanta & Ellora absolutely amazing. Aurangabad would be a convinient base for this.

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:35

Thanks very much for the Aurangabad recommendation - I´ve just found it and it looks and sounds stunning...Cheers!

trooooon · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:35

I second that, really amazing rock cut monasteries and dwellings

The adilabad fort is also amazing!

jyotirmoy · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:46

Salhocin are you looking at Aurangabad or Ajanta & Ellora?

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:48

We would ostensibly return to Mumbai Jan 12th and we depart three days later on the 15th. Both Ellora and Ajanta look quite impressive - going there would probably compromise time spent in Mumbai, but I´m not so sure that would be such a bad thing. What do you think?

jyotirmoy · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:54

Go to Ajanta & Ellora you won't regret these are unique herritage places. Really amazing.

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:57

Great. Thanks.

jyotirmoy · Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:12

Jet Airways flight 9W2014 departs Mumbai at 7:15 AM & arrives at Aurangabad at 8:00AM. Visit Ellora that day. It costs around Rs.2400.
Next day visit Ajanta and go to near by railway junction Jalgaon. Take 2161 LASHKAR EXPRESS at 22.45 and reach Agra next day at 12.45

Salohcin · Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:15

That is so kind and extremely helpful -- thank you so very much, my friend!

abracax · Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:18

Good plan. It's nice to see someone plan a sensible itinerary, instead of the usual "night train to Madurai, two hours temple sightseeing, night bus to Kanyakumari...." marathons we get here. I second the stop in Aurangabad to check out Ellora and Ajanta. An alternative Delhi side would be Khajuraho, which can also be reached by air. Are you using an airline pass?

jyotirmoy · Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:21

After reaching Agra take a cab & rush to Fathepur sikri or visit Agra fort. next day early morning visit Taj and then to Fathepur Sikri or the fort. Check out Dayalbag for exquisite carvings.
Take the evening high speed Shatabdi Exp to Delhi.
And BTW don't ignore Delhi, many do only to regret later.

Salohcin · Sep 4th, 2009, 23:18

Greetings! Should one feel guilty about visiting India and NOT seeing the Taj Mahal? I´ve just revised my schedule to include: 5 days visiting Goa, then fly to Kerala for 5-6 days, return to Mumbai and visit Aurangabad - Ellora and Ajanta, then 2.5 days visiting Mumbai. I think I have to leave out Delhi and Agra on this trip -- I just don´t see how to make that work this time. From what I have read about Kerala it sounds wonderful. Any advice from anyone?

Sep 2nd, 2009, 17:38	#1
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	first trip to India Greetings! Departing for Mumbai 28.12.09 for an 18 day visit and would appreciate general feedback regarding our proposed itinerary from expert travellers to India. The plan so far unfolds thusly: 30.12.09 - depart Mumbai for Goa. Stay 5 days, 4 nights in Goa; 4.01.10 Depart Goa for Delhi for 2 day visit Corbett Nat´l Park, plus visit Agra (Taj Mahal)and see some sites in Delhi; 8.01.10 Depart Delhi for Kochi (Cochin?) for 2 day boat cruise of backwaters of Kerala; 12.01.10 Depart Kochi for Mumbai and spend remaining 3 days of trip visiting Mumbai and environs. That´s basically it. We would like to err on the side of caution in terms of doing too much or having far reaching travel plans. We realize this involves a lot of one-way flights but we´ve done some research and these are the sites we were choosing to focus on. Any input from expert travellers to India are most welcome - Thanks!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 17:53	#2
trooooon tj Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 850	Hi Salochin, Welcome to India mike You have a bunch of interesting things to do there, but you appear to be crossing South from Mumbai twice, doing Goa and Kerela in the same stretch would resuce your travel time. Cochin is a very interesting place, and there is an old Jew town which you must visit! cheers __________________ what if . . . maybe . . . say . . . suppose!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:18	#13
abracax Mahaguru Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 709	Good plan. It's nice to see someone plan a sensible itinerary, instead of the usual "night train to Madurai, two hours temple sightseeing, night bus to Kanyakumari...." marathons we get here. I second the stop in Aurangabad to check out Ellora and Ajanta. An alternative Delhi side would be Khajuraho, which can also be reached by air. Are you using an airline pass? __________________ tbontbtitq (Shakespeare's password)

Sep 4th, 2009, 23:18	#15
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	Rethinking my 18 day itinerary... Greetings! Should one feel guilty about visiting India and NOT seeing the Taj Mahal? I´ve just revised my schedule to include: 5 days visiting Goa, then fly to Kerala for 5-6 days, return to Mumbai and visit Aurangabad - Ellora and Ajanta, then 2.5 days visiting Mumbai. I think I have to leave out Delhi and Agra on this trip -- I just don´t see how to make that work this time. From what I have read about Kerala it sounds wonderful. Any advice from anyone?

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Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:20	#4
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	Since you have 3 days in Mumbai I suggest you visit Ajanta & Ellora absolutely amazing. Aurangabad would be a convinient base for this.

Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:35	#5
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	Thanks very much for the Aurangabad recommendation - I´ve just found it and it looks and sounds stunning...Cheers!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:46	#7
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	Salhocin are you looking at Aurangabad or Ajanta & Ellora?

Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:48	#8
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	We would ostensibly return to Mumbai Jan 12th and we depart three days later on the 15th. Both Ellora and Ajanta look quite impressive - going there would probably compromise time spent in Mumbai, but I´m not so sure that would be such a bad thing. What do you think?

Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:54	#9
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	Go to Ajanta & Ellora you won't regret these are unique herritage places. Really amazing.

Sep 2nd, 2009, 18:57	#10
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	Great. Thanks.

Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:12	#11
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	Jet Airways flight 9W2014 departs Mumbai at 7:15 AM & arrives at Aurangabad at 8:00AM. Visit Ellora that day. It costs around Rs.2400. Next day visit Ajanta and go to near by railway junction Jalgaon. Take 2161 LASHKAR EXPRESS at 22.45 and reach Agra next day at 12.45

Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:15	#12
Salohcin Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 20	That is so kind and extremely helpful -- thank you so very much, my friend!

Sep 2nd, 2009, 19:21	#14
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	After reaching Agra take a cab & rush to Fathepur sikri or visit Agra fort. next day early morning visit Taj and then to Fathepur Sikri or the fort. Check out Dayalbag for exquisite carvings. Take the evening high speed Shatabdi Exp to Delhi. And BTW don't ignore Delhi, many do only to regret later.

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