for all the experts out there, this newbie needs you!!!

ace

Less than 6 wks to go, and in desperate need of your help and advice . . . see bolded questions please

This is our planned itinerary so far --

Delhi: arrive 5:45pm 18th, spend 19,20,21,22
Agra: leave on the 23rd by train 7:45 am, spend 23,24 there and FS
Jaipur: leave on the 25th by train at 7:33 am, spend 26,27

this is where we have our first question: do we go to Jaisalmer? is it worth it? if so,

Jaisalmer: leave Jaipur on the 27th at 5:10 pm, arriving Jaisalmer at 5:15 am (28th), spend 28, 29
Jodpur: leave 11:15pm on the 29th, arriving Jodpur on the 30th at 5:15 am on the 30th, spend 30,31
Udaipur: catch flight on 31 at 7 pm to Udaipur, spend 1,2
Mumbai: catch flight on 2nd at 7:25 pm, spend 3,4,5

and now the next question: should we go to the Ellora and Ajanta caves? Are they worth it? We are planning to see the Elephanta caves, and if we go to Ellora and Ajanta, then we need to go to Aurangabad, right? From my brother's research, that means an overnight train there and back, and we would spend only one day there . . . advice?

Goa: leave Mumbai by train at 10:30 pm on the 5th, arrive Goa at 8:30 am on the 6th (is the Margoa station the one we want?), spend 6,7 there

we have to catch our flight home from Mumbai on the 8th at 5:50 pm. should we take a train back from Goa on the night of the 7th? or take a flight on the afternoon of the 8th? we want to keep costs down, but want to keep the experience the best we can . . .

Is this an ok itinerary? too rushed? should we take out Jaisalmer? the caves? Goa? other suggestions?

thank you all so very much for your help!!!! you are the best!

ace

do we book the trains in advance? i know there is another thread on this somewhere, but . . . if we do, and then we either miss the train or decide to stay an extra day or leave a day early, can we exchange it?

thanks again for all the advice! i can't wait to go, and write back to you guys to tell you about our trip!

seventies'hippy

Quote:
Goa: leave Mumbai by train at 10:30 pm on the 5th, arrive Goa at 8:30 am on the 6th (is the Margoa station the one we want?), spend 6,7 there

we have to catch our flight home from Mumbai on the 8th at 5:50 pm. should we take a train back from Goa on the night of the 7th? or take a flight on the afternoon of the 8th? we want to keep costs down, but want to keep the experience the best we can . . .
--------------------------
This is the bit which jumps out at me,

Everywhere else you're planning on visiting a town, city or place, and staying for a night or two, which is ok, But to go down to Goa, a whole state, for one or two nights just seems hardly worth it. Goa is worth a lot longer stay than that, you'll be thinking of your return connections as soon as you arrive there,,,,,,,,,,,,
It sounds so easy when you plan it on paper, but you'll find that travel realities in India are far different from any you've experienced before,,,,,,,,,,,
The only plus would be that it will whet your appetite for a longer visit next time,
Just my Initial thoughts,,,,,,

Happy Travelling

trvl_in

Generally you can book trains for Mumbai to anywhere on one or two day's notice, however for Mumbai to Goa in mid December I would book ahead.

The following is based on memory of the rules list in the Delhi station foreign travellers' lounge, and so may be awry, having said which:

If you just plain miss the train I seem to recall you lose 50% of your fare, however if you provide 24 hours notice I'm confident you can get almost 100% refund (small admin charge). And yes, you can certainly change your dates up to 24 hours before departure, subject to availability.

The foreign service offices at Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi, Howrah, Chenai (and a few other locations) are marvelously convenient and helpful for foreign travellers, considering the pressures on the system.

ace

Thanks 70s! so do you think we should ditch Goa all together and comeback later . . . or visit for a day or two (albeit too short a time)? or should we get rid of the Ellora and Ajanta caves -- that will give us more time? or maybe get rid of Jaisalmer?

Trvl in -- thanks for the info! Do you think the rajasthan trains in peak season would be ok to book once there? or should we book those in advance too?

Anyone else have advice for us? We could use all we can get!

Thanks again so much for your help guys! We really appreciate it!

seventies'hippy

Skip Goa completely, Save it for another time, It's different to your " More Indian" destinations anyway, ,,,,,,,,,,
Concentrate on them, and add another day or so along that route,,,,,,,,,,

Happy Traveling

SHIMLA

1. Ellora caves are best approached from Chalisgaon. You can do Mumbai-Chalisgaon by train and then Chalisgaon-Ellora by bus. From Ellora you visit Ajanta and from Ajanta you go to Bhusaval, from where you can get a direct train to Goa.

2. Its better to take an overnight train from Goa to Mumbai on the evening 7th and arrive in Mumbai on 8th morning.

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ace

Thanks Shimla!

So do you think the Ellora and Ajanta caves are worth going to? we are planning to visit the Elephanta caves anyways . . . is it more of the same? otherwise, if we skip it we could have more time in mumbai or goa . . .

or we could skip goa all together as 70s suggests. but my brother was thinking it might be good just to chill for the last day or two in india

All of your opinions and help is greatly appreciated!

Krishnika

I think both Ajanta and Ellora are absolutely worth a visit - Elephanta is great as a contrast to Bombay, but does not compare. I went there 15 years ago, at the end of a trip that included Ahmadabad, Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Delhi, and Bombay, and it was truely awe-inspiring. A great way to end the trip. I would love to go back. Although Aurangabad was the place where I felt the most uncomfortable as a woman - so many stares that appeared to me to be hateful. I realized later that my western judgement in dress was not exactly appropriate. just a tip.

SHIMLA

ace,

I really cannot comment on whether the caves are worth visiting, as I have seen them only once in my life so far and that too ages ago, when I was a child ! Today caves do not hold any attraction for me, hence given a choice I'd skip them.

seventies'hippy has given the right suggestion of skipping Goa on this visit. Again, though Goa also is not my cup of tea, one certainly needs more time than what you are planning to devote, for Goa.

rahulmehta

well ace not to worry.. we have a system now in india where you can get a ticket 24hrs in advance for nay traing .. its called tatkaal..
the catch is that u've to reach the station early in the morning as the # of tickets availible are limited & there is a big rush for the same.....
generally u have 72 per train..
plus this can be done at any station for any train...
best of luc...
my advice is get ur tickets before hand.. otherwise get the finer details of tatkaal as soon as u get to india & rethink ur itenanrary.

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SHIMLA

I think the "Tatkaal" facility is available only for a few trains and is not open for all of them.

ace

Thanks guys!

OK . . . so we'll likely skip Goa, and will try to make it to the caves.

Maybe when we land in Delhi, we will see what we can do to get our train tickets. My worry is that our plans will change when we are there and if we prebook everything we may be in trouble. On the other hand, we have also been advised to prebook hotels, so maybe we ought just to book the trains as well . . .

So much to do, so little time!

Thanks again all for your help! If anyone else has suggestions, please let me know! Am also working on hotels, so if anyone has favorites in any of the cities mentioned, please let me know. I've tried to reach Lily at Jasvilas with no reply . . .

Thanks again,
ace

fatroony

Just returned from my second trip to India (already thinking about the next visit). We went to Ajanta and Ellora caves and loved it - very different from the sites in Rajasthan. From Udaipur, we went to Ahmedabad, then a connecting train to Jalgaon for Ajanta, then caught a bus to Aurangabad for Ellora. Worked out well for us anyway (1 day at Ajanta, 1 for Ellora, and surrounding Fort, temple etc).
I find four hours in Delhi painful, let alone four days - maybe you could free up some days by leaving there earlier.

Totally agree that plans change regularly - I think a rigid itinerary before leaving is difficult to stick with.

vinayverma

Delhi: arrive 5:45pm 18th, spend 19,20,21,22
Agra: leave on the 23rd by train 7:45 am, spend 23,24 there and FS
Jaipur: leave on the 25th by train at 7:33 am, spend 26,27

I think you can squeez few days from this:
Delhi 2days are enough
Leave for Agra of 21st and then onto Jaipur maybe on 23rd .
For jaipur again 2 days are good.
Don't miss Jaiselmer, its a beauty.

Then from Jodhpur you can reach Udaipur by road. Long journey tho but on the way you can visit Ranakpur temples. They are amazing and on my 'must see' list.

This way I think you will be able to get some extra days for Goa (if you decide to give it a go).

Train reservation should not be a problem and if it happens, you always have foreign tourist quota, where you get instant reservation by paying in foreign currency, but its available only on major stations.
Maybe you can book all your train tickets once you arrive in Delhi.

Ajanta and Ellora caves are good and again high on my list.

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