From Khajuraho to Sanchi to Diu

tommytoes

Hello people. My girlfriend and I Have changed our 5 week tour ( From Feb 8th to Mar 17) of Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra. Now we're (Hopefully) going to Varanasi, then Khajuraho and Sanchi. From there, Gujarat (especially Diu and Bhuj) and Rajasthan (Udaipur, Ranakpur, Mt Abu, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer)beckon.

The following route comes to mind, however there may not be anywhere near enough time. Nonetheless, I'm exploring the ideal, which can be pared back.

Delhi to Agra

Agra to Varanasi

Varanasi to Khajuraho

Khajuraho to Sanchi

Sanchi to Udaipur

Udaipur to Mt Abu via Ranakpur

Mt Abu to Diu

Diu to Bhuj

Bhuj to Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

Jodhpur to Pushkar

Pushkar to Delhi

Perhaps it would be better to go straight from Sanchi to Gujarat? Perhaps a plane here or there would make it possible?
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks lots,
T

Indizen

You can take a flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho.
And from Udaipur to Jaipur or Delhi.
A search on www.farechase.yahoo.co.in found the Udaipur-Jaipur fare to be Rs 2699.

steven_ber

I'd suggest turning the tour around and doing Khajuraho towards the end of your trip, mainly because Khajuraho will have a railway station sometime in late Feb, though the only mention of a train so far is to Agra/Delhi, it would be great if there was a Varanasi train as well, maybe there will be, maybe not.

Gujarat-Sanchi seems to be a problem, although there is a direct train from Veraval (for Diu)(10.15) to Bhopal (08:30), it's a long journey.

There is a daily flight from Diu to Mumbai (both directions), then an overnight train direct to Sanchi (or more likely Videsha), or a Mumbai-Bhopal flight.

The Diu flight is about US$110, so not cheap, another option is to go to Palitana for the day, then go to Bhavnagar and get a cheaper Air Deccan flight to Mumbai.

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

tommytoes

Your replies were quick and helpful. Stephen, unfortunately the trip cannot be reversed, as we are meeting friends in Varanasi.

Yes the 1464 train from Bhopal to Veraval takes a long time, but i might break the journey in two, stopping in Ahmedabad or Junagadh for a day or two, then proceeding to Diu.

This raises the question of getting from Diu (or perhaps Palitana) to Bhuj. Can anyone suggest a train route?

Thanks again,
T

machadinha

Off the top of my head, I reckon a bus from there to Bhuj would be easiest, but let others fill it in. You may have to go over Ahmedabad for it, but there may well be a more direct route. (Is Bhuj connected by train at all? I don't seem to remember so, but I may well be wrong. *Checking map: Yes, I guess it is, maybe it wasn't then.)

Some here (including Steve) report having really liked A'bad; I passed through there several times, arguably just as a transportation hub which won't have improved my impression, and found it a godawful hectic and unpleasant place. Particularly the area you need to be in to make those bus & train connections, I guess, which will again not have improved my impressions. On one longer stop I was determined to find something to like there, and I still didn't.
But -- I wouldn't mind spending a few days there in the future and prove myself wrong. I've read about some nice sights in town, and it must have something going for it.

Junagadh I'd highly recommend, and to spend at least two days there to (arduously!) climb the mountain & explore the town's (splendid) sights. It's also just a relaxed place to be in (with not too much going on, btw). I've written about it before (as have many others, of course), so you could search around some.

__________________
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

tommytoes

Thanks Machadinha, i've now found the prodigous work that Stephen has done on the trains, and have located two trains that go to Bhuj from Ahmedabad: no.s 9013 and 9115. Stephen, you truly are amazing for compiling so much helpful info, thanks again,
T

vonkla

Here is a total different approach.
The train stops also in Vadodara.
Last year we hired a car for ten days from there for 22000 rs. From there we went to Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Bhuj, Patan and ended in Udaipur.

For more detailled information see the link below.

__________________
.
See our travel journal Mumbai-Dehli in three months

tommytoes

22000 Rs. (about 630 aussie bucks) seems quite expensive for 10 days car hire, no?

machadinha

Yes. But then what do I know, I've never done it. Maybe including decent hotels and stuff it would be reasonable. Still seems a little over the top to me, but we all have our different needs and standards.

I take it Vonkla is/are a little older for instance (no offense meant, don't we all get older, I know I do), this will be different from being a wild young backpacker, obviously.

steven_ber

The Sanchi-Diu leg is kind of difficult, unless you're happy with the long train journey.

I see 2 faster alternatives.

Jet Airways flight 9W 3108 departs Bhopal daily at 09:00 and gets to Mumbai at 11:05

Train 2971 departs Bandra Terminus (Mumbai) daily at 21.25 and gets to Sihor Gujarat (for Palitana) at 10.47 (2A, 3A, SL.)

Then visit Palitana, then go to Diu.

or.......

Train 2138 departs Vidisha daily at 15.55, then Bhopal at 17.00 and gets to Dadar (Mumbai) at 07:13, and Mumbai CST at 07.35 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

Jet Airways flight 9W 3403 departs Mumbai (not Saturday) at 12:45 and gets to Diu at 13:50

or.....

Train 1464/6 departs Bhopal daily at 18.55 and gets to Vadodara (Baroda) at 05.15 (2A, 3A, Sl.)

Then visit Dhaboi or Champaner for the day, then the next day, get a taxi to Bhavnagar/Palitana.

steven_ber

It's maybe 18-24 months since I put the details of those trains on this website, so check for any changes in the timetable on the Indian Railways website.

Palitana to Bhuj- not prety.

Train 2972 departs Sihor gujarat at 21.13 and gets to Viramgam Jn at 00:48 (2A, 3A, SL.)

Train 9115 departs Viramgam Jn daily at 01.27 and gets to Bhuj at 07.30 (2A, 3A, SL.)

Train 9031 departs Viramgam Jn daily at 03:16 and gets to Bhuj at 09:10 (2A, 3A, SL.)

Both these trains start from Mumbai.

I still think I'd be tempted to get a bus from Bhavnagar to Ahmedabad and book for train 9115, it departs Ahmedabad at 23:57.


Diu to Bhuj- a tricky and overlong journey, if you plan to go to Junagadh, maybe a bus or train from Junagadh to Rajkot, then a bus to Gandhidham, then on to Bhuj.

tommytoes

Thanks again Stephen. I read somewhere about a ferry connecting Mandvi with the southern Saurashtra Peninsula. Does anyone know if it is still in operation as that might be a handy way to get from Junagadh to Bhuj?

I just tried to book a ticket from Delhi to Varanasi (no. 2560)on the IRCTC site. It was working fine until i went to put in my Visa debit card details and there was a 'communication problem' and then the booking was dashed. Has anyone got some helpful tips for using this site?

Thanks again folks, the help is truly appreciated,
T

steven_ber

Here's a few possible reasons: -

I think you need to use the 2nd payment gateway, or the CITI Bank gateway. (I've seen others recommend both on indiamike)

Some credit card companies don't allow the transaction because it doesn't fit into your normal pattern, it may be worth calling them.

Also, sometimes you have to be very very fast inserting all the data when trying to buy a ticket, have your account number copied and ready to paste, and fill in all the other sections as fast as you can, this helps to avoid any timeout errors.