Help making a good plan: arrive in Delhi, leave from Bombay - have 17 days

anubisgrau

As with my last trip to Rajasthan a year ago (many help to everyone who helped), I'm seeking for a few adviced to shape a perfect India itinerary.

The only sure thing is we are arriving to Delhi on 14 Feb (thursday) 4.20 in the morning and departing from Bombay on 3 March.

This is my 4th trip and this time I want to do some things I missed before - Taj and Varanasi, maybe Kaju if worth of visit. However apart from these places I expect to be a bit heavy to survive, I also want a few easy days at some pleasant place.

Last year it turned out to be 3 days in Bundi and 7 days in Udaipur where we completely slow down out trip, skipped Ranakpur, Cumbarlgarh and Jodhput from the list and just enjoyed lazy days on the lake.

The are several plans I'm contemplating right now. Pls have a look and tell me what you think.

14 Feb Delhi (checking Qawali singing at Nizamuddin tomb)
15 Feb Delhi - overnight train to Amritsar (is there a such?)
16 Feb - Amritsar, checking GT
17 Feb - Lahore (in case we get a Pak visa, in case we don't then ???)
18 Feb - Lahore
19 Feb - Lahore -> Amritsar -> overnight train to Delhi -> Delhi Agra transfer
20 Feb - Agra, Taj + maybe Fatihpur Sikri
21 Feb - Agra Kaju transfer (flight?)
22 Feb - Kaju
23 Feb - Varanasi (is there a flight Kaju - Varanasi if not than what is the least hassle?)
24 Feb - Varanasi
25 Feb - Varanasi
26 Feb - Varansi Mumbai flight -> train towards Aurangabad -> Ajunta/Allura caves
27 Feb - Ajunta caves
28 Feb - Ellora caves
29 Feb - Aurangabad - Mumbai (flight, or some early moring train)
01 March - Mumbai
02 March - Mumbai

That's the first plan.

I hated Delhi 9 years ago, however it was my first India trip and I did usual mistakes, stayed in seedy Paharganj area, didn't see much. I remember having a great time around the big mosque (Jama Masjid, correct?) and nearby bazaars so this time I would need recomm's for a bit of an authentic off beaten track experience. The Quawwali singing at the Nizamuddin tomb sounds great and I'm there right on Thursday. What else in Delhi in 2 days?

I am not sure if we can get Pak visas in time but that would be great. I was in Amritsar 9 years ago however my wife hasn't and I think it's worth going there again, especially on behalf we can hop to Lahore. As this would be probably a life one-off, I would give it 3 days, maybe there is something else to be seen around, even not, we'd love to take it slow there, see the street life etc.

It would be great if we could do some sort of evening-overnight transfer Lahore-Amr-Delhi towards Agra. As we might be smashed after that, I would stay in Agra overnight, probably doing the full Taj thing on the arrival (day & night thing). In case night tour is not possible, than Fathipur Sikri on the first day with a driver and next day morning visit of Taj and maybe one more later in the day.

Kajurahoo - how many days, and is it worth. It seems pretty long and difficult to reach, so I would fly there.

Kajurahoo Varanasi - is there a flight? If not, how to reach it?

3 days in Varanasi

Varanasi - Mumbay flight and immediate leave for Aurangabad to reach the caves

1 day for each Ajunta and Ellora

2 1/2 final days in Mumbay (which I adore too).


In case Pak visa doesn't work:

14 Feb Delhi (checking Qawali singing at Nizamuddin tomb)
15 Feb Delhi
16 Feb - Agra, Taj + maybe Fatihpur Sikri
17 Feb - Agra Kaju transfer (flight?)
18 Feb - Kaju
19 Feb - Varanasi (is there a flight Kaju - Varanasi if not than what is the least hassle?)
20 Feb - Varanasi
21 Feb - Varanasi
22 Feb - Bodhgaya (worth?) train?
23 Feb - Calcutta train?
24 Feb - Calcutta
26 Feb - Calcutta - Mumbai flight -> train or flight towards Aurangabad -> Ajunta/Allura caves
27 Feb - Ajunta caves
28 Feb - Ellora caves
29 Feb - Aurangabad - Mumbai (flight, or some early moring train)
01 March - Mumbai
02 March - Mumbai

The second itinerary: Colcatta is an old wish to see - we love strolling thtough remains of Victorian heritage in India.

What I'm maybe missing in both of the itineraries is a bit of nature beauty. Both of our previous trips contained parts that are just that - like Ranthambore park or Ooty and some other parks on the border of Karnataka and Kerala, and we enjoyed them in a combination with historical sightseeing and just watching urban life in India.

Sorry it's a long one, but you know it - the more you know India the more you are puzzled where to go. I would even not mention that I'm also flirting with centering a part of the trip around Chennai (which I hated as a town) so we can do some Pondicherry and Andaman Islands.....

Feel free to comment, thanks!

Casey

The Pakistan elections are set to take place on the 18th so there may be a bit of instability around that time.

I am glad to see that others have been to India several times and have yet to see the Taj. I keep saying that I will see it next trip.

s.evans670@btinterne

I'm looking at a similar timetable Delhi down to Agra up to the Amritsar GT and border then down to ratnagiri and a week on the beach I hope before flying back to via mumbai

anubisgrau

as it looks rather unstable with pakistan (not that i bother a lot about it but that can make getting visa more difficult), we are most likely about to drop amritsar/lahore part.

right now, after browsing forum pages, we are pretty close to the following:

14 – Delhi
15 – Delhi
16 – Delhi – Agra (daily train) - Fatihpur Sikri (afternoon/sunset visit) –Agra (car)
17 – Agra (sunrise Taj) – Jahnsi (afternoon train) – Orcha (rikshaw)
18 – Orcha
19 – Orcha – Kajuraho (afternoon transfer, car)
20 – Kaju
21 – Kaju – Varanasi (morning flight)
22 – Varanasi
23 – Varanasi
24 – Varanasi
25 – Varanasi - Mumbai (flight) – Nasak (train)
26 - Nasak
27 – Nasak – Aurangabad (train) – Ajunta /sightseeing/ (car)
28 – Ajunta – Ellora /sightseeing/ (car or bus)
29 – Ellora – Mumbai (train or flight)
01 - Mumbai
02 - Mumbai
03 - departure


just a few questions:

1. how long is agra jhansi train ride and if there is a need to book ahead or not. we would take an early afternoon train, once we finish with a sunrise/morning visit to taj and lunch.

2. nasak - ajunta transfer, is it better to have driver to go through or to have a train to aurangabad and driver afterwards?

anubisgrau

hm, a problem spotted: there is no varanasi-mumbai direct flight. it has to be via delhi.

i'm wondering should i than re-route the schedule so i can go from varanasi to a place where i can catch a direct flight to mumbai and spend a few days there. calcutta?

Indizen

I was wondering why you have left out ASR from your plans. The Golden Temple has its allure that rivals the Taj!

Here is a list of trains to ASR for you to choose from:

Train No Name Depart Arrive Hours Distance Days Departing
2029 SWARNA SHTBDI 07:20 13:15 5 hrs, 55 min 448km
Mon Tue - Thu Fri Sat Sun
2031 AMRITSAR SHTBDI 07:20 13:15 5 hrs, 55 min 448km
- - Wed - - - -
2013 AMRITSAR SHTBDI 16:35 22:30 5 hrs, 55 min 448km
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
02203 GARIB RATH EXP 03:25 09:30 6 hrs, 5 min 449km
- Tue - - Fri - -
2203A GARIB RATH EXP 14:10 20:20 6 hrs, 10 min 450km
Mon - - Thu - - -
2497 SHANE PUNJAB 06:50 14:15 7 hrs, 25 min 447km
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
2459 NDLSASR EXPRESS 13:40 21:30 7 hrs, 50 min 448km
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

anubisgrau

well that;s a good question.

i've been there in 1999 and liked it enormously.

would go there anytime, especially now with my wife who hasn't been at golden temple yet.

however with lesser prospect to hop to lahore, i've thought that it would be too much travel for a single destination, unless i can fit something else. i remember the rest of punjab being quite bland - i carried on to dharamsala and this time i wouldn't go there again.

maybe hardiwar/rishikesh, if not too touristic and karma-cola like?

Indizen

Air India flies direct on this sector:
[Indian Airlines]
Varanasi (VNS)
Mumbai (BOM)
Flight 805
3:40p
7:55p

Kingfisher Jet and Spicejet have one stop each, but you don't get off the plane. No need to go to Kolkatta!!

Indizen

Agra to Jhansi is minimum 2 and half hours by train.

anubisgrau

that's good to know

many thanks for the info, though not sure if you're right with above, i got 1 stop for above route:

From VARANASI To MUMBAI
Departs VARANASI(VNS)25 Feb 2008 15.40
Arrives MUMBAI(BOM) 25 Feb 2008 19.55
Airbus 320 IC805
1 Stop(s)
Regular Fare: 3780.00
Web Fare: 3780.00