Itinerary for month of December

natemeg2006 · Nov 13th, 2006, 06:36

Hi,
Longtime lurker, first time poster. Love this forum!
My girlfriend and I are looking for advice on a month-long trip in December. In Brazil we did Lonely Planet's 4 month itin. in 3 1/2 weeks using air travel to cover more ground. Hoping to apply same strategy here. Money is not a problem. Basically we are aiming for 9 days in the North and 21 days in the South.

Is this possible? If not what can we get away with? Priorities from first to last are: Mumbai, Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, Rajastan, Agra/Delhi. But of course we want to do it all!!!

Looking for adventure and visually striking photo/video ops.

What order would you recommend travelling through the following itin? @=Airline, +=Train
MUMBAI > DELHI @
DELHI > AGRA +
AGRA > JAIPUR +
JAIPUR > VARANASI @
VARANASI > (DELHI > BANGALORE > ) CHENNAI @
CHENNAI > ALL SOUTHERN CITIES + (planes possible in south?)
SOME SOUTHERN CITY(BANGALORE,MYSORE?) > GOA @
GOA > MUMBAI @

Is there a direct flight from Varanasi>Chennai?
from Mysore > Goa?

Ok, finally here is the itin--

PROPOSED ITIN
----------------
>MUMBAI- 2 nights

>DELHI - 1 night
*want to experience city

>AGRA - 1 night
*Taj Mahal

>JAIPUR/UDAIPUR/JAISALMER - 3 nights
*best departure point for camel ride?

>VARANASI - 2 nights
*want to see strange spiritual things. standing babas? ascetics? rituals?

>Chennai --Arrive and leave

>Mamallapuram -- 1 night
--2 hours by bus from Chennai?
*Temples, Rock carving

>Pondicherry --1 night
--2 hours by bus from Mamallapuram?
*Idyllic, French

>Madurai -- ½ day
--8 hours by bus from Pondicherry, 2 daily, plane available??
*Temple Only

>Ooty --2 nights
--Miniature train from Chennai – departs Mettupalayam at 7:20am daily – 5 hours
--Bus to Mysore – 4 hours
--Bus to Coimbatore – 5 hours, then train to Chennai or Kochi
*Walking/trekking/hilltop village

>Kochin --4 nights
--Hub for backwaters – mosques/churches/kathakali performance/synagogues/jewish town
--Rent house boat in backwaters (2 of 4 nights)

>Munnar --1 night
--Tea growing region – full day hike/tour
--4 ½ hours by bus from Kochi

>Madikeri (Kodagu Region) --3 nights
--3 ½ hours by bus from Mysore
--Trekking – green mountainous expanse in Southwest Karnakata – forested hills whose roads ramble through flowering vines, bamboo trees and coffee estates
--3 hrs from Hassan

>Wayanal Wildlife Sanctuary --2 nights
--Most beautiful landscapes in the state, paddies, spice plantations and forest. No other travelers, elephants, bison, sambar, etc.
--Trekking – formation of large boulders in forest, waterfalls
--Visiting sanctuary – 5 hr treks, jeep tours, etc.
--Bus from Calicut to Mysore pass through Kalpetta and Sultanbatheri – 3 hours
--One bus per day passes through Saltanbatheri to Ooty at 1am
--Few morning services from Kannur

>Gokarna --2 nights
--Beach town
--15 hrs by train to Kochi
--14 hrs by bus to Mysore

>Goa – 3 nights
--North Goa – Anjura – Wednesday flea market
--Old Goa ? – 1 night
--Agonda/Palolem – Beaches
--Exploring beaches – 2 nights
--Boat trips, mountain biking, etc.

Sorry this is so long.
Thank you very much for reading this and any feedback!

capt_mahajan · Nov 13th, 2006, 08:17

Too much for one month.

I would seriously consider knocking off a few places, otherwise you will be absolutely knackered, and really won't 'see' anything.

To your priority list (Mumbai, Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, Rajastan, Agra/Delhi), would suggest you add maybe one or two more places more, at the maximum.

Other comments

-you will not experience delhi, which is what you want, with just a one night stay.
-consider adding Fatehpur Sikri to Agra

natemeg2006 · Nov 13th, 2006, 08:27

Thanks for the reply.
Do you think it would be enough to cut out a few places in the South?

capt_mahajan · Nov 13th, 2006, 08:56

depends on what you want to see, priority wise. eg, i am not really interested in temples, so madurai would be out for me. also varanasi, but it is priority for you.

travelling in india can be really tiring, specially since you have a fair amount of train and bus travel potentially pencilled in. also keep in mind the second half of december will be peak season in many places.

possibilities: keeping your 'priority list' in mind

-choose between munnar and coorg/ooty
-choose between coorg and ooty. (coorg is more laid back, ooty more touristy)
-keep mysore in.
- add at least one day to delhi. take a tourism department conducted tour.
-unless really interested in pondicherry, consider missing it.
-haven't been to wayanad so no comment.
- spend more time either in gokarna or goa (at the expense of the other).. gokarna is more peaceful, goa more touristy.
-mahabalipuram could be omitted since it is off your track a bit, and you are not interested in chennai.

But all this is my take. Which areas outside your priority list are 'must sees', and how hectic do you want your holiday to be is what you have to decide.

hope this helps.

machadinha · Nov 13th, 2006, 09:09

Man, I got a headache just looking at this. My usual advice: pick up an atlas that shows all the world on the same scale (i.e. India on same scale as your homeland), might give you an idea of what you're looking at. I'm not being gruff either.

natemeg2006 · Nov 13th, 2006, 11:05

Capt -- thank you very much. It looks like we will cut Ooty in favor of Munnar.
Kodai vs Ooty vs Munnar!

Any advice on Air Travel in the South? We hope to fly into Chennai from Varanasi. And then once we are in the South which cities can/should we fly between? Is anyone aware of flights from Mysore or Calicut to Goa?

machadinha -- LOL. I have the same headache, except mine is the size of India.

machadinha · Nov 15th, 2006, 07:56

One post that went missing over yesterday's site crash advised you that in India anything can happen, so if you plan on tight connections and one falls through (not at all unthinkable) this will leave the rest of your schedule in haywire.

It's something to seriously take into account.

capt_mahajan · Nov 15th, 2006, 08:05

I think the same post machadinha mentions pointed out that fog is quite common in december around north india/delhi, and often seriously affects flights and long distance driving around delhi.. flights usually early morning and evening.

machadinha · Nov 15th, 2006, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

I think the same post machadinha mentions pointed out that fog is quite common in december around north india/delhi, and often seriously affects flights and long distance driving around delhi.. flights usually early morning and evening.

'Tis true. Flying apart which I never did internally, I can't recall any fog hiccups on two wintry visits really... Maybe what I took for typically cute Indian quirks were fog hiccups however

natemeg2006 · Nov 15th, 2006, 20:50

Thank you for that point.

So for those who want to take multiple flights in India what is recommended? I would assume buying refundable fares and checking flight status often would make sense. Anything else that wouldn't be apparent to someone used to non-Indian air travel? Unlimited air passes?

natemeg2006 · Nov 16th, 2006, 02:07

Ok here's a revised itinerary based on your feedback.
Please let me know if these seem like valid transportation options. Thanks!

* = Tourist destination for us. Cities that dont have this are just transportation hubs.

NORTH: MUMBAI, RAJASTHAN, AGRA, VARANASI
-------------------------------------------

Mumbai> Jodhpur: plane (ONLY FROM MUMBAI) Jet Airways
JA 9W3407 Mumbai (BOM) 1045 Jodhpur (JDH) 1315 – Daily

*Jodhpur > Jaisalmer : train (overnight) Jaisalmer Express 6 hrs. 11:15 pm > 5:15am

*Jaisalmer > Jodhpur > Jaipur : train (overnight) Jaisalmer Delhi Express 11 hrs. 4:15 pm > 5:15am $30 AC2

*Jaipur > Udaipur: Jet Airways
JA 9W709 Jaipur (JAI) 0700 Udaipur (UDR) 0745 – Daily

*Udaipur > Delhi: Jet Airways
9W373 Udaipur (UDR) 0740 Delhi (DEL) 0945 via Jaipur (JAI) Daily
9W708 Udaipur (UDR) 1530 Delhi (DEL) 1640 – Daily

Delhi > Agra: train, car 2 hours
*Agra > Delhi: train, car 2 hours
DELHI > VARANASI : SpiceJet $22 1hr.
*VARANASI > DELHI SpiceJet $22 1hr.
DELHI > CHENNAI SpiceJet $55 3 ½ hrs.

SOUTH: Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai, Cochin, Varkala, Munnar, Wayanal Wildlife Sanctuary
-------------------------------------------

CHENNAI
Mamallapuram
Pondicherry

CHENNAI > MADURAI : AIR DECCAN 1 HR 15 MIN $23
*MADURAI > BANGALORE : AIR DECCAN 1 HR 30 MIN $10?

BANGALORE > TRIVANDRUM ( AIR DECCAN 1 HR 30 MIN $21 )
*TRIVANDRUM > Varkala train 1hr.
*Varkala > COCHIN : coastal train 3 ½ hrs.

*COCHIN > MUNNAR : 4 ½ hrs. bus or car

COCHIN > CALICUT : early Cannanore Express train 5 hrs.
*Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Near Calicut)

CALICUT > GOKARNA : coastal train ?? hrs.

*GOKARNA > GOA (Margao) (Konkan Railway 2 hrs.)

*GOA > MUMBAI : 1 hr. SPICE JET $100 , AIR DECCAN $21

Nov 13th, 2006, 06:36	#1
natemeg2006 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8	Itinerary for month of December Hi, Longtime lurker, first time poster. Love this forum! My girlfriend and I are looking for advice on a month-long trip in December. In Brazil we did Lonely Planet's 4 month itin. in 3 1/2 weeks using air travel to cover more ground. Hoping to apply same strategy here. Money is not a problem. Basically we are aiming for 9 days in the North and 21 days in the South. Is this possible? If not what can we get away with? Priorities from first to last are: Mumbai, Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, Rajastan, Agra/Delhi. But of course we want to do it all!!! Looking for adventure and visually striking photo/video ops. What order would you recommend travelling through the following itin? @=Airline, +=Train MUMBAI > DELHI @ DELHI > AGRA + AGRA > JAIPUR + JAIPUR > VARANASI @ VARANASI > (DELHI > BANGALORE > ) CHENNAI @ CHENNAI > ALL SOUTHERN CITIES + (planes possible in south?) SOME SOUTHERN CITY(BANGALORE,MYSORE?) > GOA @ GOA > MUMBAI @ Is there a direct flight from Varanasi>Chennai? from Mysore > Goa? Ok, finally here is the itin-- PROPOSED ITIN ---------------- >MUMBAI- 2 nights >DELHI - 1 night want to experience city >AGRA - 1 night Taj Mahal >JAIPUR/UDAIPUR/JAISALMER - 3 nights best departure point for camel ride? >VARANASI - 2 nights want to see strange spiritual things. standing babas? ascetics? rituals? >Chennai --Arrive and leave >Mamallapuram -- 1 night --2 hours by bus from Chennai? Temples, Rock carving >Pondicherry --1 night --2 hours by bus from Mamallapuram? Idyllic, French >Madurai -- ½ day --8 hours by bus from Pondicherry, 2 daily, plane available?? Temple Only >Ooty --2 nights --Miniature train from Chennai – departs Mettupalayam at 7:20am daily – 5 hours --Bus to Mysore – 4 hours --Bus to Coimbatore – 5 hours, then train to Chennai or Kochi Walking/trekking/hilltop village >Kochin --4 nights --Hub for backwaters – mosques/churches/kathakali performance/synagogues/jewish town --Rent house boat in backwaters (2 of 4 nights) >Munnar --1 night --Tea growing region – full day hike/tour --4 ½ hours by bus from Kochi >Madikeri (Kodagu Region) --3 nights --3 ½ hours by bus from Mysore --Trekking – green mountainous expanse in Southwest Karnakata – forested hills whose roads ramble through flowering vines, bamboo trees and coffee estates --3 hrs from Hassan >Wayanal Wildlife Sanctuary --2 nights --Most beautiful landscapes in the state, paddies, spice plantations and forest. No other travelers, elephants, bison, sambar, etc. --Trekking – formation of large boulders in forest, waterfalls --Visiting sanctuary – 5 hr treks, jeep tours, etc. --Bus from Calicut to Mysore pass through Kalpetta and Sultanbatheri – 3 hours --One bus per day passes through Saltanbatheri to Ooty at 1am --Few morning services from Kannur >Gokarna --2 nights --Beach town --15 hrs by train to Kochi --14 hrs by bus to Mysore >Goa – 3 nights --North Goa – Anjura – Wednesday flea market --Old Goa ? – 1 night --Agonda/Palolem – Beaches --Exploring beaches – 2 nights --Boat trips, mountain biking, etc. Sorry this is so long. Thank you very much for reading this and any feedback!

Nov 13th, 2006, 09:09	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,089	Man, I got a headache just looking at this. My usual advice: pick up an atlas that shows all the world on the same scale (i.e. India on same scale as your homeland), might give you an idea of what you're looking at. I'm not being gruff either. __________________ 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

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Nov 13th, 2006, 08:17	#2
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,530	Too much for one month. I would seriously consider knocking off a few places, otherwise you will be absolutely knackered, and really won't 'see' anything. To your priority list (Mumbai, Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, Rajastan, Agra/Delhi), would suggest you add maybe one or two more places more, at the maximum. Other comments -you will not experience delhi, which is what you want, with just a one night stay. -consider adding Fatehpur Sikri to Agra

Nov 13th, 2006, 08:27	#3
natemeg2006 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8	Thanks for the reply. Do you think it would be enough to cut out a few places in the South?

Nov 13th, 2006, 08:56	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,530	depends on what you want to see, priority wise. eg, i am not really interested in temples, so madurai would be out for me. also varanasi, but it is priority for you. travelling in india can be really tiring, specially since you have a fair amount of train and bus travel potentially pencilled in. also keep in mind the second half of december will be peak season in many places. possibilities: keeping your 'priority list' in mind -choose between munnar and coorg/ooty -choose between coorg and ooty. (coorg is more laid back, ooty more touristy) -keep mysore in. - add at least one day to delhi. take a tourism department conducted tour. -unless really interested in pondicherry, consider missing it. -haven't been to wayanad so no comment. - spend more time either in gokarna or goa (at the expense of the other).. gokarna is more peaceful, goa more touristy. -mahabalipuram could be omitted since it is off your track a bit, and you are not interested in chennai. But all this is my take. Which areas outside your priority list are 'must sees', and how hectic do you want your holiday to be is what you have to decide. hope this helps.

Nov 13th, 2006, 11:05	#6
natemeg2006 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8	Capt -- thank you very much. It looks like we will cut Ooty in favor of Munnar. Kodai vs Ooty vs Munnar! Any advice on Air Travel in the South? We hope to fly into Chennai from Varanasi. And then once we are in the South which cities can/should we fly between? Is anyone aware of flights from Mysore or Calicut to Goa? machadinha -- LOL. I have the same headache, except mine is the size of India.

Nov 15th, 2006, 07:56	#7
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,089	One post that went missing over yesterday's site crash advised you that in India anything can happen, so if you plan on tight connections and one falls through (not at all unthinkable) this will leave the rest of your schedule in haywire. It's something to seriously take into account.

Nov 15th, 2006, 08:05	#8
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,530	I think the same post machadinha mentions pointed out that fog is quite common in december around north india/delhi, and often seriously affects flights and long distance driving around delhi.. flights usually early morning and evening.

Nov 15th, 2006, 20:50	#10
natemeg2006 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8	Thank you for that point. So for those who want to take multiple flights in India what is recommended? I would assume buying refundable fares and checking flight status often would make sense. Anything else that wouldn't be apparent to someone used to non-Indian air travel? Unlimited air passes?

Nov 16th, 2006, 02:07	#11
natemeg2006 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: usa Posts: 8	Ok here's a revised itinerary based on your feedback. Please let me know if these seem like valid transportation options. Thanks! * = Tourist destination for us. Cities that dont have this are just transportation hubs. NORTH: MUMBAI, RAJASTHAN, AGRA, VARANASI ------------------------------------------- Mumbai> Jodhpur: plane (ONLY FROM MUMBAI) Jet Airways JA 9W3407 Mumbai (BOM) 1045 Jodhpur (JDH) 1315 – Daily Jodhpur > Jaisalmer : train (overnight) Jaisalmer Express 6 hrs. 11:15 pm > 5:15am Jaisalmer > Jodhpur > Jaipur : train (overnight) Jaisalmer Delhi Express 11 hrs. 4:15 pm > 5:15am $30 AC2 Jaipur > Udaipur: Jet Airways JA 9W709 Jaipur (JAI) 0700 Udaipur (UDR) 0745 – Daily Udaipur > Delhi: Jet Airways 9W373 Udaipur (UDR) 0740 Delhi (DEL) 0945 via Jaipur (JAI) Daily 9W708 Udaipur (UDR) 1530 Delhi (DEL) 1640 – Daily Delhi > Agra: train, car 2 hours Agra > Delhi: train, car 2 hours DELHI > VARANASI : SpiceJet $22 1hr. VARANASI > DELHI SpiceJet $22 1hr. DELHI > CHENNAI SpiceJet $55 3 ½ hrs. SOUTH: Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai, Cochin, Varkala, Munnar, Wayanal Wildlife Sanctuary ------------------------------------------- CHENNAI Mamallapuram Pondicherry CHENNAI > MADURAI : AIR DECCAN 1 HR 15 MIN $23 MADURAI > BANGALORE : AIR DECCAN 1 HR 30 MIN $10? BANGALORE > TRIVANDRUM ( AIR DECCAN 1 HR 30 MIN $21 ) TRIVANDRUM > Varkala train 1hr. Varkala > COCHIN : coastal train 3 ½ hrs. COCHIN > MUNNAR : 4 ½ hrs. bus or car COCHIN > CALICUT : early Cannanore Express train 5 hrs. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Near Calicut) CALICUT > GOKARNA : coastal train ?? hrs. GOKARNA > GOA (Margao) (Konkan Railway 2 hrs.) *GOA > MUMBAI : 1 hr. SPICE JET $100 , AIR DECCAN $21

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