Itinerary help for newbie!

soidog2

Hi to all forum members !

Arriving in Delhi March 21st on the overnight train from Mumbai.
Have until April first when we have to go home !

This is our first trip to India, a little bit overwhelmed by the choices.
My wife is a Buddhist and she wants to see some of the major sites associated with her religion.
Myself, I like Architecture, Nature and everything else.
We also have a 7 years old daughter.

Budget , we can afford most average expenses.

Any advice on picking an itinerary and how to organize it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

steven_ber

Will your wife want to see Bodhgaya?

(as that would determine your whole Itinerary)

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Train information.

soidog2

Yes, thanks

soidog2

OK, I narrowed it down to 4 must see places from Delhi



Agra, Gorakhapur, Lumbini, Gaya (Bodhgaya) and back.

We have roughly 10 days .

Is it enough time ? without rushing from place to place.

I was thinking of spending a couple of days in Delhi than on to Agra, overnight in Agra than hitting the Buddhist sites.

Is comfortable train service generally available in between this sites ?

Do we need to fly ?

Are there any “ must not miss “ sites in between ?



In what numerical order should I plan to visit this sites for maximum efficiency. ( time is short )

steven_ber

First thing I thought of when I saw your last posts was the 'Budhist Train', a special tourist train from Indian Railways, check it out and see if it fits in with your plans and price range. (Rs 22540 per person for the full 7 day tour)

The Buddhist Train.

soidog2

I saw that, we could conceivably catch the March 22nd departure and do Agra on return.
How much fun can you have cooked up in a train for an entire week ?
Is the country side nice , is the food good ? Can we experience something worth wile ?

Any other ideas ?

machadinha

Those train arrangements were first brought to my attention recently. From what I saw, they looked very attractive and reasonably priced to me, I might take one of those myself.

And from what I saw you're not at all stuck on a train the whole time, instead you get your city tours and hotels and side tours and whatnot thrown in, and you can even opt between different classes of packages. Again, looked quite good to me. How it works out in practice I can't tell you.

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soidog2

I give up , I will book the Budhits train .
Will post here after the trip to let you know how it went.
Thanks for your help

soidog2

Just my luck , the Buddhist train for March 22nd was cancelled.
Back to square one !

patrickgill

Gorakhpur is a glum little city -- why do you want to spend time there? Maybe travel via Varanasi instead towards Bodhgaya etc.... It's a far more interesting place.

soidog2

It's an important place for Buddhists ( Wife ) but you're right Varanasi looks very interesting .
Are there direct trains from Agra ?
Not to be pushy , any favorite hotels in Varanasi ?

Thanks

karuna

Gorakhpur is something of a necessary stop between Kushinagar and Lumbini. Once again I sing the praises of Kushinagar, loved it loved it loved it. I especially loved the security guard at the entrance to Buddha's death place who told me I was beautiful and then asked for baksheesh. Go to Kushinagar. Go go.


Lumbini? Don't even start me on the evil that is Lumbini. But do drop in at Hotel Glasgow in Bharawa, just over the Nepal border. Nice place, lovely people, good place to stay if you want to get out of the one-horse town that is Lumbini and stay in a...well, in a two-horse town! It has nothing for tourists, which means you're left alone and get to wander around a "real" town. Lumbini itself consists of one street with 2 hotels, a bank, and three thousand cycle-rickshaw wallahs.


Varanasi:
Palace on the Ganges (near the river but not close to the action)
Scindhia Guesthouse
Surya hotel (not near the river, but very nice)

soidog2

Thanks, I will not ask for baksheesh !

Any other tips greately apreciated !

soidog2

I am making some progress on the Itinerary;
I would greatly appreciate if anybody has some feedback on this;

The Buddhist trains are cancelled for my dates, I went to this site:
http://www.varanasicity.com/tour-pac...hist-tour.html
Found some attractive tours, emailed the company received a prompt answer.

Anyone knows this agent , good or bad ?
Itinerary any changes?
Prices, rip off or fair?

This is the travel Agent :

Savion Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.
Address: A-88, First Floor, Sector 4, Noida - 201301
INDIA Telephone: +(91)-(120)-4242181/82/83/84
INDIA Fax: +(91)-(120)-4242185

Proposed trip & prices :

Day 01: 22nd March : Delhi-Varanasi (By overnight train)
Transfer to Railway station to board overnight train to Varanasi
Overnight on board train.

Day 02: 23rd March : Varanasi
Pick up from Railway station in Varanasi and you are transferred to the hotel. The afternoon half-day city tour of Varanasi includes a visit to Benaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Temple, Vishwanath Temple etc. Overnight stay at the hotel in Varanasi.

Day 03: 24th March : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Get a real feeling of Varanasi-the gate to Moksha, by early morning boat ride on River Ganges. Later in the morning you are driven to Bodhgaya, visiting Sarnath on the way. Arrival at Bodhgaya follows check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 04: 25th March : Bodhgaya
The day begins with sightseeing of Bodhgaya and later excursion to Rajgir and Nalanda.

Rajgir: Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage place. Lord Buddha spent a considerable part of his life and the first Buddhist council was held here (after Buddha attained Nirvana).

Nalanda: Nalanda was a great center of Buddhist learning in ancient times. The Nalanda University was founded in the 5th century and developed as a center of intellectualism. Overnight stay at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Day 05: 26th March : Bodhgaya - Vaishali - Kushinagar
From Bodhgaya proceed to Vaishali. Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon and announced his impending " Nirvana". Highlights of Vaishali include the Ashoka Pillar, Lotus tank and Chaumukhi. The next destination after Vaishali is Kushinagar. Arrival at Kushinagar follows check-in at the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 06 : 27th March : Kushinagar - Lumbini
Excursion at Kushinagar starts with a visit to the Mahanirvana Temple and follows visits to the modern Japan/Srilanka Buddhist center and monasteries. Thereafter proceed to Lumbini (the place where Lord Buddha was born). Overnight stay at hotel in Lumbini.

Day 07: 28th March : Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti
In the morning, visit the Ashoka pillar (249 BC), Mayadevi temple, the ruins of an old monastery and some new Stupas. In the afternoon you will be driven to Sravasti, where lies the extensive ruins of this ancient city and the famous Jetavana Monastery. On arrival at Sravasti, you will be transferred to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 08: 29th March : Sravasti - Lucknow- Delhi (By overnight Train)
In the morning a city tour of Sravasti is arranged and later you will be driven to Lucknow.
Visit city of Lucknow covers Imambara, Rumi Darwaza and other historical monuments. In the evening transfer to railway station to board overnight train to New Delhi

Day 09 : 30th March : Delhi
Pick up from Railway station and transfer to hotel in Delhi.
Visit Old and New Delhi, overnight at hotel

Day 10 : 31st March : Departure Delhi
Pick up from Airport and transfer to Departure/transfer to International Airport to take flight for onward journey.

(Check in /out time from hotels is 1200 Hrs)
---------------------------------(Cost for minimum 02 person travelling together)--------------------------------------------------

Our Per Person Nett Cost for the same ON Deluxe category BASIS is :
Per person cost based on two person travelling and sharing One DBL / Twin Room : USD $ 1095
(one child below 06 yrs is complimentary on room only basis)

Hotels Envisaged or similar
Delhi : Intercontinental The Grand or simialar
Sravasti : Lotus Nikko or similar
Lumbini : Lumbini Hokke or similar
Kushinagar : Lotus Nikko or similar
Bodhgaya : Lotus Nikko or similar
Varanasi : Ramada Plaza or similar

Our Per Person Nett Cost for the same ON Standard category BASIS is :
Per person cost based on two person travelling and sharing One DBL / Twin Room : USD $ 916
(one child below 06 yrs is complimentary on room only basis)

Hotels Envisaged or similar
Delhi : The Connaught or similar
Sravasti : Lotus Nikko or similar
Lumbini : Nirvana or similar
Kushinagar : Lotus Nikko or similar
Bodhgaya : Hotel Sujata or similar
Varanasi : Meraden Grand or similar

Our Per Person Nett Cost for the same ON Budget category BASIS is :
Per person cost based on two person travelling and sharing One DBL / Twin Room : USD $ 815
(one child below 06 yrs is complimentary on room only basis)

Hotels Envisaged or similar
Delhi : Surya Shelter or similar
Sravasti : Lotus Nikko or similar
Lumbini : Nirvana or similar
Balrampur : Mahamaya Garden or similar
Bodhgaya : Hotel Sujata or similar
Varanasi : India or similar

Cost Includes:
Accommodation in one double / Twin room at hotels as per the package.
Daily Breakfast (American / Indian) except Balrampur, Kushinagar & Bodhgaya.
Daily breakfast, lunch & dinner at Balrampur, Kushinagar & Bodhgaya
Airport / hotel transfers + city tour + Drives by One Air-Conditioned private car
The Arrival / Departure Assistances.
An English-speaking well mannered guide during sightseeing trips.
Train fare from New Delhi- Varanasi & Lucknow-Delhi in 2nd AC Sleeper Class.

Cost Excludes:
Any meal unless specified above, Personal nature expenses like telephone /laundry bills etc.,
Entrance fees & Still camera or video camera fees at the various monuments and museums.
Tips and gratuities to drivers, guides, and bellboys at hotels.
Departure Taxes or Visa handling fees.(A Visa is required to visit India)
Any Air fare, Airports tax and travel insurance etc. services not specified above.
Government Service Tax @ 3.09%.

The above cost of package is subject to change with the change in the taxes structure of the Govt for Hotels/transport/Tour-travel Agents or with increase in fuel prices.

We trust you would find the above in order and best to your satisfaction. Please advise you acceptance on above Or if you want to any kind of change in final program.

We would wait for your response and further instructions.

Best regards,

Vishwa Malasi / Neeraj Nauwhaar
91-9901461413/9910161413

Savion Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.
A-88, Sector-4, 1st Floor, Noida (NCR Delhi)
Tel: +91-120-4242181 - 84
Fax: +91-120-4242185
www.BHARATONLINE.com

patrickgill

The itinerary seems nice and interesting, but sounds like the tour agency's taste in hotels runs towards the blandly corporate, at least in Delhi and Varanasi.
In Varanasi, you should try to stay at the Hotel Ganges View at Assi Ghat. It's a weird and pretty and comfortable place. Rates around 1,500 -- 2,500 I think...