Mumbai-Aurangabad-Kerala? or?

paintedlotus · Jul 25th, 2008, 21:44

Hi everyone,

I will be taking my 3rd trip to India to see my fiance (he is Indian and lives in Delhi) starting on Tuesday the 29th. I will be there for 16 days-- arriving Wed. July 30 in Delhi, departing on Friday August 15 in Delhi.

After one night in Delhi, we will be heading to Mumbai for a couple of days. We will be staying at the JW Marriott Juhu Beach thanks to my employee discount (this is the ONLY way I would ever be able to stay there or any hotel of its ilk for that matter!!

)

After Mumbai I wanted to head to Aurangabad for a couple of days to see Ajanta & Ellora, two places that have been on my list forever. After that our itinerary is open, by my estimate we would have about 10 days or so before needing to head back to Delhi so I can fly home. On my last trip I went to Kerala and I would love to go back there again, but I'm also interested in Bijapur, Badami/et al, Mysore, Pondicherry and Madurai. NO, I am NOT planning to try to go to all these places on this trip in only 10 days during the monsoon season!! LOL Just saying those are areas I am interested in.

But here's the catch: my fiance has put a slight restriction on our travel. He hates overnight trains and has since he was a kid. (I personally love them... this will be something of a discussion between us, methinks.) With this in mind, I thought maybe day trains or buses or car hire from Aurangabad with short stops in smaller places may be interesting (like Bijapur on the way south, for example). Or we could go back to Mumbai and catch a flight to Kerala (or Madurai or wherever), and then another flight back to Delhi. I'm planning to keep our itinerary very open and adaptable especially given that monsoon can make things unpredictable, but some direction would be great if any of you have some input.

I'm sorry if this post is a little convoluted, I had to be at work at 5:00am today and my brain is fried.

Thanks!!

SitaParityaga · Jul 27th, 2008, 08:30

Hiya paintedlotus!

Run that plan by us one more time, OK?

The backwaters with your fiancee would be lovely, right? Start from there and work backwards!

SitaParityaga: from Seattle

paintedlotus · Jul 27th, 2008, 09:22

Hi SitaParityaga! Nice to see a fellow Seattleite around.

Yeah, I realized my post was a little convoluted, sorry.

Backwaters may be a lovely way to go, I've been on a houseboat before but not with the man. That's definitely something I'm looking into IF we go to Kerala.

This is what is planned so far:

Wed. 30 July arrive Delhi, spend one night
Thurs. 31 July fly to Mumbai, spend two nights
Sat. 2 August, day train to Aurangabad, spend two (perhaps three?) nights, one day Ellora, one day Ajanta
Mon. 4 August to Thurs. 14 August... don't know yet
Thurs. 14 August-- flight back to Delhi from wherever
Fri. 15 August-- flight back to Seattle from Delhi

Here is what I'm currently debating for the remaining 10 days:
1.) From Aurangabad, take a day train back to Mumbai and then take a flight to Kerala--where I have been before-- for the rest of the time
2.) From Aurangabad, head back to Mumbai and take a flight to Chennai and explore Pondicherry and Madurai (time permitting)
3.) From Aurangabad, take DAY trains south-- depending upon availability of course!-- to Bijapur, and then on to Badami/Pattadakal and then possibly Mysore

This is where I'd love some input as I really don't know the south very much. Thanks!

SitaParityaga · Jul 27th, 2008, 23:38

Haven't been in the south in August, may-be someone can comment on the weather then, which might influence your decision.

Some laid back time at a backwaters hotel on the lake would be pretty nice too, something to consider after moving around, looking at lots of sights up north at ellora/ajanta.

snonymous · Jul 28th, 2008, 13:19

Hello Painted Lotus

As you may know, the south west monsoons have just revived after a long dry spell, so consider this factor while planning your itinerary.

Bijapur and surrounding areas do not usually get the torrential rains of the west coast, so you may be better off there. You can also combine Bijapur with Pattadakal, Aihole and Hampi, these are all historic areas with an excellent ambience.

If you do go to Ajanta and Ellora, you can also visit Lonar as a 1-2 days trip, its the worlds 2nd largest meteorite crater.

Tamil Nadu coastal and central areas are also mostly dry at this time.

paintedlotus · Jul 28th, 2008, 22:35

Thanks for your help! I didn't realize Tamil Nadu coastal areas were dry right now, I just assumed everything would be wet wet wet.

Jul 25th, 2008, 21:44	#1
paintedlotus Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 28	Mumbai-Aurangabad-Kerala? or? Hi everyone, I will be taking my 3rd trip to India to see my fiance (he is Indian and lives in Delhi) starting on Tuesday the 29th. I will be there for 16 days-- arriving Wed. July 30 in Delhi, departing on Friday August 15 in Delhi. After one night in Delhi, we will be heading to Mumbai for a couple of days. We will be staying at the JW Marriott Juhu Beach thanks to my employee discount (this is the ONLY way I would ever be able to stay there or any hotel of its ilk for that matter!! ) After Mumbai I wanted to head to Aurangabad for a couple of days to see Ajanta & Ellora, two places that have been on my list forever. After that our itinerary is open, by my estimate we would have about 10 days or so before needing to head back to Delhi so I can fly home. On my last trip I went to Kerala and I would love to go back there again, but I'm also interested in Bijapur, Badami/et al, Mysore, Pondicherry and Madurai. NO, I am NOT planning to try to go to all these places on this trip in only 10 days during the monsoon season!! LOL Just saying those are areas I am interested in. But here's the catch: my fiance has put a slight restriction on our travel. He hates overnight trains and has since he was a kid. (I personally love them... this will be something of a discussion between us, methinks.) With this in mind, I thought maybe day trains or buses or car hire from Aurangabad with short stops in smaller places may be interesting (like Bijapur on the way south, for example). Or we could go back to Mumbai and catch a flight to Kerala (or Madurai or wherever), and then another flight back to Delhi. I'm planning to keep our itinerary very open and adaptable especially given that monsoon can make things unpredictable, but some direction would be great if any of you have some input. I'm sorry if this post is a little convoluted, I had to be at work at 5:00am today and my brain is fried. Thanks!!

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Jul 27th, 2008, 08:30	#2
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 882	Hiya paintedlotus! Run that plan by us one more time, OK? The backwaters with your fiancee would be lovely, right? Start from there and work backwards! SitaParityaga: from Seattle

Jul 27th, 2008, 09:22	#3
paintedlotus Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 28	Hi SitaParityaga! Nice to see a fellow Seattleite around. Yeah, I realized my post was a little convoluted, sorry. Backwaters may be a lovely way to go, I've been on a houseboat before but not with the man. That's definitely something I'm looking into IF we go to Kerala. This is what is planned so far: Wed. 30 July arrive Delhi, spend one night Thurs. 31 July fly to Mumbai, spend two nights Sat. 2 August, day train to Aurangabad, spend two (perhaps three?) nights, one day Ellora, one day Ajanta Mon. 4 August to Thurs. 14 August... don't know yet Thurs. 14 August-- flight back to Delhi from wherever Fri. 15 August-- flight back to Seattle from Delhi Here is what I'm currently debating for the remaining 10 days: 1.) From Aurangabad, take a day train back to Mumbai and then take a flight to Kerala--where I have been before-- for the rest of the time 2.) From Aurangabad, head back to Mumbai and take a flight to Chennai and explore Pondicherry and Madurai (time permitting) 3.) From Aurangabad, take DAY trains south-- depending upon availability of course!-- to Bijapur, and then on to Badami/Pattadakal and then possibly Mysore This is where I'd love some input as I really don't know the south very much. Thanks!

Jul 27th, 2008, 23:38	#4
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 882	Haven't been in the south in August, may-be someone can comment on the weather then, which might influence your decision. Some laid back time at a backwaters hotel on the lake would be pretty nice too, something to consider after moving around, looking at lots of sights up north at ellora/ajanta.

Jul 28th, 2008, 13:19	#5
snonymous Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 651	Hello Painted Lotus As you may know, the south west monsoons have just revived after a long dry spell, so consider this factor while planning your itinerary. Bijapur and surrounding areas do not usually get the torrential rains of the west coast, so you may be better off there. You can also combine Bijapur with Pattadakal, Aihole and Hampi, these are all historic areas with an excellent ambience. If you do go to Ajanta and Ellora, you can also visit Lonar as a 1-2 days trip, its the worlds 2nd largest meteorite crater. Tamil Nadu coastal and central areas are also mostly dry at this time.

Jul 28th, 2008, 22:35	#6
paintedlotus Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 28	Thanks for your help! I didn't realize Tamil Nadu coastal areas were dry right now, I just assumed everything would be wet wet wet.

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