My trip - too many places?

scottd

Hi Folks,

I'm in the final planning stages for my month long trip in India, which starts in two weeks time. This Is my plan -

28th (sep) Arrive Delhi
29th Delhi
30th Delhi
overnight sleeper
1st (Oct) Varanasi
2nd Varanasi
Overnight sleeper
3rd Agra
4th Agra - morning train - Jaipur
5th Jaipur
6th Jaipur - afternoon train - Jodhpur
7th Jodhpur
8th Jodhpur - afternoon train - Abu Road - Bus - Mount Abu
9th Mount Abu
10th Mount Abu
11th Mount Abu - Bus - Udaipur
12th Udaipur
13th Udaipur
overnight sleeper
14th Delhi - afternoon train - Amritsar
15th Amritsar
16th Amritsar - bus/train - Pantankot - bus/train - Dharmshala
17th Dharamshala
18th Dharamshala
19th Dharamshala
20th Dharamshala
21st Dharamshala - overnight bus - delhi
22nd Delhi
23rd Fly Home

Am I trying to see too many places? Should I remove a couple of places or spend less/more time in any?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

kind regards

Scott

SitaParityaga

The trip down to Varanasi from Delhi and back up to Agra is pushing it. Try to fit in an extra day in Varanasi. Its well worth it.

machadinha

<cross-posted with Sita>*

No, it looks fairly-paced to me, at a glance.

My issue might be I wouldn't want to have it all set in stone for a month. But as such, looks quite OK I guess.

* And I'd agree btw, that first bit looks a little hectic. Since you're taking your time elsewhere, and since you can count on needing some time to get used to the country at first, you could allot some more time here to make it easier on yourself. Delhi-Varanasi-Agra-Jaipur you can count on all being potentially pretty overpowering on a first encounter, so try not to rush through here, but to do it at an agreeable pace.

Just a day extra in Varanasi to catch your breath would probably cut it, indeed.

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capt_mahajan

An overnight train journey to and fro from Varanasi with just two days there is not worth it. In any case, I would think of dropping Varanasi- off your beat.


crossposted with everybody. What's wrong with me today

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steven_ber

Agree you may need an extra day in Varanasi.....and I think I've found a way to get that extra day.

As above (with extra day in Varanasi) then Agra, Udaipur, Mt.Abu, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Amritsar (if departing Jaipur on a monday or a wednesday) then Dharamsala and Delhi.

OR

From Agra to Jaipur, then to Udaipur, then Mt. Abu, then Jodhpur, then Amritsar*, then Dharamsala and Delhi.

* Train 9223 departs Jodhpur daily at 20.20 and gets to Makhu at 10.55 (2A, SL.)

Makhu is 60kms south of Amritsar and connected by regular buses, turn right outside the station and walk less than 1 km (or pay Rs10 for a cycle rickshaw), then cross the main road and get the Amritsar bus, I did this a couple of years ago, it was real easy.

By the way, unless Dharamsala is an absolute must, Haridwar and Rishikesh have a lot to offer, and can be reached by overnight train from Amritsar, and daytime or overnight train to Delhi, Dharamsala on the other hand, is a real pain regarding transport.

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wichy

In my first trip to India I did the same part of itinerary:

30th Delhi
overnight sleeper
1st (Oct) Varanasi
2nd Varanasi
Overnight sleeper
3rd Agra

If "Overnight sleeper" is a overnight train, and you choose a quite comfortable class - it looks OK for me. If it's possible - add 1 day for Varanasi, but even 2 days is good to have a first glance at this eternal city, and - you can decide to come back at the next time 2 years after my visit I think that I don't want to return, but now I know I definetly will be back some day

In a whole - your itinerary looks OK for me, but I love "presto" travelling :-)))

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Past the point of no return...

machadinha

<cross-posted with Wichy, heheh. Hey, the thread sure garnered some attention! >

... Also, and being notoriously not a Jaipur fan myself, the poster has planned two nights there.

I think one would suffice, and it'd be another night/day gained.

But... highly personal, of course.

scottd

Thanks for your tips everyone, I Think I'll chop a day off Dharamshala and stay another day in varanasi. Ive booked the sleeper back from Varanasi to Agra - is it usually possible to change the date of travel, or will I lose the cost of the ticket?

wichy

You have to buy the new ticket and cancel the previous one, but you lose only about 40 rupees But first buy the ticket for the new date, and only than cancel the old one.