North India Itinerary - Advice Needed!

Hi,

We are travelling to India for the first time, arriving 26th Dec in Delhi. We have a month in total and plan to travel parts of India, ending up in Sri Lanka for the last 5 days.

We want to travel from Delhi ending up in Goa for New Years eve. Can someone please advise if you think the below itinery is do able in the time we are planning? We appreciate its a lot but we kind of want to blitz the North to get to Goa for New Year as we've been advised it’s the best place to see New Year in and spend 5 or more days there before heading to Kerela?? Or is one of the cities we plan to visit in the north just as nice to see New Year in?

Also we know its going to be busy holiday season so will we struggle with trains/planes etc getting from city to city due to everyone else travelling in this busy week?!

We already have a driver who is taken us around the triangle which has been arrangend by a friend (i work with many Indian collegues based in Mumbai, Dehil and Chennai who have been helping us with plans!)

Saturday 26th Dec 2009 Delhi
Sunday 27th Dec 2009 Agra
Monday 28th Dec 2009 Jaipur
Tuesday 29th Dec 2009 Udaipur
Wednesday 30th Dec 2009 Jodhpur
Thursday 31st Dec 2009 Goa

Many thanks in advance.

Your itinerary doesn't seem to include any travel time. You can get to Agra from Delhi in about 3-4 hrs. and you will need a minimum of 4 hours to see just the Taj and the Red Fort & Fatipur Siki. Do you intend to spend the night in Agra or leave directly to Jaipur. You would get to Jaipur at night. It's about a 4 hr. drive. Then you would need a day in Jaipur. Are you spending the night in Jaipur?

It's 405 km. from Jaipur to Udaipur, about 8 driving hours. Then back to Jodhpur another 6 hours.

The way you have it, you will only be driving from place to place and not actually stopping to see anything. If that's what you mean by a "blitz of the north" well, that's what it will be!

Instead of 6 days for the above itinerary, you will need 12 days if you want to stop & sleep and also actually see something!

I am surprised your Indian friends recommended this kind of a trip. I'm sure they know it takes time to get from place to place & 6 days are simply not enough for what you've outlined.

Goa has hundreds of beaches. To find one that you think you would like for New Years, use the Search box above. There's lots of info on Goa.

It will be a very big struggle booking during the holiday season. You may have to change the dates you do things based on how you can book.

You should have your Sri Lanka ticket booked before you leave home also. Sri Lanka doesn't have the same tourist infrastructure that India has (thanks to a 25 yr. civil war, just ended). You may find getting around means using taxis. They have a few trains. I guess you'll be heading for the beaches (Hikkadua, etc.), since 5 days isn't enough to go up-country to Kandy, unless you only want to spend a day or two there.

Thanks for replying.

I can see it will be too mcuh to do, and kinda of new that but wanted confirmation and to be told it was not possible!! I think we'll put Goa back a few days and spend New Year in one of the Cities in the North. Any recommendations?!

And Sorry, typo, i meant to say we plan to have 10 days in Sri Lanka so any advise on where to go would be apprecaited!!

Many Thanks for your resposne.