Northern India, 18 days, Dharamsala and Darjeeling?

chimblysweep · Jan 13th, 2006, 20:48

So, I'm an experienced traveller that's used to overnight trains and buses and willing to travel at a breakneck pace to make the most of my hard-earned vacation days. (darn Americans and our two weeks.)

Anyway, I arrive in Delhi on 2/3 and leave on 2/20. I have a pretty high budget of about $100/day and am willing to fly between some of these towns if it's the best option. I really want to see Dharamsala and Darjeeling, and the usual tourist stuff in between. Here's what I'm thinking, but I could use some help.

2/3 Arr. Delhi
2/5 overnight bus Delhi -> Dharamsala
2/8 bus Dharamsala -> Amritsar
**problem: Amritsar to Jaipur trains only on Wednesday and Sunday! Anyone know of a bus? Otherwise, I'll be in Amritsar for three hours. Is that long enough to take a taxi to the Golden Palace??**
2/8 train 9772 overnight Amritsar -> Jaipur
2/11 train 9777 Jaipur -> Agra, overnight train 4864 Agra -> Varanasi
2/15 overnight train Varanasi -> NJ/Darjeeling
2/19 overnight train NJ/Darjeeling -> Delhi

QUESTIONS...
1. Any cities you would add/remove?
2. The Amritsar problem. 3 hours there? Other options?
3. Weather: will Darjeeling or Dharamsala in Feb be a bad idea/really cold?
4. How far in advance would you book these trains and lodging in these towns? Now? When I get there? The day before?
5. I really wanted to get to the Camel Festival in Jaisalmer, but can't find any way to make the connection from Amritsar. Anyone have ideas for how to do Delhi->Dharamsala->Jaisalmer->Agra instead? Maybe with flights?

THANK YOU!

Darmabum · Jan 13th, 2006, 21:42

I was in Dharamsala in February . . . Yes, it was cold/wet . . . BUT, it WAS a good idea to go. Don't let the cold stop you, Dharamsala was a highlight for me. Happy Trails.

steven_ber · Jan 13th, 2006, 23:29

Hello chimblysweep and welcome to indiamike.com

You're throwing around far too many place names, put them in order of preference then have a look at the following.

Obviously Darjeeling is the hardest to fit in, though you can get a direct flight back to Delhi from Bagdogra (near Siliguri).

Realistically, if you want to fit in Dharamsala, Amritsar and Jaisalmer, you have to drop Varanasi and Darjeeling.

Likewise, If you want to go to Varanasi and Darjeeling, you wont have time for anything in Rajasthan.

Possible Itineraries include.....

Delhi, (overnight bus to)
Dharamsala (day travel to)
Amritsar (overnight train to)
Agra (Evening (18:00 - 22:30) train to)
Jaipur (overnight train to)
Jaisalmer (overnight train to)
Jodhpur (overnight train to)
Delhi

or

Delhi, (overnight bus to)
Dharamsala (day travel to)
Amritsar (overnight train to)
Agra (overnight train to)
Varanasi (overnight train to)
New Jalpaiguri
Flight to Delhi

All trains are daily, so see how any of these Itineraries look when you add the required amount of days, all train details are in the 'Train Information' thread below.

primero · Jan 13th, 2006, 23:56

Hi, i'm planning a similar trip to your one and my choice about Amritsar connection has been car.

I think i'll just hire a car from Bikaner that will take about 10 hours to reach Amritsar and i think that a connection beetween Amritsar and Jaipur would be almost the same time. Sure that the cost will be more then a train or a bus but i think it will fit good in your daily budget.

I've not been in Amritsar yet so what i'll say now is just a "suppose" but i would spend more time there if i were you (and i'll do) at least to go to Wagah (indo-pakistan border) to see the change of guard.

Enjoy
Francesco

chimblysweep · Jan 14th, 2006, 00:46

thank you, Steven, for your insightful ideas. You're right- it's either the desert festival or Darjeeling/Varanasi.

Anyone have advice on making that choice? Is the desert festival insane?

Julie

chimblysweep · Jan 17th, 2006, 19:31

ok, i think i'm doing this...

Delhi
HRTC bus to Dharamsala
HRTC bus back to Delhi
train to Jaisalmer
train to Agra (via Jaipur)
train to Varanasi
train to NJ/Darjeeling
fly back to Delhi

and, does anyone know...
Can I take my bicycle on the bus/train?
Will it be hard (because of the Desert Festival) to get tickets on the Delhi-Jaisalmer leg? I can't really book till I get there, but I do qualify for both the female and the foreigner alottment. If this is going to be difficult, I may have to get the railpass.

steven_ber · Jan 17th, 2006, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimblysweep

ok, i think i'm doing this...

Delhi
HRTC bus to Dharamsala
HRTC bus back to Delhi
train to Jaisalmer
train to Agra (via Jaipur)
train to Varanasi
train to NJ/Darjeeling
fly back to Delhi

and, does anyone know...
Can I take my bicycle on the bus/train?
Will it be hard (because of the Desert Festival) to get tickets on the Delhi-Jaisalmer leg? I can't really book till I get there, but I do qualify for both the female and the foreigner alottment. If this is going to be difficult, I may have to get the railpass.

Your bike may be able to go on the roof of a bus, and in the luggage van of a train (there is a thread on the subject of taking a bike on a train, do a search to find it, but suffice to say, it will be a lot of hassle)

You're covering a heel of a lot of Kms, probibly too many.

A Railpass is of no use to you, you still need reservations, the main advantage of a railpass is that they allow you to book before anyone in India (more than 2 months in advance).

chimblysweep · Jan 19th, 2006, 03:18

I know it's a lot of miles, but I'm young and never sleep much anyway.

Does anyone know whether there are flights to Jaisalmer?

Jan 13th, 2006, 20:48	#1
chimblysweep Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: washington dc Posts: 5	Northern India, 18 days, Dharamsala and Darjeeling? So, I'm an experienced traveller that's used to overnight trains and buses and willing to travel at a breakneck pace to make the most of my hard-earned vacation days. (darn Americans and our two weeks.) Anyway, I arrive in Delhi on 2/3 and leave on 2/20. I have a pretty high budget of about $100/day and am willing to fly between some of these towns if it's the best option. I really want to see Dharamsala and Darjeeling, and the usual tourist stuff in between. Here's what I'm thinking, but I could use some help. 2/3 Arr. Delhi 2/5 overnight bus Delhi -> Dharamsala 2/8 bus Dharamsala -> Amritsar problem: Amritsar to Jaipur trains only on Wednesday and Sunday! Anyone know of a bus? Otherwise, I'll be in Amritsar for three hours. Is that long enough to take a taxi to the Golden Palace?? 2/8 train 9772 overnight Amritsar -> Jaipur 2/11 train 9777 Jaipur -> Agra, overnight train 4864 Agra -> Varanasi 2/15 overnight train Varanasi -> NJ/Darjeeling 2/19 overnight train NJ/Darjeeling -> Delhi QUESTIONS... 1. Any cities you would add/remove? 2. The Amritsar problem. 3 hours there? Other options? 3. Weather: will Darjeeling or Dharamsala in Feb be a bad idea/really cold? 4. How far in advance would you book these trains and lodging in these towns? Now? When I get there? The day before? 5. I really wanted to get to the Camel Festival in Jaisalmer, but can't find any way to make the connection from Amritsar. Anyone have ideas for how to do Delhi->Dharamsala->Jaisalmer->Agra instead? Maybe with flights? THANK YOU!

Jan 13th, 2006, 23:29	#3
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,145	Hello chimblysweep and welcome to indiamike.com You're throwing around far too many place names, put them in order of preference then have a look at the following. Obviously Darjeeling is the hardest to fit in, though you can get a direct flight back to Delhi from Bagdogra (near Siliguri). Realistically, if you want to fit in Dharamsala, Amritsar and Jaisalmer, you have to drop Varanasi and Darjeeling. Likewise, If you want to go to Varanasi and Darjeeling, you wont have time for anything in Rajasthan. Possible Itineraries include..... Delhi, (overnight bus to) Dharamsala (day travel to) Amritsar (overnight train to) Agra (Evening (18:00 - 22:30) train to) Jaipur (overnight train to) Jaisalmer (overnight train to) Jodhpur (overnight train to) Delhi or Delhi, (overnight bus to) Dharamsala (day travel to) Amritsar (overnight train to) Agra (overnight train to) Varanasi (overnight train to) New Jalpaiguri Flight to Delhi All trains are daily, so see how any of these Itineraries look when you add the required amount of days, all train details are in the 'Train Information' thread below. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

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Jan 13th, 2006, 21:42	#2
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 792	I was in Dharamsala in February . . . Yes, it was cold/wet . . . BUT, it WAS a good idea to go. Don't let the cold stop you, Dharamsala was a highlight for me. Happy Trails.

Jan 13th, 2006, 23:56	#4
primero Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 3	Hi, i'm planning a similar trip to your one and my choice about Amritsar connection has been car. I think i'll just hire a car from Bikaner that will take about 10 hours to reach Amritsar and i think that a connection beetween Amritsar and Jaipur would be almost the same time. Sure that the cost will be more then a train or a bus but i think it will fit good in your daily budget. I've not been in Amritsar yet so what i'll say now is just a "suppose" but i would spend more time there if i were you (and i'll do) at least to go to Wagah (indo-pakistan border) to see the change of guard. Enjoy Francesco

Jan 14th, 2006, 00:46	#5
chimblysweep Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: washington dc Posts: 5	thank you, Steven, for your insightful ideas. You're right- it's either the desert festival or Darjeeling/Varanasi. Anyone have advice on making that choice? Is the desert festival insane? Julie

Jan 17th, 2006, 19:31	#6
chimblysweep Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: washington dc Posts: 5	ok, i think i'm doing this... Delhi HRTC bus to Dharamsala HRTC bus back to Delhi train to Jaisalmer train to Agra (via Jaipur) train to Varanasi train to NJ/Darjeeling fly back to Delhi and, does anyone know... Can I take my bicycle on the bus/train? Will it be hard (because of the Desert Festival) to get tickets on the Delhi-Jaisalmer leg? I can't really book till I get there, but I do qualify for both the female and the foreigner alottment. If this is going to be difficult, I may have to get the railpass.

Jan 19th, 2006, 03:18	#8
chimblysweep Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: washington dc Posts: 5	I know it's a lot of miles, but I'm young and never sleep much anyway. Does anyone know whether there are flights to Jaisalmer?

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