On the Move Too Much?

jessadidi

Hello IndiaMike Folks,

After many revisions this is the itinerary we have cooked up (starting Oct 25). Does this schedule look too hectic? Did we leave enough time enjoy the places we are going?

I know it is a lot to look over but I would really appreciate any feedback, especially about the Bombay-Ajanta-Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Pushkar bit (seems like a frantic pace). More specific questions are in BOLD type.

Since we are leaving in a few weeks I need to make all the reservations ASAP, hopefully spots will still be available!

Thanks

Day 1-3 Delhi
Day 4 Fly to Bombay in AM
Day 5 Elephanta Island
Day 6 Overnight train 1005 to Aurangabad (for Ellora and Ajanta caves)
Day 7 Arrive 6:40 AM go to Ellora Caves
Night in Aurangadab or Jalgaon?
Day 8 Ajanta Caves
leave from Jalgaon on train 2627 @ 1745 for Agra
(currently WL 4) Will we get our seats (2)? What is a good plan B?
Day 9 Arrive Agra 8:30 AM
See Taj Mahal and other sites
Leave 18:00 on train 9778 arrive Japiur 22:30
Day 10 Jaipur Sites
Day 11 Overnight train 2965 to Udaipur
Day 12 &13 Udaipur
Day 14 Fly to Jodhpur
(or take bus/car night before if flight not available, is this possible?)
Day in Jodhpur
Overnight train 2315 to Jaisalmer
OR night in Jodhpur & take day train the next morning?
Day 15 & 16 Jaisalmer
Day 17 Either day train to Jodhpur and spend the night in Jodhpur
OR overnight train to Jodhpur arriving @ 5:15 am
Day 18 connect to train 1JA @ 7am to Ajmer (or take bus)
Night in Ajmer
Day 19 Bus to Pushkar
Day 20 & 21 Pushkar Camel Festival
Day 22 Bus to Ajmer connect to
Train 2015 @ 15:50 for Delhi
Day 23 Fly to Kathmandu (must leave India this day b/c of visa issues)
Day 24 – 28 Tour Kathmandu valley
Day 29 Fly to Varanasi
Day 30 & 31 Varanasi
Day 32-33 Either return to Delhi directly or via Khajuraho
Is this worth the energy and money to fly for 1 day trip to Khajuraho ?
Day 34 Delhi

THANK YOU, your time feedback is appreciated!

traceyam

Wow. You could do that but it looks like one of those "see Europe in 15 days" tours. Have you done that kind of fast paced travel before? If you have and you enjoyed it, you'll be fine. I prefer a lower travel time vs. sightseeing time ratio, myself, especially in India, where the unexpected is likely to happen.

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aadil

WOW!!! You sure are going to get a bit tired but not of seeing all the wonderful places you have rightly selected and if you are not too worried about sleeping and resting a lot then you will surely enjoy it all just like I do too!!!

When you are in Mumbai (Bombay) then do not miss going to the Kanheri Caves in Borivali National Park in north Mumbai as it is a complex of one of the oldest caves in India and there are more than 100 of them!!! Beautiful surroundings to see all around from the top of the hill with a lovely stream flowing through in between the caves as you see the whole complex structure of the caves. The Elephanta caves are not too much to see as there are only two main caves there but the sculptures are really beautiful so it is worth going across the harbour for the trip there too. Lots of other things to visit in Mumbai too so give it some time if you can. Take a look at my external homepage if you wish to see some of the details about Mumbai and Elephanta caves on www.VirtualTourist.com through the link on my profile page.

Aurangabad is fine for seeing both Ajanta and Ellora. Do the Ellora caves in the evening after going in the morning to all the other sites in Aurangabad like the Pan Chakki (water mill), Bibi Ka Makbara (Aurangzeb's wife's memorial, also called the poor man's Taj Mahal), Khuldabad (Aurangzeb's Tomb), Daulatabad Fort, before going to Ellora by noon. Do not miss going to the top of the Kailash temple hill to get the best view of the temple complex (for free, you only pay to get inside the Kailash temple!!!), so it is worth starting at the top and coming down before starting to see all the other caves that are the Buddhist as well as Jain caves on the other side of the complex. keep the next day only for Ajanta caves and go on your own as it is very little time to see the whole caves complex if you take the MTDC bus tour (they give only two hours visiting time at the caves before they start the return journey). Go up the hill in the middle of the river gorge to get a panoramic view of the caves from the look out post in the centre. On your way to Ajanta take your luggage with you and keep it in the left luggage at the caves complex for a small fee of Rs10 per bag. Whilst leaving go to Jalgaon via Fardapur to get your next train to Agra. WL4 should most probably get you on the train.

On arrival in Agra leave your luggage at the train station if you are not checking into a hotel and just visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad Ud Daulah and possibly Sikandrabad (Akbar's Tomb and memorial) but I think you will not be seeing Fatehpur Sikri in the short time you are here!!!

About the Jaipur day spent in seeing the sites there I don't know how much you will see there in two days, but there are lots of things to see in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer too. I am sure you will enjoy it all in Rajasthan with the many forts and temples as well as the sand dune trip too if possible.

When in Varanasi do not miss Sarnath as it is really worth seeing and don't miss the arti in the evening at the ghats from the boat as well as from the steps in front of the ghats. Looks beautiful from both the sides.

Khajuraho is not to be missed and if you have a day more then spend two days here!!!

Hope this helps and have a safe and pleasant journey throughout and may all your travel dreams come true!!!

Cheers,
Aadil.

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seventies'hippy

Ok , you yourself will know that yo have been to all these places, but really it's to tight a schedule to enjoy yourself when you are there.
Most of the time in stead of enjoying what you've come to see you'll be thinking about tonights train journey & getting to the station/airport in time. I personally think it's all to ambitious, just thin it out abit, just an extra day or so here & there will make all the difference.
You can always come back ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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