One month trip itinerary - first time in India - please advice

szparec

Hello everyone.

First of all thanks to IndiaMike for their website - outstanding source of information, spent tooo many nights reading it!

I am going to India on 6th January 2010 for 30days with my wife. It's our first backpacking trip (apart from Scotish Highlands).
We would like to see as much as possible as I don't think so we will be able to come back to India again for such a long period.


I was reading this forum a lot and made a provisional itinerary using information gathered here. Suprasingly I could not find anything similar to what I am trying to do in this timespan(hopefully I did not overstreched it).
I would be greatful if more experienced Indiamikers would give me some feedback and advice.

Our plan:

6.01 - Arrive: Delhi Late
7-8 - Delhi
9 - morning train Agra
9-10 Agra ON train Varnasi
11-12-13 Varnasi ON train Kolkatta
14-15 Kolkatta
*15/16 Train to Chennai/ possible stop Puri
**16 flight to Chennai
then train to Madurai
16-17-18-19-20 Kerala (backwaters, wildlife, beach)
20 ON train Goa
21-24 Goa
24 ON train Mumbai
25-26 Mumbai - train/bus to Udaipur
26-27 Udaipur train/bus to Jodhpur
28-29 Jodhpur - train/bus to Jaisalmer
30-31-1 Jaisalmer (Camel Safari, 1-2 days)
2-3 Jaipur
4-5 Delhi

I am in proccess of matching travel times and options between destinations.

Couple of questions for experienced ones:

1.I am planning to buy 30 days Rail Pass for £156.00 pp and use overnight trains as much as possible. Is it worth it with this itienerary?

2. I was told by my Indian friend that it is better to leave Rajasthan and Northern parts for late January as it will be warmer and less foggy thus I will be traveling clockwise towards Kolkatta. Is it really a better option?

3. A bit afraid of length of Kolkatta - Chennai journey. Is it a interesting trip or should I take a plane? Rs7000 for two tickets one way...

4. Budget after train pass would be around £1200 for two of us. Is it enough?

5. What should I add/remove to make it a preetty reasonable India Highlite?

5 And finnaly is this itienerary doable and not too packed?

I appriciate any ,even smallest advice as I could not find anything similar on forum.

Thanks

szparec

vonkla

As far as I know the fog is also a problem in the Delhi-Varanasi-Kolkatta area.

So it seems not make much difference if you make the journey the other way around and go to the south as spoon as possible.
Roughly Agra-Rajasthan-Kerala-Chennai and up to the north.
If you can get an international flight arriving in Delhi and leaving from Kolkatta it saves some traveling.
Otherwise Delhi-Rajasthan-Kerala-Chennai-Kolkatta-Varanasi-Agra.

You have a good mixture of staying some days in a town and long journeys but it will be very hectic.
In your draft you mention Madurai without any days attached to is. Maybe it is better to go straight from Chennai to Cochin.

__________________
.
See our travel journals Mumbai-Dehli in three months; From Kochi to Delhi

Matthew Morris

4: The money should be enough, but you will have to keep an eye on your budget.

5: Honestly, I think you are trying to pack far too great an area in one month. Not sure why you included all 4 major cities? In my opinion, these places are to be avoided if possible, there isn't all that much to see in them.

My advice would be too concentrate your holiday in a couple of places (say Rajasthan and Agra/Varanasi...and if you can stretch it, have a return flight to the South (Goa or Kerala) for a week or so and concentrate on a smallish area there as well. This way you could do away with having the train pass and take smaller distance (thus cheaper) train rides, and be able to spend more time at the destinations.

I would consider spending 2-3 days less in Delhi.

I'm going for about a month in Dec/Jan and this is my idea of what I plan to do below...It seems quite a lot still, but keeps most of the travel down to small amounts (2-3 hours mostly) with a day or more rest between travel, but may likely change this depending on how we feel.

21st Arrive Delhi – 06:25
22nd Delhi to Kochin (Flight 75 GBP)
23rd kochin to Allepey (1 hour train)
24th Backwaters boat trip from Allepey to Kollam then short bus to Varkala (6 hour boat)
25th Varkala beach
26th Varkala beach
27th Varkala to Madurai (18:40-05:20 from Varkala station - first class 404 rs)
28th Madurai
29th Madurai to Thanjavur (3 hour day train and taxi)
30th Thanjavur
31st Thanjavur to Mahalbalipuram (5 hours train and taxi)
01st Mahalbalipuram
02nd Mahalbalipuram to Chennai airport to Jaipur – 08:55 – 12:50(flight 72 GBP)
03rd Jaipur
04th Jaipur to Bundi (3 hours)
05th Bundi
07th Bundi to Chittaurgarh (2 ½ hours day train 09:38)
08th Chittaurgarh to Udaipur (2 hours train)
09th Udaipur
10th Udaipur
11th Udaipur
12th Udaipur to Ranakpur (3 hour bus)
13th Ranakpur to Jodhpur (5 hour bus)
14th Jodhpur
15th Jodhpur to Agra
16th Agra to Delhi
17th Delhi to London

Cheers Matt

__________________
I have the wisdom of Buddha combined with the body of Peter Andre - oh...no..it's the other way round..

szparec

Thanks for advice.

I have almost finnalized my plan. I am very happy as it looks preety good. I will miss Kolkata but hey, I'll be back..

We arrive to Delhi on 5th January 2010 and then as follows:

05.02 Edinburgh 05:55 - Delhi 23:00 (via Amsterdam)
6.01 Delhi - relax
7.01 Delhi
08.01 train Delhi 7:55 - Agra 12:10 (train no:3008)
09.01 Agra, (ON) Agra 23.30 - Varnasi 12:20 10.01 (3240)
10.01 Varnasi
11.01 Varnasi
12.01 Varnasi, (ON) Varnasi 18:15 - Jaipur 11:30 13.01 (4863)
13.01 Jaipur
14.01 Jaipur (ON) Jaipur 22:40 - Udaipur 6:10 15.01 (2965)
15.01 Udaipur
16.01 Udaipur, (ON Bus) Udaipur 22:00 - Jodhpur 06:00 17.01
17.01 Jodhpur
18.01 Jodhpur, (ON) Jodhpur 23:00 - Jaisalmer 05:00 19.01 (4810)
19.01 Jaisalmer
20.01 Jaisalmer Safari
21.01 Jaisalmer, (ON) Jaisalmer 23:15 - Jodhpur 5:20 22.01 (4809)
22.01 (ON) Jodhpur 18:45 - Mumbai(Bandhra) 11:45 23.01 (2479)
23.01 Mumbai
24.01 Mumbai, (ON) Mumbai 23:05 - Madgaon(Goa) 12:30 25.01 (0111)
25.01 Goa
26.01 Goa
27.01 Goa
28.01 Goa (ON) Madgaon 14:50 - Trivanrdum 9:30 29.01 (2432)
29.01 Trivandrum 11:15 - Varkhala 11:50 (2625), Varkhala
30.01 Varkhala 7:45 - Kollam 8:20, Kollam Cruise to Allepey
31.01 Allepey - Kottoyam Cruise, Bus Kottoyam - Periyar
01.02 Periyar
02.02 Periyar, Bus Periyar - Ernakulam
03.02 Kochi, Flight, Kochi 17:30 - Delhi 22:05 (via Mumbai),
04.02 Delhi shopping
05.02 Delhi 01:50 - Edinburgh 10:25 (via Paris)

If it works I will be very happy. Pretty much everything I want to see this time is included plus some time for ourselves on Goa beaches.. It's tight but I think it's reasnoable. Can't wait!

What do you think?


Also do you think that we could squizze Munnar in between Periyar if we resign from Varkhala day?

vandy

Hi there,

That's some trip you have planned.

If I may suggest as you will hopefully get your second wind whilst in Goa, if it's possible to get of train in Kollam,rather
than go all the way to Trivandrum,and then back up to Varkala &
Kollam.This way you could Squeeze in Munnar after Periyar.

The route from Periyar to Munnar is spectacular and well worth the effort.I also suggest you hire a car and driver from Kotayam
area(or Allepey area) for your Periyar,Munnar,Cochin leg of the journey.This way you can stop and start when and where you like,
also the driver will show you around Periyar and Munnar areas
included in the original car hire price.Sitting in a crowded bus
for these legs should be reconsidered.

You can get a little A/C car(Indica or Indigo) and driver for around 1400rps per day day all inclusive, just accom for yourselves need to be added.

If you want to finish off your trip to India with a short trek in Munnar area, consider staying at Rose Gardens Homestay,it's
on the Munnar to Cochin hwy about 10klms out of Munnar town.The
Owner Tommy takes his Guests on a private Forrest and Tea Estate
trek (4-5hrs)at approx cost of 800rps per person.I did this last
year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.It's not too strenuous and Highly reccomended.

All the best

vandy

szparec

Thanks

I booked flight from Jaipur to Goa to skip Mumbai (that's second big city I will miss ). That will give me couple more days to see Munnar and extra day on the beach.

Do you know if I can get car and driver from Periyar to Munnar or do I have to get it from Kottayam / Allepey?

Also is it very cold in Munnar area in January?

Cheers

vandy

Yes I suggest you hire a car & driver to pick you up after your O'Night Houseboat cruise is finished, the houseboats are usually back by 9am - 10am and you can head for Periyar straight away and be in Periyar/Kumily by mid afternoon.

I personally would keep the same car & driver for the rest of your journey,Periyar - Munnar - Cochin for reasons I mentioned earlier.

BTW, glad to see you are intending taking water transport from
Kollam to Allepey, There is a ferry service which takes most of the day, BUT I've heard its pretty good scenery, it departs I think about mid morning and reaches Allepey late afternoon.

Check out Kerala in the Forums section there's a lot of usefull
info there.You may see some posts re the backwaters where I
Highly reccomend doing a Country Boat(3hr cruise)into the smaller canals.If you have managed to pick up an extra day for
some extra beach time Allepey also has a nice quiet beach.

As you also have a late afternoon flight out of Kochi,you should
be able to depart Munnar at lunchtime and go straight to Airport
if you don't want to actually go into Kochi itself.Munnar to
Airport should be around 3hrs(to Kochi 4 1/2 hrs)Just a thought

Munnar locals have told me it does get pretty cold at night in January.

vandy