Our study-trip Itinerary

svdmade

For the last few months, I have been bothering you with all kind of stupid questions. We will leave in a week now (yikes!) and we finally have our itinerary together!

I know we will travel too much and too far and we had to squeeze so much in just three weeks (company visits etc), but I am curious what you guys think about our programme (us being with 25):


On day 0 (April 9), we will fly into Mumbai, arriving at 23.15.

Mumbai (Residency Hotel):

Day
1 (sat) Highlights (Gateway to India, Taj Mahal Hotel, Victoria Terminal, the university, etc)
2 Elephanta Island + Kalladevi + free time
3 Company visit to Bajaj Allianz + visit IndiaFM
4 " " BASF (entire day)
5 " " Suzlon (entire day) + stay in Pune
6 " " Suzlon (entire day)
7 " " Reuters (13:00 - 15:00) + Train to Sawai Madhopur (18:50 - 10:20)

Ranthambhore (Ranthambhore Bagh):

8 (sat) Afternoon safari + music/dance programme
9 Visit to the fort + visit craft centre and Sawai Madhopur
10 Morning safari + train to Jaipur (14:45 - 17:05)

Jaipur (Jas Vilas and Megh Niwas):

11 Visit to the fort (on elephant) + visit to the inner city
12 Sightseeing + shopping + train to Agra (23:20 - 06:40)

Agra (Clarks Shiraz):

13 Taj Mahal + Fatehpur Sikri
14 Amber Fort + free time in city + train to Delhi (20:18 - 23:00)

Delhi (YMCA, the one with pool):

15 (sat) Sightseeing (Red fort, Jama Masjid (mosque), Lotus Temple, etc)
16 Free time in Delhi
17 Company visit to Deloitte
18 " " Hewlett-Packard (11:00) + visit Dutch Embassy (15:00)
19 " " UNDP (10:30) + visit Ministry of Heavy Industry (15:30)
20 " " TNT + shopping and last free time before we leave India

21 Flight back to the Netherlands (leaving at 5.45)

Rob_The_Pom

Your intinerary sounds really good. I take it you mean the Agra Fort - Amber is near Jaipur?
I would drop the Bahai (Lotus) Temple in favour of Humayoun's Tomb though. This is, for me, Delhi's star attraction and one of the most important of all Moghul sites. The Bahai temple is okay but it is only interesting to see Indian tourist going to see a rather strange bunch of westerners worshipping really.
Feroz Shah Kotler, Raj Ghat, Chandni Chowk, the Qutb Minar, Purana Qila, Safdarjang's tomb and the former Viceroy's residence (Rashtrapati Bhavan - now the residence of the President) are also much, much more interesting than the Lotus Temple. You might want to go to the national museum as well - a chance to see the Harrappan 'dancing girl' - one of the world's most important archeological finds shouldn't be missed.
Of course, you have a free day as well - so there are a few ideas for you!

Cheers

Rob The Pom

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SHIMLA

Hey Rob,

Its Feroz Shah KOTLA, not Kotler ! Were you thinking of the great Philip Kotler when you posted?

Agree with you regarding Humayun's tomb. In fact svdmade, you may drop the Red Fort(not a patch on the Agra Fort !) and include Humayun's tomb. Also visit the Laxminarayan(Birla) temple and the Qutb Minar.

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Rob_The_Pom

Sorry, Shimla - not a mistake I'd normally make. I've had, ahem, a few too many cans of the largery stuff! I can only just about spell my own name at this point!

When I went to the Red Fort last year it was a total and utter disgrace. Apparently it was being restored - tragically, it looked more like a demolition site. I hope they've sorted it out by now. I read somewhere that the army have finally vacated the Red Fort, is this correct?
It would be great if they would get their arses out of the Agra Fort as well. I was fuming last year when they refused to let me in to see the Moti Masjid - apparently the highlight of Agra Fort.
I would love an explanation as to why 400 year old historic sites are of military importance. It makes me a little mad to say in the least!

Cheers

Rom eht Pob

PS I think that the Purana Quila is the 'star' fort in Delhi. It was just a shame that I was followed around by massive crowd for most of my visit. Perhaps they think I look like David Beckham. If you don't believe me - check out my profile and I'll say no more.

SHIMLA

Rob, I did check your profile and must say that you resemble Allan Border, not Beckham!!! No wonder the cricket-crazy Indian public followed you !

Yes, it is indeed a shame that sites of historical importance are converted into mini military bases.

A classic case of getting one's priorities wrong.

steven_ber

SVD

You did very well to arrange so many Company visits, but to avoid frustration try to remember you will be working to Indian time, 14:00 means anytime after 14:00, 16:00 is after 14:00, so that would be OK.

Time is much less important in India than in Europe, though Mumbai & Delhi will probably try harder than other places to keep to proper time.

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SHIMLA

Not even Delhi, Steven! Only Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country !!.

svdmade

Thank you all for your comments.

We have been travelling for nearly two weeks and I must say, India is as diverse as it is colourful.

We have a great group, nobody has been complaining yet (over anything substantial that is), and we encounter much feer problems than I had expected. Of course, some people fell ill (like me at the moment), but nothing too serious.

The poverty was a shock, seeing 4 tigers in Ranthambhore was awesome.. and now it's time for me to head back and relaxe in/at the pool

vinayverma

Great to hear about your succesful (4 tigers are enuf to make the trip !!!!)..I hope even on the study part you had a good interaction with the Indian companies.

By now you & many of them in your group would have caught the 'visit India virus'..I'm sure you all will come back...
Just get your group members on to Indiamike once...!!!

Look forward to hear your experiences in India.

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tstan

Hi Symade

The itinerary sounds good given that you are pressed for time.

Rob and Shimla are correct in their observations about the Red Fort - it would come as a great disappointment after Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort.

Delhi is a really interesting city. Along with Rob and Shimla's good recommendations, I would set aside some time for the suburb of Chanakyapuri. Lutyens is one of my favourite British architects - while I lived in England (for the better part of a decade) - I saw all his British work. Believe me, it was all a dress rehearsal for New Delhi.

I am also a great admirer of Gandiji and Nehru and would recommend that you visit the Nehru Memorial Museum - atmospheric building and grounds - and the stone tablet bearing Nehru's last will and testament (in the gardens) is definitely worth visiting.

SHIMLA

Yes, tstan, I agree. Chanakyapuri is one of the best localities of New Delhi.

guerik

Excuse my ignorance, but what's in Chanakyapuri?

ashish0608

Guerik

Chankayapuri is the Diplomatic Area..where most of the embassies are located, its a very clean and green area little towards south delhi, 10 minutes drive from India Gate.

The important places within Chankaypuri are:

Rail Museam
Nehru Park
Teen Murti Bhawan/Nehru Planetarium
Chankaya Cinema (Theatre)
The small eating joints near the Theatre are known for good Tibatian food, there is a market just nearby as well.

Also there is Vishwa Yuvak Kendra (World Youth Centre) which has a reading room/library/canteen..a good place to spend an hour or two

Also Youth Hostel of YHAI (Yoth Hostel Association of Indai) is located in Chankaya Puri.

The Central Ridge (Forest Area) of Delhi also touches Ch'Puri on one side..the Ridge also has Budhha Jayandi Park.

Hope this discription helps..so next time u r in Delhi do visit Chankaypuri

Ashish