Revisiting India.

Daffy

Hi all,
The two of us (females) will be arriving at Bangalore in September 24th this year and would like to visit South India for about 10 days - Cochin, Alleppey, Periyar Wildlife. Have to do
Salem onto Yercaud to visit my old School (SHY).
Fly BLR to Calcutta on 4th Oct for 3 days.
7th Oct - Cal, Siliguri, Gantok, Darjeeling
11th Oct - travel to Kathmandu, etc.
17th Oct - Fly to Mumbai
19th Fly to Bangalore for journey back to Perth via Singapore.

Any help/advice on accommodation/travel details etc. will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

singsub

i think it would be cheaper and more convinient to fly from kathmandu to kolkata and from there to australia via singapore.

shapes

There is nothing in Siliguri to see, it's a junction city that caters to the hills and the terai lands. I would drive up straight to the hills. If you arrive by bus, you will find plenty of shared taxis to get you to Darjeeling. The same is true if you arrive by plane. We reserved a car from NJP (train station) for about Rs.1000 but that was in winter (low season).
You can do Darjeeling in a day. I would suggest the Windamere Hotel if it is just a day - the views and the your stay will be so much more better . That is if you are not on a backpacker's budget. If you are, there are other options. I would stick to being around Chowrasta and the MALL.
3 people can easily rent a car and go to Gangtok from Darjeeling for about Rs.1000. If that is too steep, go to the lower motorstand and reserve the middle seats of the jeep for much cheaper. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR PERMIT FOR SIKKIM. IF NOT, go to the Foreign Registration office and make one on the day you arrive.

Since I will be doing a trip almost similar to yours next week ,I I went into details on another thread - its by Mr.Baltona)

Let me know if you have any other questions

Hymz

Hello Daffy,

South India for 10 days is ok. You would be able to do justice out their.

I think you are pushing too much in a short span of time. You will have to take a direct flight from Cal or embark on a 13 hour train journey to arrive at the foothills NJP/ Bagdogra. Then you will be in a 4-6 hours of car journey in reaching Gangtok / Darjeeling. I think your 1 day will be gone like that only. I think your 2 days will be spend in to and froing from Cal to the destinations. You should take a hard look at the time allocated for these beautiful destinations. They deserve a weeks time atleast. Also keep in mind that around the same week, the Durga puja holidays will begin in Bengal. Most of them move towards Darjeeling / Gangtok for holidays and its a bit crowded.

Instead I would recommend you staying put in Cal. I think you will take a couple of days seeeing the place in and around Cal. Victoria memorial. Howrah bridge, Museum, Nalband, etc etc should give you some reason around to explore the place. Its old world charm should give you a completely different perspective to you.

Also check the Kathmandu political weather as it might not be the best for travel in monarchial outgo.

Cheers
Hymz

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Daffy

Hi Shapes,
Are you going to Nepal? If so, whats the best way to get there?
Cheers.

shapes

From Darjeeling or Sikkim, I have 3 options.

Mod Note

Hi Shapes. For some reason or another your post was unreadable. Could you post it again please....

shapes

sorry daffy
hope I can recollect what I had meant to write
1. drive to the border from gangtok or darjeeling. The border town is Kakarvitta. You can take a night or day bus from here. Cheapest way to get to KATHMANDU
2. drive to kakarvitta and then drive onto BHADRAPUR - a small airport with daily flights to KATHMANDU. The flights are around 70-100$
3. drive to BAGDOGRA and fly to either kolkota or delhi and then onto kathmandu. You would have to spend a night in both these places to take the first flight out. Via kolkota it's much cheaper.

I may do the 3rd option as I hate small planes and the planes from bhadrapur are small .
Hope this helps.

roopeeman

I am amamzed at how easily peopple still take planes theses days....

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