Teenagers to India....Help w/Itinerary!

mshannancy

I have just returned from India. I am going back with 13 yr. old daughter and 14 year old son...April 12 - 27th. I am putting together a "Rite of Passage" trip. I had thought Ajanta Caves, Varanassi, Dharmasala. I have been told too hot...too hectic. It has been suggested: Dharamsala-Rewalsar-Shoja-Saharan-Angla-Shimla-Rishikesh...I say THAT is too hectic...I want my kids to have time (avg. 4days) in 3 Places...They do NOT want to be in a car/train/bus every day...I want them to feel the rhythm of places....not be on the go, go, go...AND I want this to be meaningful...NOT a TYPICAL TOURISTY trip... I am open to suggestions!! Thank you so much for All input!! India represents ALL that we have valued in our home with very little being supported here where we live...This "Rite of Passage" will be an opening to their Global World...as citizens of the world...AND the first of MANY more visits to India...SO everything does not have to occur on this trip...It will be a MAJOR appetizer...but obviously NOT the FULL MEAl!!

Indizen

How about Srinagar - Pahalgam - Gulmarg - Delhi (the Mughal heritage) then Darjeeling
(Fly, then take the Toy train).

pillimosan

well..if you want to give your sons a sip of the real india how can you miss varansi? I would suggest Ajanta-Varanasi-Rishikesh (and of course McLeod Ganj if you have enough time..)

mshannancy

Thank YOU...I really do want them to be in Varanassi...I was just there...but I have noted it is now 100 F....what will it be by mid April? And how do you suggest the best way (quickest most direct) to get between these 4 places...I am new to navigating through India...I just finished up a very intense trip that included a lot of domestic flights...And I am trying to be really cost conscious! REALLY COST conscious!!

Indizen

What is it about Varanasi that would be of interest to the youngsters? It is a dirty overgrown village on the banks of a seriously polluted river. Such a weird impression of India for them!

manali4now

April is good time for the North. It does get hot further south.

Listen, I am not familiar with Shaja, Saharan, Anja...However, Simla and Rshikesh I found to be over-rated. Especially Simla. It is really just a town with some western buildings and lots of middle class Indians promonading the mall. No real snow views and nothing really special.

But I used to live in Dharamsala and familiar with the area there.

Here is my suggestion for the Dharamsala portion....

Delhi to Amrtisar by night train.
See Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Amritsar to Dharamsala by bus (no train possible in mountain terrain)
Dhramasala to Lake Rewalsar by bus (no train possible)
Lake Rewalsaw to Old Manali (by bus - fabulous drive)
In Manali there is some paragliding and horse trekking (I mention this only because the kids may enjoy something like this)

bijapuri

what do your teens want to see? My experience with that age leaves me convinced that involving them in the decision process is vital.

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mshannancy

My Son really wants to see Ajanta Caves and Golden Temple...My daughter wants to see Varanassi...my husband wants to go to Rishikesh...and I want to go back to Dharamsala....THAT is the trip (perhaps no Golden Temple at this time)...I just do not know how to arrange...Ajanta/Arungabad(2 days)-Varanassi (2 days)-Rishikesh (4 days)-Dharamasala (4 days)...in order...and how to best and quickly get from one place to the next...Domestic flights are fine with me...Any input and ideas on how to make an itinerary would be so appreciated!!

bijapuri

it's gonna boil!
do not underestimate the effect on first-timers of the combination of 100 degree plus temps, humidity, blinding smog, swirling hot wind, and the lack of effective AC during travel. British cemeteries are full of Westerners who did. Even the Mughals spent the hot season in Kashmir.

I really urge y'all to go with the flow and hit the himalayas. There's more than enough "culture" in Dharamsala, Kashmir, etc. to see.

Why take my word for it? Here's an excerpt from "Travels in the Mogul Empire" by Francois Bernier. It describes a trip with shah Jehan from Delhi to Kashmir in the 17th Century:

"Alas, my dear Sir! what can induce the European to expose himself to such terrible heat, and to these terrible and pernicious marches? . . .
"the sun is just but rising, yet the heat is insupportable. There is not a cloud to be seen nor a breath of air to be felt. . . My Indian servants, notwithstanding their black, dry and hard skin, are incapable of further exertion. The whole of my face, my feet, and my hands are flayed. My body too is covered with small red blisters, which prick like needles. Yesterday one of our poor troopers, who was without a tent, was found dead at the foot of a tree, wither he had crept for shelter. I feel as if I myself should expire before night. All my hopes are in four or five limes still remaining for lemonade, and in the little dry curd which I am about to drink diluted with water and sugar. Heaven bless you! The ink dries an the end of my pen, and the pen itself drops from my hand."

kristinm

Maybe your kids are more evolved than mine - although he is very open to anything and everything, smart and interested in culture/sprituality etc..

But I was glad we included some big city time in our itinerary.... he loved the rural areas but did get sick of the same old same old after some time (we were there 5 weeks). And I guess he did have a point, one temple is much like another (except the amazing ones of course) and the village/town markets do get pretty samey as well.

We had lots of down time in each place - so we did some hanging out, reading, chai drinking, fresh lime soda drinking, chatting with locals etc etc etc......he loved that.. also he is a bit of a foodie so a lot of time was taken up with sampling food!

But when we got to Mumbai and Delhi he really enjoyed the hustle and bustle, restaurants, street life etc - he is a city kid at heart I guess!

The Golden Temple and Amritsar in general was a highlight for all of us actually - I'd think twice about leaving it out... its a great city, quite different to others and the temple is amazing.. and of course the Sikh culture is something new again after all the Hindu temples etc...

Dilliwala

Angla/Anja somewhere near Sarahan?

What is that - a very small place I've never heard of, or iffy spelling? Someone please enlighten.

EDIT:
Oh, waitaminnit - Sangla, right?!

steven_ber

That's very confusing, you're thinking and writing from your point of view, the trouble is, others don't know your point of view, if I'd have done a long reply listing all your train options (based on your cost conscious comments), I'd be annoyed to then see the domestic flight comments.

You have to try to think of all the info a person would need to be able to offer you the best advice.

Arrival and departure cities would be a good start.

It seems that delaying your trip by 6 or 7 months would be your best option.

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chris123

Hi mshannancy,

Greetings from John... How about a visit to Mumbai ??

puchoo

i would think they should be shown Delhi as well... how can one bypass that??

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