Tentative Rajasthan/Goa itinerary... comments please

Folks,

I've finally started to formulate some details of my upcoming trip in October.

Does this seem a bit "whistle-stop" or reasonable for the available time? Any comments/alternative suggestions? I definitely want to go to Simla, despite the long journey, and also definitely want a few days on a beach towards the end- Which is reasonably near Mumbai since I need to fly out!

I would like to go to Varanasi but I think it's just a bridge too far.

Thanks in advance,

Sam

Thurs 27th Sep: Leave London
Fri 28th Sep: Arrive New Delhi AM
Sat 29th Sep: Delhi
Sun 30th Sep: Delhi
Mon 1st Oct Leave AM for Simla- Arrive evening
Tues 2nd Oct: Simla
Weds 3rd Oct: Leave Simla afternoon, overnight train via Kalka to Delhi
Thurs 4th Oct: AM- Delhi- Agra
Fri 5th Oct: Agra during day, leave in evening for Jaipur-Arrive same evening
Sat 6th Oct: Jaipur
Sun 7th Oct: Jaipur- Leave overnight for Jaisalmer
Mon 8th Oct: Jaisalmer- arrive AM
Tues 9th Oct: Jaisalmer (Camel safari overnight?)
Weds 10th Oct: Jaisalmer-Leave overnight to Jaipur, arrive 0450
Thurs 11th Oct: Arrive Jaipur AM- Flight to Goa (Departs 1020hrs, arrives 1420)
Fri 12th Oct: Goa
Sat 13th Oct Goa
Sun 14th Oct- Goa
Mon 15th Oct- Goa-Train overnight to Mumbai?
Tues 16th Oct- Mumbai-Arrive in morning- Overnight in hotel for early start.
Weds 17th Oct- LEAVE Mumbai 0440hrs- Arrive LHR 1200

I think I can get you an extra day, an extra place to visit, and a 'must do' visit to the 'Rat Temple', all by changing the route slightly.

Delhi-Kalka-Shimla

then Kalka-Bikaner (great place to visit, and close to the Rat Temple) -Jaisalmer-Jaipur-Agra then direct to Delhi airport and on to Goa.

A late flight from Goa to Mumbai would get you to Mumbai in time for your flight home.

The beach to home is so much better than a large city for a day.

Sounds good... I hadn't considered Bikaner but that is definitely a good shout. Thanks for the advice!

I agree about the flight in-fly out scenario being the most friendly although I would like to see Mumbai- Having said that I suspect I'll be fed up of trains by then.

I take it with trains that it's just best to get an outline itinerary booked as it's easy to cancel? The trains do seem to fill up fast!

Yes, get the trains booked, even Goa-Mumbai, then cancel later, the cancellation charges are tiny.

Steven,

Thanks for your continued valuable contribution. I hadn't considered the New Delhi-Goa flight option but that looks competitive at around 6,600RS direct-

There is a flight on 11th leaving ND arriving at 1pm in Goa with Spicejet.

How easy is it to "transfer" between the railway stations and airport in New Delhi?

It's not a quick transfer, not in the morning, and the flight you're looking at would require you to be at the airport by 08:45, and that would be very difficult from Agra.

I've looked at all the train/flight connections and realistically, unless you catch a 04:30 train from Agra, then the only flight you could consider is the 14:40 Indigo flight (gets to Goa at 17:15, and in all likelihood, will mean you miss sunset at your first hotel in Goa).

The problem is, most of the early morning trains from Agra actually start their journeys a long way away, and can't be absolutely relied upon to run close to time.

A reasonable alternative is to stay in Delhi overnight, the Shatabdi Express (12001) is reliable and fast, it departs Agra Cant at 20:35 and gets to New Delhi station at 22:45, in the morning you should be able to get from New Delhi to the domestic terminal in 60-80 minutes, but you need to arrive 2 hours before your flight departs.

If money is not a constraint, he can take a car+driver from Agra and leave at 5:00 am- will reach the airport in time for the flight. (If no farmers or environmentalists are agitating on that day, that is). The new expressway is a two hour + drive to Greater Noida, another 20 minutes to Noida and an hour and a half to reach the airport from Noida on the worst of days at that hour (usual early morning is one hour). Steep toll though - Rs 320/- one way.

Also, why arrive two hours early for a domestic departure? Gates close 45 minutes prior and an hour or so prior usually suffices (especially if traveling with only hand baggage)

Right, I've taken the advice on board. It would definitely be more pleasant to "Fly home from the beach"... I've put together the following revision! I see that the train from Goa-Mumbai is waitlisted (I am WL 5). Is this likely to change between now and then? The other trains seem to have good availability, I think India must be on the move to the beach for the weekend!

Thurs 27th Sep: Leave London
Fri 28th Sep: Arrive New Delhi 0800
Sat 29th Sep: Delhi
Sun 30th Sep: Delhi
Mon 1st Oct Leave AM for Simla- Arrive evening
Tues 2nd Oct: Simla
Weds 3rd Oct: Leave Simla afternoon, overnight train via Kalka-Bikaner
Thurs 4th Oct: Bikaner
Fri 5th Oct: Bikaner-Jaisalmer- 2235-0430
Sat 6th Oct: Jaisalmer- Arrive 0430
Sun 7th Oct: Jaisalmer- Overnight train to Jaipur
Mon 8th Oct: Jaipur
Tues 9th Oct: Jaipur-Agra (0615hrs, arrive 1100hrs)
Weds 10th Oct: Agra- Leave afternoon for Delhi- Flight Dep 2030- Arr2230 Mumbai
Thurs 11th Oct: Mumbai.
Fri 12th Oct: Mumbai-Goa on train (Mangalore exp 22:15-08:25) BOOKED
Sat 13th Oct Goa
Sun 14th Oct- Goa
Mon 15th Oct- Goa
Tues 16th Oct- Goa- Fly to Mumbai (22:30-23:35)
Weds 17th Oct- LEAVE Mumbai 0440hrs- Arrive LHR 1200

WL5 -

What train
What class


Why Mumbai?

It's OK if you have to be there, but most other places offer more for tourists.

Hmm, not sure really. Just feel it would be a shame to fly out without seeing the place... Although if I did give it a miss there's a lot more flexibility in the schedule.

I am booked on the 12133 Mangalore Express in AC2.

The Simla trains are coming up as status unavailable- Am I right in thinking these are restricted to booking 30 days before?

Pity you cant squeeze a night in for Jodphur....if you go your original plan.....fly Jodphur-Goa and have a look at Jodhpur...very cool place, hands down one of my highlights

A few trains can not be booked before 30 days. Check www,erail.in to know about the ARP (advance reservation period).

Thanks for the tip. I agree Jodhpur is a must see so it's squeezed in the itinerary. If I cut out Mumbai I've actually got ages so am a bit concerned about the initial whistlestop tour.

From what I hear however Shimla and Agra are actually not places to linger for ages...

Further revisions, I would welcome comments.

I've tweaked a few bits. I'd really like to see Varanasi but it's just too far out on a limb.
Do you think there's too long in Goa? I'm hoping for a nice relax at the end of the holiday and it does provide a bit of slack if I get delayed/ill earlier on.

Wondering what train to take from Agra--Delhi? I'm concerned that most of them originate thousands of km away so won't even nearly be on time!! Also concerned about the Shatabdis to/from Kalka- Are they designed to "link up" with the Kalka-Simla service? Will it wait if the Shatabdi is delayed?

Also a bit concerned about the small gap in Delhi before the Agra train, is this enough? I can't see any other trains to take, but I suppose if I missed it worst case would be staying near NDLS overnight then getting an early morning one to Agra.



Thurs 27th Sep: Leave London
Fri 28th Sep: Arrive New Delhi 0800
Sat 29th Sep: Delhi
Sun 30th Sep: Delhi
Mon 1st Oct Leave AM for Simla- Arrive evening
0740-1145hrs Shatabdi -Kalka
1210-1720 Simla (Himalayan Queen)
Tues 2nd Oct: Simla
Weds 3rd Oct: Early morning- Tiger Hill before departure?
Simla-Kalka=-Him Queen 1030-1610
Kalka-Delhi Shatabdi 1745-2155
Tamil Nadu Express- 2230-0107 Agra
Thurs 4th Oct: Agra- Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
Fri 5th Oct: Agra- Delhi-Which train to take.
Delhi 2115-0740 Mandor Exp. BOOKED
Sat 6th Oct: Jodhpur- Arrive 0740hrs
Sun 7th Oct: Jodhpur- Jaisalmer
Ju Jsm Express 2345-0530hrs
Mon 8th Oct: Jaisalmer (arrive 0530hrs)
Tues 9th Oct: Jaisalmer- Jaipur
Dli- Jsm Express (1715-0450hrs)
Weds 10th Oct: Jaipur-Mumbai (Fly evening)
Thurs 11th Oct: Mumbai. (Or Udaipur?)
Fri 12th Oct: Mumbai-Goa on train (Mangalore exp 22:15-08:25) BOOKED
Sat 13th Oct Goa
Sun 14th Oct- Goa
Mon 15th Oct- Goa
Tues 16th Oct- Goa- Fly to Mumbai (22:30-23:35)
Weds 17th Oct- LEAVE Mumbai 0440hrs- Arrive LHR 1200