Three Week Itinerary Aug/Sept

sally+liam

Hi we are traveling to India for the first time and will be there Aug 27th to September 17th we are flying in and out of Delhi. We’re planning on visiting Delhi of course, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Agra, Khajuraho, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. We have no idea how long we should stay in each place and also whether it’s two many destinations to squeeze into three weeks since we cannot afford flights between them. We’re also a bit worried that it might be a palace/fort overload. We would have loved to have gone to one of the national parks but they all seem to be closed during this period. Has anyone got any suggestions for places or activities a bit different from the forts?


Thanks in advance

machadinha

It's always hard to judge not knowing a person or the unforeseen etc., but on the overkill front I think this offers plenty of other sights as well, as well as variation in those places' highlights as such.

Should be just about doable I reckon in 3 weeks (3+ vs. 3- would help, I didn't count); if pressed for time (I usually get to be as the holiday draws to an end) you'll just have to drop some stuff without too many regrets, enjoy where you are instead.

Good luck with it

ps This entire stretch is well-visited (nothing wrong with it, it is for a reason), making it also relatively easy to get around I think. It also means there can be a lot of tourist hassle, so if you find it overwhelming, just try and take it easy and go with the flow instead of fighting against it for the 3 weeks and stressing yourself out having to see yet another hotspot.

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incitatus

It's possible to do your entire itinerary in 3 weeks but only if you really want to rush around and spend most of your time travelling and fretting over connections.
I recommend you drop a couple of places -Khajuraho ,since it's quite hard to get to and Jaisalmer because it too is out on a spur and takes a bit of time to get back FROM.
Varanasi is also out on a spur from the rest of your itinerary but IS worth extra effort and makes a fine contrast to what should be your final destination-Rishikesh.
I suggest
Delhi - Varanasi - Agra - Jodhpur -Jaipur - Rishikesh - Delhi.

The entire trip is by rail (except Rishikesh which is 1 hour by bus from Haridwar) 6 journeys ,4 overnight which both maximises your sightseeing time and gives you airconditioned accommodation overnight. (India will be very hot and humid.)

New Delhi -Varanasi.. 2560 Shiv Ganga Exp dep 18.30 arr 07.30
Varanasi- Agra FORT... 4863 (or 4853) MARUDHAR EXP 17.20 (18.15) ARR 06.10
Agra FORT - Jodhpur... 2307 Howrah/Jodhpur Exp dep 19.35 arr 07.20
Jodhpur- Jaipur... 2466 Intercity Exp dep 05.55 arr 10.47.
Jaipur-Haridwar... 9105 Haridwar Mail dep 23.05 arr 12.30
(then bus to Rishikesh )
To return to Delhi there are 6 trains per day from Haridwar taking from 4.5 to 8.5 hours to reach Delhi, there are also direct buses from Rishikesh to Delhi which take 7 hours.

All the trains mentioned here run daily so you can devise an itinerary of your own choosing.You can shorten this itinerary by missing out Jodhpur and taking the day train or a bus between Agra and Jaipur instead.

You can check train timetables on
TRAINS Between METROS Pair
and also book tickets in advance online.

GOOD LUCK.