Travel Writer Seeks Help with Itinerary Dec Trip

Lizzie Simon · Sep 5th, 2008, 05:34

Hello Everybody!

I'm a New York based travel writer going to India for the first time with my partner/photographer after Thanksgiving through the new year. I WOULD LOVE some feedback and advice about our itinerary--

My questions:
A-I'd love some advice about how to travel between each of these destinations--my preference is the train.
B-If you think I've selected the wrong places to visit and rec a different destination in its place let me know.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Lizzie

Mumbai 3 nights
Travel to Udaipur One night
Udaipur 4 nights
Rathambore 2 nights
Delhi 2 nights
Rishikesh 5 nights
Agra 1 night
Travel to Varanasi 1 night
Varanasi 3 nights
Train to Chennai 1 night
Chennai 2 nights
Pondicherry 2 nights
Madurai 2 nights
Thekkady 2 nights
Alleppy 2 nights
Kochin 3 nights

machadinha · Sep 5th, 2008, 08:03

No real comments. Just a note that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzie Simon

Varanasi 3 nights
Train to Chennai 1 night

Varanasi-Chennai by train would be 38 hours at the most optimistic. It once took me about three days rather.

Am I right thinking you intend to train all over the country in just over a month (when is Thanksgiving? Anyway that's how those days seem to add up. You'll be flying out of Mumbai again I guess?) While the itinerary looks reasonable enough at a quick glance, I'd be happy to focus on 1 general region in a period like that, say one or a couple of adjacent states. You may find you're way overstretching yourself.

ps I see now you have an earlier thread running on the same itinerary, Heading to India for the first time . Please try and keep your related questions together, so people can follow any progress and don't need to repeat themselves.

Hal · Sep 5th, 2008, 09:30

I wouldn't limit yourself to the train. If you want to experience more of India, hire a car and driver for a bit - maybe an Ambassador car tour of Rajasthan. You'll be able to stop where you want for photos and take some interesting side trips. Your driver might insist on taking you to a few "government crafts stores" or "art schools" which will be worth writing about.

I think you'd get more out of the country if you drop a few destinations and focus on 2 states - like Rajasthan and Kerala, or Tamil Nadu. The southern part of your trip seems really ambitious. Trains and cars move slowly in India and you may end up spending more time in transit than you expected.

PeakXV · Sep 5th, 2008, 09:52

November 26th to January 2 approximately? I agree with Hal slightly ambitious schedule for the high season. Focus on a little bit less, so that you can spend a little more time getting the feel/scoop of the places you choose. Also, there can be lots of fog in Northen India in December so factor that into any accompanying photo shoots(pro or con) that you are scheduling/in need of - at each destination.

Ignite · Sep 5th, 2008, 10:13

Lizzie, i'd say you have the right destinations on your mind, but you might want to spend some more time in india, especially if you want to write about your travels. Your itinerary is kind of crammed together even for a casual traveller, so as a write you might want to spend more time in India, do remember it looks small on a map, but its quite big and every destination has its own distintinctive culture that you'd definitely want to experience for your book/magazine/journal.

gouthami11 · Nov 27th, 2008, 16:42

Hi, You also need to decide if you want to see touristy India or the less known India. Or a mix. Touristy is Rajasthan and Kerala. Less known is Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. So pick a mix.

Tamil Nadu - my home state - would suggest Thanjavur and the coast, including Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Chidambaram and Pondicherry. Not the beaten route at all.

Also, would agree with the others - budget time for delays, strikes, rain, illness, etc. And of course, for a writer, even those provide a lot of material.

Hope you enjoy my country!

Cheers!

Gouthami

gouthami11 · Nov 27th, 2008, 16:44

Forgot to mention Tharangambadi or Tranquebar near Nagapattinam - has been beautifully restored by a Dutch NGO.

Gouthami

Sep 5th, 2008, 05:34	#1
Lizzie Simon Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3	Travel Writer Seeks Help with Itinerary Dec Trip Hello Everybody! I'm a New York based travel writer going to India for the first time with my partner/photographer after Thanksgiving through the new year. I WOULD LOVE some feedback and advice about our itinerary-- My questions: A-I'd love some advice about how to travel between each of these destinations--my preference is the train. B-If you think I've selected the wrong places to visit and rec a different destination in its place let me know. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! Lizzie Mumbai 3 nights Travel to Udaipur One night Udaipur 4 nights Rathambore 2 nights Delhi 2 nights Rishikesh 5 nights Agra 1 night Travel to Varanasi 1 night Varanasi 3 nights Train to Chennai 1 night Chennai 2 nights Pondicherry 2 nights Madurai 2 nights Thekkady 2 nights Alleppy 2 nights Kochin 3 nights

Sep 5th, 2008, 09:52	#4
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,881	November 26th to January 2 approximately? I agree with Hal slightly ambitious schedule for the high season. Focus on a little bit less, so that you can spend a little more time getting the feel/scoop of the places you choose. Also, there can be lots of fog in Northen India in December so factor that into any accompanying photo shoots(pro or con) that you are scheduling/in need of - at each destination. __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Sep 5th, 2008, 10:13	#5
Ignite Here's the thing.... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 1,016	Lizzie, i'd say you have the right destinations on your mind, but you might want to spend some more time in india, especially if you want to write about your travels. Your itinerary is kind of crammed together even for a casual traveller, so as a write you might want to spend more time in India, do remember it looks small on a map, but its quite big and every destination has its own distintinctive culture that you'd definitely want to experience for your book/magazine/journal. __________________ “Nothing is so aggravating than calmness.” Oscar Wilde

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Sep 5th, 2008, 09:30	#3
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	I wouldn't limit yourself to the train. If you want to experience more of India, hire a car and driver for a bit - maybe an Ambassador car tour of Rajasthan. You'll be able to stop where you want for photos and take some interesting side trips. Your driver might insist on taking you to a few "government crafts stores" or "art schools" which will be worth writing about. I think you'd get more out of the country if you drop a few destinations and focus on 2 states - like Rajasthan and Kerala, or Tamil Nadu. The southern part of your trip seems really ambitious. Trains and cars move slowly in India and you may end up spending more time in transit than you expected.

Nov 27th, 2008, 16:42	#6
gouthami11 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Madras Posts: 13	Hi, You also need to decide if you want to see touristy India or the less known India. Or a mix. Touristy is Rajasthan and Kerala. Less known is Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. So pick a mix. Tamil Nadu - my home state - would suggest Thanjavur and the coast, including Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Chidambaram and Pondicherry. Not the beaten route at all. Also, would agree with the others - budget time for delays, strikes, rain, illness, etc. And of course, for a writer, even those provide a lot of material. Hope you enjoy my country! Cheers! Gouthami

Nov 27th, 2008, 16:44	#7
gouthami11 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Madras Posts: 13	Forgot to mention Tharangambadi or Tranquebar near Nagapattinam - has been beautifully restored by a Dutch NGO. Gouthami