Will this route work for September? (Delhi, Shimla, Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi)

aonindy

Hi All,

I am arriving for my first visit in September for about two weeks, and after reading tons of superb info here (thanks all!!) and digesting my "rough guide", I have come up with a bit of a tour plan and would really appreciate comments as to its feasability!

As a general overview, for the first few days I am having Laser eye treatment done so have to hang around Delhi, thereafter I really want to:

* Go on a steam train!
* Do the habitual camel trek
* Travel by train (hopefully chat to some locals) and see the scenery go past
* Spot some wildlife

In my first post to the forum I was urged to go to Rajistan, so, heres my unknowledgable initial plan!

Day 1 - Arrive Fri afternoon - evening - get lost and soak it up
Day 2 - Eye exam - taxi drive to Taj Mahal
Day 3 - Eye Surgary - rest for day
Day 4 - Eye checkup - Tour Delhi?
Day 5 - Head to Simla to do "Toy train"
Overnight in Simla?
Day 6 - Head towards Jaipur
Day 7 - Jaipur - Camel Trek?
Day 8 - Head towards Bikaner
Day 9 - Bikaner - Rat temple / Jain temples
Day 10 - Head towards Udaipur
Day 11 - Udaipur
Day 12 - Mount Abu?
Day 13 - Head towards delhi
Day 14 - Depart Delhi

Regarding accomodation, I hope to do mostly cheap but clean, but will also look to treat myself with a few of the more reasonably priced heritage guesthouses / hotels enroute.

I look forward to your sage like advice and comment

thanks!

Allen.

Mickey S

Way too much in 14 days.

Do you have any idea just how far apart some of these places are, and how slow the trains are? Get a map and a railway timetable (www.erail.in) and give it some more thought.

For example, Delhi to Simla is a full day's journey - 12 hours or so. And then you expect to get to Jaipur the next day? Not possible.

Ditto Bikaner to Udaipur. Bikaner to Jaipur takes between 6 and 9 hours; from Jaipur to Udaipur a further 9 hours. However, there is no convenient connection and you would have to wait around in Jaipur for up to 12 hours. You can't do it in a day.

aonindy

Thanks Mickey!

I had factored in a day between most of them "Day 6 - Head towards Jaipur" etc, but obviously not enough ... I'll try working the india-rail website and see what the times etc are like ... I had looked at some basic journey times, but, never factored in waiting for up to 12 hours for a connection <what fun!!>

/A.

Mickey S

Simla really isn't worth the journey - just about the only reason for going there is that it's the obvious jumping-off point for Himachal Pradesh and beyond.

The trains to Shimla are not steam-hauled. I believe there are special steam-hauled trains over short sections of that route but since you'll be arriving late in the afternoon and leaving first thing next day you're unlikely to see one.

aonindy

ok, good move - I've cut that from the plan so will start trimming some more ... think i'd prefer to see the rat temple anyway if I can manage it

bruce3404

The rat temple isn't as exciting as it's made out to be. I mean, it's a gazillion white rats scurrying around. Probably worth about 1/2 hour of your time at the temple. Bikaner is a pretty cool place, though, and I highly recommend it as it will take you off the traditional tourist path.

One big concern I have is complications from your eye surgery. My G/F had Lasik and tried to do too much too soon and wound up having to recuperate a few days longer. Consider that to get back to Delhi from Bikaner, it'll take you a good 12-14 hours AFTER you board the train. If it were me, I'd stay close to Delhi for at least a week (maybe Jaipur and Agra) or be somewhere I could catch a flight if complications arose.

aonindy

excellent advice, thank you!

zoltan

Have you considered Orchha & Ranthambhore wildlife reserve as possible locations to visit, rather than Mt. Abu; Shimla; Udaipur; Bikaner ?

You'd have more opportunity to enjoy a limited but relaxed pace (esp. following surgery).

Cheers
Zoltan

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