Delhi to Kolkatta in September'09

sunnyzach

Dear Friends,

Greetings!!

Just saw in my Holiday Calendar and it mentioned holidays on 21 Sept (Monday) and 28 Sept (Monday). With in this period I am planning to go to Kolkatta, Darjeeling and Kaziranga and other adjoining places.

Since it’s time of Durga Puja, that might be more good time and reason to visit Kolkatta in that time. Have also checked Air Tickets now, which are really inexpensive i.e. somewhere around 5,000 for to & fro journey from Delhi to Kolkatta.

Like to have advice from you all, what all places should I cover in that time? I am planning to leave in 19 Sept (Saturday, early morning Flight from Delhi to Kolkatta) and return on 28 Sept (Monday, afternoon flight from Kolkatta to Delhi).

There are many places in East India and this will be my first ever visit there, so I’m excited and curious to know many things about the places there. Please let me know which all places I can cover and I should cover with-in this time frame.

Looking forward to hear from you all!!

Cheers

Sunny

hobbesian

Hi sunnyzach,

It depends on what you like doing. Calcutta should be a good time with nice weather. You can think about Belur/Dakshineshwar (spiritual places about an hr from Cal), Santiniketan (famous alternative university town).

Sikkim is really nice and scenic - you might want to check it out. Darjeeling is also good - try and stay or get a tour of a tea estate. My friend said good things about Kaziranga - you can also check out the Sunderbans although that's a bit difficult to get to.

brishti

you best buy them tickets NOW sunny - them bengalees are rabid travelers.
do your hotel confirmations as early as possible too.

with just 8 days in hand - you best enjoy durga puja in the city / darjeeling and sikkim.
keep kaziranga for another trip.
calcutta is more about soaking in the city - of sight-seeing there is not all that much...
its more about the street-people, street-food, street-talk - which is at its peak during durga pujo.



:brishti

sunnyzach

Hi Hobbesian & Brishti,

Thanks for your sugegstions. I am keen to go to Sikkim, I heard it beautiful and has high altitude too. I think Kolkatta would be more crowded in that time. Yeah you suggested me well, like my airtickets I have to book my hotel too well in advance. That will be peak time in Kolkatta.

Can anyone of you suggest me what kind of weather it will be in Kolkatta at time. Also weather in Darjeeling and Sikkim. It will help me to pack my stuff accordingly.

Is there any sugegstion for me for a good budget hotel with hygienic conditions?

Pleas elet me know.

Sunny

wonderwomanusa

When I landed in Kolkata in mid-October last year, the temps were 30C+ and the humidity was 85%, or more. Yes, very hot, very muggy, and the mosquitos were out in full force. You are arriving a month earlier than that, so it will be very hot and humid!

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skdas_niladri

I would suggest that you tweak your itinerary like below.That would be time efficient and fulfilling.

19th->Delhi to Bagdogra by flight...Transfer to Gangtok(Would take approx. 3 hrs)...Sightseeing in Gangtok
20th->Sightseeing in Gangtok...Transfer to North Sikkim
21st->Explore North Sikkim(See the threads to know more about it)
22nd->Explore North Sikkim(See the threads to know more about it)
23rd->Return to Gangtok...Take some rest...Transfer to Darjeeling (about 2 hrs)...If time permits explore by foot
24th->Remember Today is SHASTHI...Darjeeling sightseeing….Transfer to NJP station...Board train no 2344(Darjeeling Mail) to reach Sealdah
25th->Today is SAPTAMI... Check in your Hotel(if possible stay in proper south/north kolkata,don't stay in sealdah or esplanade, to be in the thick of the action of Puja--Google it)...Go to Dakhineswar...Go to Esplanade(for Men)/Gariahat(Women) for some real shopping at some mouth watering bargain price...If possible visit some Puja
26th-> Today is ASTAMI...Go to Belur Math to watch Kumari Puja(You don't want to miss this)...If you are NOT very keen to really get the felling of a crowd,go Pandal hopping in the afternoon..believe me bengalis(including me) are really FOND of crowd hopping.. .Leave max. one/two really popular mandaps for the evening...Have dinner at a good place(Check out the Times of India supplement in the morning to get all the offers at whole Calcutta)
27th->Today is NABAMI...Go to Mother House(it's an orphanage and here Mother Teresa's tomb is kept) in Park Street...have lunch...Again do some pandal hopping(once you get to calcutta, you would know that it is not a overdose,there would be many many great pandals)
28th->Today is VIJAYA DASAMI...Fly back to Delhi

Regards
Niladri

sunnyzach

Many thanks Niladri, this is superb plan. Can you also help me if I can accomodate Kariranga and Guwahati in my 10 days plan.

skdas_niladri

19th->Delhi to Bagdogra by flight...Transfer to Gangtok(Would take approx. 3 hrs)...Sightseeing in Gangtok
20th->Sightseeing in Gangtok...Transfer to North Sikkim
21st->Explore North Sikkim(See the threads to know more about it)
22nd->Explore North Sikkim(See the threads to know more about it)
23rd->Transfer to Darjeeling(starightaway)...Dar jeeling sightseeing….Transfer to NJP station...Board train no 5929(DIBRUGARH EXP) to reach Furkating(Nearest station to Kaziranga)
24th->Reach Furkating at 1 p.m....Transfer to Kaziranga(75 kms)...Stay at night
[[25th->Explore Kaziranga...Board 5960 (KAMRUP EXPRESS) to reach Howrah
26th->Whole day in train]]OR
[[25th->Explore Kaziranga...Board either of 5604,5606 or 5960 to reach Guwahati next morning
26th->Board a flight to calcutta...Rest of the day you can do any of the activity i suggested earlier]]
27th->Today is NABAMI...You can do any of the activity i suggested earlier
28th->Today is VIJAYA DASAMI...Fly back to Delhi

samikbanerjee69

On reaching kolkata never miss out on the Botanical garden and victoria memorial hall(njoy light n sound playing there in the evening.

dont miss out to visit bagbabazr pandal n Maddox square in the evening during the puja.

if u r not comfortable with too much crowd avoid kumari puja in belurmath but do visit belurmath another day.

bengalis prefer pandal hoping mainly after sunset...may be try it in the style of the kolkattans.

many IM ers are in Kolkata. 2days r merely a blink of an eye during the pujas. so if u xpect to njoy puja atleast spend pandal hopping during the night at least for three days( or else u may miss the joy in the city of joy)

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Samik Banerjee

samikbanerjee69

Dont worry! if u afford a AC room n AC car. Every thing will be OK.

U may get rains that time.

samikbanerjee69

Try for the hotels around Esplanade n park street. there are several of them. you may like to afford great eastern hotel or taj hotel in kol(bit costly than the others) but they r are better options.

wonderwomanusa

Samik, Great Eastern is in monstrous reconstruction just now and I suspect it will be closed for a couple of years.

skdas_niladri

Exactly.Great Eastern is closed. And i would recommend staying in the south calcutta,if possible, over central.

samikbanerjee69

yupppp!!!!!!!
Sorry for wrong info...
yes great eastern is under reconstruction..
Ashamed for my careless ness

samikbanerjee69

Yes that would have in great to stay in South calcutta n central But for a tourist, in the heavy crowds of South Calcutta n Central Its better option to stay near ESplanade.
May be to avoid the overcrowded scenario then.