first time in india, January

Peg A. Ming · Oct 12th, 2009, 13:49

Hello out there, we´re a couple arriving in Delhi on Dec 28th, and staying in india some four weeks, until Jan 25th. We would definitely like to visit Varanasi and then head south, because we want to catch up with the Vasant Panchami, the festival that´s held in honour of Sarasvati (I am a musician and Sarasvati happens to be somehow my patron goddess), which, we also read, is celebrated most exultantly in the southern states. So we think, maybe going from delhi to varanasi by train, stay there a few days, and head south on a looong indian railroad trip, arriving to some place where we could presumably relax for a few days and enjoy the festival (we doubt both concepts will be compatible, but hey, this is india). Then we would fly back to delhi to catch our plane home.
Does all this seem to much? Any recommended train route from Varanasi to the south? Then, Kerala or Tamil Nadu? Should we wing, or make reservations? My fiancée is a bit younger than I; should we pose as married or honeymooners? Oh boy we´re so lost. Thank you kindly, Dexter and Peg.

vkochar · Oct 14th, 2009, 13:34

4 weeks is a long / good time for exploring India.

I'd say keep the Varanasi stretch short. 2 days there is enough.

Do keep Northern India - Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur - all these do able in 5 days.

Head to varanasi and then do South.

2 weeks south should be fine.

A few days in Kerala & then Goa will be the best. Head to delhi and then back home.

Peg A. Ming · Oct 15th, 2009, 15:17

thank you kindly, v. We´re really kind of lost, and gathering info from all over the place, but your advice is really highly appreciated and I think we´ll follow it. Up to the last quote.
Does anybody know which would be the most reasonable way from Varanasi to Kerala by train, and how many days should we need for that particular stretch? Are trains that dangerous? We want to stay on the lowest kind of budget; are non-AC cars too unbearable? (since it´s January and we´d probably take night trains as often as possible?)
Thanks to everyone.

vonkla · Oct 15th, 2009, 15:49

There are several routes from Varansi to the south.
For instance see Varanasi Jhansi
Visit Orchha from there or even make a trip to Khajuraho.

From Jhansi to Cochin there are various other trains.

Oct 12th, 2009, 13:49	#1
Peg A. Ming Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: madrid, spain Posts: 26	first time in india, January Hello out there, we´re a couple arriving in Delhi on Dec 28th, and staying in india some four weeks, until Jan 25th. We would definitely like to visit Varanasi and then head south, because we want to catch up with the Vasant Panchami, the festival that´s held in honour of Sarasvati (I am a musician and Sarasvati happens to be somehow my patron goddess), which, we also read, is celebrated most exultantly in the southern states. So we think, maybe going from delhi to varanasi by train, stay there a few days, and head south on a looong indian railroad trip, arriving to some place where we could presumably relax for a few days and enjoy the festival (we doubt both concepts will be compatible, but hey, this is india). Then we would fly back to delhi to catch our plane home. Does all this seem to much? Any recommended train route from Varanasi to the south? Then, Kerala or Tamil Nadu? Should we wing, or make reservations? My fiancée is a bit younger than I; should we pose as married or honeymooners? Oh boy we´re so lost. Thank you kindly, Dexter and Peg.

Oct 14th, 2009, 13:34	#2
vkochar Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delhi, Agra, London Posts: 114	4 weeks is a long / good time for exploring India. I'd say keep the Varanasi stretch short. 2 days there is enough. Do keep Northern India - Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur - all these do able in 5 days. Head to varanasi and then do South. 2 weeks south should be fine. A few days in Kerala & then Goa will be the best. Head to delhi and then back home. __________________ Alcohol is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy !!!

Oct 15th, 2009, 15:17	#3
Peg A. Ming Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: madrid, spain Posts: 26	any more advice, please? thank you kindly, v. We´re really kind of lost, and gathering info from all over the place, but your advice is really highly appreciated and I think we´ll follow it. Up to the last quote. Does anybody know which would be the most reasonable way from Varanasi to Kerala by train, and how many days should we need for that particular stretch? Are trains that dangerous? We want to stay on the lowest kind of budget; are non-AC cars too unbearable? (since it´s January and we´d probably take night trains as often as possible?) Thanks to everyone.

Oct 15th, 2009, 15:49	#4
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 563	There are several routes from Varansi to the south. For instance see Varanasi Jhansi Visit Orchha from there or even make a trip to Khajuraho. From Jhansi to Cochin there are various other trains. __________________ . See our travel journals Mumbai-Dehli in three months; From Kochi to Delhi

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