Kolkata to Madhya Pradesh, suggestions for December,2009 ?

Suvadeep

I live in Kolkata and have never to MP before.

I am planning to visit MP with my wife in the month of December,2009

Can any of our friends please suggest the possible trip iteneraries, considering the following points :

1. We want to start by Train on 24th Dec from Kolkata and want to come back on 31st Dec Night by Train

2. I do not know which Train I should reserve as I am confused about which point of MP we should start with

3. The train I have to catch after completing my office hours on 24th Dec at least upto 5:30 pm (I never mind to go directly to station from office)

4. As I have heard that a moonlit night is a wonderful experience in Marble Rocks of Jabalpur, I want to stay the extreme end of my journey at Bedhaghat (as 31st Dec is a Full Moon)

Please suugest which connecting Trains or buses I'll take for moving from one place to another and for sight-seeing as I have no idea of the place.

Also, please suggest what will be good and average-budget places to stay and at what points we'll take the night stay.

We don't mind to take a hectic tour but want to cover as much as places ...

We are going on an average budget ... so spending a lot of money may not be possible ... in rare cases, if there is no other way out, we'll have to hire a car for two of us for sightseeing or for moving from one places to another .... so, Trains, Buses and Shared Cars are the first preferences

Please help me ...

Looking forward for your replies ....

vko

Hi Suvadeep, Welcome to IndiaMike!

I went to Bhedaghat in Jan 2008 and its a nice place. Stuff to see there is Duandhar Falls, Marble Rocks, and the Chausath Yogini temple (on top of a small hill). Shops nearby sell marble statues (I didn't enquire the rates). The waterfall is just amazing. I saw it during the daytime, should be a great spectacle during moonlit nights. There's a rope-way that crosses over the falls and provides great view.

I see two trains from Howrah to Jabalpur:

1448 +SHAKTIPUNJ EXP HOWRAH JN 14:30 JABALPUR 16:05
2321 +HWH MUMBAI MAIL HOWRAH JN 22:00 JABALPUR 17:55

You can easily get shared jeeps, autos or buses for Bhedaghat (20 kms) from Jabalpur. If the train stops at the Madan Mahal station, get down there as it's nearer to Bhedaghat.

Haven't seen rest of MP. I understand that Pachmarhi, a small hill station in the Satpuras, is quite nearby reachable from Jabalpur via Pipariya. Try searching the Madhya Pradesh forums for more destinations. Hope this helps.

Suvadeep

Thank you vikaskumarojha for your valuable suggestions

I want to start with a different point in MP and end up my tour with Bedhaghat ...

I am confused with which point I should start my trip ...

I have heard that there are huge number of Crocodiles in the water of Marble Rocks ... will they cause any danger while having the Boat Ride ???

Is there any other hotels to stay just beside Marble Rock apart from thew MP Tourism Hotel ???

rajered

You can spend a couple of days in either Kanha, Bandavgarh or Panchmarhi all close to Jabalpur and then travel to Bedhaghat.

While in Bedhaghat you can also visit Duadhar Falls and the Chausat Yogini Temple.

There are small budget hotels available but they may also increase their rates due to New Year.

vko

Uhh Oh, I thought the other way round. Side-effects of posting without morning coffee.

I recommend that you first make a list of places that you want to see in MP. Then it would be easier to plan an itinerary.

I didn't see any crocs, then I didn't go for the boat ride either so not much idea. I can ask a friend who is Jabalpur native to confirm and get back to you on this.

No idea, I stayed in Jabalpur at my friend's place (it was his wedding).

vko

My friend confirms that there are crocodiles, but he has never heard of any accidents.

Suvadeep

Thanks a lot vko and rajered for your valuable advice ...


I planned the following Tour Itineraries, please correct me if I am wrong anywhere :


1. 24th Dec …. Starting on an afternoon train from Kolkata for Gwalior


2. 25th Dec .. Reaching Gwalior at around 5:30 pm … check in to a Hotel … then move out to visit the Light and Sound show at the Gwalior Fort …. Night stay at Gwalior.

3. 26th Dec …. Sight-see Gwalior … Starting for Jhansi …..enroute visit to Dantia …Visit Jhansi … Night stay at Jhansi or Orchha (Where you suggest to stay) [I want to sight-see both Jhansi and Orchha]

4. 27th Dec …. Sight-see the remaining part of Orchha … move to Khajuraho … enroute vist to Raneh Falls …. Visit the Light and Sound show at Khajuraho in the evening … Night stay at Khajuraho


5. 28th Dec … visiting Khajuraho … then move to see Panna National Park (57 kms away) …. Then move towards Bhedaghat (270 km / 6 hours) …. Reaching Bhedghat in the evening … check in to hotel by the side of Marble Rocks … have a Boat Ride on the water of Marble Rock in the Moon-lit Night (as 31st is the Full Moon, I hope to have a good handful of the moon on 28th too ) … Night stay at Bhedaghat


6. 29th Dec … Visiting Marble Rocks in the daylight … then visit Dhuandhar falls …. have a Ropeway Ride over Dhuandar … then start for Jabalpur (25 km away) … visit Jabalpur … Night stay at Jabalpur


7. 30th Dec … visiting the remaining sight-seeing at Jabalpur … then move to the Jabalpur Railway Station to catch the train for Kolkata


8. 31st Dec … Reaching Kolkata at the late noon

Friends please let me know if me know if my Plannings are fine … or in between I can also include one or two more Places ??? or any other corrections ???

Also let me know where the places I’ll opt for Night Stay … and if you can suggest any Good but Budget Hotels (and must be Safe)


Do you have any idea if I hire one small non-AC car (Alto, Indica, 800 etc) from Gwalior on the first day of our journey … that will be with us till we board the train for Kolkata in Jabalpur … how much it may cost ????


I know too many questions … but still I am waiting for your responses ...

kausiks

If you have to choose between Jhansi and Orchha, I would suggest Orchha.
Since you would be coming to Bhedaghat, instead of Panna NP, you might consider visiting Bandhavgarh NP. But you need to stay there and not just pass through.
At Marble Rocks, night boating is operational from 4 days before full moon night till 4 days after full moon night. At Bhedaghat, the best location and hotel is the one run by MTDC, though other hotels are also there.
From Gwalior, you can hire a car. Charges should be between Rs 5 - Rs 6 per Km. But you will be charged Gwalior to Gwalior, although you leave the car at Jabalpur.

Also, I have the feeling that you are covering too many places in this 1 week. 1/2 day + 1/2 day at Khajuraho might not be sufficient. Similarly, unless you spend atleast 1-2 day at Panna or Bandhavgarh, you will not get a feel of the place.

__________________
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.

vko

Day 5 seems un-doable as you have too much on your plate. Try and split it up into two days.

__________________
-Vikas

Suvadeep

Thanks to you all for the valuable informations ...

I found that almost all the MP State Tourism Hotels are very Costly ... can you please suggest for Family Hotels in the places where I opt for Night Stay for around Rs.500-800 .... but it should be safe and clean

I am very confused how to deal with hiring the car ... as if it'll charge me from Gwalior to Gwalior ... that will be double the cost ...

Please advice me what to do ....

As you told me 5th Day is un-doable, I am planning to drop visiting Panna ... will it be OK ??? or I'll miss a lot if drp the place to visit ???

Suvadeep

Hi Friends,

Please someone give me a response ....

vko

If you are interested in Panna tiger reserve, why don't you extend the itinerary by one day and spend it there. If that's not possible guess you may need to drop it. It's up to you Suvadeep.

I don't have any idea about the car hire or hotels, sorry!

mousourik

You may consider Khajuraho at the beginning of the tour. Board Mumbai mail and get down at Satna in that case. From Khajuraho, you can visit Panchmari. Then finish at Jabalpur. Not sure whether Bandhavgarh can be included.

For road diatances, you may check this one.

kausiks

You will get hotels at your desired rate at Bhedaghat - there are two decent hotels other than MPT. I do not know about the remaining places - but you should be able to get it at Gwalior and Orchha. However, you are going during the Christmas week and hotels may raise their normal rates during that week.
Maybe you should consult some travel agent in Kolkata who can do the bookings for you.
I still think you are covering too many places in a short time and may not to justice to all the places.