Travel Help

Planning on travelling to India between the beginning and end of August, therefore I will have around 3/4 weeks. At the moment my journey will start in Delhi, then onto Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur then Katmandu.

Although I know which cities I would like to see I am very unclear on the best ways to travel, how long each journey will take, and how much it is likely to cost?

If anyone has any information as once I have the information I would like to start booking travel arrangement?

Thank you!

Siobhan

Hello Siobhanwood and welcome to indiamike.

Route looks fine, have a look at www.erail.in to see train times and costs.

The Shatabdi (train 12015) is a good choice from Delhi to Jaipur, use air con Chair Class (CC), you'll likely stay not far from New Delhi station, so the early train isn't as bad as it seems, be careful as you approach New Delhi station, people try all sorts of tricks to persuade you that your ticket isn't valid, they want to get you to the travel agent they work for.

Here's the Jaipur-Agra trains, this is a good section to try the non-AC Sleeper Class, maybe on the UDZ-KURJ Exp. or the AII-Sealdah Exp.

Sleeper Class details & photos.

Agra-Varanasi trains, use Marudhar Express, book early in either 2-tier air con (2A) or 3-tier air con (3A) depending on your budget.

Varanasi-Gorakhpur trains., if you like Sleeper Class, you'll love First Class non-AC (FC), but that overnight train is slow, though ideal if you have to do the border stuff and want to get started early, don't use Sleeper Class on this section.

Check out the visa situation, if you're not very clear about your visa requirements you could end up with a visa that doesn't allow you to re-enter India within 2 months of departing.

I think a person has to understand that August is miserable time temperature wise in Rajasthan. Non AC is not recommended. This past August, Jaipur, I was made to believe had 95+ average daytime temperatures.

If the OP can handle a bit of rough-n-tumble weather in non-AC then fine

Good point.

Sitting here in chilly England I can only fantasise about 95 degrees in Sleeper Class.

@ Siobhan

I appreciate you are doing A Levels at the moment, which may or may not affect your travel budget. Just a voice for the alternate - there are such things as planes - you do not need to take trains everywhere (or indeed, anywhere). A private car with a driver is a very cost-efficient means of travel in India.

http://www.jetabroad.co.uk/

For example: you could do the golden triangle - Delhi / Agra / Jaipur / Delhi by road; then fly to Varanasi; if you were open to skipping Gorakhpur you could fly to Kathmandu direct from Varanasi.