11 days- Delhi- Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur-Jodh-Jais- are we nut jobs?

zeitgeist1945

A three week itinerary has now been cut short into a two week stay. Suffice to say, my travel mate is none too pleased with this.

Can our travel gurus please let me know if I am truly a nut job (aka crazy)?

Does the sequence make sense or can anyone suggest a better route?

Day 1,2: Delhi
evening train to Agra and over night stay

Day 3: Agra
evening train to Jaipur

Day 4,5: Jaipur
evening train to Udaipur

Day 6,7,8 Udaipur
overnight train/bus to Jodhpur

Day 9, 10 Jodhpur
afternoon bus to Jaisalmer

Day 11, Jaisalmer
evening bus to Jodhpur

Day 12 Jodhpur
Flight back to Delhi

Many Thanks from a shivering soul in Canada

P.S. today we have 25 centimeters of snow

machadinha

Phew, hard to say, always. It's doable I suppose. Is it your first time there?

I'd consider taking one day off of Jaipur, to stick onto one of the other places (biased, I didn't enjoy myself there much. Others obviously do.)

To go out to Jaisalmer for just 1 day is hardly worth the effort I'd say. So stick it onto there. Maybe even add one day off of U'pur to there. If you want to do a desert safari there and hang out and see the town a bit, 3 days won't go amiss. Also nice at the end of your trip.

Others love Udaipur though, and there are some nice daytrips from there (Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Ghanerao. Of those, I've only been to Chittor. Kumbalgarh Fort is said to be really quite something and has a game reserve, supposed to be best in spring.) Hard to say. Jodhpur is well worth 2 days like you planned I think; others again don't (teehee).

But, yes, all in all I'd say this can be done, any way you want to fill it in. Sequence seems OK to me, maybe others will beg to differ.

ps Congrats on the winter fun <duck-and-run smiley>

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Aishah

Your itinerary looks fine, zeit. I think you will have time enough for each spot - there is also an overnight train to Jaisalmer if you want this (only problem is it leaves around 11 p.m. and can get in about 5.30a.m. which leaves one feeling rather hungover through not enough sleep). Make sure you do all train bookings before you go, some of the trains you have mentioned get booked out. Many people do that tour in around 10 -12 days by car! You see all the sights etc. but you have a few more days up your sleeve to be a little more leisurely. You haven't mentioned when? Bear in mind after March it is becoming very hot.

Cross-posted with Machadinha - I re-looked your itinerary re Jaisalmer - i think you should do what you say which means you actually have only a day and a half in Jodhpur which is more than enough in my point of view - see the Fort, Mandore Gardens, Umaid Bhawan - all can be done in this time. If you caught say a 1.30 p.m. bus to Jaisalmer you could visit the Fort at night, then more sightseeing daytime and buses are going regularly every hour back to Jodhpur for evening bus back. (Takes around 5 and a half hours. Best bus is one government at 5.15 p.m. and reaches Jodhpur around 9.30 - 10.00 ish - it's an express and doesn't stop often).

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machadinha

I agree Aishah. Maybe it's best done as it is, and I think it could be done and looks like a reasonable pace.

jyotirmoy

I totally agree with Aishah.

steven_ber

Itinerary looks ok, but I can think of a more efficient use of your one internal flight.

Kingfisher flight IT2331, Udaipur 09:05, Jaisalmer 11:20. (Rs4300)

Then after Jaisalmer, visit Jodhpur and take an overnight train to Delhi.

If you're a little worried about getting delayed on your way back to Delhi, leave Agra for the end of your trip and get an overnight train from Jodhpur to Agra.

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Train information.

Aishah

Excellent idea Steven. Mandore Express (Train No. 2462) is very reliable for that overnight train to Delhi and also has all classes available most of the time. Leaves Jodhpur 7.30 p.m. and arrives Delhi around 6.30a.m.
Train for Agra (2308) leaving 7.45 p.m. arriving Agra Fort 6.45 a.m.

zeitgeist1945

Now I need to understand the rail booking system!! :9

machadinha

Check a couple of the "sticky" threads (threads "stuck" on top) in the Trains forum

E.g.,
Booking Indian Rail tickets from abroad: A Beginner’s Guide ,
Train information

bijapuri

Here's what to keep in mind- prepare for, really- for anyone arriving in Ma India with an aggressive schedule:

1. Don't be surprised if it starts to fall apart. After all, "Acts of God" are to be expected in this land of zillion of 'em!

2. even if you have booked a car and driver and have all your rooms booked, stuff happens. Now that India actually has a woring phone system, it's easy to make adjustments.

3. If (when) your plan starts to crumble, RELAX! After all, most of the places you propose to visit are incredible trips of a lifetime in their own right. Be happy with what you are actually able to see and do. Most people on bust schedules rush right past much more that they see in their quest to see it all.

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