Rajasthan/Delhi itinerary 10 days

Char

Hello everyone... this seems like a rather fabulous place. Hope someone can help me. I'm actually in Rishikesh at the moment, but have a friend coming from the UK to meet me in a few days. He will be here for 10 days in total, and wants to see Delhi, the Taj and Rajasthan. I have spent all day (literally!) trying to work out an itinerary and am finding it seriously difficult! I have got as far as:
day 1 : Delhi sightseeing
day 2: Taj Mahal (would it be possible to get an early morning train/bus to Agra, and then an evening bus out of Agra to Jaipur? Or is this ridiculous?)
I am not really too bothered about seeing Jaipur (lots of people have been v negative about it), but I know I need to go through there to get to anywhere else. The two destinations I REALLY want to go to are Udaipur and Jaisalmer (would definitely like to do at least a 2 day camel trek). Need to be back in Delhi on the eve of day 10. So was thinking of on day 3 getting the evening train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer. Or would you recommend going to Udaipur first?
Would be very grateful for any suggestions/ a more realistic and detailed itinerary(?!) involving Udaipur and Jaisalmer. Surely possible in 10 days?

many many thanks, Char

sssall

Hi Char,

Here are a couple of websites that have really good information about trains. You can get schedules, prices and booking info.

http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

http://www.irctc.co.in/

I've been to Jaipur and Udaipur and can recommend both. Some good sites on the outskirts of Jaipur. Not been to Jaisalmer yet. Other IMers will tell you more I'm sure.

tacita

regarding trains, have a look at post #2 (especially) and following here, and other threads in the same forum. the thread i linked to is a good starting point, but you'll need to confirm the timetables, as steven (quite reasonably) stopped updating. but it looks like you can accomplish your goal of getting to agra early and heading out in the evening for jaipur. post# 1 in that thread will give you a lot of other train research options as well. it's a train traveler's life-line.

__________________
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Char

Thank you for those travel tips....very useful. I think I have sorted an itinerary... would just like to run it past you all for some advice. So here goes..
day 1: sightseeing in Delhi
day 2: 6pm train to Jaisalmer
day 3: Arrive in Jaisalmer lunnchtime ish
day 4: Jaisalmer
day 5: Jaisalmer
day 6: evening bus from Jaisalmer to Udaipur (is this possible? Does one exist? Can I book in Jaisalmer?)
day 7: Udaipur
day 8: Udaipur
day 9: evening bus from Udaipur to Agra (does this exist? how long does it take do you know?)
day 10: arrive in the morning from Udaipur. See the Taj Mahal, then train or bus back to Delhi.

Does this sound like a realistic itinerary to you folks? The two priorites for trip are Jaisalmer and Udaipur, though do want to squeeze in the Taj. Will it be possible to get an evening bus from Udaipur to Agra, see the Taj in the morning, and then get back to Delhi that same eve? Or is that a ridiculous idea?

Thankyou everyone!!

sssall

These are long journeys. Hope you and your friend like long bus rides. There is a train from Udaipur to Mathura (2964) which leaves at 18.35. Then catch a bus or taxi to Agra. Possibility.