One night in varanasi.

alspants · Feb 20th, 2008, 17:55

Hi all.

Is this too short a time;

1 - Monday night - overnoight train delhi to Varanasi
2 - Tues morning - varanasi hotel check in, wander around the streets. (any suggestions for a days tour - good food stop off for lunch?)
3 - Tues evening - boat tour sunset. Catch some night time music or something?
4 - Wed morning - Dawn boat tour.
5 - Wed afternoon - See some more sights (will check forum for list)
6 - Wed evening - overnight train back to delhi.

Do I need an extra day in Varanasi, Id prefer to skimp on Hotel charges, sleep on the train and stay in a nice hotel for my one night in Ghat town. (hotel palace on ganges)

Any ideas from the professionals?

huimaster · Feb 20th, 2008, 18:29

Step on the break!!!
Varanasi is to special for this kind of fast-food travelling.
Stay in a nice guest house with a ganges view for min. 3 nighst.

the opoponax · Feb 20th, 2008, 18:52

I'm of two minds about this.

On the one hand, your plan is definitely feasible. Especially if you reserve a room in advance and get picked up directly at the station, which will save the time of hoofing it from place to place, as well as cut down on some of the time you'll need for R&R once you've got your room squared away.

Also, while Varanasi is amazing and I don't think I could ever be bored or run out of things to see and do there, there really aren't that many sights to tick off your list. You can get a good feel for the ghats in a few hours, boat tours are generally only an hour or two, the evening aarti on the Ganga doesn't take that long, foreigners are not allowed in the Viswanath temple, etc.

On the other hand, Huimaster is right that Varanasi is absolutely AMAZING, and deserves much more than an overnight. I spent 3 days and really felt like I wanted more time there. Not to see any particular thing I missed, but just because the atmosphere is so outstanding. If you possibly can, you should do Varanasi justice and stay longer. Rooms can be had very cheaply there, and I have to say one of my only regrets so far on my entire trip is splurging on Scindhia Guesthouse. It just wasn't necessary, or even worth what I paid.

TVB1927 · Feb 20th, 2008, 19:16

You can see the "sights" in the time you've put aside

It could be quite stressful though, varanasi is not for the faint hearted

the opoponax · Feb 21st, 2008, 11:44

Actually, all my stress in Varanasi started on my second morning there, when I'd seen all the major stuff already. I was at breakfast after my dawn boat ride, and I actually thought to myself, "OK, so, now what am I gonna do for another few days here?"

Fate took care of that for me.

alspants · Feb 25th, 2008, 16:53

Thanks all for your posts.

It looks like a day or even two is not enough to warrant 6,000 rupies flight and all the hassle. The trains machine website tells me their are no trains.

Call me an Idiot, but the train website is the most infuriating site I have ever used.

Back to the drawing Board.

steven_ber · Feb 25th, 2008, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by alspants

Call me an Idiot

OK, I'll just clear my throat......."You're an ...

)

The following is how I find trains, you may be trying to find trains to Varanasi City, and those are few.

Quote:

Go to the following page.

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

Source Station Name – New Delhi

Destination Station Name – Varanasi Jn

(the above station names are just examples, type in your own station name, or the first 3 letters of the station name, then choose from the drop down box that may appear when you click 'Get It', watch out though, Indian Railways doesn't always spell train stations the same way you see on maps)

Class - All Class

Then click on Get It.

(Indian Railways is now 'day of week' sensitive, so if the journey you plan to take will be on a Monday, make sure you enter a date that is also a Monday to view all trains that run on a Monday)

onto next page........to get availability.

Click on circle next to train number.

Please check Days Of Run as not all trains are daily.

Look at top left of screen.....

Enter Your Journey Date - 20 - Oct. (for example)

Enter Quota - General or Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ can't be booked on-line)

Look at the top right of the screen for Classes, click on the circle next to the class you want (make sure it's on the same line as the train you want).

Then click on Get Availability

If you want to see a few different dates for the same train, do not select a date, the site will give you the availability for the selected train for the next 6 times it runs, and then the next 6 and so on.

This site can be slow.
-----------------------------

Another good way to search is to go to www.erail.in - this is a good website and as accurate as any non Indian Railways website, it will also show trains that run on all days of the week.

If you can't find a direct train, try using http://www.indiagroove.com/ - this website is very good and shows you all possible connecting trains to get you from one place to another when there are no direct trains.

huimaster · Feb 25th, 2008, 21:21

[quote=.
but the train website is the most infuriating site I have ever used.
.[/QUOTE]

Then you have been on the wrong site.

Varanasi can be reached from DEL or CCU very easy by overnight train.

But Steven ist the one to ask....

alspants · Feb 25th, 2008, 21:29

Dear Steven and Himaster.

I had been selecting the wrong station, Varanasi city, so you can call me an Idiot again. I feel silly.

And you can now call me other things if you like.

It seems FC and SC is all booked up for the ones i want (which is to arrive at 7am in delhi coming from varanasi on Thursday 27th) I might be wrong here.

Spice jet fly out for 799, which is pretty cheap. So If you (steven the god of Indian trains - I love your post on train man) can suggest what I do for a return You will save at least one more Idiot tearing their hair out. And I might make it out of Gurgaon one more before I leave.

Oh yeah, If anybody is in varanasi on WED night and fancy a pint, let me know.

Thanks.

NOCANUSETRAINWEBMAN.

the opoponax · Feb 25th, 2008, 21:39

Ummm, unless you're talking about a pint of chai, that might be difficult. Being a holy city, Varanasi is dry. Or supposed to be, anyway.

steven_ber · Feb 25th, 2008, 22:05

Train 2559 (best train as it starts it's journey in Varanasi) departs Varanasi Jn daily at 19:15 and gets to New Delhi at 07:25

Availability for 27/03/2008

First class air con = 6 (Rs 1931)
2-tier air con = waitlisted (Rs 1133)
3-tier air con = 51 (Rs 820)
Sleeper Class (not air con) = 152 (Rs 311)

Feb 20th, 2008, 17:55	#1
alspants Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ireland Posts: 35	One night in varanasi. Hi all. Is this too short a time; 1 - Monday night - overnoight train delhi to Varanasi 2 - Tues morning - varanasi hotel check in, wander around the streets. (any suggestions for a days tour - good food stop off for lunch?) 3 - Tues evening - boat tour sunset. Catch some night time music or something? 4 - Wed morning - Dawn boat tour. 5 - Wed afternoon - See some more sights (will check forum for list) 6 - Wed evening - overnight train back to delhi. Do I need an extra day in Varanasi, Id prefer to skimp on Hotel charges, sleep on the train and stay in a nice hotel for my one night in Ghat town. (hotel palace on ganges) Any ideas from the professionals?

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Feb 20th, 2008, 18:29	#2
huimaster Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 13	Step on the break!!! Varanasi is to special for this kind of fast-food travelling. Stay in a nice guest house with a ganges view for min. 3 nighst.

Feb 20th, 2008, 18:52	#3
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, your plan is definitely feasible. Especially if you reserve a room in advance and get picked up directly at the station, which will save the time of hoofing it from place to place, as well as cut down on some of the time you'll need for R&R once you've got your room squared away. Also, while Varanasi is amazing and I don't think I could ever be bored or run out of things to see and do there, there really aren't that many sights to tick off your list. You can get a good feel for the ghats in a few hours, boat tours are generally only an hour or two, the evening aarti on the Ganga doesn't take that long, foreigners are not allowed in the Viswanath temple, etc. On the other hand, Huimaster is right that Varanasi is absolutely AMAZING, and deserves much more than an overnight. I spent 3 days and really felt like I wanted more time there. Not to see any particular thing I missed, but just because the atmosphere is so outstanding. If you possibly can, you should do Varanasi justice and stay longer. Rooms can be had very cheaply there, and I have to say one of my only regrets so far on my entire trip is splurging on Scindhia Guesthouse. It just wasn't necessary, or even worth what I paid.

Feb 20th, 2008, 19:16	#4
TVB1927 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Reading Posts: 17	You can see the "sights" in the time you've put aside It could be quite stressful though, varanasi is not for the faint hearted

Feb 21st, 2008, 11:44	#5
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	Actually, all my stress in Varanasi started on my second morning there, when I'd seen all the major stuff already. I was at breakfast after my dawn boat ride, and I actually thought to myself, "OK, so, now what am I gonna do for another few days here?" Fate took care of that for me.

Feb 25th, 2008, 16:53	#6
alspants Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ireland Posts: 35	Thanks all for your posts. It looks like a day or even two is not enough to warrant 6,000 rupies flight and all the hassle. The trains machine website tells me their are no trains. Call me an Idiot, but the train website is the most infuriating site I have ever used. Back to the drawing Board.

Feb 25th, 2008, 21:21	#8
huimaster Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 13	[quote=. but the train website is the most infuriating site I have ever used. .[/QUOTE] Then you have been on the wrong site. Varanasi can be reached from DEL or CCU very easy by overnight train. But Steven ist the one to ask....

Feb 25th, 2008, 21:29	#9
alspants Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ireland Posts: 35	Dear Steven and Himaster. I had been selecting the wrong station, Varanasi city, so you can call me an Idiot again. I feel silly. And you can now call me other things if you like. It seems FC and SC is all booked up for the ones i want (which is to arrive at 7am in delhi coming from varanasi on Thursday 27th) I might be wrong here. Spice jet fly out for 799, which is pretty cheap. So If you (steven the god of Indian trains - I love your post on train man) can suggest what I do for a return You will save at least one more Idiot tearing their hair out. And I might make it out of Gurgaon one more before I leave. Oh yeah, If anybody is in varanasi on WED night and fancy a pint, let me know. Thanks. NOCANUSETRAINWEBMAN.

Feb 25th, 2008, 21:39	#10
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	Ummm, unless you're talking about a pint of chai, that might be difficult. Being a holy city, Varanasi is dry. Or supposed to be, anyway.

Feb 25th, 2008, 22:05	#11
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 8,659	Train 2559 (best train as it starts it's journey in Varanasi) departs Varanasi Jn daily at 19:15 and gets to New Delhi at 07:25 Availability for 27/03/2008 First class air con = 6 (Rs 1931) 2-tier air con = waitlisted (Rs 1133) 3-tier air con = 51 (Rs 820) Sleeper Class (not air con) = 152 (Rs 311)

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