1

Good news, bad news. Putting Goa last brings you into the time where the wind comes up and it is in the very early stages of turning towards monsoon.

Putting it first and you`ll probably not want to leave.

2

Thanks for the advice! May skip Goa and stay further North. Is there anything that you can recommend that I do while I am in these places...any 'Must See's' or '<Must Do's'??

3

While you certainly could do the trip you have scripted, I like your idea of staying north, plenty to keep you occupied for a month. And, it's a great time to be north - fog in the Ganges Valley clearing/cleared, temps are very doable. Maybe skip Jaipur and add some time in Rajasthan - Khuri is a favorite of mine, very small town, out near the dunes, good camel riding from there.

In Agra there are various views of the Taj that are worthwhile, other than from inside. The Red Fort in Agra is worthwhile, a great view to the Taj at sunrise from there (go to the Prisoners Tower). Fatepur Sikri is worth a trip. Maybe even try to get to Khajuraho enroute from Agra to Varanasi.

And Varanasi, ahhhhhh Varanasi . . . I've spent over a year of my two+ years in India in Varanasi; not for everyone, but for those who it is for, it is remarkable.

4

I go along with Pirate.
If you haven't already bought your ticket - the I suggest that you buy one transiting thru' the Gulf to Goa and then back from Delhi via the Gulf (eg Emirates and Qatar Airways). You need about 3 weeks for your Northern leg back to Delhi from Goa.
Dont know your departing home airport, but another option is that which we did for different reasons in 2011 - arrived Delhi airport - immedately went to the national terminal and flew down to Goa. You cannot guarantee your arrival time and fighing thru' immigration and finding your luggage. If you book a flight previously - you run the risk of missing it and it'll cost you double..
You have a great little itinerary, I suggest you include Jodhpur/ Jaiselmer.(all the tour groups and shopping indians adore bling city aka Jaipur). Suggest you omit it if running short of time
I wouldn't linger too long in Mumbai - you have had you fun in Goa.
The slight difficulty is getting from Mumbai to Udaipur unless you fly, otherwise train to Ahmedabad and bus to Udaipur - altho' Pirate can probably advise better - he lives there.
ps - note we bought our tickets at the national trminal and did the same tis year.

Edited by: Grahamapoole

5

Sounds like a great trip, although you are visiting all the touristy areas. Is this your plan? Also, there are some great places in the south, like Kerala & Ooty...did you only want to do the North for a reason?

I'm an Aussie that went to school in India for 3 years as a teenager and since then have always thought of it as my second home. My husband & I and our two daughters have travelled to India for 4-6 weeks every year for the last 5 years and are going again in Nov/Dec. Personally, I couldn't do the Varanasi thing as I find it just too full of western hippies "searching" for enlightenment, lol. But each to their own!

Unless you're planning on going back another time to see the South, I would consider a backwater cruise in Kerala and maybe a trip up the Nilgiri hills to Ooty. Simply beautiful!

6

The slight difficulty is getting from Mumbai to Udaipur unless you fly, otherwise train to Ahmedabad and bus to Udaipur - altho' Pirate can probably advise better

Flights are expensive, especially to odd spots like Udaipur. Most fun is as graham suggested, train to Ahmedabad and bus to Udaipur.

If you give a holler here (or my email), I can get you on a bus without fuss or muss. I generally take a bus at abt 10am arriving at abt 3-ish, though there are others - would kinda suggest you avoid a night bus since ya don`t know the territory.

7

Thank you all for the advice. I wont be able to afford any internal flights during my stay in India so will be using trains & bus's, but I have taken note of all of the places mentioned in the above posts so will take advantage of that. I'm sure I'll be returning to India at some point in the near future so may save Goa and further south for then and stay north on this trip around Rajasthan, New Dehli, Uttar Pradesh etc.

Does anybody know which day the Holi Festival falls on, and where the best place would be, out of all the places i will be visiting, to experience it?

8

Gettin` mighty tired of you, rom. Spamming and not reading the OPs messages are hangin` offenses.

9

romthingy you have now posted 141 ttimes in under 2weeks - not a single post has
been of any use to the OP.
You have now started to spam which is forbidden as this site is designed for travellers and others to advise other travellers and not for commercial gain.
Rarely is sensible advice given by those who have not experienced the hassle and difficulties of traversing India as a foreigner.
Would you please be selective in your posting and actually add to the sum of knowledge.

10

Romthingy? Who or what is that? Also, what is OP? Sorry I'm new to this.

11

Thanks Pirate you have been most helpful!