Help! India for 20+ days!
Replies: 8 - Last Post: Feb 17, 2013 1:44 AM Last Post By: mattyboy876
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Help! India for 20+ days!
Hello - First - this is an amazing website/forum. I have learned so much already so a thank you in advance to all posters. It all is so helpful.OK - so I need some itinerary help as the more I get into planning the more overwhelmed I get. Some basics - I will be traveling solo, I'm 32, and this will be my first time in India. I am pretty ambitious but may need to be brought back to earth with my time frame and how much I want to do. Key point to remember is that I fly into Mumbai on June 5th kinda late and I will be fying out of Mumbai on June 28th to head to Thailand. Oh and I am on a budget and would like to keep costs as minimal as possible.
I'd like to see as much as possible but the beaches aren't that important to me since I will be spending quite some time in Thailand - but if there are some that are a MUST then please let me know. I've read alot about Goa and Hampi and they seem pretty cool. I'm also interested in the Golden Triangle area and maybe even making my way up to Nepal at some point towards the end then flying down to Mumbai and catching my plane out from there.
Here is my VERY rough draft:
1 - Land, overnight Mumbai
2 - Mumbai
3- Mumbai to Udaipur (Sleeper Train)
4- Udaipur
5- Udaipur
6 - Train to Jodphur
7 - Jodphur
8- Train to Jaisalmar
9- Jaisalmar
10- Jaisalmar (do a overnight in a tent type stay)
11 - Jaisalmar to Agra (Sleeper Train)
12- Agra (Taj Mahal)
13 - Agra to Varanasi
14 - Varanasi
15 - Varanasi
16 - Travel Day (head to Kathmandu, Nepal)
17 - Travel Day (head to Kathmandu, Nepal)
18 - Kathmandu
19 - Kathmandu
20 - Kathmandu (I would try to do a 2 day trek or tour)
21 - Kathmandu
22 - Kathmandu
23 - Kathmandu flight to Mumbai
24 - Fly out to Thailand
Is that too much? Too much travel for it to be worth it to go to Nepal? Should I go a completely different route since I'm flying in and out of Mumbai?
Any and all help is appreciated!!
1
Yes that is a lot of travel for a first timer, good luck with it all, have you booked any trains in advance ?my only suggestion is, as you intend visiting Varanasi, go onto Kolkata after that and maybe go up to Darjeeling, back to Kolkata and Fly to Mumbai.
I would give Kathmandu a miss this time round, actually you could have headed to Thailand from kolkata without having to return to Mumbai, that also applies to Kathmandu If you still end up going there.
as you will be in India in June expect some rain.
2
You do understand how hot its going to be don't you? Like 45c most days with only slightly lower night time temps.Most people can only manage to creep about early in the morning and then spend the day under the shower waiting for the water to return.
Expect big discounts and empty hotels and guesthouses.
Alternatively consider getting to the hills ASAP
3
Phew you will cover a lot of places but end up knackered and not sure if it will be overly enjoyable. I would ditch Nepal for another time.1. If you havent booked your trains you will have great difficulty travelling any sort of distance(nationalrailindia).
2. You have allowed 2 days in Varanasi, Ok but I think you should plan other days off/washing days/knackered days and suggest Jaisalmer.
3. India is the easiest country I have ever travelled in.
4. Slow down, enjoy the view and dont forget to givve yourself time to chat to locals and other travellers.
5. On your arrival get a hotel in Colaba (near the sea, I will get bak with name.
Have a ball.
4
Some general advice that has served me well.1. Don't try to see everything...you will see nothing!
2. India is an "intense" travel experience. You need a little more time in some places.
3. Don't underestimate the vastness of the sub-continent.
4. Allow flexibility for unexpected pleasures and pains.
5. Don't count on any transportation running smoothly or on time.
6. I'd do Nepal another time.
7. See #1. Relax and enjoy the experience.
A typical introduction to India is Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jodphur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur.
Stick to the basics. Adding Nepal will complicate things. If you just stuck with the cities I mentioned, you'd have tons to do and wouldn't be bored for a minute.
5
I think your plan looks fine, I don't know why people always try to make out India as being so tough, and the transport never runs on time, loads of nonsense. I've been to India 7 times now, have plenty of trips where I've traveled around according to the plan I laid out, and have never experienced any significant delays...just have a buffer near the end of your trip when you fly out...for example, leave exploring Mumbai until the end of your trip and go to Udaipur straight away, consider flying it will save you a day, not sure if there is a direct flight, you may have to take a connecting flight.6
I guess it really boils down to what type of travel experience you want to have. Personally I don't like to always be running and running. I don't need to see everything...but these are just opinions and personal preferences.Stop and smell the roses...oh, wait, this is India; there are other smells!
Whatever you do, you'll have an incredible adventure!
7
… it is all in the name - andy wants to run runin June - ha ha
including Rajasthan the tourist’s put-on at any time.
… mattyboy - writes “I think your plan looks fine” !
8
hmn, I didn't see June....yeah, you are going to have to have a rethink, you don't want to be in Rajasthan June, it's hellish.
