Itinerary Advice (5 weeks)

@alexjamesmoody963108

Thoughts on this rough 5 week plan?

When do you plan to do this? Which month, exactly.

Then go back to New Dehli and get a flight to Leh (taking it easy to prevent AMS after flight)and spend the rest of my time there (5-7 days)

There may be some small acclimitisation benefit in flying to Leh immediately from your international arrival - assuming this is Delhi. Is there a reason you cannot do that?

Any places you would cut or spend more time in?

I would cut Pushkar, and possibly Goa. Pushkar is a drop-out zone for backpackers seeking relief from the intensity of the northern cities. I don't see the fit with your itinerary; unless you have some specific reason to visit. You might give consideration to Jaisalmer, or Shekhawati, or Jaipur as an alternative.

Fly to Goa -7 days in Goa and Hampi

Fly to Goa from where? You really want three full days on the ground in Hampi; and the train between Goa and Hosapete operates just 4 days a week.

9 days in Rajasthan Fly to Udaipur (3 days)

Flying from where? BLR?

-Taxi to Pushkar (3 days) ...Train to Jodhput (3 days)

I fail to see the appeal of Pushkar. Secondly you could take a train from Udaipur to Ajmer, no need for a taxi. Thirdly it would be better if you took a car+driver from Udaipur to Jodhpur with two stops along the way:

Kumbhalgarh Fort
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/kumbhalgarh

and the Ranakpur Jain Temple
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/ranakpur

You can then take a train from Jodhpur to Pushkar.

5 days in Uttar Pradesh/Delhi -Train to Agra (3 days) -Train to New Delhi (2 days Then either:
7 days in Uttarakhand -Haridwar -Rishikesh

You can train from Ajmer to Agra. I'd consolidate my time in Delhi, and from Agra go direct to Haridwar/ Rishikesh by train; OR there is a train twice a week from Agra to Kalka if you opt for HP.

Most of your time allocations are more generous than most people. I'd want more time in Delhi.

As above, what month is your trip? Goa and Leh do not fit together very well in a one month itinerary. If going in the monsoon, most of Goa is closed for business, not a lot of restaurant choices. And when Goa is fully open in the winter, you can fly into Leh, but no trekking is possible with trails closed by snow.

I actually liked Pushkar, at least as an experience for a first time India visitor a decade ago.

Thanks for the replies, I'm planning on heading out mid march flying from London to Goa.

" 9 days in Rajasthan Fly to Udaipur (3 days)
Flying from where? BLR?"

A flight from Goa to Udaipur

I'm planning on heading out mid march flying from London to Goa.

Planning or booked already?

A flight from Goa to Udaipur

This doesn't make a lot sense. Goa - Hampi - GOI - UDR. As I said, less than 3 full days on the ground in Hampi and you will leave with regret. Without knowing your exact dates of travel, the train schedule may not support your plan: https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/hosapete-jn-HPT/vasco-da-gama-VSG?view=d
And neither may the flight schedules.

If you insist on Goa and Hampi (and I have already suggested dropping Goa) then you should really consider taking the overnight train from Hosapete (the train station nearest Hampi) to Bangalore and flying to UDR from BLR. This is going to be your most efficient and effective option - it runs 7 days as opposed to 4. Take the train as far as Yelahanka - do not go to Bangalore. https://erail.in/train-enquiry/16591?view=d

If you drop Goa, then fly into BLR instead.

mid march

And if that means next week, and you have a schedule, you should consider booking trains, planes, and accommodation asap.

@vistet will have advice about Leh in April.

And / or you could consider this: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/permalink/post/22735164

I haven't booked the flight to Goa yet, I feel the need to plan the domestic journey first, then book.

Thanks very much for that advice though that's a great idea, I won't have to go back to Goa and can spend a bit more time in Hampi.

Are there any other parts of the plan that don't make a lot of sense to you?
For example I'm thinking of cutting the Uttarakhand leg of the journey because I don't think there's a way from Uttarakhand to Himiachal Pradesh without heading back the way I came.

I haven't booked the flight to Goa yet, I feel the need to plan the domestic journey first, then book.

Okay, sure. In which case I'll re-iterate the possible acclimitisation benefits of getting off your international flight and onto a flight to Leh. Worth considering I think.

Are there any other parts of the plan that don't make a lot of sense to you?

Well, as above - your plan for Rajasthan of Udaipur / Pushkar / Jodhpur doesn't make sense either. Much better better if you go Udaipur - Jodhpur - Pushkar then to Agra.

If you wanted to get to Kalka (and you'd only do that for the train ride to Shimla) then there is a station called Tundla (large station, about 45 minutes outside Agra) - it has a daily 12 hour train to Kalka - roughly 16:00 to 04:00 - you could sleep for a fair portion of this. Tundla is a good option for a train to Haridwar too - leaves roughly 01:30 and arrives at 11:00.

I'm still luke warm about Goa, and it isn't a great fit with Hampi if you plan to take a train. Taxi or bus is a different matter. You could probably most easily get an international flight into BLR, go immediately to Hampi and then take an overnight train to Hyderabad for a couple of days.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/andhra-pradesh/hyderabad-and-secunderabad
And you'd probably still get a flight HYD-UDR (via DEL) inside 5 hours and inside 5,000 INR.

The other thing you might want to consider is finishing a given leg (or module) of your travel near an airport to set you up for the next leg. Rishikesh is a good example of this. There is an airport at Dehradun, the airport is barely 30 minutes by car from Rishikesh, and the flight to Delhi is just an hour.

For example I'm thinking of cutting the Uttarakhand leg of the journey because I don't think there's a way from Uttarakhand to Himiachal Pradesh without heading back the way I came.

Ah, that's not the case at all. From Haridwar take a train to either Ambala or Chandigarh and then to Kalka.

For example:

HW SGNR EXP (14711)
Departs:HARIDWAR JN (HW) - 14:15
Arrives:AMBALA CANT JN (UMB) - 17:30

Transit wait: 2 hour(s) 28 min(s)

Train: KALKA SHTBDI (12005)
Departs:AMBALA CANT JN (UMB) - 19:58
Arrives:KALKA (KLK) - 21:20

That's just 7 hours, and those trains run 7 days. Get a proper night's sleep in Kalka, and then take the Himalayan Queen to Shimla at midday.

The thing with travel in India, is that there are usually at least three viable options for getting from A to B. Your first task is being 'fixed' about where you want to go, and then figuring out the logistics.

Sing out with other questions.

Thanks again for the continued help, my transport plan is almost fully laid out now.

Any places you recommend in Himachal Pradesh? Once I get to Shimla I'll be using the the bus services, should I book buses?

Any places you recommend in Himachal Pradesh?

I was really taken with McLeod Ganj. It's almost nothing like most of the rest of India. Peaceful, quiet, fresh air ...The same is probably true of Lahaul and Spiti.

If you want paragliding and rafting, then Shimla and Manali are options. Others rave about Chamba and Kullu. Lots of post-army Israelis in Malana and Kasol, and the Parbati Valley generally has a reputation for charas / opium if that's your thing.

Once I get to Shimla I'll be using the the bus services, should I book buses?

The conventional wisdom is that you do not need to book buses more than a couple of days ahead, and that is easily done once you're on the ground.

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