Leh, New Delhi and Jaipur(Holi Festival)- itinerary

I'm not sure that Leh is the best place for a few reasons... One is the altitude.. You cannot just say one day acclimatize.. I spent three weeks there last year and had some issues for over a week.. You're planning sea level to 3500 meters very quickly, imo.. I think you'll be lucky to walk for a few hours at altitude given your description at best...

Have you considered Manali area... Still going to be cold with snow wherever you go, but it's also 1000 meters lower.. ... Manali might be a better place to camp for a night, and it's visually quite beautiful... Trees and mountains where Leh is almost above the tree line so barren hills.. You could go up rhotang pass a bit and plsy/hike/camp in the snow... Don't under estimate the cold!!!

Most treks in The area are much longer.. 5+days around leh

@orbit_149.460685

14 fly to Leh 15 acclimatize 16 -17 just 2 days/1night hiking/camping * 18 rest 19 fly out from Leh to New Delhi

So, that is completely impractical.

• My two friends wants to see Himalayas and trek only for 2 days and 1 night. Yes I know it is not enough, but they just really want to see himalayas. and any suggestion what mountains can we trek for 2 days and 1 night?

So, for a sub-Himalyan range, I suggest flying to Dharmasala. If your friends would be satisfied with the Himalayan foothills, then I would suggest flying to Dehradun, for Rishikesh.

drive to Mathura

Take the train.

19 - 21 Mathura for Holi Festival ** I read some articles that the best place to celebrate Holi festival is in Mathura. thoughts? and any good hostel around here?

Define "best". The adjacent town of Vrindavan is lively at Holi, on the proviso you can access the Banke Bihari temple. https://bihariji.org/festival.php You can then go to Mathura in the afternoon for the procession and more colour throwing the next day.

22-24 Agra for Taj Mahal *** We will catch the sunrise in Taj Mahal and avoiding weekends to go there. Any tips how to get first in Taj? I am a travel journalist and I saw some photos of Taj Mahal with no or few people inside.

You need to look at a calendar. 22 March is Friday and the Taj is closed. Therefore 23 and 24 March is the weekend when you don't want to go. If you want to be first you have to get up very early.

24 fly from Agra to Jaipur

Take the train or a car or a bus.

28 fly out from Jaipur to New Delhi

Take the train or a car or a bus.

This winter has been unusually warm in Ladakh - which means a lot more snow in the high passes. Including an avalanche at the Khardung La enroute to Nubra around a week ago , that killed ten people in a bus. That was a first. Normally March means around minus ten night time down in Leh , and colder as you go higher. Example temperature chart here .

Basic acclimatization is absolute minimum two nights - this year Leh administration introduced mandatory medical checkup on day three for the Chaddar winter trek, trek starting day four.

Have you considered Manali area... Still going to be cold with snow wherever you go ...

Manali ( just below 2000) right now is raining, well above zero. Massive amounts of snow at the Rohtang La ( 3987 meters ) which is below zero day and day night. Snowfall at the top , prime avalanche season in the middle.

19 fly out from Leh to New Delhi drive to Mathura 19 - 21 Mathura for Holi Festival

I should further point out that if you opt for Rishikesh, then you can take the train from Haridwar direct to Mathura
https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/haridwar-jn-HW/mathura-jn-MTJ

Equally if you opt for Dharmasala you can take a train from Pathankott direct to Mathura
https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/pathankot-cantt-PTKC/mathura-jn-MTJ

In both cases no need to fly back to Delhi to travel by land to Mathura.

Thanks very much travellinandi, rchoepel260606 and lifesupport.

for that matter, we will not be going to Leh anymore and we decided to stay in Manali instead, and thanks for pointing out that Taj Mahal is closed during fridays i forgot about that.

so maybe:

13 night bus to manali
14-18 manali
18 take a bus to chandigargh then bus to mathura?

With four days in Manali consider a day in Naggar : same old style of Himachali houses as in old Manali/Vashisht , less crowded . And the Roerich museum, if you have any historic interest in Tibet.

18 take a bus to chandigargh then bus to mathura?

There's a direct train from Chandigarh to Mathura.
https://erail.in/trains-between-stations/chandigarh-CDG/mathura-jn-MTJ

Head to Himachal to witness lush valleys surrounded by snow-capped hills. Indulge in skiing, paragliding, and other adventure sports. You can visit Shimla, Manali, Kasol, Dharamshala, and more that are very wondering places visiting in winter weather.