Delhi, India - Itinerary Advice

Hi everyone

I am visiting India at the end of October for 2 weeks. I fly into Delhi and given the time available to me, I want to focus most of my attention around Rajasthan. I'm really interested in learning about and tasting the food in the areas I travel. I also enjoy sight-seeing, hiking, YOGA(!) and getting off the beaten track to explore on my own. I also want to try at least one train journey, preferably with nice scenery to enjoy during the journey. I'm not too constrained budget-wise so if necessary I can take a flight to save time. I plan on staying in hostels as I'm in my twenties and want to meet people of a similar age.

Having read the India Lonely Planet guide, the following is my draft plan with some side notes regarding activities and modes of transport:

20/10/2018 Saturday Delhi
21/10/2018 Sunday Delhi
22/10/2018 Monday Varanasi (Flight at 9pm)
23/10/2018 Tuesday Varanasi
24/10/2018 Wednesday Agra (Fly back to Delhi and drive to Agra)
25/10/2018 Thursday Jaipur (Fatehpur Sikri)
26/10/2018 Friday Jaipur (Amber Fort and town)
27/10/2018 Saturday Jaipur (Rathambore NP)
28/10/2018 Sunday Jodhpur (Train)
29/10/2018 Monday Jodphur
30/10/2018 Tuesday Udaipur (Drive and stop at Ranakpur)
31/10/2018 Wednesday Udaipur
01/11/2018 Thursday Udaipur
02/11/2018 Friday Delhi (Fly to Delhi)
03/11/2018 Saturday Delhi (Flight at 9pm)

I would really appreciate if could share your opinion on the viability of the above itinerary. Am I trying to squeeze too many places in? Am I visiting those cities in the right order?

One concern I have is that the above itinerary really focuses on cities, old forts and temples. While I'm interested in these, I don't want it to be overkill and want as much variety as possible. I read a blog recently in which someone did a similar itinerary but included Darjeeling and got to view Mount Everest. That's certainly something I would enjoy but not sure how feasible it is.

Finally, I included Udaipur at the end of the trip as I've heard this is a beautiful place to relax. Ideally I would spend a few days practising yoga and would consider other places and even retreats if this was possible.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Thanks
J

Hi J,
I'll leave the more specific answers for others to supply. And so, a minor tip here. When in Jodhpur, maybe consider a visit to the outlying Visnoi (Bishnoi) villages. A unique glimpse of Deep Village India with an unexpected eco-twist. One of our fave areas regarding rural India. Bonne chance!
I am done. The end.

Thank you! I'll put it on the list.

J

@j_brayden1

I am visiting India at the end of October for 2 weeks. Am I trying to squeeze too many places in?

Yes - too many. With just 14 days in hand, consider limiting yourself to just 5 places.

Am I visiting those cities in the right order?

Not really, but the first problem is you have too many.

I want to focus most of my attention around Rajasthan. ... the food ... sight-seeing, hiking, YOGA(!) and getting off the beaten track to explore on my own. One concern ... really focuses on cities, old forts and temples. Ideally I would spend a few days practising yoga and would consider other places and even retreats if this was possible.

So, you really need some discipline about why you are going to India. You want to focus on Rajasthan, but you don't want too many forts (Rajasthan is known for its forts). You want to hike, but you're not headed to the Himalaya. You want to go on a yoga retreat - but have no time allocation for one.

Now the other side of the coin is that you can do yoga just about anywhere in India - if your accommodation doesn't have a drop in class, they'll know where one is; And if you get out of town you can hike - even in Rajasthan.
http://rajasthantrekking.com/trekking_in_udaipur.htm

I also want to try at least one train journey, preferably with nice scenery to enjoy during the journey.

This isn't something to which I warm. The point of taking the train is to go to sleep and wake up in your destination. "Nice scenery" is in the eye of the beholder. I think mountains and forests are "nice" - endless scrub, not so interesting.

I plan on staying in hostels as I'm in my twenties and want to meet people of a similar age.

If you've travelled before, you won't find hostels in India they way you may have found them in other destinations. Fewer in number, and emerging in the market you might consider some of the 'chain' options.

https://www.oyorooms.com/

https://www.zostel.com/

http://thehostelcrowd.com/

http://www.moustachehostel.com/

https://www.gostops.com/

http://www.roadhousehostels.com/

https://www.backpackerpanda.com/

http://crashpad.in/

Darjeeling and got to view Mount Everest. That's certainly something I would enjoy but not sure how feasible it is.

It's feasible if you make the time. Darjeeling is a fair hike, however. Let's say you went from Varanasi - it's a 12-15 hour train journey to New Jalpaiguri (the nearest station) and then another 3 hours by road to Darjeeling. It isn't any faster to get away from. Seeing Mount Everest would be sheer chance. You are most likely to see the five peaks of Kanchenjunga; but you would need near-perfect weather conditions to see Everest from Tiger Hill - and then using a telescope.

For the sake on providing some commentary on your original plan:

22/10/2018 Monday Varanasi (Flight at 9pm) 23/10/2018 Tuesday Varanasi

One day in Varanasi is just pointless really. Whilst many will have a love/hate relationship with Varanasi (a bit like India itself); to my way of thinking Varanasi is really somewhere to be and soak up, not a handful of sights to visit.

24/10/2018 Wednesday Agra (Fly back to Delhi and drive to Agra)

And that won't work. Even if you took the earliest flight to DEL, you are almost no chance to make Agra before dark. If you do beat the sun, you'll have almost no time in Agra at all. If you want to fly, then fly all the way - check the Air India schedule for flights to Agra.

25/10/2018 Thursday Jaipur (Fatehpur Sikri)

You could visit FS if you took a car+driver between Agra and Jaipur.

27/10/2018 Saturday Jaipur (Rathambore NP)

How do propose to get to Ranthambore? You would need to leave at an unShiva hour to make the morning safari. Doing just one safari (either morning or afternoon) doesn't seem worth the effort of getting there. You really need your accommodation to book your safari tickets - which will be more expensive but infinitely easier. And you never mentioned wildlife as an interest. Is it?

28/10/2018 Sunday Jodhpur (Train)

Nah. There is one train daily between Sawai Madhopur (the station nearest Ranthambore) and Jodhpur. It leaves before 06:00 and arrives after 18:00. Day blown.

30/10/2018 Tuesday Udaipur (Drive and stop at Ranakpur)

If you are going to stop at Ranakpur, you may as well stop at Kumbhalgarh.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/rajasthan/kumbhalgarh

02/11/2018 Friday Delhi (Fly to Delhi) 03/11/2018 Saturday Delhi (Flight at 9pm)

Unbearably inefficient - from wherever you fly, fly in to DEL to make your connection out. Do not leave the airport a second time.

Finally, I included Udaipur at the end of the trip as I've heard this is a beautiful place to relax.

Well, I am of the view one can relax anywhere. That's rather the point of yoga. Udaipur is a pretty spot, built on artificial lakes.

So, said with all the love in the world, back to the drawing board. Get clear for yourself why you have chosen India, and what sorts of experiences you want to have, and what sorts of things you want to see. There are no wrong answers, and this is not a test - but it should help you decide where you go with your limited time.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/planning/india-is-known-for/a/nar/0476bc35-a51d-4d42-8d89-404be5d62570/356195

Am I trying to squeeze too many places in?

Yes. I agree w/ lifesupport on this. For the most part the time allocated to Rajasthan places is fast but might be made to work. The main problem is here:

22/10/2018 Monday Varanasi (Flight at 9pm)
23/10/2018 Tuesday Varanasi
24/10/2018 Wednesday Agra (Fly back to Delhi and drive to Agra)

No way go to Varanasi if you only have 1 day to see the city. It's a place to hang out and absorb the city life on the Ganges river, so 3 nights for Varanasi is the bare minimum. And you can't do Agra in 1/2 day. There's a lot more there than just the Taj Mahal.

Thank you so much for such a comprehensive answer, it has really helped focus my mind.

My original post was a rough draft itinerary and I'll use as much of your advice as I can to refine it.

Btw, I love wildlife and seeing a tiger would make my trip!

Thanks mstep, duly noted!

I'll extend my time allocated to Varanasi to soak up the atmosphere there.

Btw, I love wildlife and seeing a tiger would make my trip!

In which case the first rule is, don't expect to see a tiger.

If wildlife is your priority, then you might consider other destinations around the Golden Triangle:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/bharatpur/attractions/keoladeo-national-park/a/poi-sig/1284941/356450

http://www.chambalsafari.com/

And between Udaipur and Jodhpur, consider Bera.

http://castlebera.com/safari-excursion/

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If you have enough time to travel, I suggest you can feel the train in India. On the train, you can get to know a lot of indians, and you can get to know the hearts of the Indian people

I suggest you go to these beautiful places:体育场馆

Shivaji Cricket Stadium
国家公园

Kaas Lake
Kaas Plateau
Koyna Dam
Thoseghar Waterfall
纪念碑和地标

Ajinkyatara Fort
Dholya Ganapati
Ganapati Temple
Kaas Pathar - Valley of Flowers
Lodwick Point
Mount Malcolm
Natraj Mandir
Yawteshwar Temple

I suggest you go to these beautiful places:

Shivaji Cricket Stadium

Kaas Lake
Kaas Plateau
Koyna Dam
Thoseghar Waterfall

Thank you for the tips!

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