MCMLXXVII

Hi everybody! I'm a new user and I'm planning to go to India on my next vacation, and, after doing a lot of research on what I want, I still have a few questions. I'll be on vacation for two weeks next year's September and I have the following itinerary:

Delhi and a daytrip to Taj Mahal, 4 nights.
Varanasi, 3 nights.
Goa, 4 nights.

and fly back via Milan and spend 3 nights there to visit my mother.

Am I splitting the time correctly? Is the beginning of September a good time to go to these places?

I appreciate your opinions.

FanofIndia

Hi,
September is at the end of the Monsoon. Not good at all for Goa.
I think that a night in Agra will alow you to appreciate all that is there. Varanasi can be a 1-night stop, flyimg in morning of day 1 and back afternoon of day 2, or even a night train.
Maybe instead of Goa, take in the 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

thursdaysd

While I agree with fanodindia that it is a good idea to spend more time in Agra, so that you can visit Fatehpur Sikri and Bharatpur, I disagree that Varanasi is only worth one night. (While also suggesting you look into taking night trains.) Varanasi was one of the highlights of my trip to India. I recommend finding a hotel on the river in the old town, and soaking up the atmosphere. Also, take a day trip to Sarnath.

waynehazle

I don't know about Goa, but Monsoon does not sound like a good time to visit.

Varanasi DEFINITELY deserves more than one day.

Doing the Golden Triangle may be the ticket. Though I would choose a tiger safari over Jaipur.

Guenmai

Wayne...Isn't Varanasi the place that you were telling me about with all of the rats running around everywhere at the train station when you arrived? Remember we discussed this at the L.A.Africa forum GTG? Now, I'm sure you remember who I am. Happy Travels!

waynehazle

Yes I remember now

And yes that was Varanasi. And as much as I hate rats, it was worth every hair raising second.

thursdaysd

And I took the train into and out of Varanasi, and saw no rats at all in the station. Maybe I just wasn't looking in the right place....

MCMLXXVII

Hi guys! Thanks for your opinions and advice!

This is the way I have thought of moving from place to place:

Daytrip to Taj Mahal from Delhi (I'm still thinking about doing it by myself or with a tour operator). Night train from Delhi to Varanasi. Airplane from Varanasi to Goa via Mumbai (I have to sleep in Mumbai and leave for Goa early in the morning). On my way back home, airplane from Goa to Mumbai and then to Milan.

I want to experience Varanasi whether it's nice or unpleasent. How long do you think I should stay? There are people who think that one night is enough, but there are others who think you need a full week.

I know the most logical thing would be to visit Rajasthan, but it seems like you need a full week to visit it. Besides, cities are so far from each other, that it's not like I can base in one of them and daytrip to the others. I don't want to move from city to city every two nights for two weeks. That sounds exhauting, doesn't it?

According to what I read, are three nights in Delhi enough even if I daytrip to Taj Mahal?

Are four nights enough to explore Goa and spend some beach time? Where should I stay in Goa?

Do you have any lodging recommendations? My budget is 100 US Dollars per day.

What about travelling to those places at the end of September or at the beginning of June?

Thanks again!

thursdaysd

No reason to go back to Delhi from Agra - it's on the way to Varanasi. You can take the Marudhar Express overnight from Agra Cantt to Varanasi (timetables at http://www.indianrail.gov.in/). I would give Varanasi at least two full days (one for a trip to Sarnath), better three. You don't need a tour operator to get to Agra, just take the morning express. If you really want a guide for the Taj, there will be a horde of them waiting outside.

For Goa, where to stay depends on what you want. I recently posted on Goa on another thread - do a search on Goa and Panaji. You need to decide whether you're most interested in beaches or sites inland, and if beaches, whether you want a party beach.

For hotels, take a look at specialplacestostay.com.

MCMLXXVII

Thanks everybody for your opinions! I'm still working on my itinerary, so nothing is definite yet.

I've been reading a lot about Rajasthan lately, but moving from place to place on my own seems a bit exhausting. I found on the Rajasthan offcial tourism website the following package tour:

http://rajasthantourism.gov.in/make_...e7_detail.htm#

I like the fact that it includes few places along with hotel booking and all transfers from city to city. However, I've never been to Rajasthan, so what do you think of it?

Thanks for taking the time to read it and posting your opinion. I really appreciate it.

Bonita

Namaste and Ciao from a American living in India!

Great to see you are planning a trip to India, and in two weeks you can certainly cover the ground you are pondering!

Anyways, there are so many choices of where to go, what to see, what to do, and how to split your time, as so much depends on your personal interests, you prefered mode of travel, your comfort level and what you really want to see/do!

In terms of your shortlist thus far, well i would certainly change it around a bit and defiantely shorten the time in Delhi, no need for four nights in Delhi, better to divy your time elswehre..

And would not do Agra as a day trip, certainly worthy of at least One full night minumm!

I might cut Goa and either add a bit in Rajathan like Jaipur and Jophur or even a bit of a foray into Madhya Pradesh like Orcha and Khajuraho..yes, it would still be hot, but i would opt for for this over the beaches of Goa as it is really not the season yet for Goa. But of course u can still go and have a good time if you are set on this region!

YOu might try something like this, Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Delhi. A trip like that would be done with a combo of all modes of travel like car/driver, a domestic flight or two, and a train or two. This is just one idea, as the choices are endless.

If you do decide to go down to Goa i would probably at least add one night in MUmbai, as it is a great city and fly home from Mumbai over Delhi!

Anways, i have been to all these places and am very passionate about the region and seriously know the lay of the land, so feel free to drop me a line and i would be happy to help you come up with a workable itineary which both mathces your time frame, interests and ideas. [email protected] namaste!

MCMLXXVII

Hi (again) after more than a year.

I think 2008 is the year for my trip to India.

I've kept on reading and I'm still only interested in Delhi, Varanasi, Agra and Goa. How many days do I need to visit these cities and how would you split them? That's my biggest dilemma.

Thanks!

thursdaysd

I would spent as much time as you can spare in Varanasi, staying in the old section by the river. I'd spend one night in Agra, only so that I could see the Taj at sunset and dawn. I wasn't that taken with Delhi, but it should take at least a couple of days (three nights). How long to spend in Goa depends on how much beach time you want. Add at least three days for visiting temples, spice plantations, the waterfall, Panaji, and Old Goa.