Judgepinky

I am trying to plan a 20 day trip to India (first time there). The following has been suggested, but we also want to do an ashram in the south. I'm looking for interesting recommendations and comments on accommodations. Thanks.

DELHI - Arrival. Enjoy sightseeing for a couple of days and recover from jet-lag. Stay at THE IMPERIAL / THE OBEROI.
ASHRAM IN RISHIKESH - Take a flight to DEHRADUN and drive to RISHIKESH for two nights in the ASHRAM.
AGRA - FLY BACK TO DELHI and drive to AGRA. Stay at AMARVILAS.
RANTHAMBHORE - VANYAVILAS
JAIPUR - RAMBAGH PALACE (Heritage Palace)
UDAIPUR - UDAIVILAS
MUMBAI - TAJ MAHAL
COCHIN - BRUNTON BOATYARD
BACKWATERS - HOUSEBOAT
PERIYAR - SPICE VILLAGE

lcuy

All are wonderful hotels. If you are doing a multi-night special with Oberoi, you'll probably have to stay in the Delhi Oberoi. If not, I'd go with the Imperial.

Both are wonderful hotels, but I think the Imperial is in a perfect location for a first trip to Delhi. Their Spice Route restaurant is a great choice for dinner too. There is nothing wrong with the Oberoi, but it is not quite as nice a location if you want to get out and wander around. It also is geared a bit more to business people.

rhkkmk

seems like way too much for only 20 days.. think you need to cut a couple of places

vp_singh

Above Rishikesh, plan for the Ananda Spa. It is a beautiful spot to be in. The time taken from Dehradun a/port to Ananda on the Narendranager route is about 01 hour. It was about $600/- or a little more, a night, at current price.
All other ashrams in Rishikesh are basic, the best being the Parmartha. The Ganges 'Aart' is the best at Parmartha, with the chief pontiff joining in the celebrations, along with youngsters.
Jaipur to Udaipur is a long and dreary road, plan a night in either Shahpura Bagh or Chhatrasagar.
Happy travels!

CaliNurse

In Cochin, I would not stay at Brunton Boatyard. Lovely property, but too far from what you will most want to see in Fort Cochin. Choose a place nearer to the harbor and main square, e.g. Old Harbour Hotel, so you can easily walk to the interesting local sites.

If you are staying in the Kerala backwaters (in addition to the houseboat) I highly recommend Philipkutty's Farm.
I agree with Rhkkmk--seems an awful lot for 20 days.
Agree with Lcuy--Imperial Hotel location is great, you can easily walk to Connaught Circle (and walk back tot he hotel when the chaos gets to you!!)

Kathie

Count nights. It takes two nights somewhere to have one full day there. A one night stay is just that - you'll sleep in the hotel, but have no time to see/do/experience. It will take most to all of a day to get from one place to another.

You have listed 10 locations. If you actually did this itinerary - which would be just ghastly - you would spend a full day traveling every other day and have one day in each of these locations. Travel in India is time-consuming and exhausting.

I figure if a place is worth a stop, it is worth three nights which gives you two days somewhere. If a place isn't worth that much time, skip it. Even staying three nights each place, you are still spending fully one-third of your time in transit.

tourinindia

The last the places COCHIN - BRUNTON BOATYARD , BACKWATERS - HOUSEBOAT, PERIYAR - SPICE VILLAGE are in Kerala State. Hope you are planning to visit 8 places with 20 days duration. You need minimum 2 days to spent in one place and 10 days travel to the 8 places. it is better to reconsider your trip with 1 month duration. All the best for your visits to India.