KTtravel

I am just starting to plan a first trip to India that will likely take place a year from now. I have contacted one of the travel companies in India highly recommended on this forum and am hoping for Fodorite wisdom on our tentative itinerary. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Day 1 Arrive in Delhi
Day 2 Tour Old and New Delhi
Day 3 Fly to Varanasi arriving about noon, sightsee
Day 4 Morning boat cruise on Ganges, Sarnath
Day 5 Fly to Khajuraho arrivng at 3:30 pm, sightsee
Day 6 Drive to Jhansi, train to Agra arriving 8:30 pm
Day 7 Taj Mahal, Agra Fort
Day 8 Train to Ranthambore in the morning
Day 9 Ranthambore
Day 10 Drive to Jaipur, stopping at Fatehour Sikri
Day 11 Tour Jaipur
Day 12 Drive to Jodhpur, tour
Day 13 Drive to Udaipur, tour
Day 14 Udaipur
Day 15 Morning flight to Mumbai
Day 16 Mumbai
Day 17 Morning flight to Aurangabad, Ellora caves
Day 18 Ajanta Caves
Day 19 Depart from Mumbai

I can add more details but thought this would give a rough idea. We are two nights in most places except for one night in Khajuraho and Jodhpur.

We would be doing this tour with a driver and guides as we don't really want to attempt this on our own. Any thoughts?

progol

I've just returned from my own 3week trip, but concentrated in Rajasthan, slso going to Agra and Varanasi., so I won't respond to the particular choices you are making. However, I do think you're moving around far too much, not taking into account how long it takes to get somewhere, or giving yourself enough time to sightsee in places.

Day 5, for instance, seems unrealistic -- arrive late in the day to sightsee, then neither long day of travel the next day doesn't seem realistic.

Day 12 -- I would drop Jodhpur completely. It's a 5- hour drive from Jaipur to Jodhpur, then another long day of driving the next day don't give you enough time to see anything. Add it somewhere else.

I think your covering too many different areas, and might need to make some choices here.

Just my thoughts.
Trad my trip report if you're interested in reading about Varanasi & Rajasthan.

progol

Whoops, Read my trip report!

KTtravel

Thank you progol. I was also concerned about days 5 and 12. Perhaps if we drop Jodhpur, we can add more time to Khajuraho. I was also thinking we could leave Varanasi a day early after boating on the Ganges.
I will definitely read your trip report!
Thanks again.

progol

Sorry about the typos! Too many to count on the mini-iPad!

Personally, I wouldn't leave Varanasi after the boat ride, although I know others have done it. It's too remarkable a place and rushing through really doesn't allow yourself the chance to soak it in.

crosscheck

Check out my trip report (not quite finished, sorry). We arrived at Khajuraho from Varanasi at about noon, and that worked out perfectly. Checked into our hotel, had lunch, spent the afternoon at the temples, then left in the morning. We liked the tranquility there and would have been happy with more time, but didn't feel rushed with our schedule.

rhkkmk

travelling between places in india is slow and tiring.. as noted day 5 won't work, nor will 12, i question 2 as well..
i'd skip 8-9...

progol

Bob,
About day 2 - it's doable, though definitely a bit of a whirlwind. We spent only our first 2 nights in Delhi, but really did a good one day's tour with a guide and driver and saw many of the major sights.

We did come back at the end and did more sightseeing, but I have to say that with a guide and driver, it's manageable.

KTtravel

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am now wondering if we can skip Mumbai and somehow get to Aurangabad more quickly. Would we be missing too much if we cut Mumbai? That way we could add another day each to Jodhpur and Khajuraho. Any thoughts?

JerryS

Quite frankly, your itinerary reminds me of a very old movie," If This is Tuesday, it Must be Rome." Title may not be exact but you get the point.
You are basically spending one (maybe 1 1/2) day in each place and will be able to say "I was in (fill in the blank).
India is very special and must be experienced, not just seen. Take time to smell the roses and you will have a very memorable and wonderful trip.
Have a great trip.

KTtravel

JerryS, I do see your point. What do you think of cutting Mumbai? What else would you cut?

triptrip

In 19 days, if you do just Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra and Khajuraho even half decently, it would be too much. With what you are planning to do you would have visited India but hardly seen anything. Delhi, needs at least 4 days -its a huge town with fantastic history, sights and the best 'india' shopping, rajasthan needs at least 2 days for each destination not counting travel. Agra can be done in a day if you do the taj and the fort but shove in fatehpur and you are talking 1 and a half. Khajuraho is a full day. I would skip Jhansi, Sarnath.

I would suggest Delhi(4)- Agra(1.5) - Ranthambore(2) - Jaipur(3) - Jodhpur (2) - Udaipur(3) (day trip to Chittor-Delhi - Khajuraho/Varanasi - Delhi.
A squeeze is In from Mumbai (2) - Aurangabad(1 day)- Udaipur (2) - Jaipur (2) -Ranthambore(2)- Agra (1.5) - Delhi (4) -Varanasi(2)- Delhi

Anything more is really not worth it.

all the best from someone who lives in india and travels extensively .

violetm

I agree with others this is way too much and you just wont get the most out of your trip. What you decide to cut really depends on your must do's. For me I'd skip the caves, Khujarao and Ranthambore as they hold no interest for me (and I haven't been to any of them) but for others these could be highlights. We did 18 nights over Christmas and did Kolkata (3), Varanasi (1), Delhi (2), Agra (1), Jaipur (3), Jodhpur (3), Udaipur (3) and Mumbai (2). It was fast-paced and tiring but we felt we had enough time in each place. I definitely wouldn't have added anything else in. We had a car and driver through Rajasthan, and others advised me on here to have 3 nights in each place, as 2 nights means 1 day driving there and only 1 day to sightsee (which triptrip also suggests) - it was great advice. I'd look at cutting it down to max 8 places, but you need to decide which ones are important to you, as we all like different things. For instance some people suggest longer in Varanasi, which I loved but still felt one night was enough for us. Triptrip suggests skipping Sarnath, but I would say don't stay longer in Varanasi just to fit it in, but if you're there and you have the time then do it - I really liked it. My biggest disappointment was Fatehpur Sikri, I thought it was ugly and dull and full of touts, but some people love it. Triptrip suggests at least 4 days in Delhi, which I know many will agree with, but it was my least faviurite city, and 2 nights was plenty.

triptrip

Really sorry you had a rough time in Fatehpur Violetm . It upsets me deeply when touts and guides muck up precious days of travel. Fatehpur is dusty, badly managed by the archeological society of india and can be a bad deal. But in case you are interested in history and architecture its one of the non-missables on an india trip. A bit like knossos or the roman ruins - not so old pof course but really unique. Just a little context of an idealistic emperor's idealistic fantasy city of multi-culturism can change the experience. Delhi just needs the right guidebook and its as complex if not more as Rome or Paris in what it offers. And yes, it is the craft centre of india.

violetm

I guess I just don't have a big enough interest in history to see past the touts and the ugly buildings, and it was probably this same reason that Delhi didn't excite me. If you're interested in the history, there'd be way more to interest you here than there was me. Which was exactly my point, you have to decide what interests you. The overriding advice here, regardless of our difference of opinions of places to visit and amount of time to spend in each is, you need to cut down your itinerary, focussing on your must-do's to make your own Incredible India Experience.

CaliNurse

Agree with all others. Too much, too little time. To be blunt, it is crazy!!! As Rhkkmk says, travel is slow and tiring, and easy to under-estimate until you get there.
Do you want to actually SEE places...or just SAY you've seen them?
Reminds me of the story of the Dad who, unable to find a parking spot at Grand Canyon, grabbed his camcorder told his family, "Wait here--we'll see it at home on the Camcorder

Now the question...what to cut out?

crosscheck

Varanasi is fascinating and mesmerizing - deserves more than a day to "get it." If you like photography, you could easily spend a week. We thought Sarnath, the tranquil spot where Buddha gave his first sermon, was a must-see...A very short excursion from Varanasi.

We also really liked Khajuraho. It's not just about erotic temples - the site is impressive and huge - great for walking - and the immersion in rural life is wonderful after the bustle of Varanasi). 24 hours there was fine (and relaxing because it is so tranquil), although I would have liked stayed longer.

We loved the road trip from Khajuraho to Jhansi (which is not a place for sightseeing, just where you catch the train to Agra.) I would include a long afternoon in Orchha, one of our favorite places.

I'm with those who say to save Mumbai and Aurangabad for another trip and add at least a day to each your Rajasthan stops - wish we had had more time there, but we thought it would be unbearably hot and rainy in Sept, which turned out not to be the case. 4+ days in Udaipur is ideal.