Elainee

Finally, at last, going to India. We will do it at a slower pace. Our trip has been planned by `Legends and Palaces, that we got from this site. They have been very responsive to all our requests. We fly BA Business because they have the free companion ticket even tho their fees and taxes are really high. We fly from NYC thru London (Feb. 6 late night arriving Feb. 8 very early am)with a reasonable transfer time.
New Delhi 3 nights
Varanasi 2 nights (flying there)
Agra 2 nights (fly back to Delhi, then driven new highway)
Jaipur 2 nights
Nimaj 1 night (breaking up the long drive)
Jodhpur 2 nights
Deogarh 1 night (again, breaking up long drive)
Devi Garh 2 nights
Udaipur 2 nights
Delhi 1 night (fly there from Udaipur)
BA morning flight back to NYC
We are staying mainly in Overoi or Taj hotels since we want things to be as easy as possible. DH thinks all trips should be to Italy or France, but agreed to this one.

Now looking for special sights, activities, shopping, wildlife we might miss without your input. Our tour people have planned all the usual activities. I am reading all trip reports looking for "specials".
All comments welcome. Thanks!

Elainee

ttt

crosscheck

It sounds as if you've booked everything already, but 3 nights in Delhi at the beginning seems long - For us, that was our least favorite stop (although we still had fun). If you can still tweak, I would rather have 3 nights at one of the rural locations.

Not sure how crowded Devi Garh will be, but you might want to book spa appointments a few days ahead, and ask about specials. Don't miss the village visit and the free yoga/meditation. We wanted to go on the hike to the mother temple, but ended up not having time...would do that in a heartbeat if we returned. There is also mountain biking in the surrounding area - you can pretend you're in France or Italy. Wine is not quite on that level, but surprisingly decent.

You can stop at Eklingi and Nagda on your way into Udaipur, which will mean two full days of relaxation at DG.

CaliNurse

Hi Elainee. What a relief to have it all planned!

I assume by "early morning" arrival you arrive at about 1:30 a.m on BA? After getting luggage and clearing customs, and checking in at hotel, you'll make it to the hotel room bed (relief!) by about 3 am--so your first (of the 3) nights will be that night/early a/m/? (Note that winter fog can be a problem, so flt arrival time may be delayed)

Unlike Crosscheck, I am in the "love Delhi" group ,so respectfully disagree that three nights is too long to do and see the city, especially as night one is not really a full night. And if you get enough rest at your first trip location, the rest of the trip will go much better

Usually I' d say one night in Agra is ok, but since you 'll have had a long and rathe hectic travel day to get there (checking out of Varanasi,drive to get to their airport, take plane, arrive Del airport, then road...if i am understanding correctly) to just relax and eat at at hotel in Agra on night one, is a great idea. You can go to Fort, Taj, etc, the next day--i assume you want to wake early to arrive at Taj Mahal at sunrise, but note--in winter especially, it tends to be very hazy so don't be disappointed)
I love he Moonlight Bagh (Garden) across the river from the Taj Mahal, to see sunset. If not TOO wiped out, you could even do this on your first evening, before settling in at the hotel. See if your energy level, and your driver, recommend this, or to wait until the following evening. Great photo ops there too.
the Fort at Agra is fantastic, and many say, better than the similar on in Old Delhi. So if you have to give up something during your Delhi tour, i would say, wait for that era's fort until you arrive in Agra.

Just outside Jaipur, please, please, include a visit to Galta-ji, the Monkey Temple. Many tourists miss it. It is wonderful, no other Westerners there when i went. People bathing in the spring fed pool . Monkeys, Local pilgrims. Quiet, mysterious kind of place. and for me at least, far more moving than the other more famous Jaipur sites. Below is one web site about it. I hope it is still relatively unknown. You enter by driving up into the hills a short way, Your driver SHOULD know how to get up there (mine dind't, so we had the fun of asking and I had the fun of practicing my limited Hindi!)

http://www.cuttingloose.in/galtaji-monkey-temple-jaipur

I usually stay at budget type accommodation, but given what you said about DH, you are very wise to have chosen as you did. Gotta break him in slowly and comfortably

Elainee

Thanks for the responses. Crosscheck..we need the time to get over the flight. We leave late one night and get there early in the morning India time. Delhi will get us on India time. I will prebook spa at DG and hike to Mother Temple. Sounds great!
CaliNurse...good ideas, we will go to Moonlight Garden our first night in Agra. Monkey Temple here we come, but NO to Rat Temple.
Love these ideas!

rhkkmk

i think 3 days in delhi is almost perfect. it is so slow getting around that you need extra time. i might even like a day or two more.

tansmets

I'm doing a very similar itinerary later in the month and am also looking for ideas. We have 4 nights in Devi Garh - should we plan drivers into Udaipur on 2 of those days?

crosscheck

We did go into Udaipur on two separate days, but that was because we couldn't get it together go go for an entire day. Our original plan was one whole day in Udaipur and one half day to Ranakpur, both with drivers and no guide. But we ended up going into Udaipur twice for two half days with a guide. We were lucky to have flexibility.