Maricor

We are travelling to India and have to spend 4 days in Delhi for a conference. If one has 4 days before Delhi to travel and another 2 days after Delhi, what itinerary would be suitable? We do not like rush sightseeing and we have heard that most Indian cities are crowded. Currently, we are planning to spend 1 day in Agra to visit the Taj mahal and 2 days traveling up to Rishikesh to stay at the Ananda Spa. My question is: should we stay longer in Agra and spend a day in Jaipur? Or should we skip Jaipur to just take the flight to Udaipur? What would you prioritize if this is your first visit to India?

FanofIndia

Hi,
I think one night in Agra at least. See The Taj, Itmad-ud-Daulas tomb, (The Baby Taj), The Fort and Sikandra. Next day visit Fatehpur Sikiri and the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary on the way back to Delhi. There is more to see in Jaipur than Udaipur, though Udaipur is more romantic as a whole.

valtor

As FanofIndia, also I suggest you to visit Fatehpur Sikri on your way from Agra to Delhi.If you have to select between Jaipur and Udaipur, my recommendation is to visit Jaipur.

waynehazle

I will give the third shout out for Fatehpur Sikri
http://tinyurl.com/ylf5bb

as well s everything else that FanofIndia said

Cicerone

You don't like to rush, but it already sounds like your rushing. Can you give us your more specific itineary; you say you are spending two days "traveling up to Rishikesh" that would be fine, but do you mean two days in total travleing to and IN Rishikesh? That IMO is rushed. Also, are you spending any time in Dehli? What is the purpose of going to Ananda Spa? There are many good spas in India, including a very very good one at the Oberoi in New Delhi and the Rajvilas in Jaipur (and I believe the Udaivilas in Udaipur as well), so unless you are specificly going for yoga at Ananda or at the ashrams in Rishikesh, you might want to re-think that journey. What time of year is the trip?

FanofIndia

Hi, i'm back. For Rishikest there is a comfortable train 0655-1122 daily with a/c executive chair-car seats, and a return at 1810-2245. In India you cannot just go out and book a train, as most are booked up way ahead. Contact [email protected], who can arrange everything ouside of your meeting arrangements.

WinterTravel

Jaipur and Udaipur are both worth visiting. The area around Udaipur is very different from the rest of Rajasthan, but it sounds like you will not have enough time to explore. Better to leave that for another trip.

If you have limited time we'd suggested Jaipur. It is a dynamic place worth at least a couple of days, but you can experience a great deal in one day (we found the Tiger Fort and the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory to be among the highlights).

Castellanese

I have the same dilemma... Udaipur, Jaipur or Jodhopur.

FanofIndia

Back again,
There is much that the tour companies ignore in Jaipur, and I would recommend reading up a good guidebook and look at some of those places that sound good. Take a taxi out to the Monkey Temple at Galta, the Birla temple, and lose yourself in the bazaar for half a day.

erly

Jaipur, although the other cities are worth a visit.
It is so colourful,and you can step back in time.
We spent only three days there, and I am longing to return.

anom

Jaipur and Udaipur are both interesting places to visit but if pressed for time then Jaipur is the answer.

glorialf

Kind of depends on your interests. I preferred Udaipur because I love miniature painting and there are a lot of studios there that do that as well as many galleries. I spent one full day at a studio and school having things explained to me. I also found it a much more walkable city.

LAtraveler27

Wow - someone prefers Jaipur over Udaipur??

Jaipur: dirty crowded urban city, much like Delhi, with a run-down fort. Stay in your hotel room to avoid getting run over by cars in the streets. If you like cities, maybe (if you can't afford to get down to Mumbai), but if you are looking for beauty and relaxation after Delhi then I would go directly to Udaipur.

Udaipur: Beautiful lake surrounded by palaces, so stunning that movies are filmed there and Elizabeth Hurley and others have married or honeymooned there, a climate that you will be so happy to experience after the hotter places, and so much to do that you will never want to leave. Cooking classes at the Spice Box, four-hand massages at the spa affiliated with the Spice Box, wide array of accommodations choices (Oberai is the best, if money is no object, and otherwise Jagat Niwas is amazing), and excellent restaurants and shopping and painting classes and a yoga place, with streets filled with pedestrian. Also high tea is available (ask around the City Palace for directions) and you can take a boatride at sunset.

Have fun!!!

LAtraveler27

P.S.!!!

One night in Agra seems like enough (skip the baby Taj, but go to the Fatehpur Sikiri your first afternoon and the Taj early the next morning - or reverse depending on weather)

I would fly to Udaipur after Delhi and be so happy you are not on a bus!! If you have time obviously travel for months and feel adventurous, then go everywhere you have time for and spend hours and hours in busses and trains because that's part of the adventure you'll have there, but the amazing thing about Udaipur is that you can fly there and it's beautiful and relaxing and it has something for everyone. It is also very romantic if you are travelling as a couple.

Bonita

Well, I prefer jaipur!!!

I also love Udaipur and i think it is beautiful, but Jaipur gives you a much better introduction to the region of Rajasthan, and it is one of India's most colorful, vibrant and lively cites!

So yes, first visit to India i would go for Jaipur..next visit i would say Udaipur, among others..

Jaipur, the PInk city is such a wonderful and exciting place with its grand large streets, endless markets, local color, great food, aND FULL on India fun!

Udaipur is peaceful and beautiful but Jaipur is lively, happening and filled with folklore and legend and history..

Of course Udaipur too has its legend and history, but i must say i am hands down for Jaipur as a introduction to the region.

If u go to jaipur, be sure to visit the Palace of the Maharaja and observatgory, climb up the Palace of the Winds, visit the Birla Temple for sunset Aarti Ceremony, take a ride up Amber Fort and Palace via enlephant, take a bicycle rickswaw thru the city during rush hour, visit some of the cities endless markets, eat some great food, and the list goes on and on and on..

and of course, great hotel choices too.

Take care and feel free to drop me a line. [email protected] I am a American living in India. namaste.

kathleenhench

Fanofindia --- perhaps you can advise --- I'm trying to buy train tickets Delhi to Agra --- didn't have much luck on the indianrail website locating the Express train that leaves at 6:00 a.m. --- how would you advise bookingż Also, when we arrive in Agra, should we have a driver arranged to pick us up and take us to our hotel to drop our bags off? Namaste, Kathleen