Feedback on India Tour specifics
 

Hi gang,

So starting to get into the weeds of the trip specifics for December with C&K and would love to start getting tactical feedback on some of their city-by-city tour suggestions. I know nothing about some of these inner city sights -- other than the requisite guide book blurbs. Looking for guidance on whether or not we're hitting the 'right' spots in each city (especially given the fast clip we're moving at and, thus, the limited amount of time to see sights), that we're not taking on too much, and really looking for feedback if some of the 'add-ons' they're throwing in are really touristy and cheesy (i.e., rickshaw rides, etc.)

So let's start with Delhi first. We're there for one night + one full day and night. That full day the plan is to tour Old & New Delhi. Not sure if they're actually proposing ALL of this (which, if they are, seems completely undoable) but the itinerary says: Old Delhi tour: Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and Red Fort; New Delhi tour: Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, and then a drive along Rajpath past Inida Gate, Parliament House and the President's Residence. This apparently somehow also includes a cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk somewhere in there.

Can anyone make heads or tails of this? Better yet: what would the ideal one-day tour of Delhi be? Something not too overwhelming. I don't think we could ever--nor would ever want to--see the whole city in one day.

Skip the Red Fort. Agra Fort is quite similar. To get from Jama Masjid to Raj Ghat (or vise versa), you need to take a rickshaw or walk through the Chandni Chowk market area. We thought the rickshaw ride was fun - the driver should stop for you if you want to get off and take a photo.

You can't tour (i.e. enter) Parliament House or the President's Residence so you will be literally "driving by". They are near India Gate which is worth seeing.

Humayun's Tomb is a must just for the architecture. Qutab Minar is a bit out of the way (south Delhi) but important in that it was built to celebrate the arrival of Islam in India.

It's tough to predict what you'll like and won't like. Ghandi's home might be worth a visit though. Timing is going to depend on traffic, unless you are there on a Sunday, when traffic will be light.

Hope this helps.

I guess that is doable if you start early, finish late, and have your own car and driver, some of it is just a drive by, and the Raj Ghat is pretty quick. I think a similar set of sights took me two days, but I was using rickshaws as transport, not a tourist sight. If you're going to visit the fort in Agra you can skip the one in Delhi, but don't skip Qutab Minar or Humayan's Tomb - I enjoyed the tomb even before the grounds were prettied up, and it's a good precursor to the Taj.

this is in fact the normal one day tour... it is doable and fun... we liked the fort.

Great stuff, folks! Keep it coming!! That sounds about right--and thanks for the clarifications that this was not too packed or overwhelming a day (yes, we will have a car and driver). It seems doable and more manageable if we remove Red Fort, so I'll let them know that.

Ok, let's move on to the next city. We'll fly from Delhi to Jodhpur and, fog willing, arrive around noon. We have 2 nights there. Nothing specific is outlined for that first day--which is how I want it (I really don't want to be with a driver and/or guide the whole time as that'd give me agida. I'd assume the best plan for that day (even though we have a driver, should we need him) is for us to just walk around the city alone? Any suggestions for things to do on our own that day? We'll be staying at Raas Haveli so we'll be pretty central.

Then moving on to Day 2 there: the plan is to do a "village safari" (jeep, not camel) -- I assume this is the Bishnoi Village safari I've read about on TA? That should be until late morning then we head back to Jodhpur, and visit the Fort and then Jaswant Thada Memorial. So a rather light (I'm guessing) day of touring in Jodhpur. Is there anything we should consider for Day 2 with the driver that's not being covered?

we really liked the "safari"... we stopped at interesting places... it's really a trip on dirt roads through the country-side...

walking around town is fun and interesting...

I have not been to Jodhpur, so I'm just waiting for your next post :-).

Thanks for the advice, Bob.

Craig, there's not a ton of info about Jodhpur here. Even in the guidebooks, it really only lists the two main sites I have already included.

I'm sure there's local life to see there but I'd have no idea where to start.

Let's see if anyone has anything -- otherwise I'll move on to the next city.

I checked my old website for my time in Rajasthan, and it looks like I didn't find a whole lot in Jodhpur - more in Jaipur. Dug out the relevant notebook - ditto. Seems I was impressed by the fort, and spent time getting a massage and enjoying the pool at my hotel. I'd suggest just wandering around town, on foot.

Merangarth (sp) fort is the main attraction with fantastic views of the blue washed buildings below.

There's a bustling central market area which is easy to get around. Our guide took us to a shop selling all kinds of beautiful fabrics, shawls, mirror work bedspreads and intricate embroidered pieces. We went up some rickety stairs into a dark space (screaming fire trap) were seated, offered chai and then the spiel began! Several times we were told that their prices were so low that no bargaining would be done. They also claimed that many of the fabrics were designed by top European houses, graced all the best hotels yada yada. They did however, have a fantastic range of tribal work from local village women, arranged for very reasonable fed ex to home anywhere in the world.

Our parcel arrived home before we did, I wish I'd bought more here. We didn't come across another place that shipped so cheaply and ended up packed to the gills for the trip home.

I do hope you enjoy India, it is unique and so rewarding.

Even though we'll next go from Udaipur to Narlai for 1 night, I already know that's an R&R day. So let me move on to the next city.

We'll drive from Narlai to Udaipur early in the morning, stopping at Ranakpur Temple along the way. Assume we'll arrive early afternoon. Nothing planned for that 1st afternoon or evening. Suggestions welcome.

2nd day in Udaipur we have a full touring day: City Palace, Sahelion-ki-bari Gardens, Jagdish Temple and the Folk Museum. Then, I'm guessing around sunset, we have a cruise on the lake with a stop at Jag Mandir Palace.

3rd day in Udaipur is a pure R&R day--nothing planned for us. I know some of you had concerns about our running about from place to place but hopefully you can see there is a lot of down-time built into this itinerary. I guess my question is: what could one do with all this free time in Udaipur? Is there hiking or things to do around the lake? We will be staying at the Udaivilas so I do plan to really soak in the atmosphere of the hotel. But this one destination has me wondering about additional things to do.

You can go horseback riding out in the country, visit the monsoon palace at sunset, wander the town, or just veg at the hotel. My daughter said the yoga classes were some of her favorite ever (both the instructor and the setting). They also had cooking lessons and a wonderful spa. We had one of the pool-side rooms with private lanai...One day we ordered a lunch served on the our picnic table and lazed around in the water all afternoon.

Can't remember the name of the restaurant on the lake..Ambai? Anbar? Someone else will know...Had a lovely dinner there.

buildings hug the lake so really not much walking around, but some of the lanes near the palace are interesting...

your C&K guides and drivers will supply you with plenty of things to do. you can always quit something if you do not like..

btw, ask if Krishna can be your driver.

Bob, thanks. Why did you like Krishna so much? Just curious as you've mentioned him before.

The restaurant is Ambrai and it was very good when we went. You can spend almost a full day at the City Palace and the Fateh Prakash Palace and it's Crystal Gallery. Don't miss these. Do the audio tours for both - they are both within the same complex so it makes sense to do them together. You can do the boat trip to Jag Mandir all day long - not sure given your great hotel location if it would really be worth doing at sunset. The boat leaves from the far end of the City Palace complex so you may want to factor that into your plans. Jagdish Temple won't take much time. Don't engage any of the "volunteer guides" that lurk at the entrance. The gardens are pleasant but out of the way for you - worth a half hour or so. Is Kumbhelgarh Fort on your itinerary? You might fit it in along with Ranakpur as they are relatively close by and you have the time to do it.

Craig, I think the cruise is a sunset/night cruise around the lake (presumably to see the sights lit up at night). I think the stop at Jagdish was for a reason. Not sure why. Is it more interesting at night?

Billy, Jagdish is a smallish temple near City Palace. Jag Mandir is the palace that the cruise takes you to. While there you can buy over-priced food and drinks. There are several departure times and I imagine sunset is one of them. There are tons of places to see the lake at sunset and in the evening when the lights are sparkling, including your hotel. The cruise is fun and the views are great. I'm just not sure I'd waste an evening doing it. The views from Ambrai are amazing as are those from rooftop restaurants in the vicinity of City Palace.

K has a great sense of humor... he is an excellent, careful driver, he is in his 30's.. he knows the sights and the best parking..

we loved that restaurant too... we also ate one night nearby at a roof top restaurant above a B&B...

If the lake water levels are high enough, Udaivilas will bring you across the lake by boat from the airport.

We'll actually be driving in, Lucy (although that does sound fab!) -- we'll be driving from Narlai.

Craig, sorry, yes, I meant Jag Mandir. I think they intend to have the boat tour as part of our itinerary. So you'd recommend doing the boat tour during the day? You don't think it might be nice/magical to do the tour early evening and THEN do dinner?