Feedback on India Tour specifics
Jan 30th, 2014, 02:26 AM
#21
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It might be but you need to check if your tour includes dinner at Jag Mandir, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I haven't seen any reviews of this but there are a ton on TA. Jag Mandir is a hotel, by the way and the boat ride is free if you eat dinner there.
Jan 30th, 2014, 09:46 AM
#22
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We're finally leaving for India next week! We'll be touring with C & K, and Krishna will be our driver. Rhk, thanks again for the recommendation. It was good to read (above) all your very nice comments about him.
Has anyone had dinner at the Taj Lake Palace restaurant in Udaipur? If so, what can you tell us about that? We plan on having dinner at Jagat Niwas and Oberoi Udaivilas also.
I will of course post a TR upon our return.
Thank you all for your excellent advice during the planning of our trip. I enjoyed reading so many wonderful TR's, and now I am once again reading them.
Has anyone had dinner at the Taj Lake Palace restaurant in Udaipur? If so, what can you tell us about that? We plan on having dinner at Jagat Niwas and Oberoi Udaivilas also.
I will of course post a TR upon our return.
Thank you all for your excellent advice during the planning of our trip. I enjoyed reading so many wonderful TR's, and now I am once again reading them.
Jan 30th, 2014, 02:44 PM
#24
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Great feedback, guys! Tons to to chew on for Udaipur!! So glad we have these forums--this is really helping me think this stuff through! Also thinking of even taking a cooking class there on our day off in Udaipur. Can't wait!
Okay, on to the next city: we fly from Udaipur to Delhi early in the morning and then drive back to Agra (roughly a 4 hour drive) -- so this will definitely be a big travel day. Assume we'll arrive late afternoon in Agra. We'll settle into the Amarvilas, maybe walk to the Taj for sunset if we have time. But it's really a 'non-day' as far as activities. Fine by me.
2nd day in Agra the plan is to visit the Taj at sunrise, then we have this "battery van ride" (what is that??) We then head back to the hotel for breakfast, then back out to visit the Fort and Itmadullah's Tomb. As far as I can tell that's it. That sound about right? This hotel is one in particular where I really would like to soak in the atmosphere. So the more time we spent at the hotel. the better. My only real agenda in Agra is really to see the Taj.
Okay, on to the next city: we fly from Udaipur to Delhi early in the morning and then drive back to Agra (roughly a 4 hour drive) -- so this will definitely be a big travel day. Assume we'll arrive late afternoon in Agra. We'll settle into the Amarvilas, maybe walk to the Taj for sunset if we have time. But it's really a 'non-day' as far as activities. Fine by me.
2nd day in Agra the plan is to visit the Taj at sunrise, then we have this "battery van ride" (what is that??) We then head back to the hotel for breakfast, then back out to visit the Fort and Itmadullah's Tomb. As far as I can tell that's it. That sound about right? This hotel is one in particular where I really would like to soak in the atmosphere. So the more time we spent at the hotel. the better. My only real agenda in Agra is really to see the Taj.
Jan 30th, 2014, 03:14 PM
#25
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The battery van is the golf cart that Amarvilas uses to take you down the short road to the Taj. The rest of the day sounds fine. They'll probably take you to a shop that sells marble inlay unless you tell them not to.
Jan 30th, 2014, 04:13 PM
#28
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Haha...so, Craig, when they tell me the cost of the battery van is included in the ground total, I shouldn't count that as some great benefit? 
BTW, what is this marble inlay shop you speak of? I mean I know what inlay is, but I usually think of it in terms of things you'd inset into a tile floor. What kind of goods does one find at these shops?
BTW, what is this marble inlay shop you speak of? I mean I know what inlay is, but I usually think of it in terms of things you'd inset into a tile floor. What kind of goods does one find at these shops?
Jan 30th, 2014, 04:37 PM
#29
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Billy,
You are right, the van is part of the Amarvilas deal - no extra benefit.
We wouldn't let our guide take us to "his" shop. All of the shops have demonstrations and claim to have artisans that have training that goes back many generations. The marble inlay I speak of is the same that was used in the construction of the Taj. I suggest you ditch your guide before going to one of these places.
Look here:
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3892&k=Fqs5j6w
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3927&k=n7VJStm
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3962&k=D5DvVm4
This is just to give you an idea. Much more impressive close up.
THE place to go is Subhash Emporium, which has the best quality stuff. Be sure they show you the goods in the back room - absolutely exquisite - you don't have to buy, but it is like visiting a museum. You can have the concierge at Amarvilas contact them and they will pick you up at the hotel - no commissions, thus the ditching of the guide reco.
We bought some beautiful small pieces that we enjoy to this day...
You are right, the van is part of the Amarvilas deal - no extra benefit.
We wouldn't let our guide take us to "his" shop. All of the shops have demonstrations and claim to have artisans that have training that goes back many generations. The marble inlay I speak of is the same that was used in the construction of the Taj. I suggest you ditch your guide before going to one of these places.
Look here:
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3892&k=Fqs5j6w
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3927&k=n7VJStm
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Tra...3962&k=D5DvVm4
This is just to give you an idea. Much more impressive close up.
THE place to go is Subhash Emporium, which has the best quality stuff. Be sure they show you the goods in the back room - absolutely exquisite - you don't have to buy, but it is like visiting a museum. You can have the concierge at Amarvilas contact them and they will pick you up at the hotel - no commissions, thus the ditching of the guide reco.
We bought some beautiful small pieces that we enjoy to this day...
Feb 7th, 2014, 05:50 PM
#31
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Ok, folks, back and ready for more. Time to move on to the next stop in the itinerary: Varanasi!
I'm glad we pushed this to later in the trip. if you remember it was initially our first stop after Delhi which had me a bit concerned about whether or not we'd be ready to literally jump into the deep end of India so soon. Glad we're working our way gradually there now instead.
So from Agra, we leave the hotel SUPER early, drive 4 hours to Delhi and catch our 1-something flight to Varanasi (this is gonna be a long day, I can tell--but luckily we only have 1 or 2 of these on the trip--the 2nd seemingly in Varanasi, as you'll see!)
Sounds like we'll head to the hotel and then, that night, attend an Aarti Ceremony at the Ganges.
2nd Day in Varanasi we do an early morning boat cruise (I can only assume this is VERY early...for sunrise...as I hear that's the best time to do this) This boat trip includes visits to various ghats (which ghats, I don't know). We then head back to the hotel for bfast then we go to tour the following: Vishwanath Golden Temple, the abode of Shiva, Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University. Got that? THAT'S A TON OF STUFF, NO? But...wait...gets better...later in the afternoon (aren't we already there yet?) we head 7km outside the city to visit Sarnath. I mean, all this sounds great (don't get me wrong)...but I am curious again if this is too much for one day. Granted, we only have basically a day and half in Varansi, so it may be necessary.
Are there any other sights that we should be hitting or substituting out for that aren't addressed here?
I'm glad we pushed this to later in the trip. if you remember it was initially our first stop after Delhi which had me a bit concerned about whether or not we'd be ready to literally jump into the deep end of India so soon. Glad we're working our way gradually there now instead.
So from Agra, we leave the hotel SUPER early, drive 4 hours to Delhi and catch our 1-something flight to Varanasi (this is gonna be a long day, I can tell--but luckily we only have 1 or 2 of these on the trip--the 2nd seemingly in Varanasi, as you'll see!)
Sounds like we'll head to the hotel and then, that night, attend an Aarti Ceremony at the Ganges.
2nd Day in Varanasi we do an early morning boat cruise (I can only assume this is VERY early...for sunrise...as I hear that's the best time to do this) This boat trip includes visits to various ghats (which ghats, I don't know). We then head back to the hotel for bfast then we go to tour the following: Vishwanath Golden Temple, the abode of Shiva, Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University. Got that? THAT'S A TON OF STUFF, NO? But...wait...gets better...later in the afternoon (aren't we already there yet?) we head 7km outside the city to visit Sarnath. I mean, all this sounds great (don't get me wrong)...but I am curious again if this is too much for one day. Granted, we only have basically a day and half in Varansi, so it may be necessary.
Are there any other sights that we should be hitting or substituting out for that aren't addressed here?
Feb 8th, 2014, 02:21 AM
#33
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Personally, I'd just want to walk around Varanasi near the river and skip Sarnath, the University, etc. The temples might or might not be interesting. You really don't have enough time to do Sarnath and everything else. You need to do the boat ride at sunrise as that is when there is the most activity. We enjoyed a second boat ride after sunset and before the aarti. Consider ditching your guide after the morning boat ride and just wandering on your own.
Feb 8th, 2014, 06:10 AM
#34
Whereas I would skip the "sights" in Varanasi, would wander around town, AND visit Sarnath. You can see Sarnath in an afternoon, easily. I didn't go to Bodhgaya, and figured Sarnath was the next best thing.
Feb 8th, 2014, 07:04 AM
#35
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I have seen the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila fort, India Gate and goverment buildings and Gandi's Tomb in 1 and a half day.
The first half day we hired a cab for 3 or 4 hours for a very cheap price (don't remember the amount - it was arranged by the hotel). The cab driver took us first to Gandi's Tomb, then to Purana Qila Fort, spent there 1 hour and then took us to the India Gate which was close by. Stayed there for 20 minutes and then he drove us to the monumental avenues of New Delhi to see the goverment buldings and the Presidential Palace (didn't go inside, but we could stay at the gates and shoot some photos). After that he took us to the nearby famous Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple where we spent a whole hour. After that he took us to the Muslim Delhi and he left.
The next whole day was spent to Qutub Minar (in the morning) and the Red Fort (in the afternoon). Qutub Minar is a must!!! You can go easily there by Metro (at Qutub Minar metro station you will take a tuk tuk to drive you to the site). Using the Metro we also went directly to the Red Fort after Qutub Minar. (count about two hours for each site). Red Fort was also well worth the visit! So yes, I believe you can see a lot of things in a day and a half.
The first half day we hired a cab for 3 or 4 hours for a very cheap price (don't remember the amount - it was arranged by the hotel). The cab driver took us first to Gandi's Tomb, then to Purana Qila Fort, spent there 1 hour and then took us to the India Gate which was close by. Stayed there for 20 minutes and then he drove us to the monumental avenues of New Delhi to see the goverment buldings and the Presidential Palace (didn't go inside, but we could stay at the gates and shoot some photos). After that he took us to the nearby famous Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple where we spent a whole hour. After that he took us to the Muslim Delhi and he left.
The next whole day was spent to Qutub Minar (in the morning) and the Red Fort (in the afternoon). Qutub Minar is a must!!! You can go easily there by Metro (at Qutub Minar metro station you will take a tuk tuk to drive you to the site). Using the Metro we also went directly to the Red Fort after Qutub Minar. (count about two hours for each site). Red Fort was also well worth the visit! So yes, I believe you can see a lot of things in a day and a half.
Feb 8th, 2014, 11:16 AM
#36
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The above post reminds me that the Sikh (Gurudwara Bangla Sahib) temple is definitely worth a 1/2 hour in Delhi. I think Thursdays comments about visiting Sarnath in the afternoon make sense. It will be a long day though.
Feb 8th, 2014, 01:58 PM
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Nicky, I will never forego my 'nuit millinaire' ...even in India. Although I may have to forgo my usual martini or G&T due to the sketchy ice situation. Guess it's beer on this trip. Sigh. Takes all the fun out of it!
