Hello Everyone,
My husband and I are hoping to make our first trip to India during January,2007. I was impressed with Virgin Atlantic's package called "Land of the Maharajas". This covers airfare, hotels, private car transportation, and sightseeing in each location. The accommodations include: 3 nights in Delhi, 1 night in Agra, 2 nights in Jaipur, 2 nights in Ranthambore National Park, 1 night in Pushkar, 1 night in Jodhpur, and 2 nights in Udaipur. Then there is a flight from Udaipur returning to Delhi. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on this package or any other direction to go in. We can only do a 2 week trip at this point. Thank you so much.

I looked at the tour. It is exhausting. You won't have any time for shopping except where your tour guide leads you in order to obtain a commission. You will undoubtably eat where your tour guide leads you as well. The itinerary does not specify what hotels you will be staying at.

We had 11 nights and did 4 nights Delhi, 2 nights Agra, 3 nights Jaipur and 2 nights Ranthambore - we thought the pace was just about right. We arranged our tour directly with an agency in Delhi - Compass Tours. Air travel to India was separate.

I think Virgin would be a good choice for an airline as far as the timing of the flights goes - arrival in Delhi is mid morning - most flights arrive late at night. Departure is early afternoon from Delhi.

If you do choose Virgin, I would head straight to Agra from the airport (about a 3-4 hour drive) and do Delhi at the end of your trip.

Whew! I went to the website.

It sounds pretty standard Golden Triangle plus some additonal cities. 1 day in Pushkar 1 day in Jodhpur that is VERY short.

It is definitely rushed. You will get a sampler of Nothern India, it will fun though.

Check out my site:
www.waynehazle.com/india/

Namaste! Great to know u will be traveling in India for two weeks!

Well, the good news is the trip u mention is a great introduction to the region of Rajasthan and Agra of course, and it goes to some of my very favorite places in North India.

I am quite fond of Pushkar and Udaipur, specifically!!! And of course, Jaipur, which is something like a second home city to me, as i am a American living in Delhi...

Anyways, i wld have to say the route of the trip is good, but the tour moves a bit too fast!

I alwasy encourage/suggest at least two nights in each place, so u are not packing and unpacking every second....U do not want to keep moving and moving every day..It is very exasuting.

However, that said, it can be done, and planty of folks do come to India and travel in a quick paced tempo, as to maximize how miuch they see..

But i think it is good to have a balance of sorts, see a bit less and then u can feel, experince the place better and go a bit deeper..More time to enjoy, mingle with the locals, have new experinces..

Anyways, there are many other options to do a India trip. there are plenty of tour operators out there offering two week group tours, and of course, as many have done and i often suggest, much better to custom~make/design your own tour, at your own pace, picking all the places u will visit, choosing all modes of transport, deciding how long at each hotel, and of course, what hotel?

Bottom line, i wld probably suggest u create your own trip to the Land of the Maharajas! (RAjasthan!), and drop a destiantion or two, as per your itnerests..

Anyways, happy planning and feel free to drop me a line with questions/for suggestions. happy to help! [email protected]

I am of the conviction that Pushkar, apart from the time of the cattle fair, has nothing for an american intellect. There are so many wonderful destinations, all around where you can see the truely colourful Rajasthan & yet at the end of the day arrive in palace hotels offering delightful comforts!

VP Singh, that may be your opinion/conviction about Pushkar, but different destinations appeal to different people and for diverse reasons.

Pushkar may not appeal to the "American intellect" as u have claimed, but it has a appeal and charm that transcends the intellect and hits the spirit i wld say, and in that respect, plenty of charm and appeal!!!

Sometimes it is nice to give the mind a break and just feel the energy of the Place!

The town is a holy town, first and foremost, dedicated to Lord Brahma, and has one of the only temples dedicated to Lord Bhrama in the world. Ram Ram..

There is beautiful scenery, a lovely lake, some simple low key places to stay and a general easy going good feel about the town, ve4ry inviting and friendly too.

I actualy prefer Pushkar outside of the Camel fair when it is so calm and serene and u can just sit back and soak up the magical atmopshere of the place.

As it is a holy town, there are close to or over 400 temples dotting the small village, and a nice maze of shops and stalls, very nice for wandering and meeting and mingling with the locals.

Pushkar may not be the most culturaly rich as compared to other places in Rajasthan, but it cerainly shares/shows another side of life and offers a nice glimpse into India too, for that matter, being a holy place and all.

And i love wandering down to the ghats of the lake for sunset prayers..beautiful, very heart felt and filled with energy!

Again,every destination has a unique appeal.

namaste.

Hi again. Namaste.

This is a bit off subject as it is not in Rajasthan or your initial itinerary, but just thinking....u might consider routing your trip to combine parts of Rajasthan, a visit to Agra, and end with a visit to Varanasi.

U can certainly craft a trip like this over two weeks.

I always think that every first timer traveling to India should try to include Varanasi/Benares as it is such a important place to see, to feel, to understand, and to experince.

It is surely oNE of the most fascinating places to visit in India, if not the world. A visit to Varanasi is a wonderful place to culminate a trip to North India. namaste. [email protected]

a. Aren’t we all posting to give our own opinions & points of view on a topic of discussion? Are we here to try & win points…in place of letting a reader form his own idea after taking into account the various strands posted?
b. I applaud your dissertation on Pushkar, but you mar it by your admission that “Pushkar may not be the most culturaly rich as compared to other places in Rajasthan”.
c. You seem to divorce intellect from spirituality, whereas, it is the ‘intellectual’ appreciation of ‘spirituality’ that distinguishes Hinduism, Sikhism & Sanatan religions from Christianity, Islam & religions of West Asia.
d. Be that as it may, we at Fodors may differ on opinions, yet remain friends!

If you want all-inclusive and can't handle/haven't the time to chose your own places to go - then why not?

Seems mega manic to me and Pushkar is only on the holiday radar because of the camel fair which only happens once a year - and not in January.

But your choice - I would rather spend lots of unstructured time in a few places - cos I always think I may be able to return and and cannot imagine being kept to such a planned itinerary.

If you think you would enjoy doing your own thing suggest doing a good search on the net - go to the library - read - think - get informed however you can.

Travelling in India is very easy.

Namaste. Sat Sri Akal..

Yes, of course, folks have different opinions and and i was giving my opinion/feelings/view, from my perspective. I am not sure what u are talking about, winning points? Many people have different things to say and it is good to share, shed light and exhcange ideas.

And as i beleive, different destinations appeal to differnt people!

This is a discussion board, and topics of discussion lead to good conversation, different viewpoints and sometimes even heated debates! That is part of the fun too and a thread can take on a life of its own..Now we are talking..

Namaste, and happy travels.

Thanks, Bonita.
I look forward to seeing you sometimes. If you happen to travel to Patiala, do drop in for a coffee or a drink at my residence.
Best Regards.

Thanx for the invite VP Singh!...Bahut Dhanyabad. very kind of U. Wld be nice to meet someday!

I am not often passing thru the Punjab, but one never knows, and i do get around quite a bit. I have passed thru Chandigargh quite a few times en route to Himachal.

I am actually based in Delhi when in India, but more often than not I am on the road somewhere between Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and kathmandu!

Next time if passing thru, i will definately/surely say Hello, namaste, Sat Sri akal..

Take care, Phir Melange, Bonita.