Just returned from an amazing trip to India!
Feb 25th, 2013, 06:07 AM
#62
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We loved the aarti. It did have a choreographed Bollywood element, but that made it more accessible. We were lucky to sit in the cage next to the musicians, superb people watching from there. Captivating, uplifting & atmospheric, with way more locals/pilgrims than tourists - I would go back in a heartbeat.
Feb 25th, 2013, 01:09 PM
#63
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i just saw it as a bunch of people jumping around and swinging vessels with fire in them..
lots of interesting sorts around to look at but then they are at the ghats most of the time..
june---bored, that's a good word for it..
lots of interesting sorts around to look at but then they are at the ghats most of the time..
june---bored, that's a good word for it..
Feb 26th, 2013, 02:31 AM
#64
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We were just so mesmerized by the whole experience - the audience, the ceremony - that by the time we started to feel a bit tired of the ceremony, it was over.
It was our first night in Varanasi, and only our 3rd night in India, so I think we felt a bit like Dorothy in Oz -- we're not in Kansas anymore (with apologies to anyone from Kansas!)! Or, NYC for that matter!
It was our first night in Varanasi, and only our 3rd night in India, so I think we felt a bit like Dorothy in Oz -- we're not in Kansas anymore (with apologies to anyone from Kansas!)! Or, NYC for that matter!
Feb 27th, 2013, 04:17 AM
#65
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Just back yesterday at 5pm. Up at 4am. Loved our 19 night trip to India. Brought with me many TR from this board, but, of course, our trip was our trip. What works for one person is different than what works for another. But, for us, having used Legends and Palaces as our travel agent was a most important decision. We were made completely comfortable wherever we went by the people taking care of us. In fact, we have never, ever been so well cared-for.
Our agent, Mr. Singh, gave us an Indian cellphone to use for our trip. Really important!!! Being able to get in touch with our agent, our driver, our guide made a big different.
When our India Airlines flight from Varanasi to Agra, which left on time, did not land in Agra but took us to Khajuraho instead. It was a problem. They would not take us back to Varanasi, or to New Delhi. Just here at 4pm. they provided a bus to go to Agra, but Agra was 500 km away and 120 km of the road was not paved. In fact, the previous road had been torn up for a new road 2 years ago, but the new road had not been laid. So it was worse than unpaved.
Fortunately, Mr. Singh phoned us before we got off the plane to tell us he would have a comfortable car and driver to take us to Agra. The provided bus did not have a toilet and it did not get to AGra until 5:30am. We got there to our hotel at 3:00am. Those hours made a difference to us and we also had a feeling of being in control. We could stop when needed (not just when the driver had to wipe the dust off the headlights). It was an experience. We took with us two young Japanese women since our car could hold 4 passengers.
I had made the agent at the airport write a note on our tickets saying we were entitled to a full refund. He also stamped and signed it. Mr. Singh is in the process of getting a refund and we just had to pay the difference between the airfare and our car cost. We would have had a much harder time getting over the trip to Agra if we had to take the bus.
More adventures to come when I pull my thoughts together.
But I loved Varanasi. It was a trip back in time. Since it was the 12 year festival at a site 100km extra pilgrims came to V. For many it was the trip of a lifetime and they shared their joy. So many different clothing styles, racial differences, but all so happy with the pilgrimage experience.I kept thinking of the Medieval peasants in Europe going to the cathedrals.
And then we went back to the Nascar Palace which has 10 suites and ours was larger than our NYC apartment. That is India.
Our agent, Mr. Singh, gave us an Indian cellphone to use for our trip. Really important!!! Being able to get in touch with our agent, our driver, our guide made a big different.
When our India Airlines flight from Varanasi to Agra, which left on time, did not land in Agra but took us to Khajuraho instead. It was a problem. They would not take us back to Varanasi, or to New Delhi. Just here at 4pm. they provided a bus to go to Agra, but Agra was 500 km away and 120 km of the road was not paved. In fact, the previous road had been torn up for a new road 2 years ago, but the new road had not been laid. So it was worse than unpaved.
Fortunately, Mr. Singh phoned us before we got off the plane to tell us he would have a comfortable car and driver to take us to Agra. The provided bus did not have a toilet and it did not get to AGra until 5:30am. We got there to our hotel at 3:00am. Those hours made a difference to us and we also had a feeling of being in control. We could stop when needed (not just when the driver had to wipe the dust off the headlights). It was an experience. We took with us two young Japanese women since our car could hold 4 passengers.
I had made the agent at the airport write a note on our tickets saying we were entitled to a full refund. He also stamped and signed it. Mr. Singh is in the process of getting a refund and we just had to pay the difference between the airfare and our car cost. We would have had a much harder time getting over the trip to Agra if we had to take the bus.
More adventures to come when I pull my thoughts together.
But I loved Varanasi. It was a trip back in time. Since it was the 12 year festival at a site 100km extra pilgrims came to V. For many it was the trip of a lifetime and they shared their joy. So many different clothing styles, racial differences, but all so happy with the pilgrimage experience.I kept thinking of the Medieval peasants in Europe going to the cathedrals.
And then we went back to the Nascar Palace which has 10 suites and ours was larger than our NYC apartment. That is India.
Feb 27th, 2013, 05:53 AM
#66
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Welcome back, Elainee. Can't wait for your report - Sounds as if you had quite the adventure. The Agra/Khajuraho escapade sounds very strange. I didn't know that you could even fly to Agra. What excuse did they give for going to the wrong destination?
Khaj to Agra was an easy road trip for us - less than 4 hrs. on a decent road to Jhansi + ~2 hr. train ride to Agra - were the trains not running? Wow.
Khaj to Agra was an easy road trip for us - less than 4 hrs. on a decent road to Jhansi + ~2 hr. train ride to Agra - were the trains not running? Wow.
Feb 27th, 2013, 06:55 AM
#67
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No possibility of train or train reservations at that time. Plus we wanted to get to Agra that night (even if short night time) since we had only 2 nights in Agra.
Really we just did what Mr. Singh told us to do.
Why did the plane not land in Agra? Good question. We were told that Agra refused our landing. Since it is primarily a military airport, I guess they can refuse. But did Air India not know that before we left on the one hour flight?? Maybe cheaper to provide a bus than refund 30 tickets or reschedule the people. Who knows??
But that was our only mishap, so not bad.
Really we just did what Mr. Singh told us to do.
Why did the plane not land in Agra? Good question. We were told that Agra refused our landing. Since it is primarily a military airport, I guess they can refuse. But did Air India not know that before we left on the one hour flight?? Maybe cheaper to provide a bus than refund 30 tickets or reschedule the people. Who knows??
But that was our only mishap, so not bad.
Feb 27th, 2013, 12:25 PM
#70
Original Poster
Elainee - glad you had a good trip despite the one annoyance. I, too, didn't know of a direct flight from Varanasi to Agra. I looked and found that flights stop first at Delhi, so I'm curious about what flight you were on. I'm glad you got to Varanasi, though, and enjoyed it so much. It was definitely a highlight for us. Looking forward to reading about your trip now!
C'wn - I'm excited for you! I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report!
C'wn - I'm excited for you! I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report!
Feb 27th, 2013, 12:59 PM
#71
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Elainee,
I don't think you mean Nascar Palace, do you? Is that auto-correct or sleep deprivation writing?!
I do so agree with you about seeing so many pilgrims there; a wonderful energy.
I don't think you mean Nascar Palace, do you? Is that auto-correct or sleep deprivation writing?!
I do so agree with you about seeing so many pilgrims there; a wonderful energy.
Feb 27th, 2013, 01:30 PM
#72
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Always concerned about safety at auto races, but, yes, it was the Nadesar Palace. Sorry to hijack your excellent report. I will start my own thread when I get less fogged-out.
Glad you had such a good and interesting time.
Glad you had such a good and interesting time.
Dec 9th, 2013, 07:27 AM
#73
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Progol - just wanted to thank you for this wonderful trip report. I've been reading lots of them and enjoying them all, but somehow had missed yours - which is especially relevant to us because of the timeframe of your trip - and your travel profile! We leave Jan. 7 for two months in India - our first trip there. We'll visit most of the places you've described so well, as well as a few national parks and Kochin/Munnar, Mumbai.
I'm now going to take up your lodging recommendation for Varanasi too, so thanks so much again! I plan to write an ongoing report while on the trip.
One q - were you traveling with a cell phone? If so, what?
I'm now going to take up your lodging recommendation for Varanasi too, so thanks so much again! I plan to write an ongoing report while on the trip.
One q - were you traveling with a cell phone? If so, what?
Dec 9th, 2013, 12:32 PM
#74
Original Poster
Hi, glover,
So glad you are enjoying the trip report and are finding it helpful. I think it's great that you have 2 months to travel -- I'd love to go back and include the South, but alas, the working life leaves limited time for travel. I'm lucky to have 3 weeks!
Nikhil provided us with a cell phone, but honestly, we never used it. We were traveling with our driver, Raj, for over 2 weeks, and Nikhil would call us almost daily - sometimes even more - while we were in the car with Raj.
Even when we were in Varanasi and did not have our regular driver, the TGS rep contacted us through our guide or the guesthouse, and somehow, we never found that we needed the cell phone at all.
Can't wait to read about your trip! Less than a month away!
Paule
So glad you are enjoying the trip report and are finding it helpful. I think it's great that you have 2 months to travel -- I'd love to go back and include the South, but alas, the working life leaves limited time for travel. I'm lucky to have 3 weeks!
Nikhil provided us with a cell phone, but honestly, we never used it. We were traveling with our driver, Raj, for over 2 weeks, and Nikhil would call us almost daily - sometimes even more - while we were in the car with Raj.
Even when we were in Varanasi and did not have our regular driver, the TGS rep contacted us through our guide or the guesthouse, and somehow, we never found that we needed the cell phone at all.
Can't wait to read about your trip! Less than a month away!
Paule
