We originally were going to go to Northern India for three weeks and do Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan and Varanasi, but now we have decided to drop Varanasi and do two weeks in India seeing Delhi, Agra and many places in Rajasthan including Jailismer, Jodpur, Jaipur, Udiapur, an overnight camel safari and a few other places. In Nepal we are going to Kathmandu, Pokara, and Royal Chitwan on a tiger safari. My question is did we make the right decision dropping Varanasi? Is Pashupatinath in Nepal (which we are going to see) similar to Varanasi... I was hoping it might be a better place to experience the spirituality because there are fewer toursits, touts, etc. Also are all those places in Rajastan very similar? Will we get bored of forts and palaces? Let me know what you think. Thanks!

If you can get to all those places in India in 14 days, I would be amazed. About five cities is what I would recommend, as it takes nearly a day just to get from one city to another.

Haven't been to Nepal so can't help on the Varanasi vs Pashupatinath question.

what time of year are you planning to go?

We are going from mid November to early December. We are taking an intrepid tour in India. This is a link to the itinerary http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/HKR. I figure they've done it before, so it must be doable Let me know what you think.

I didn't realize you were going on a bus tour. Yes it is doable, but of course you will be traveling something like 6-8 hours on the bus just about every other day.

But you will go through a lot of cities, so I'd not worry about missing Varanasi.

Hi,
Peace be at your home and in life too.
The places you are going to visit are completely diffrent then each other, there is no similarity. Every town is deffrint then each other till Varanasi.

About Varanasi and Kathmandu:-
Both are completely diffrent then each other, Varanasi is one of the oldest town in the world and has Ganges ( the big attaction) of this tour.
Nepal has Great Himalaya.
Feeling in Varanasi is too heavy, out of your imagination more religious aqnd really has very strong carector. Bu other side in Nepal you have great Himalaya. It is very beautiful and amazing. Between the nature you will have very good feeling.
It can be great to stay at Nagarkot to have view of Himalaya.
But still final decission will be yours.
Best regards.
Raju India.

Pashuputinath is not a substitute for Varanasi, so don't think that it is. BUT, I would happily recommend a trade that got you more time in Rajasthan and into Nepal any day. I've spent a few months in Nepal and six in India, and I have to sing the praises of both Nepal and Rajasthan.

The only recommendation I have - past saying that trading Varanasi for Nepal is a good thing - is to minimize your time in Jaipur. It's a hole.

Thank you for your help!

Johnboywalton...I would be very interested in knowing what has given you such a negative impression of Jaipur.