Turist visit to North India
 

I am thinking to visit : Delhi, Benares, Khajuraho, Agra, Fathepur Sikri, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Aurangabad and Bombay.
QUESTIONS:
- Is there any interesting place I missed?
- Is interesting or not going to Ellora & Ajanta ? I really don't know
- Is interesting going to Mont Abu, Palitana or Gwalior to see Jaina and other kind of Temples ?
- Which are the sanity measures for European people?
- Which is Better: going throu Tour-operators or by
myself ?
- How full are hotels in September?
- What kind of weather can I expect?
- Which are the times for daybreak and nightfall in September ?
- Why there isn't travels to Cashemir area ?
- Is it safely traveling alone by car?
- Which is the price for hotels, restaurants, renting cars and petrol ? Is it easy to find petrol ?
- Do you know the address of a Web in India where to find answers to all these questions ?

Thank you very much for any information, from a traveler in Spain, Madrid.

August, 11

I've noticed your destinations are mostly in Rajasthan, but you didn't think of Jaisalmer ? It's a little off the main route but its worth the journey. My wife & I joined a World Expeditions (India)3-day camel safari through parts of the Thar
desert from Bikaner to Jaisalmer and it is absolutely fantastic. We didn,t see a single tourist nor motor-vehicle throughout. We had 4 camels and 9 locals accompanying us throughout. (Don't join those camel tours from Jaisalmer or Sam, they are very commercial) Jaisalmer is very unique from the other bigger Rajasthan cities - all the houses are built of yellow sandstones & very intricately carved. As for Kashmir, we changed our minds last minute due to the unrest there but we heard you can still go there (we ended up in Himachal instead, next closest thing to Kashmir minus the lakes). Many tour operators still sell houseboat packages but do check out the situation while you are in Delhi. Check out at World Expeditions (India)Pvt.Ltd. tel no. 91-11-6983358 at 7, Local Shopping Centre, Madangir, New Delhi 110062. Their service is excellent. Do see the Taj Mahal both at dawn and evening, the mood is really quite different & avoid the mid-day crowd. Best of luck.

Message: Go thru these sites for more information on rajasthan <BR>http://palaceonwheels.com/information.html <BR>http://www.rajasthan-tourism.com/rajtourism/ <BR>http://www.rajasthandiary.com/ <BR> <BR>and for all other areas <BR>http://travel.indiamart.com/

Hi Fransisco <BR> <BR>Whether you go for an organised tour or on your own depends on what kind of person you are. The Indian ways can take some getting used to. If you have normal blood pressure, and like a little adventure, definitely do-it-yourself. <BR> <BR>Regarding transport - I would not recommend hiring a self-drive car. I myself love to drive when on holiday - but I would not drive on Indian highways. You need local experience if you want to stay out of trouble! <BR> <BR>I recommend using the trains for the places accessible by train - especially Agra, Jaipur, Delhi-Bombay etc. Some of them are fast, and clean. At New Delhi station, if the ticket crowds look too hectic for you, just note the prices and go across the road to one of the tourist agent offices and get them to book your tickets. The overnight sleeper between Delhi and Bombay is comfortable. <BR> <BR>For more out of the way places - consider booking a tourist taxi for one or more days at a time. This is what the locals do. It is not too expensive if you are with 1 or 2 companions. Ask about this at your hotel. <BR> <BR>Some other tips I picked up as a western tourist are: <BR> <BR>Don't be afraid to ask someone for directions or information - Indians prefer to ask than to use maps and signs - so you won't find many. And a lot of people can speak English. <BR> <BR>Don't worry if people you deal with seem to be in league with each other (eg. hotels, taxis, restaurants, shops), this is the normal way of doing business. <BR> <BR>And be very patient - don't try to see too many places in a short time - expect some delays, and enjoy the opportunities they bring!

REALLY MISSING SOUTH INDIA ESPECIALLY KERALA THE GREEN LAND.............................................. .......................