Itinerary advice for 18 days in India

Hi all,

Hope to hear some feedback from any of you had done a similar route in any of these destination. I know this plan is kinda crazy, but 18 days is all i could take off from my desk bound job, and i wish to see as much as i can while i'm there. I have done similar pack tight trip on my last train-hopping along the silk route in China, sometimes, just arrived in the morning, and get out in the evening, on the next train, still managed to get a decent experience of local life and culture.

If any of you have done the same route, (eg Manali to Amritsar), please tell me your experience, what kind of transportation i should take, (if the transpotation i plan is not so feasible, in term of train delay or traffic congestion)

I'm still struggling get a plan to work that will save me in traveling time from Manali to Amritsar. Someone suggested take the local bus as their service is frequent, from Manali to Chandigarh, then from Chandigarh to Amritsar. I would like to hear other suggestion if you did a similar route, how to save the time in waiting, and how frequent or reliable is the bus services. If I start early morning on Tuesday, what time i can expect to reach Amritsar? I'm also wondering if there is any transport to get out from Manali at late evening, as I will spend most Monday in Rohtang Pass and Kothi, what time do you reckon i can get back to Manali, if I wish to visit both Rohtang Pass and Kothi?

Should I able to manage my time efficiently on my route from Manali to Amritsar, I want to visit Jaipur as well. Things i would like to do in Jaipur is to visit Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and the Bazaar. Is it possible to get all these done in a day tour?

By the way, the train timetable I got is for the first half of 2010. I heard, the train timetable will change on June/July? This timetable is just to give me a rough idea how my plan will work out. Anyone know if the train timetable for the second half of 2010 will have big changes (for example, some train only run on certain day, will it change? or just the timing will change?)

Any other suggestion or advice on my itinerary is most welcome and appreciated.

Cheers!
Vincent


WED: 16:00 KUALA LUMPUR - 19:10 NEW DELHI
WED: NEW DELHI (DELHI)
THU: India Gate, Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, National Museum
FRI: Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Purana Quila, Old Delhi, Connaught Place
FRI: 21:40 OLD DELHI/DLI - 04:40 KALKA/KLK <2311 KALKA MAIL>
SAT: 05:30 KALKA/KLK - 10:15 SHIMLA/SML <241 SHIVALIK EXP>
SAT: SIMLA (HIMACHAL PRADESH)
SAT: The Mall, Jakhu Hill
SUN: 08:30 SIMLA - 17:30 MANALI (HPTDC Bus)
SUN: MANALI (HIMACHAL PRADESH)
SUN: Old Manali
MON: Rohtang Pass (0600, Close Tues 0900-1800), Kothi
TUE: 16:00 MANALI - 02:30 AMBALA (HRTC Bus)
WED: 07:00 AMBALA CANTT JUNCTION/UMB - 11:55 AMRITSAR JUNCTION/ASR (5707 AMRAPALI EXP)
WED: AMRITSAR (PUNJAB)
WED: Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir
THU: 14:30 AMRITSAR JUNCTION/ASR - 08:20 JAIPUR JUNCTION/JP <9772 JAIPUR EXP>
FRI: 11:50 JAIPUR JUNCTION/JP - 17:30 JODHPUR JUNCTION/JU <4865 MARUDHAR EXP>
FRI: JODHPUR (RAJASTHAN)
SAT: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace
SAT: 23:00 JODHPUR JUNCTION/JU - 05:00 JAISALMER/JSM <4810 JAISALMER EXP>
SUN: JAISALMER (RAJASTHAN)
SUN: The Fort, Havelis, Gadsisar Lake, Sam
SUN: 23:15 JAISALMER/JSM - 05:10 JODHPUR JUNCTION/JU <4809 JAISALMER JODHPUR EXP>
MON: 14:30 JODHPUR - 17:05 MUMBAI
MON: MUMBAI (MAHARASHTRA)
TUE: Gateway of India, Kanheri Caves, Haji Ali Dargah, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
WED: 09:35 MUMBAI CSI - 13:00 VARANASI
WED: VARANASI (UTTAR PRADESH)
WED: the Ghats, Ram Nagar Fort
WED: 22:52 MUGHAL SARAI JCT/MGS(15km Varanasi Jct) - 07:35 AGRA FORT/AF <2395 IBADAT EXP>
THU: AGRA (UTTAR PRADESH)
THU: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Sikandra
FRI: 10:28 AGRA CANTT/AGC - 13:40 NEW DELHI/NDLS <2625 KERALA EXP>
FRI: NEW DELHI (DELHI)
SAT: New Delhi
SAT: 20:25 NEW DELHI - 04:35 KUALA LUMPUR
Reply to this

Hi Tanya, my trip will be on mid september, is the weather alright ? I didn't want to push it too far toward end of the year, as many would have suggested, due to more favorable weather, because I wanted to go to Rohtang Pass, which would be impossible at the end of the year.

I see your point in traveling from Agra to Jaipur, as it is more direct. Unfortunately there is no flight out from Mumbai on the same day, and I have already booked the ticket on promo fares, unlikely I can change it.
Is it still feasible to alter the plan since I can't fly out from Mumbai?

Cheers! Reply to this

Hi Tanya, you meant I go on this route? Amritsar -> Delhi -> Agra -> Varanasi -> Agra -> Jaipur -> Jodhpur -> Jaisalmer -> Jodhpur -> Mumbai -> Delhi ?
I will check out the train schedule when it is out on Jun/July(?) to see how it can fit nicely 😊

Actually, on original my plan, i will need to take flight from Mumbai to Varanasi, the distance is too far to be on the train. Another flight will be from Jodhpur to Mumbai, otherwise, 18days i won't be able to cover that much places :P Reply to this

Well, you have two options since you're flying out of Delhi.

You could either do Delhi -> Agra -> Varanasi -> Agra -> Jaipur -> Jodhpur -> Jaisalmer -> Jodhpur -> Mumbai -> Delhi -> Shimla etc.

or the one you have chalked out.

You can even skip Mumbai and travel to Haridwar/Rishikesh in north, so that you can spend more quality time in all these places.

Since you're traveling in Sept, you can juggle about with a couple of option before freezing on your plans.
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