Future Travels To India 09

Hello everyone,
Ive been reading some blogs and found them very helpful. Thank you to all those exerienced travellers who are helping us less experieced out.

I am planning to either travel to India/Nepal or to Chile in the second half of 2009. Firstly, where do you recommend i go??

My route in India is:

-Fly to delhi
-Bus or Train to Jaipur (Maybe do some volunteer work around here)
-Bus or Train to Agra
-Train to Varanasi (possible?)
-Bus or Train to Gorakhpur
-Cross border into Nepal
-Bus to Kathmandu...

What are your opinions/ideas/recommendations/adivce for this trip? Is it possible??

I am really excited to travel. After reading these helpful blogs I am leaning towards going to India.

Thankyou,
Ozzy


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The route sounds fine. How long are you going for? You always add in a few extra places along the way if you get the time. Delhi-Jaipur-Agra is fine but it is quite a long trip between each place. Alternitevely you could always look at overnight trains so you don't waste a day travelling each time. Reply to this

Ok, private drivers and guides are very easy to come across..... most of them are also out to cheat you completely!!! Your best bet is to book your first hotel in Delhi before leaving and arrange for them to send someone to pick you up from the airport to avoid all the touts. You can arrange day tours of Delhi (and I imagine other cities) with a private driver for around Rs 500-600.
If you want to hire a private driver for a longer trip (e.g. arrange your whole Golden triangle tour with one person) then go to proper taxi depots etc. don't listen to anyone who approaches you on the street unless you already know them. Your hotel will probably be more than happy to send you to a reputable company, they will also probably be getting a commision so do feel free to look around for a better deal. Try and find a driver with reasonable English - always good for negotiating trip routes. Agree to the price beforehand, check the Lonely Planet for recommendations on costs and tips and so on. Find out before leaving if road taxes etc are included in the price, you really don't want to set off and then find you are being charged expenses every 5 minutes! Some companies will also include hotel prices in the trip budget and will then find you good hotels as you go. Don't agree to this - hotels are generally much cheaper than they will lead you to believe. The last time I organised a private trip in India I was quoted a price that allowed Rs700 per night for hotels. I refused this and found that I got a much better deal. I paid between Rs200-600 per night for hotel rooms, and even the deluxe suite at one place was only Rs800, so how they thought they could average out a cost of Rs700 a night I don't know!!
As for getting a real village experience - not very likely if you just stick to the tourist route. However, some of the private hire drivers are keen to show people the 'real India' and your driver may take you to visit relatives or family along the way. If not you are bound to get a feel for village life just by visiting a more remote location, even if you aren't really living it yourself. Reply to this

As a guide to your budget, I was in India for 6 weeks with my girlfriend who insisted on staying in mid range hotels rather than Budget (which are still really cheap) and we spent about 900 British pounds in that time.
As for the route, that can definitely be done, but I agree with Sacha to try and get Varanasi in to your trip, you can actually leave for Nepal from there too!!!
I originally wanted to do Nepal and cross China before carrying on into South East Asia on our trip, but couldn't put my girlfriend through those bus and train rides!!!
Any long journeys we had, we did overnight by train. If you're stuck for time it saves and it's a night less accommodation.

Scott Reply to this

Thanks for your replies everyone.
Anyone here been to Jodhpur or Udaipur?? Are they worth the visit?? Reply to this

yes I've been to both Jodhpur and Udaipur. Both I think are definitely worth a visit. Jodhpur was my favourite city out of all the places I visited in Rajasthan. The fort is amazing and the view from the fort of the blue city is spectacular. walking round the city itself and the market square is also really good. And there's an unbeatable lassi shop (it's in Lonely Planet) which just sells Rajasthani famous Makhiana lassis which you'll get addicted to once you've tried.
Udaipur is also meant to be well worth the trip - I was there unfortunately less than two days and was a bit ill while I was there (nothing ominous, just a bad cold) so I didn't do much sightseeing in the end. But the palace is meant to be beautiful, and the walk around the town is v interesting.
BTW although guides/private drivers make life easier in some ways, they're really not necessary - you'll meet people en route round Rajasthan and the buses between the Rajasthani cities are fine, if you get the 'tourist' buses (ie where you're guaranteed a seat) it's still very reasonable, about 150 rs for a six/seven hour trip. Reply to this

Firstly, What is the difference between New Delhi and Old Delhi?

Here is an update of my route:
Delhi (New and Old), Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Baratpur, Agra, Orccha, Varanasi, Gorakhpur - Nepal.

Apparently it is possible to catch a ride up the river ganges from somewhere near orccha to varanasi. Anyone heard anything about that?

I am hoping to do some volunteer work somewhere along the way. Anyone know of any good volunteer teams i could join? Where is good to volunteer?

:D Ozzy
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Hi Ozzy,
Your trip routes are perfect. There many trains from Delhi to jaipur, Jaipur to agra, Agra to varanasi, varanasi to gorakhpur, From gorakhpur you need to go to sunauli border and from there you can find bus to Kathmandu.

This trip is very nice and simple. I don't think that you need a guide for this trip. You can book the ticket online of the train on the website www.irctc.co.in/ and check the details about trains on www.indianrail.gov.in/

Vijay(indian)
MIB School of management,
Italy

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Hey Vijay,

Can you provide some info in regards to the indian rail pass. From other blogs etc i have read, someone recommended getting Indirail pass (I would be looking at 15day pass).

From June 27 - July 14 We travel from bangalore to kerala then make our way up the west coast to Mumbai - fly to Delhi and do Agra, Jaipur and back to Delhi. we want to do most by train to see the country (and avoid the crazyness of the roads in India...ha ha)

Would this be the best choice (and how do I book this) or is it easier to just make the reservation and pay as we need the train??
Also, would you recommend talking to a travel agent before I leave Bangalore?

Thanks for your help. Andrea. Reply to this

hi nzoozzy....th new delhi and old delhi distance is 6 km ....and about volunteer if u cuming to bangalore i am there to help u can provide my cell no: if u land in india just ring me i will be there to help u.....suhan Reply to this