[cyberhippie]

Anogenic, getting stuck for two weeks anywhere in India just won't happen, so don't fret. having said that if you throw together a rough itinersry there's nothing to stop you booking ahead for those long journeys like the Orchha Goa stretch and the Gokarne to Ernakulem.

Actually I was just thinking the line to Kathkodem is closed at the moment so getting the bus would be a better ide than the train.
Do the Delhi guys know when this line is due to open again??

My photo gallery has pics of many the places I and other have mentioned might give you a feel for the places.

Goneindia photos

For the mountain part have a look at my blog

[KABAARY]

Quote

Nainital (Indian Holiday spot with quite a bit of charm, probably the nicest of the bigger hill stations

Different strokes for different people but am certainly surprised to read this - it being the nicest that is...

[Anogenic]

Thanks for the replies!

I've got a rough itinerary for my time in the north, sort of a big circle around Delhi before heading south, but now I'm wondering which direction to do it in? I was initially thinking:

Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Lucknow-(Delhi?)-Hardwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun-Chandigarh-Shimla-(Delhi?)-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Jaipur

but now I'm thinking doing it in the other direction is also an option....

Somehow the first direction makes more sense because I can then go directly down from Jodhpur or Jaipur to Mumbai, but the other direction might be better to ease myself in to India for my first trip, I've been hearing Agra & Varanasi can be a bit too much to start off with... Any suggestions?

[iwanttogoback]

in my very humble opinion, i would not do agra or varanasi early on, they really are in your face, in different ways. although if you survive delhi you will probably be fine.

other opinions?

[kullukid]

Anogenic, on Oct 10 2008, 01:15 AM, said:

but now I'm thinking doing it in the other direction is also an option....

I'd suggest heading for the hills first before it gets too cold. I don't want to confuse your itinerary but how about;

Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Dehradun-Hardwar-Rishikesh-Lucknow-Varanasi-Khajuraho-Delhi-Agra-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Jaipur
You could skip going back to Delhi twice if you went from Rishi/Haridwar to Lucknow then onto Varanasi. There is also a very interesting road/route from Khajuraho to Rajasthan. KK