[torryquine]

Well, the flights are booked.  So comments please, on our rough itinerary for March 09.

We arrive into Delhi in the early hours of Sunday 8th March then:

Jaipur for four days - including the elephant festival on the 10th and Holi on the 11th,
Udaipur 2 days
Jodhpur 2 days
Jaisalmer four days - including a camel trek

...........

Amritsar - hopefully see the Wagga border ceremony too
Chandigargh (rock garden)
Rishikesh 2 days - maybe a bit of rafting
Corbett 2-3 days
Delhi - leaving early hours of April 1st (hahaha)

In all, about 24 days.

It all goes a bit vague in the middle - should we go from Jaisalmer to Amritsar via Bikaner (obvious), or the Shekhawati region (more appealing but is it

doable?)

How long do we need in Amritsar and Chandigarh?  Anything else worth a detour in between?  

Is it worth going on to Almora for a day or two after Corbett?  Are the views good at that time of year or not?

Anything else we should sqeeze in?

[jyotirmoy]

I would reccomend exploring the Shekhawati region.
One day is enough for Chandigarh.
You may think of cutting short your stay at Corbett for a day and visit either Binsar or Chakori. There is one place near Almora called Sitlakhet, the view from here is simply awsome.

[iwanttogoback]

if all you want to see in chandigarh is the rock garden, then allow a good half day just for that.  there is some decent shopping, but not much else unless you like modernist architecture. (don't tell anybody, but i preferred the rock garden )

[cyberhippie]

Torry have you already seen Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur?? If not well worth a stopover between Udaipur and Jodhpur.
Whilst in Amritsar be sure to see the Mata Durga temple, a real oddity and well worth seeing. The Wagah border ceremony is a gas, India Zindibad.........

Jyoti Da are the views available in the Kumaon early March? I think your taking a chance at this time of year. we were there late March and saw the mountains once in 3 weeks.
Perhaps a Day at Rajiji National park would be a better bet (elephants in the wild) or Nainital, which is also quite unusual if a little crowded.
Or as it's just as close to Corbett why not try Jageshwar, which will blow you away and offers some great views from old Jageshwar.

Did you read my blog on Jageshwar Torry, if not have a look and you'll see where I'm coming from.

Happy Travels

[torryquine]

Thankyou all for your helpful advice, we'll look into your suggestions, but Shekhawati is certainly on the cards now.  Jyoti Da, we will catch up with you in Delhi hopefully.

[torryquine]

This is how it looks now:
Delhi 2 nights, 1 day
Mandawa 1 night, 1 day
Jaipur - Elephant Festival, Holi, Amer Fort and the main sites - 3 nights, 3 days
Chitorgargh - 2 nights, 1 day
Udaipur - what should we see in 1 night, 1 day?
Ranakpur (thanks for the tip CH) on the way to:
Jodhpur - 2 nights,1 day (Merangargh of course)
Jaisalmer - 2 nights, 2 days (Camels in the desert and all that)
Bikaner including the Karni Mata - we think we'd be ok with the rats! - 1 night, 1 day
Train to:
Chandigargh (the gardens and architecture) 1 night, 1 day
Day train to:
Amritsar - 1 night, 1 day  - Golden Temple and Jalianwallagh Bagh obviously, Waggagh Border ceremony if current tensions permit (our agent/friend is unsure)
Overnight train to:
Haridwar - 2 nights, 1 day - rafting and the Aarti
Rishikesh - 1 day
Corbet - 3 nights, 2 days
Delhi - 1 night, 1 day

That's pretty much fixed.  The sightseeing is not.  What should we not miss in any of these places, or on the way?
Other than the train journeys we're doing everything by car so we can be flexible about routes.  Also, a lot of traveling in between places - it's the sort of breakneck tour we usually do, but we like to fill every minute, so what should we see on our journeys?

Delhi we feel we know now, and will spend the time catching up with friends, book-shopping and buying specs!  Will you be around Jyoti Da? We would love a meetup before we leave. We are booked for dinner on our first night, but have effectively two nights on our way out, as our flight is early hours.

Edited by torryquine, 15 January 2009 - 05:12 AM.

[jyotirmoy]

The itinerary looks fine. Include Kumbhalgarh and if possible spend a night there. You may read my pieces in the Dynasty of the Sun thread since you are visiting Rajasthan.
I have no plan to leave Delhi in March so we can meet and have dinner.

[iwanttogoback]

tq

do you remember that picture i uploaded elsewhere of all the silk? it's in jodphur, and there's floors and floors of it. i will dig up the details tonight. the market was pretty cool and i bought quite a few spices and some lovely teas (all of which i managed to get past australian quarantine - no mean feat i assure you). i think the lassi store by the clock tower is fairly obligatory, i certainly remember them and would recommend them.

in chandigarh definitely the rock garden. unless you are a real architecture buff, you can probably content yourself with looking around the outside of the corb buildings (getting permission to go inside can take hours, and you don't really get to see a whole lot more. the shopping in sector 22 (i think, will check later) was pretty good.

[torryquine]

Cool, great tips all.

[iwanttogoback]

shopping in sector 17 of chandigarh, an amazing variety of shops, and lots of quality items.

i think the textile place is the maharani art government emporium (check lonely planet for contact details). absolute bliss, even if you're not buying.

[torryquine]

Thanks very much for that.  It's questionable how much time we'll have though, given our ussal crazy itinerary.  I've a feeling we may be staying near the sector 17 though, I'll check tonight.

[kullukid]

Have a great time TQ. If you want somewhere quiet & shanti to stay while in Amritsar try Mrs Bhandari's GH, it's in a very peaceful location with outdoor swimming pool. If you stay in the older part the rooms are full of art-deco furniture.

http://www.ashextour..._guesthouse.htm

http://bhandari_gues...com/gallery.htm

Also try & visit Golden Temple through the day & at night when it's all illuminated.
KK

[Somerset]

kullukid, on Jan 15 2009, 01:23 PM, said:

Have a great time TQ. If you want somewhere quiet & shanti to stay while in Amritsar try Mrs Bhandari's GH, it's in a very peaceful location with outdoor swimming pool. If you stay in the older part the rooms are full of art-deco furniture.

http://www.ashextour..._guesthouse.htm

http://bhandari_gues...com/gallery.htm

Also try & visit Golden Temple through the day & at night when it's all illuminated.
KK

KK, great to see you back on the tree. I stayed at Mrs. Bhandari's a few years ago and was a bit disappointed. I thought it was overpriced for the quality. Only stayed one night, however, and spent most of the non-sleeping time in town and at the Waga. Might have missed out on the famous ambiance.

[kullukid]

Somerset, on Jan 15 2009, 01:40 PM, said:

KK, great to see you back on the tree. I stayed at Mrs. Bhandari's a few years ago and was a bit disappointed. I thought it was overpriced for the quality. Only stayed one night, however, and spent most of the non-sleeping time in town and at the Waga. Might have missed out on the famous ambiance.

Hi Somerset, nice to know i'm missed!!   I haven't had much time for forums recently,been busy learning Hindi & trying to get fit before my impending trip to Kailash/Mansaraovar in May.

I stayed in the old original part at Mrs B's which I thought was great, however the modern concrete block didn't look too inviting. It isn't the cheapest by any means, I just turned up unannounced & managed to get a Rs300 reduction after a bit of haggling. KK

[Somerset]

kullukid, on Jan 15 2009, 02:40 PM, said:

Hi Somerset, nice to know i'm missed!!   I haven't had much time for forums recently,been busy learning Hindi & trying to get fit before my impending trip to Kailash/Mansaraovar in May.

You have been missed, indeed! good luck with your mental and physical preparation!

[torryquine]

Thanks for the hotel tips.  I believe we are already booked for the rather uninspiring looking MK Hotel, which the LP describe as "sparkling" (which probably means we wont like it much).  But hey-ho, our agents have booked us some gorgeous looking places in Rajastan (we don't often slum it...;-)).  And they've got us into the Forest Lodge at Dhikala for Corbett, which I believe is the best location and not easy to get a booking for.

[torryquine]

kullukid, on Jan 15 2009, 02:40 PM, said:

I haven't had much time for forums recently,been busy learning Hindi & trying to get fit before my impending trip to Kailash/Mansaraovar in May.

Good luck with that too KK.  I've been working on the Hindi a little myself, but should also address the fitness levels!

[torryquine]

iwanttogoback, on Jan 15 2009, 12:09 PM, said:

shopping in sector 17 of chandigarh, an amazing variety of shops, and lots of quality items.

i think the textile place is the maharani art government emporium (check lonely planet for contact details). absolute bliss, even if you're not buying.

We are stying in sector 17 - danger!   

[iwanttogoback]

where are you staying in chandigarh?

[torryquine]

iwanttogoback, on Jan 16 2009, 10:18 AM, said:

where are you staying in chandigarh?

The Shivalik View

http://www.citcochan...kview/index.php

Again, possibly a bit glossy for our tastes, but I don't think Chittorgargh has too many of the heritage properties we prefer.