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June 5 Delhi June 5 Delhi
June 6 Delhi June 6 Delhi
June 7 train to Shimla June 7 train to Shimla
June 8 Shimla June 8 Shimla
June 9 Shimla June 9 Shimla
June 10 Shimla June 10 Shimla
June 11 bus to Manali June 11 bus to Manali
June 12 Manali June 12 Manali
June 13 Manali June 13 Manali
June 14 Manali June 14 bus to Delhi
June 15 Manali June 15 train to Varanasi
June 16 bus to Haridwar June 16 Varanasi
June 17 Haridwar June 17 Varanasi
June 18 Haridwar June 18 Train to Agra
June 19 Rishikesh June 19 Agra
June 20 Rishikesh June 20 train to Haridwar
June 21 Mussoorie June 21 Rishikesh
June 22 Mussoorie June 22 Rishikesh
June 23 Mussoorie June 23 Rishikesh
June 24 Haridwar J une 24 Haridwar
June 25 train to Delhi, leave 10:45 pm
Observations:
1) Shimla is criminally overrated. I woke up at six o'clock in the morning on the first day I was there and was bored by 1 pm. I quickly regretted paying the hotel in advance to stay there the full three days. I tried watching people at Scandal Point, but that got boring in a hurry, and it was hot up there as well. I killed a half day drinking at the Cecil, and spent a day walking to the Himachal Museum, which wasn't worth the walk. On the third day I took a HP Tourism full day tour that was a complete dud. We went to a HPTD hotel, then to a small animal park, and then to a golf course at Naheldra (sp?). I spoke with a lot of people (Westerners) about Shimla and the consensus was the same: Shimla's probably nice if you're an Indian on the plains taking a short vacation but if you're going to travel half way around the world to see India under no circumstances should Shimla be a priority. The toy train ride up, is worthwhile.
I did love Baljee's breakfasts as well.
2) Manali is awesome, and I loved staying in Vashisht. The Hotel Arohi was an outstanding deal and the owner was very flexible with me. Vashisht was so vibrant and had so much character (I'm clean, just in case you're wondering) in their restaurants and "sitting places"- I spent a lot of time at the Blue Heaven and ate there frequently. There were so many temples and gompas to explore, and we also did a full day trip to the Rohtang Pass (I made some Australian friends).
3) I picked up traveling with the Aussies and went with them to Varanasi. Varanasi was hot, and miserable at times but it was still worth it. We awoke early to catch boat rides and napped during the heat of the day, even though our air-conditioner at Scindhia Guest House only worked from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am at best. Seeing the ghats on the boat tours (both at dawn and dusk) was memorable. The burning ghat was also fascinating.
The Scindhia Guest House was a good accommodation but Kush and Co. will nickel and dime you to death.
4) I can't believe I wasn't going to see the Taj Mahal.
5) I had to split from my Aussie friends after Agra because they were going to South India and I had to stay local for my return flight out of Delhi. I went on to Rishikesh as planned. It was interesting but I spent a little bit too much time there because I wasn't doing any yoga or an ashram stay. Anyway, Lonely Planet recommends Swarg Ashram as the "best vibes" in town (yeah, whatever the hell that means!) Green Hotel was a nice accommodation but it lacked anything to do after dark, and everything that is available in Swarg Ashram is available in Lakshman Juhla, and there are more Westerners staying in High Bank. My point is there is no real benefit to staying in Swarg Ashram-go elsewhere-unless you feel the good vibes of the beggars and dark alleys Haridwar had few foreigners and I did little except hike to the Mansa Devi Temple- someone told me I was headed for the cable car but by the time I got around to realizing I was on the hike it was pointless to turn back.
I started to do the evening ceremony at Har-Ki-Pari Ghat, but then I was told I had to check my boots because the ceremony requires all to be barefoot. I skipped it because I didn't want the hassle of waiting to get them back in a scrum of people late at night.
6) The way Indian people litter is disgusting. I guess you really can't blame them because there almost never seemed to be a garbage can in sight.
7) Many Indians were polite and conversational and liked to take pictures of me, and they really loved to photograph the two Australian girls I was travelling with.
8) I realized that I'm not the fearless intrepid traveler I thought I was and that I am better suited for traveling with other people. When I return someday, I'll bring somebody along.
9) Travelling sleeper class wasn't so bad, in comparison to 2AC.
Edited by bjrobe72, 28 June 2006 - 02:32 AM.
