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First time to India advice

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    I have always wanted to travel to India, my wife included, but don't know enough about it to start really making the right kinds of plans. We'd like to stay in the nicest places as possible, but we also really want to see everything there is to see. Is it possible to do both well?

    If you have recommendations, or a basic itinerary we could follow we could really use the advice.

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    farley, unfortunately, i had only a quick stay at the park hyatt goa which was impeccable. i am sure to head back sometime in the near future to discover kashmeer with a friend of mine who stems from there.

    Thanks from: farley
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    India is so huge that seeing it all in a 10 day trip is a disservice to yourself. You should determine what area you would like to visit. If it's your first trip, you may want to do the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan, New Delhi thing. Bear in mind the weather; winter is the best time to visit. Southern India is wonderful; we spent two weeks on the east coast a few winters ago. Let me know what interests you.

    Thanks from: farley
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    I agree with WHS that you need to concentrate your plans if you only have ten days. But that ten days will feel like a month in terms of experiences!

    My advice would be to fly to Delhi, and spend a full day there before going by train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. You should stay the night there so that you can see it at sunrise. Then return to Delhi and join the Palace on Wheels (http://palacewheels.com/india/maps.html) and take the upper route out to Jaipur and Jodphur and across the desert to Jaiselmer. It's an eight-day run including the return to Delhi, and so you should have just enough time.You get out and see wonderful places at each of the stops, but are beautifully looked after when you return to the train. I know no one who doesn't rate it as one of the finest trips of their lives!

    Thanks from: farley
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    These are all excellent and helpful suggestions. Following WHS's advice, we will likely wait until next winter to avoid the monsoons before we go.

    I like the sounds of Herry's itinerary. It seems very well thought out. I have been considering The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra as a hotel option near the Taj Mahal. Any reason why that wouldn't be a good idea? Or any other options worth looking at?

    Herry, I had heard about the Palace on Wheels many many years ago. I think I may have read about it in National Geographic to tell you the truth. Thank you for reminding me about that as a possibility. To be honest, I wasn't sure if it was still in operation.

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    I would always chose the Oberoi or the Taj if there's one nearby. I haven't stayed at that one, but it's sure to be good, and the food's usually better than the Taj's..

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    I would also include Varanasi on a north India trip--when you sail the Ganges at dawn, you feel 3000 years of civilization piled up in one place.

    In New Delhi, you might consider the Imperial, an old art deco hotel built in the style of Luytens, the city's designer. http://www.theimperialindia.com/home.htm

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    An Indian friend told me this week that the Palace on Wheels is booked up for months - if not years - ahead, but that there are trains based on a similar concept now running from Jaipur and Bombay (Mumbai) as well as others from Delhi. I haven't researched it further except to find this website http://www.luxurytrainsofindia.com/ which appears to have most of them listed.

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    November till Feb/March is the best time to visit India - specially if you are planning to visit the North and West India. Some places I would recommend in Rajasthan:
    - Aman-I-Khas or VanyaVilas @ Ranthambore (wild life sanctury)
    - Ram Bagh @ Jaipur
    - UdaiVilas @ Udaipur
    - Desert Safari in Jodhpur

    You can then nicely round it up with a couple of days in Delhi [Imperial is a good option, as is Trident Hilton in Gurgaon], and Wildflower Hall @ Mashobra (Shimla - HillStation)

    Have a great trip! :)

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    India as a destination is as diverse as its language, culture, religion, landscape and climate. Taj Mahal, which feature amid the Seven Wonders of the World, still tops the list of tourist attractions in India. Rajasthan, the land of kings and princes, is peppered with the forts and palaces reflecting the glory and the splendor of the past. Kolkata is a Great Place of Interest. Bengali culture has developed there.
    Fly to Delhi and stay there for at least 3-4 nights. Visit Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur with its Amber Port. Make a side trip to Agra to see Taj Mahal. Take a train to Jhansi and drive to Khajuraho to see the world-famous Khajuraho Temples with their erotic carvings.
    Visit Kolkata, the capital of India in British time. This will cover Northern part of India from East to West. In my opnon, in oder to have the best planned trip you need to put yourself in expert hands, who can create and handle your vacation from its planning stages until your return. I can suggest you a tour operator you can book your trip with. Orient Flexi Pax Tours: www.orientflexipax.com/. They offer the most exclusive hotels and the private escorted limousine tours for the descrmnating traveler. I booked my trip to Vietam with them, and it was a great experience. You can also try Greaves Tours: www.greavesindia.com. Good luck with your planning!

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