India - Golden Triangle and Kerala
Discussion
Heading out to India in August for 15 or so days, have 5/6 days in the 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra and around 8 days in Kerala.
What should I do/see and where should I stay/eat?
I've booked it on a bit of a whim so not really done much research! Be great to hear of any experiences either good or bad
What should I do/see and where should I stay/eat?
I've booked it on a bit of a whim so not really done much research! Be great to hear of any experiences either good or bad
I have just returned from 3 days in New Delhi on business...thought it was an absolute dump. Filthy, grotty armpit of a city but then I didn't have the time to see any of the attractions. I did however sample the delights of Indian cuisine at its finest and have returned home without the thrupenny bits, which is a massive relief. The advice I took was eat vegetarian and anything that could have been washed or touched running water should be avoided.
I stayed at The Grand in Vasant Kunj - overpriced for what it was. The most amazing meal I had was in the Leela Hotel at the Jamavar restaurant....sensational. I was was taken there by two locals that rated it as one of the best restaurants in New Delhi at the moment.
Can't help with anything else but I'm sure there must be an upside to all the crap, oh and the driving is something else.
Good luck!
I stayed at The Grand in Vasant Kunj - overpriced for what it was. The most amazing meal I had was in the Leela Hotel at the Jamavar restaurant....sensational. I was was taken there by two locals that rated it as one of the best restaurants in New Delhi at the moment.
Can't help with anything else but I'm sure there must be an upside to all the crap, oh and the driving is something else.
Good luck!
996nick said:
I'll be interested in the responses too - I am going to Agra/Jaipur/Shimla in October.
You'll be wanting to see the Taj Mahal, and Red Fort which I think are Agra way.
I am going up the mountain hill railway to Shimla (I am travelling with my Dad who is keen on this!).
shimla is nice. nice and coolYou'll be wanting to see the Taj Mahal, and Red Fort which I think are Agra way.
I am going up the mountain hill railway to Shimla (I am travelling with my Dad who is keen on this!).
I am in udiapur as we speak having done Delhi,Amritsar,Agra Jaipur,tomorrow back to delhi.
It has been magic,but travel is a bit of a problem train tickets need booking well in advance and 400km in car took 11 hours so give that some thought.
Hotels have been good and mostly very reasonable give the well known chains a miss you miss out on indian character
Everything is cheap and good,haggle for everything,be relaxed.
A driver for 10 days has cost 25000 rupees about 375 pounds but he has been great and a good guide
sorry this is brief I return on 15th will write a report for the guys who helped on my earlier thread
It has been magic,but travel is a bit of a problem train tickets need booking well in advance and 400km in car took 11 hours so give that some thought.
Hotels have been good and mostly very reasonable give the well known chains a miss you miss out on indian character
Everything is cheap and good,haggle for everything,be relaxed.
A driver for 10 days has cost 25000 rupees about 375 pounds but he has been great and a good guide
sorry this is brief I return on 15th will write a report for the guys who helped on my earlier thread
I did a tour last October including the Golden Triangle. Saw some amazing stuff. The highlights for me were:
Delhi - Lutyens’ India Gate, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, the Jama Mosque, the Red Fort.
Agra - Agra Fort, Taj Mahal. Itmad-Daula, the tomb of Ghiyas Beg, the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble and inlaid with stones.
Outside of Agra, couple of hours drive - Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned town, very ornate, fantastic place
Jaipur - Amber Fort, the City Palace
Amritsar - Wagah Border Point for the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony, The Golden Temple - saw this both during the day and at night, also visited the Temple's kitchen (a vast place full of noise and fantastic cooking smells)
Shimla - Vice Regal Lodge. Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan. The trip on the toy train is something to behold, the bridge building is fantastic. Shimla itself is reminscent of somewhere like Chester or Welwyn. But it can get quite cold at night.
If you want any more info PM me.
Delhi - Lutyens’ India Gate, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, the Jama Mosque, the Red Fort.
Agra - Agra Fort, Taj Mahal. Itmad-Daula, the tomb of Ghiyas Beg, the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble and inlaid with stones.
Outside of Agra, couple of hours drive - Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned town, very ornate, fantastic place
Jaipur - Amber Fort, the City Palace
Amritsar - Wagah Border Point for the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony, The Golden Temple - saw this both during the day and at night, also visited the Temple's kitchen (a vast place full of noise and fantastic cooking smells)
Shimla - Vice Regal Lodge. Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan. The trip on the toy train is something to behold, the bridge building is fantastic. Shimla itself is reminscent of somewhere like Chester or Welwyn. But it can get quite cold at night.
If you want any more info PM me.
Thanks for all of the information guys - so far we have around a week to do what we wish around Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. We then fly from Delhi to Kochi.
I have booked a villa in Kannur, northern Kerala for 8 days at the end of August. I think its about 300km from Kochi - train seems to be the best method of travel. By car im told its about 8 hours, by train around 5/6 hours in more comfort. Any advice on booking trains? As said above tickets seem to have to be booked in advance and the number/variation of classes is quite confusing! Any tips there?
Any tips of things to do/see around Kannur? We plan to mostly relax and probably take a backwater trip but not much more. Just enjoy the food and surroundings.
Great tips on what to do around Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Does anyone know of a reasonable and reasonably cheap hotel near to Delhi airport as we have an early morning flight out and therefore could do with sleeping close by!
Thanks
I have booked a villa in Kannur, northern Kerala for 8 days at the end of August. I think its about 300km from Kochi - train seems to be the best method of travel. By car im told its about 8 hours, by train around 5/6 hours in more comfort. Any advice on booking trains? As said above tickets seem to have to be booked in advance and the number/variation of classes is quite confusing! Any tips there?
Any tips of things to do/see around Kannur? We plan to mostly relax and probably take a backwater trip but not much more. Just enjoy the food and surroundings.
Great tips on what to do around Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Does anyone know of a reasonable and reasonably cheap hotel near to Delhi airport as we have an early morning flight out and therefore could do with sleeping close by!
Thanks
Just wrote a load of stuff which disappeared before I hit submit, just off to work now but hopefully will be able to re-write it tomorrow.
Spent 6 weeks "working" in Kerala and 4 weeks travelling around North India in 2010.
Clear Trip the best way to book trains www.cleartrip.com/trains , often booked up in advance (sometimes months before) but they have a waiting list and you often get on the train from that.
Seat 61 explains the classes well www.seat61.com/India.htm, basically for long trips 2AC or 3AC or AC Chair Class are the berths / seats we used and suited us fine.
Spent 6 weeks "working" in Kerala and 4 weeks travelling around North India in 2010.
Clear Trip the best way to book trains www.cleartrip.com/trains , often booked up in advance (sometimes months before) but they have a waiting list and you often get on the train from that.
Seat 61 explains the classes well www.seat61.com/India.htm, basically for long trips 2AC or 3AC or AC Chair Class are the berths / seats we used and suited us fine.
Have you considered a trip up into the ghats east of Kerala ? So Coorg or maybe Wayanand ?
We came into Kerala that way, coming from Mysore and stayed longer than planned. You can get a train from Coorg to Kannur. Probably need to be a bus from Kochi (not a very confortable one if memory serves).
Cool lush green hills. Tea, coffee, pepper and all manner of spices grow there.
We came into Kerala that way, coming from Mysore and stayed longer than planned. You can get a train from Coorg to Kannur. Probably need to be a bus from Kochi (not a very confortable one if memory serves).
Cool lush green hills. Tea, coffee, pepper and all manner of spices grow there.
gonzales said:
I did a tour last October including the Golden Triangle. Saw some amazing stuff. The highlights for me were:
Delhi - Lutyens’ India Gate, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, the Jama Mosque, the Red Fort.
Agra - Agra Fort, Taj Mahal. Itmad-Daula, the tomb of Ghiyas Beg, the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble and inlaid with stones.
Outside of Agra, couple of hours drive - Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned town, very ornate, fantastic place
Jaipur - Amber Fort, the City Palace
Amritsar - Wagah Border Point for the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony, The Golden Temple - saw this both during the day and at night, also visited the Temple's kitchen (a vast place full of noise and fantastic cooking smells)
Shimla - Vice Regal Lodge. Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan. The trip on the toy train is something to behold, the bridge building is fantastic. Shimla itself is reminscent of somewhere like Chester or Welwyn. But it can get quite cold at night.
If you want any more info PM me.
Sorry thought I'd ask this in open forum as it maybe helpful to others.Delhi - Lutyens’ India Gate, Parliament House, Raj Ghat, the Jama Mosque, the Red Fort.
Agra - Agra Fort, Taj Mahal. Itmad-Daula, the tomb of Ghiyas Beg, the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble and inlaid with stones.
Outside of Agra, couple of hours drive - Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned town, very ornate, fantastic place
Jaipur - Amber Fort, the City Palace
Amritsar - Wagah Border Point for the ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony, The Golden Temple - saw this both during the day and at night, also visited the Temple's kitchen (a vast place full of noise and fantastic cooking smells)
Shimla - Vice Regal Lodge. Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan. The trip on the toy train is something to behold, the bridge building is fantastic. Shimla itself is reminscent of somewhere like Chester or Welwyn. But it can get quite cold at night.
If you want any more info PM me.
I have heard that you cannot buy Rupees before you go - you have to get them out there..I am sure this cant be right, but comment from anyone who knows the position would be much appreciated.
Indian Ruppee is not a freely convertible currency. So they have limits on how much of the currency goes out of the country. Easiest way is to change at the indian airport and further currency exchanges are available at any large hotel and bank within the cities. ATM's also are widely available to withdraw in INR.
We are doing a bit of travel by train - overnight sleeper and mountain railway to Shimla IIRC. Should be..interesting...Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff