Indian trips. 24 days.
Spring trip. Leave in May, return in June.
Highlights: Major sights in New Delhi and Agra (including Taj Mahal and Bahá’í House of Worship). Religious cities along the Ganges of Haridwar and Rishikesh. Hiking up to the Valley of Flowers National Park at 3,000 meters elevation. Riding a train across northern India between Siliguri and New Delhi. The train from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Gangtok in Sikkim.
Day 1. Travel to New Delhi
Night 1. In a hotel in South Delhi
Day 2. Stroll through the Lodi Gardens. Visit Humayun’s Tomb.
Night 2. Second night in South Delhi hotel.
Day 3. Bahá’í House of Worship.
Night 3. Third night in South Delhi hotel.
Day 4. Shatabdi Express (rail) to Agra. Agra (Red) Fort and the I’timad-ud Daulah
Night 4. Night in Agra.
Day 5. Taj Mahal and return to Delhi.
Night 5. In New Delhi
Day 6. Shatabdi Express (rail) to Haridwar (4.5 hours). Walk around Haridwar
Night 6. Night in Haridwar.
Day 7. Bus to Rishikesh. Walk around Rishikesh.
Night 7. In Rishikesh.
Day 8. Bus travel up 253 kilometers (10 hours) from Rishikesh to Joshimath.
Night 8. In Joshimath.
Day 9. Bus to Govindghat (20 kilometers, 1 hour), then hike 14 kilometers to Ghangharia
Night 9. In Ghangharia (reservations must be made) at Merry Lodge or Tourist Lodge.
Day 10. Walk two miles up to Valley of Flowers and spend the day there.
Night 10. Second night in GMVN Tourist Rest House or Merry Lodge in Ghangaria
Day 11. Bus from Ghangaria to Joshimath, and then the 10 hour bus to Rishikesh.
Night 11. Rishikesh.
Day 12. Bus and/or train from Rishikesh to Delhi.
Night 12. Delhi.
Day 13. Fly from Delhi to Bagdogra (near Siliguri) and have time in Siliguri.
Night 13. Siliguri.
Day 14. Take the toy train from Siliguri to Darjeeling (12 hours for 82 kilometers)
Night 14. Darjeeling.
Day 15. Darjeeling
Night 15. Another night in Darjeeling.
Day 16. Bus to Gangtok, Sikkim.
Night 16. Gangtok
Day 17. Gangtok.
Night 17. Gangtok.
Day 18. Day trip to Rumtek.
Night 18. Gangtok
Day 19. Day trip to Phodong.
Night 19. Gangtok.
Day 20. Morning bus to Siliguri and Bagdogra (5 hours).
Night 20. On the Northeast Express (departs 5:25 p.m.)
Day 21. See North India from a first class air conditioned sleeper on the Northeast Express.
Night 21. Arrive in Delhi around 10:00 p.m. and go to hotel.
Day 22. Qutb Minar complex south of Delhi
Night 22. Last night in India in Delhi.
Day 23. Return to the States.
Winter trip. Leave in December, return in January.
Highlights: Mumbai (Bombay). Historic areas of Portuguese Goa. Bangalore. Bannerghatta National Park. Mysore's Amber Vilas City Palace. Srirangapatnam. Kochi (Cochin). Backwater tour from Kollam. Beach at Varkala.
Day 1. Travel to Mumbai (Bombay)
Night 1. In the Taj Mahal or Taj Mahal Intercontinental hotel near the Gateway of India.
Day 2. Day of rest. Perhaps visit the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Victoria Gardens.
Night 2. Second night in the Taj.
Day 3. Take a city tour(Price of Wales Museum, Jain temple, Hanging Gardens, etc.)
Night 3. Third night in the Taj.
Day 4. Train from Mumbai to Margao, Goa (12 hours)
Night 4. Margao, Goa.
Day 5. Day in Margao, Goa
Night 5. Second night in Margao, Goa
Day 6. Bus to Panaji (Panjim), Goa.
Night 6. Panaji
Day 7. Day in Panaji (Panjim)
Night 7. Second night in Panaji.
Day 8. Tour of Old Goa.
Night 8. Third night in Panaji.
Day 9. Morning at beaches. Afternoon to Vasco Da Gama.
Night 9. Vasco Bangalore Express (leaves around 9:10 p.m., and the ride is 15.5 hours)
Day 10. Early afternoon arrival in Bangalore.
Night 10. Bangalore
Day 11. Half-day tour of Bangalore. More time at Lalbagh Gardens, Government museum.
Night 11. Second night in Bangalore
Day 12. Day trip to Bannerghatta National Park.
Night 12. Third night in Bangalore.
Day 13. Shabati Express to Mysore (10:55 a.m., 2 hours) Afternoon in Mysore.
Night 13. Mysore.
Day 14. Tour of Mysore.
Night 14. Second night in Mysore.
Day 15. Day trip to Srirangapatnam.
Night 15. Third night in Mysore.
Day 16. A 7-8 hour bus ride from Mysore to Thrissur (Trichur) in Kerela.
Night 16. In Thrissur, Kerela.
Day 17. Thrissur in morning. Two-hour train or bus to Kochi (Cochin)
Night 17. Kochi.
Day 18. Kochi.
Night 18. Second night in Kochi
Day 19. Morning in Kochi. Afternoon, about 4 hours by train or bus from Kochi to Kollam.
Night 19. Night in Kollam
Day 20. Backwaters tour from Kollam
Night 20. Second night in Kollam
Day 21. Bus or train to Varkala (about 1 hour). Swim in Indian Ocean.
Night 21. Night in Varkala
Day 22. Morning in Varkala. Afternoon us or train (about 1 hour) to Thiruvananthpuram (Trivandrum).
Night 22. Hotel near airport Thiruvananthpuram (Trivandrum)
Day 23. Fly back from Thiruvananthpuram (Trivandrum) to the USA
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