India Travel Answers

I'm glad you picked Amritsar. be sure to go to the Pakitstan border when you are in Amritsar to watch the flag lowering ceremony. I have links to BBC videos on my Amritsar page.   "Amritsar, One of my favorite places in India" - Amritsar by MikeySoft

Hi - welcome to VT. That does seem like alot for 10 days unless you just want to hit each place for a day? I would check some of the itineraries on cleartrip.com or makemytrip.com and customize your own based on the number of days you have. Also, take a look at www.indiamike.com. It's a "all" India travel/information site and you'll find tons of information including car & driver/houseboat recommendations. Hope you have a great time! P.S. I agree with Mike, Amritsar is fantastic.

Yes, welcome to VT.....d:o) Having travelled all over India, after Rajasthan, Kashmir is a favorite. I agree that you are trying to cram in a lot in a short time. I would stay in Srinagar at least two nights on a houseboat, and make sure that you include a boat ride on Lake Dal, but it has to be really early in the morning, at daybreak. That experience is surreal indeed. If at all possible, you should include a visit to a carpet dealer, not to buy one, unless you want one of course, but rather to witness the ancient art of selling that is displayed. It is like being transported in time back several hundred years. Best way is to find out if there is a group tour going to a carpet baazar, as the theatrics are in full effect at the prospect of an audience. If you can ignore the tour group itself, the glimpse into the distant past is quite intriguing.

Dear Friends, Thank you for taking the time to reply. I agree that all that is too much to cramp in into 10 days i guess because its india i didn't realise how distant the places are. I guess we will only focus on Jammu Kashmir and Amritsar for the moment. Honestly though i really wanted to visit the Chaar Dhaam - the four holy destinations for Hindu pilgrims. Has anyone been to any like haridwar, Varanasi, kedarnath, gangotri, jamnotri. SO for Kashmir and Amritsar what is there to do apart from the House Boat - Is the Butt's Clermont House boat a better option or the Athena group. Anyone has the contact details for the Houseboats? I found the clermont but not the athena that i read about on some forums. Point noted a boat ride on Dal lake for sure, Thank You !! What Gulmarg and Sonamarg and what else is there to do, up north. I mean safe places to visit, Please advise. I am not so keen on Leh though. Would renting a car to travel to Punjab, be a good option? Well we could stop over at other towns or villages in Punjab on the way to Amritsar. How about Chandigarh? Thank you again Mike, Donna and Erik. Have a Nice Day all. Regards, Pri

Hi Pri - Aside from spending time exploring the amazing Golden Temple Complex, there are other places to visit in Amritsar. If you like, take a look at my Amritsar page for further info - "Amritsar: A Special Place" - Amritsar by Donna_in_India. In addition to the things to do listed, visit the Durgiana Temple (& complex). I haven't done up the tips for that yet but do have some photos in my travelogues. If you are keen to visit Varanasi, then you could do that, along with Jammu Kashmir and Amritsar. Although it is a little out of the way, maybe you can fly there first? You would need to devote at least 2 full days there (preferably 3 since there are wonderful temples and sights away from the ghats as well). Maybe you would still have to spend some time in Simla? Of the Chaar Dhaam, Varanasi will probably be the easiest to get into (from Mumbai) and out of onto your next destination. You can consider driving but overnight buses may be a good option for some segments of your trip. I would say that it all depends on your final itinerary and how much time you have to spend in each place.

If you are going north, a visit to Haridwar is easy, and Rishikesh is also absolutely worth a visit. It is only about 25kms from Haridwar . Taxi could take you between the cities. Haridwar is only a 4 hour trip (by train) from Delhi. I particuarly liked Rishikesh, it it very near to where the Ganges starts from, and the river is pristine and clear, and there are small beaches along its banks there. Also famous for being the place where the Beatles went to meditate many years ago. I have a good friend in Haridwar who runs tours of northern India, and can also arrange accommodation etc. I have written pages about these two cities (also Varanasi), if you would like to know more. The LINKS are are on my homepage (click on my name for that). Please feel free to email me if you have any specific queries.

If you are going north, a visit to Haridwar is easy, and Rishikesh is also absolutely worth a visit. It is only about 25kms from Haridwar . Taxi could take you between the cities. Haridwar is only a 4 hour trip (by train) from Delhi. I particuarly liked Rishikesh, it it very near to where the Ganges starts from, and the river is pristine and clear, and there are small beaches along its banks there. Also famous for being the place where the Beatles went to meditate many years ago. I have a good friend in Haridwar who runs tours of northern India, and can also arrange accommodation etc. I have written pages about these two cities (also Varanasi), if you would like to know more. The LINKS are are on my homepage (click on my name for that). Please feel free to email me if you have any specific queries.

Do be advised regarding the heat in North India during June. It could touch 43 degrees (109.4 degrees F) and there is no ocean to cool the city like in Mumbai. You could fly straight into and out of Srinagar (plenty of security), enjoy there and experience Gulmarg and the gondola ride also; fly into Delhi and then do Amritsar by car. Perhaps, from Delhi you could still manage Agra (Taj Mahal) within the 10 days' alloted for your holiday by you. Yes, Chandigarh is a lovely place to visit, one of the only planned city in the chaos that is India!

Hii Priyana Welcome to North India specially decision for Punjab- Amritsar.I am fully agreed with Mike,Donna, Erik I am located very nearer to Amritsar. My suggestion for visiting North India *Flight from Mumbai to Delhi *Take Shatabdi Fast A/c train from Delhi to Amritsar direct. Stay at Amritsar and enjoy India Pakistan Border Flag Ceremony every day evening time. *Next day move for Punjab and i am here to take care of you SPECIALLY for stay at Typical Punjabi village or village of Himachal Pradesh Hill area. Himachal is called "DEV BHUMI" it is pilgrim destination and located at Hills. * after that you can plan to kashmir which is the same route from punjab. So it is the worth visit in one trip for North India. If you wish can contact me. I am by profession Manager working with automobile company. Thanks for posting your views. Anil Mathur

Agree with all the posters above for 10 days Kashmir and Amritsar would be enough. Day 1 - Arrive by flight from Mumbai.Overnight in Delhi.You can do a bit of sight seeing in Delhi if you want. Day 2 - Early morning train Shatabdi Express to Amritsar.Overnight Amritsar Day 3 - Amritsar Day 4 - Early morning cab to Jammu and onward flight to Srinagar. Balance days can be divided between Pahalgam / Gulmarg / Houseboat and Srinagar. And the Char Dham you were mentioning are Yamnotri / Gangotri / Kedarnath and Badrinath.These are the Himalayan Char Dhams.Varanasi is not a dham, but a popular religious place.It would take about 10 -12 days to do these Char dhams.

hey hi.. this is sameer 18 from varanasi.. it will be great of you visiting varanasi.. i would be glad to roam you around..don't worry i am not a guide em ust a student searching for some new buddies & spend quality time together when you land do let me know.. sameer.singh92@Gmail.com hope to see you soon..take care.. :)