As an avid world traveler you know how fantastic traveling is, but also that all those journeys have their effects on the world. We therefore do everything in our power to maximize the positive impact of our journeys , for example by compensating for the full CO2 of your journey. And although you usually need a plane to get to your holiday destination, you can make your journey more sustainable on the spot by consciously opting for certain types of transport, such as the bus or train. Not only better for the environment, but also a lot more fun! These are six of our favorite train and bus journeys.
1. Train by train through India
India is a large and majestic country with long distances. A good way to bridge those distances is the night train. It takes some getting used to getting to sleep in a relatively small space while the train is wobbling on all sides, but believe us: it is one of the nicest ways to travel through India. Luxury will come again at a different time, you really should have experienced this once. At the same time, it is also incredibly useful: you close your eyes and arrive in a different city the next morning. At least if you don't get talking to an Indian, because the train is an ideal place to meet people.
2.Take the Taxi in Udaipur
Ever wondered where all of our old yellow public transport Taxi have gone? Well, in Udaipur! the Taxi is a surprisingly good alternative to a rental bus and taxi service in udaipur . But then you don't travel in our 'scraps': during a tour you use very comfortable coaches, which are equipped with air conditioning and toilets and very punctual driving. Forget puzzles with maps, search for street names that are not indicated anywhere and search for the right route: from your seat you see the alternating Cubanpass by the landscape and you can easily travel from A to B (or C or D or…). There is a regular stop so that you can stretch your legs and buy a snack. And it's not only more sustainable: traveling by personal taxi is a lot cheaper, so more sustainable for your wallet. Look, that's not unimportant.
A taste of India Short India tour
Overview Including Exclusive Map
Travel schedule:
Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Delhi
Travel time:
11 days / 10 nights
This relatively short India tour is ideal for people who want to see the highlights of India in an affordable way and in a short period of time. You visit the Golden Triangle, which contains the most popular sights of northern India. You start in the pink city of Jaipur, the capital of the colorful province of Rajasthan. Then you travel to Agra, the city of the new wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal. By night train you then go to Varanasi, the city on the holy Ganges river. You close in the capital of India, Delhi.
Day 1 - Arrival in Delhi, start your short India tour
When you arrive in Delhi you will be picked up by your driver and taken to the hotel. We found it so pleasant that the arrival transfer in hectic India has already been arranged. Most flights to Delhi arrive just before or after midnight.
Your hotel is about a fifteen minute drive from the airport, so you will not spend the night during this short India tour in the middle of the busy city. We are happy to keep the chaotic Delhi for a while until the end of the journey, if you are already used to something and you can better appreciate Delhi. In this hotel you have a comfortable room. Maybe you still have time to relax in the garden or swimming pool.
Day 2 - On the way to the pink city of Jaipur
Today you will be taken to Jaipur with a 4 to 5 hour car transfer. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is also called the 'pink city'. This is because many buildings are painted in pink-orange tones. You arrive at your cozy hotel close to the old city. The rooms are beautifully designed, many with four-poster beds and traditional Indian ornaments. You sleep two nights in this quiet location, where you can cool off in the swimming pool at the end of the day.
The center of Jaipur is very lively, with people in colorful robes, camel carts, rickshaws, temples, a fort and a palace. A nice start to your tour through fascinating India.
Day 3 - Jaipur city walk and Amber fort
On the third day, a city tour is scheduled in the morning. You will visit the City Palace, the Observatory and the Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal) together with a guide. The City Palace has a number of beautiful museums, including miniature paintings in typical Indian style. If the flag hangs, the Maharaja is also at home. The Palace of the Winds is a world-famous super-narrow structure with numerous windows where the women of the harem could peek unseen into the processions in the street. Not everyone knows that you can enter through the back of the building and enjoy the view yourself.
In the afternoon you will visit the Amber Fort, just outside the city, with the guide. From the fort you have a beautiful view over the rugged hills with the impressive walls and forts that the Rajput and Moghuls have built there.
Day 4 - Via temples and nature to Agra
Today you will leave from Jaipur to Agra. There are a few sights on the route that you can visit on your own. Not far from Jaipur is the Monkey Temple of Galta. After Galta you drive about three hours before you arrive at Bharatpur. The Maharajas used to use this as a hunting ground, but nowadays it is a national park full of special bird species. It is wonderful to be in nature after the busy city. We find the best way to explore the park by bike.
The next stop is Fatehpur Sikri, also known as the Velate city. It is a collection of large temples and palaces with ruins of old houses, now inhabited by parrots and monkeys. You arrive in Agra that same evening.
Day 5 - The wonder of the world Taj Mahal
Get up extra early so that you are at the Taj Mahal for the large tourist flow.This wonder of the world was built by Shah Jahan out of love for his deceased wife.It's wonderful to see it with your own eyes.
If you still have time, you can go to the beautiful Agra Fort, also highly recommended.You can easily arrange your visit to the Taj Mahal and the fort itself from the hotel where you are staying. If you prefer a private tour with guide and transport with a driver that will take you to both places of interest, please let us know.
Day 6 Short India tour - Agra, departure night train
Today you can explore Agra yourself. The owner of the hotel certainly has some great tips for you to do in this lively city. For example, visit the Itimad-ud-Daulah tomb, better known as the 'Baby Taj' due to the same specific construction with a convex dome and shimmering white marble. Or look for nice souvenirs in the characteristic bazaars or modern Indian shopping centers. There is still plenty to do today during your short India tour.
In the evening the driver picks you up and brings you to Agra train station, where around a quarter past nine the night train leaves for Varanasi.
Day 7 - To the holy city of Varanasi
You will be picked up in the morning at the train station and taken to your hotel. Varanasi consists of an old and new part of the city, where in the old part your senses are tested on every street corner by street vendors and chaotic traffic. In the new district you will find more space and greenery. We ourselves find a stay in the old part of the city the most impressive: after all, the chaos is what most people come to Varanasi for. There are not many hotels in the old part of town, but we have found a nice authentic hotel on one of the southern ghats, right on the Ganges river. The hotel is standard and some rooms are small, but the location made up for everything. You walk straight to the river and witness all the rituals that the Indians perform on their holy mother Ganges.
Day 8 - Scenes on the Ganges
In the early morning you will sail the Ganges with a boat just before dawn. You see bathing pilgrims in the river, people brushing their teeth with the brown water or doing the laundry. You will also cruise past the cremation gats, where the dead are cremated in public. This is one of the most impressive rituals in India. The body is carried through the streets of the city to the river on loud bars. After the boat trip, a short walk with your guide through the old center of Varanasi back to your hotel.
You can enter the rest of the time in Varanasi yourself. In the evening you can attend the 'aarti' ceremony at the Ganges on your own: a special ceremony in which a group of priests thank their god, mother Ganga (the river) for life.
Day 9 - Varanasi - night train back to Delhi
Today you are free during the day to explore Varanasi yourself. You get to know the city best by wandering through the winding streets. Put your senses to the test at the shops and stalls and watch out for jingling rickshaws whizzing around ... If you want to find a quieter place in the afternoon, take a taxi to the town of Sarnath, 5 km outside of Varanasi. Sarnath is the place where Buddha was about 2500 years ago and where there is a huge stupa (temple) and some Buddhist monasteries. But there is also plenty to do in Varanasi itself.
At the end of the day there is a transfer to the train station for the night train to Delhi that leaves around 7:15 p.m.
Day 10 and 11 - Arrival Delhi, return flight home
You arrive early in the morning with the night train in New Delhi. You will be picked up by a driver at the busy train station and taken to your hotel, where you can take a nice shower and recover from the nightly ride. In the afternoon you can visit some of the sights of Delhi. You can easily arrange a transfer to Delhi airport yourself. Most flights depart after midnight. Eventually you will arrive in the Netherlands on day 11.
If you have any questions about this tour, mail or call us .Or request the trip via My Travel Plan .
“We not only arrange your tour and best taxi service, but also your airline tickets if desired . Not only do you benefit from competitive rates, but you are sure that your flights match your journey - even if they are delayed or changed! Handy, right? If you want us to arrange this, please indicate this on our application form. "
Our favorite places to sleep during "A taste of India"
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