MEMBERS - Magda and Piotr
TIMING - 28.10-27.11.2008 (31 days)
ROUTE:
- Delhi - (Rajastan)
- Varanasi - (Uttar Pradesh)
- Satna - (Madhja Pradesh)
- Khajuraho - (Madhja Pradesh)
- Jhansi - (Madhja Pradesz)
- Agra - (Rajastan)
- Deshnok - (Rajastan)
- Bikaner - (Rajastan)
- Pushkar - (Rajastan)
- Udaipur - (Rajastan)
- Mumbai - (Maharashtra)
- Arambol, Panjim - (Goa)
- 1760 km (by train)
- 2020 km (by bus)
- 1510 km (by plain)
Before undertaking any trip it is a good idea to learn as much as possible about the destination.
We have based our knowledge about India on Lonely Planet guidebook as well as on many websites.
Unfortunately, part of that information appeared to be incomplete or even false, according to our experience. Here's the thing: 1. Advance ticket booking is essential in order to take a long distance train. Otherwise there is no chance for a place to sleep or even to seat.
Big train stations (like Delhi or Varanasi) have International Tourist Bureau's where tickets can be purchased by non-Indian citizens even on the day of departure. A small number of tickets is especially reserved for tourists and not to be sold to Indians.
In smaller towns tourists have no choice but purchasing tickets in regular offices, thus being put on a waiting list. If someone cancels his ticket, there is a chance for a seat. Apart from that one can take any trip being on waiting list, only in very uncomfortable conditions.
2. Everything takes twice as much time as planned, especially if it comes to train travel. Therefore there is no use in precise trip planning.
Not necessarily. Even if we are not lucky enough to get a reserved seat, we can travel anyway... standing.
3. Hotel rooms are dirty and full of cockroaches and bedbugs.
Apart from mould on the walls and paint stripping, the rooms are usually decent. We have run across bedbugs only twice (out of over a dozen places we've stayed in). This is about budget traveling.
4. Lonely Planet recommends...
Lonely Planet is a great help although some of the advices can be misleading. If it comes to hotels and guesthouses, the ones recommended by guidebooks have already rose their prices without rising the standards.
Same about restaurants - the ones from the book don't need to try too hard to get their costumers.
From our experience the best recommendation is the number of local people dining in a restaurant.
5. Entering a shop is tantamount to buying. The clerks have paranormal powers, it is very difficult to leave empty handed.
Not true. Basic level assertiveness is totally sufficient to buy only when we really want to.
6. There is no point in taking to India anything but your wallet. Everything is available on the place.
Everything, that could be bought on a street market, yes. More sophisticated goods are practically not available outside big cities.
7. Every price is negotiable.
The processed product prices are controlled by the government. Maximum retail price (M.R.T.) is usually printed on the package. Public transport prices are also governed.
8. Pick pocketing and stealing is a common habit in India. It takes a lot of precautions not to become a theft victim.
Normal level of precautions is sufficient. A bit of common sense does the trick.
- bananas, 4 pieces. - 5 Rs.-
- mineral water, 1 l. - 10-12 Rs.-
- oranges, 1 piece. - 5 Rs.-
- tomatoes, 4 pieces. - 5 Rs.-
- cucumbers, 1 piece. - 5 Rs.-
- guava apples, 1 kg (approx. 6 pieces) - 5 Rs.-
- papaya, 1 piece. - 15 Rs.-
- roasted peanuts, 100g - 10 Rs.-
- beer in a restaurant, bottle 0.6l - 60-120 Rs.- (depending on the area)
- ample indian dinner - approx. 60 Rs.-
- ample western dinner - approx. 150 Rs.-
All pictures except marked otherwise are the sole property of the Author. Any processing or commercial use without permission of the Author is forbidden.
