India Transportation

A gem in the centre of India ... reach there by taxi from Jhansi and stay at the Bundelkhand Riverside Hotel if you can (a property of the Maharaja of Orchha now converted into a hotel) ... the rooms have fabulous views of Betwa River and you can just step from them and reach the banks ... do visit the Jehangir Mahal for some intricate architecture and the Lakshiminarayan temple for some really fabulous frescoes ... and the more modest birthplace of the ancient poet Keshav Das housed in school compound and a bit more difficult to find ... worth fixing up the same taxi guy for getting you into Orchha, sightseeing within the city, and any trips out it, if you are going to Khajuraho for instance...

Amer fort has to be the highlight and the proverbial elephant ride up to it ... lots of guidebook sights here as well, including temples, havelis and maharaja-style stuff, but if I were here purely as a tourist, I would wrap up the sights quickly, eat and walk around a bit, but then head quickly westwards into places like Udaipur, Jodhpur and certainly Jaisalmer for a more relaxed feel of Rajasthan ... or use it as a hub for trips to nearby places like Shekhawati, Ranthambore or Sariska ...

Never take a bus to Siliguri from any part of east India. The roads around are pathetic. Best and cheap option is to take a train to New Jalpaiguri station, only a few kms from the Siliguri town. Its a small town and used as a connecting point to Darjeeling, its famous sister. Siliguri is hot in the summers but the cold hills of darjeeling are not far away. The jeep ride is cheap but could be dizzy and nauseating for some. Finding a hotel in Siliguri town is very easy. Ask any rickshaw puller to take you to a good hotel. Rates are reasonable and food is okay. Once in Siliguri, don't miss the China Market and the Hong kong market. These twin markets are full of some wonderful stuff - pottery, watches, electronics, gadgets, carpets, shawls, home wear, swiss knives, and thousand types of tid - bits which can just do up the interiors of our home in a wonderful manner. Siliguri is also the connecting point to Gangtok (Sikkim). One doesn't need to spend more than 1 full day at Siliguri - at the market. Shopping is cheap. Don't miss out on the opportunity to visit both Darjeeling and Gangtok. Be wary of the touts at the bus stand though who could be misleading. Book everything from the hotel tourist support. After 10 pm, stick to the hotel. It's a day place.

Take the boat to the Andaman Islands!

Mumbai is one crazy city, it's overcrowded, smelly and is rarely charming. The train completely sells out and as it's possible to book on the internet, I would recommend doing so. Here is a guide to booking a ticket on the train in India http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-railways-f10/booking-indian-rail-tickets-from-abroad-a-beginner-s-guide-t4305/#post27194