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Beth Sandland

Three Weeks in India Itinerary: Amritsar, Delhi and The Golden Triangle

02/12/2020 · INDIA, TRAVEL

Three weeks in India Itinerary, Rajasthan route, Jaipur, Patrika Gate

 

Of all my world travels, India was the country I was most nervous about winging-it in. It was undoubtedly the most challenging environment and the vastness daunted me a little. Although Amritsar was definitely an ‘in the deep end’ introduction to India, our three weeks spent travelling around Rajasthan were bursting with vibrancy and fun! Here is my three weeks in India itinerary. You could also follow it as a ‘two weeks in Rajasthan’ route!

I’ll follow up with individual blog posts on each city, but for now here’s an overview of our route, where we stayed and a couple of must sees!

 

Three Weeks in India Itinerary

 

First stop: Amritsar

We flew from Colombo, Sri Lanka in to the Punjab city of Amritsar. It borders closely with Pakistan and is home to the most sacred Sikh pilgrimage site in the world: The Golden Temple.

Amritsar was all things heat and hassle. It’s intense, busy and a lot to take in. It’s also culturally vibrant, bursting with excellent street food and ultimately very friendly, genuinely helpful people.

Where we stayed: goStops Hostel
  • Good location though does require a walk
  • Mattress like a plank of wood
  • No windows in private bedroom
  • Friendly staff & activities
  • Ultimately wouldn’t stay again
Cool things to do in Amritsar
  • Visit the Golden Temple
  • Buy a Punjabi scarf from one of the shops
  • Do a street food tour with Amazing Amritsar Tours (one of our favourite activities on our India trip!)
  • Learn about the XX
  • Go to the Wagah Border Show

 

Three weeks in India Itinerary: Amritsar

Street food seller in Amritsar

 

Then onto: Delhi

We took the train from Amritsar to Delhi. Train travel in India is a great way to get around and a cool experience.

Tip: Booking trains in India it can be very complicated as a foreigner – use 12GoAsia in advance or ask a local to help you book online for a small commission.

I loved our weekend in Delhi! Rather than visit the obvious tourist spots, we headed to Old Delhi and wandered around Chandni Chowk. It’s a gigantic market area and you’ll see all sorts of weird and wonderful things being sold from the lanes and lanes of little bazaars.

I also really enjoyed the bustling Main Bazaar Road where we stayed. Eat at Krishna Cafe – we went there for breakfast and dinner and loved the food, service and view.

Where we stayed: Backpackers Heaven @ New King
  • Good location right near New Delhi station
  • Comfy private room
  • Helped sort a SIM card (tricky as a foreigner)
  • Helped book onward train travel for a small fee
  • Would stay again and recommend
Cool things to do in Delhi
  • Explore and shop the markets of Chandi Chowk
  • Take a food tour of Old Delhi
  • Eat at Krishna Cafe overlooking the crazy square below

 

Three weeks in India Itinerary : Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk

 

Next stop: Agra (Taj Mahal)

We took the short train journey from Delhi to Agra purely to visit the Taj Mahal. It didn’t disappoint. When I thought of India, the famous white marble palace was what I’d conjure in my head.

I’ll write a separate post on tips for visiting the Taj because I have many but it’s definitely worthwhile. You can time it so you only spend one night in Agra. Visit the Taj early then carry onwards on your trip.

Where we stayed: Joey’s Hostel
  • Amazing view of the Taj from the rooftop
  • Comfy, large private room
  • Very noisy: rooms are around a central atrium and TV/loud chatting noise was very annoying late at night with a very early alarm set
  • Expensive for a hostel but very short walk to the Taj
  • Good but very westernised food served in the hostel 
  • Would stay again for the Taj

 

Three weeks in India Itinerary : Taj Mahal, Agra, Joey's Hostel

 

My favourite of the cities: Jaipur

We left Agra and took a train to Jaipur. This was my favourite city for the sheer beauty and magnitude of the architecture and palaces.

Where we stayed: Bunkstop Hostel
  • Good location to explore via Tuktuk (you can book these on Uber)
  • Comfortable private room
  • Room very, very light at night
  • Hostel advertised activities not running
  • Would stay again but there are plenty of other great hostels in Jaipur to choose from
Where we stayed: Samode Palace Hotel (press stay)
  • Absolutely stunning former palace with grand suites, beautiful grounds and exquisite lounge rooms
  • Large swimming pool
  • Brilliant food (though room service lacked so would only recommend dining in the restaurant)
  • Relatively far outside of the centre of Jaipur and quite remote (equalled very overpriced taxi to airport as no Uber etc)
  • Would absolutely stay again and would recommend as a bucket list stay for the sheer beauty of the palace itself!
Cool things to do in Jaipur
  • Visit the Patrika Gate
  • Visit the City Palace
  • Visit the Amber Fort (we missed this due to sightseeing fatigue and it upset me to here they give elephant rides to ignorant tourists)
  • Stay at Samode Palace (I’d list this as a thing ‘to do’ – it’s more than just a hotel!)
  • Shop at Bapu Bazar

 

Samode Palace Hotel Jaipur Review Three weeks in India Itinerary  Samode Palace Review Rajasthan Itinerary Patrika Gate Jaipur Samode Palace Review

 

 

Next stop: Jaisalmer

We flew from Jaipur to Jaisalmer. It’s the gateway to the Thar desert and unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. We were fortunate to stay at Suryagarh, where they arranged meals and excursions.

I can’t recommend Suryagarh highly enough. The attention to detail is outstanding! The hotel is relatively new but has been built so sympathetically within the landscape of the desert that it looks as though it must have been there forever, in the best possible way.

The food is a gastronomic delight, if excessively portioned. The salt treatment at the spa was an almost other worldly experience (I felt like I was floating!) and the staff are so passionate and knowledge about the desert environment.

If you are looking for a truly special stay, Suryagarh is it. It’s one to put on the bucket list and save for and then simply arrive and let Suryagarh look after you. You’ll leave with a full belly and a head full of incredible folklore and stories!

Where we stayed: Suryagarh (press stay)
  • Modern, attractive bedrooms and no little touch unthought of
  • Knowledgable and passionate staff
  • Excellent food and a wide range of choice
  • Mesmerising desert location
  • Would absolutely stay again!
Cool things to do in Jaisalmer:
  • Take a guided tour of the Golden City
  • Shop for beautiful hangings at Craft Palace, Sanwala Para (the pieces are made from recycled saris and garments)
  • Venture into the Thar desert

 

Three weeks in India Itinerary: Jaisalmer, Thar desert, Rajasthan, Suryagarh hotel review, dunes Food at Suryagarh hotel jaisalmer review Handicrafts quilt making wall hanging from Jaisalmer India

 

Stop number five: Jodhpur

I’ll be honest, Jodhpur was my least favourite stop on our itinerary. It may simply be that I was tired and a bit fed up of moving on every two or three nights. In hindsight I would have also preferred to have stayed in centrally located properties.

Where we stayed: Rohetgarh
  • Very peaceful lakeside former palace with pretty rooms and large gardens
  • Lovely swimming pool
  • Some beautiful original features
  • Serves good western food! By this point I was very happy to be offered some pasta…
  • Isolated feeling and a little far outside of Jodhpur itself, unless you’d rather stay somewhere peaceful and arrange excursions via the hotel (not usually my style)
  • I would not choose to stay again due to the rural location but I would check out their sister property Mihir Garh for total relaxation (it’s stunning!) or their new central Jodhpur property, which I think would’ve been better suited for us 
Cool things to do in Jodhpur:
  • Umaid Bhawan Palace
  • Nirvana House rooftop restaurant

 

Rohetgarh hotel review: three weeks in India itinerary

Three weeks in India itinerary: Rohetgarh Rajasthan

Jodphur the blue city

 

Final stop: Udaipur

The final stop in our three weeks in India itinerary. Unfortunately there’s no train station in Udaipur so we had to hire a driver. This limited experience did make me so glad we had travelled by train for the rest of our trip! Using a driver was a lot more expensive, less comfortable, took longer and felt more hassle. (No, you can’t stop at your friends restaurant en route, no we don’t want to go a monkey temple… etc etc).

Udaipur is stunning. Stay lakeside and I promise you will have such a peaceful time. It’s such a different Indian experience to the bustling cities and was a perfect way to round off our time.

If I’m honest, we didn’t actually do much. Instead we relished the views of the lake from the hotel and used the time to rest.

Where we stayed: Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel (press discount)
  • Stunning lakeside location with views of the famous Taj Palace Hotel
  • Brilliant restaurant serving excellent Indian and western dishes
  • Central to all the main ‘things to do’ in Udaipur
  • Beautiful, cool interiors and plenty of lakeside window seats to relax with a good book in
  • I would definitely stay again; we actually paid to extend our stay here as we loved it so much!

 

Three weeks in India itinerary: Udaipur Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel Review Three weeks in India itinerary: Udaipur Jagat Niwas Palace

 

I hope that gives you a good idea of our three weeks in India itinerary! Keep an eye out for in depth posts on each city.

 

Pin my Three Weeks in India Itinerary for later!

Three weeks in India Itinerary: a route around Rajasthan, Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer

Posted In: INDIA, TRAVEL

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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Ziggy Rex William 🤍 26.03.21 ~ 21:28 ~ 5lb 1oz. Ziggy Rex William 🤍 26.03.21 ~ 21:28 ~ 5lb 1oz. Our perfect, brave little rainbow baby, NICU grad, stealer of hearts.
Some bunny is tube free for Easter (and a bit miff Some bunny is tube free for Easter (and a bit miffed that even hospitalisation doesn’t get him out of a silly hat...) 😍🐰
What a week. The best and hardest of my life all r What a week. The best and hardest of my life all rolled into one. So much to unpack. We’d do every second a hundred times over for you baby boy. 🧡🌈
5 days old 🤍 Our brave little boy has been more 5 days old 🤍 Our brave little boy has been more poked and prodded in a few days than most people are in their entire lives. Now that he’s extubated he’s busy charming all the wonderful NICU nurses with that beautiful little face. 😍 We’re making slow but steady progress; despite being born at 37 weeks, he has the lungs of a 32 week preemie so he needs lots of patience and a helping hand to adjust to life in the big wide world. This week we have the immense challenge of leaving the hospital with an empty car seat and returning to a crib that he likely won’t sleep in for a few more weeks. Not being able to freely hold or feed my baby is breaking my heart so I can’t fathom having to go home without him. However, we’ll do so knowing he is being so brilliantly cared for by our magnificent NHS. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers, we tell him regularly that people all around the world are rooting for him. 🙏🏼❤️
MY SON ❤️ Our beautiful boy was born on Friday MY SON ❤️ Our beautiful boy was born on Friday. He was admitted to the NICU at 3 hours old where an incredible team of doctors and nurses have been working their magic ever since. I was quickly induced last week after one of our routine growth scans showed emergent concerns and his birth was an incredibly traumatic experience both physically and mentally. Although we just about made it to term, his little lungs are premature and need some extra help. We could not be more in love with him and can’t wait to be a family outside of the hospital but for now we’re all just taking life at a gentle pace as we heal together. Please keep our sweet boy in your thoughts, prayers and positive vibes. 💓🙏🏼🌈
AD: So ready for some down time 🧘🏼‍♀️🙏🏼 The Readly app - home to over 5000 magazines - is one of my absolute favourites so I’m thrilled that they’ve teamed up with Diet Coke to encourage you to take a break! Even if that’s just 10 minutes peace with a great article and a cold drink. You can get 2 months free Readly membership with promotional Diet Coke’s in supermarkets now. Plus, they’re giving 10 people a YEAR’S supply of both! Enter on the link in my bio 🤞🏼 What’s your favourite mag? @readly @dietcokegb
Can’t stop rearranging tiny things. Send help 💛🙏🏼
There’s not long left now ‘just the two of us’! Our evenings feel more sacred knowing that soon the needs of a tiny new family member will come first (doesn’t mean we don’t still ignore each other scrolling on our phones in bed/half-arsed Netflix watching from opposite ends of the sofa, but the thought is there. 😝)...So what’s your favourite bit of advice for couples about to have/with a new baby? ❤️
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@victoriasomersethowphotography
How great is Spring though?! Even just the promise How great is Spring though?! Even just the promise of it! Daffodils, washing on the line, kids playing outside, vases of blooms, blossom trees, going outside without a coat, hot cross buns...🤞🏼☀️🌸🐣
Hospital Bags for Mum & Baby 🍼. This is everyth Hospital Bags for Mum & Baby 🍼. This is everything I've packed for myself for in labour and after birth, as well as for the new baby! I will also save in list form and linked where possible to a highlight and eventually to my blog too 😊

Bags:
@cathkidston Foldaway Overnight Bag
@jemandbea Jemima Black Changing Bag
@tibaandmarl Elwood Changing Backpack
@elizabethscarlett pouches
@eleanorbowmer pouches

Labour:
Water bottle with straw
Fairy lights + sky projector
@babycaretens TENS machine
Cooling spray + flannel
Lip balm
Hair bands
@spritzwellness aromatherapy sprays
Massage oil
Eye mask
Headphones
Large t-shirt/nightie
Comfy underwear
Slippers/flip-flops
Snacks + isotonic drinks
Dressing gown (for pool)
@placentaplus encapsulation kit

Post-Birth:
Disposable pants
Maternity pads
Large black knickers
Nursing Bra
Spritz for Bits
Nipple cream
Nightdress x 2
Thin robe
Towel
Toiletries
Peri bottle
Anusol
Fig syrup
Going home outfit
Chargers
Camera
@bbhugme feeding pillow
Own pillow
Some harvested colostrum

For Baby:
4 x vest in each size
4 x sleepsuit in each size
2 'normal' hats
2 cute hats
2 muslins
Jersey blanket
Knitted blanket
Nappies
Wipes + cotton wool
Nappy cream
Cardigan
Towel
Soft toy

Just in case:
Extra bag to stay in the car with extra nappies, pads, towel and clothes for mum and baby

Hope that's helpful! We all have different wants/needs but I'm feeling content that we've covered most eventualities 💕
I’ll really miss my bump. It’s such an odd shi I’ll really miss my bump. It’s such an odd shift; we spend years being told to strive for flat, toned stomachs, holding it in and angling ourselves in photographs, wearing things that don’t cling in the ‘wrong’ places. I live in an incredibly privileged body - I’m white and naturally slim. I don’t struggle to find clothes that fit me and I conform to the ‘norm’ of beauty standards both pre and during pregnancy, I recognise that. And yet I’ve still stood in front of the mirror countless times and prodded a size 8 stomach. Now I’m praised for how it’s ‘popped’, how beautiful and big and round it looks. I stroke it and talk to it and love it - it’s my baby’s first home. But it’s also the body I’ve physically felt the most confident in, probably because it’s praised for defying all those usual ‘goals’ of societal standards. As birth approaches I’ve started thinking about the other side. I’m nervous, because this is the body I’m comfortable in now. The pressure we put on ourselves - or is put upon us - to ‘regain’ a figure that has just been literally internally rearranged by the creation of an entire human being. Equally, the scrutiny and criticism we pile on women who appear to look ‘too good’ ‘too quickly’. A supermodel posts a photo selling a pair of pyjamas 10 days post-partum and gets ripped apart for it, like she owes a burden to society not to make other women feel bad. We seem to overlook genetics and circumstance entirely and assume we should all follow the same physical trajectories, without having any clue what’s going on in someone’s head either. Does “you look amazing!” come before “how are you really doing?”...I don’t know where I’m going with this anymore - feel free to chip in with your experience! 💛
I carried a watermelon 🍉 I carried a watermelon 🍉
36 WEEKS 💛✨ We’re into our final week of pr 36 WEEKS 💛✨ We’re into our final week of pre-term pregnancy. In less than a weeks time, bub will be welcome to make a grand entrance whenever they’re ready! Mama just needs that one more week to finish up work and tie off loose ends. I’ve got a little to do-list and then I’m very, very ready to slow down. From full term I’m calling it my unofficial maternity leave; no pressure, no deadlines, plenty of day time baths and naps and alllll the oxytocin I can muster! It’s an odd limbo period, feeling ready to welcome our little one earth side now but knowing that it could be a week or it could be six. I don’t want to wish away time or clock/calendar watch but I also just want my baby safely snuggled in my arms. 🌈🙏🏼
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The highs/lows of 36 weeks:
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🐳 Everything aches, everything is swollen. Even my tongue?!
🥛 Colostrum harvesting: weirdly satisfying! But whoever said ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ has never squirted a syringe-full all over themselves...
😴 Insomnia (aka that thing that makes you want to punch people who say “sleep while you can! 🤗”)
🧘🏼‍♀️ Keeping up the Hypnobirthing though our course has finished, had my birth preferences approved by the midwife and generally feeling excited and ready for the main event!
🥘 Batch cooking! Slowly filling up the freezer.
🧠 I’d like to say baby brain isn’t a thing and I’m still as sharp as ever but it’s just not true. Basic tasks are becoming much more of an effort!
🌪 Didn’t think I could get windier. Sorry husband.
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#36weeks #week37 #thirdtrimester
Today I’m celebrating what - to me - is a big ca Today I’m celebrating what - to me - is a big career move. Last week I signed a contract to take on management and now have a lovely agent representing me and my little business! I started my blog in late 2016 and ever since it’s just been me (and my very supportive husband) behind the scenes. I don’t think people think of professional bloggers/content creators as small businesses, but that’s exactly what I run and I’ve done it single handedly from day one. I’ve learnt to wear many hats, I’m incredibly protective of what I’ve built and if I’m honest, I absolutely suck at delegating. Truly atrocious at it.
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However, the right person who I feel gets me and my ethos came along at what feels like very much the right time, with a new, tiny player about to join the team 👶🏼...
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It feels like the right step for my business but also for my family as I learn to navigate life as a working mama (as an aside; I had no idea how poor/impossible stat maternity pay is before researching it as a pregnant mum!) My business relies on all of you so without getting my cheese on, I’m forever incredibly grateful for the support and the fact that this space allows me to work for myself and provide for my family.
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We’ve got some big ideas for 2021 but first I’m very much looking forward to winding down over the next couple of weeks and protecting my energy ahead of our little persons big arrival. 🙏🏼✨
Just documenting that one time in 2021 that I wore Just documenting that one time in 2021 that I wore make up AND a bra AND blow dried hair simultaneously...in my living room 😝 I’m so ready to meet baby but I know I’ll really miss my bump. I’ve found it a lot easier to dress and feel comfortable with my body embracing the one part we always try so hard to hide. 🤰🏻
Bumpin’ into the weekend 🐡 #35weeks Bumpin’ into the weekend 🐡 #35weeks
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