Trip Coach: January 16, 2007

Portland, TX: With only two weeks to spend in India, is it better to move around, spending two days in each target city; or, take day trips from a base? Maybe base one week of day trips out of Dehli, and move to a southern city and take day trips from there? (I am an experienced traveler, not afraid of getting off the beaten path.)

Diane Mehta: Given flight delays and driving distances from any major city (including Delhi) to other sites, I'd suggest doing a day trip or two here or there, but spending the bulk of time hopping from one place to another.

Most smaller towns can be seen in a few days, and beyond several sights in each place (for example, better-known temples), there won't be much more to see. And while Delhi's an historical city, Bombay's a shopping city. So if you're keen on doing a lot of shopping, you might want to spend an extra day or two in a larger city like Bombay.

Instead, I'd chart a course, say, north to south along the west coast, or do a temple circuit and jungle lodge (for example, the Kabini River Lodge in Karnataka), or tea or coffee plantations in the south (tea plantations are in Munnar, in Kerala, and coffee plantations in Coorg, in Karnataka). In Karnataka, especially, you'll definitely be off the beaten path.

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Sedona, AZ: I am traveing in Oct '07 from Kathmandu to Buddhist pilgrimage sites - Sarnath near Varansi and Bodh Gaya. As a first time traveler, I am a bit at sea on how to do this. I am traveling with my 14 yr old son and we need to know if we can fly into Varanasi directly from Kathmandu or must we go to Delhi first? Also, we are interested in hiring a car and driver, rather than attempting renting a car or the rail system (we only have a week for this portion of the trip). How do we find a car and driver? Lastly, if a driver is hired, is it possible to go to Kushinigara within that week also? That question is one based on the time it takes to travel between locations. Am I attempting too much? Thanks!

Diane Mehta: It does sound like a lot, since you're talking about visiting three different states. Jet Airways flies from Kathmandu to Delhi in the afternoon, so you'll have to stay in Delhi overnight before catching the next day's flight to Varanasi (also midday). (Indian Airlines used to have a Kathmandu-Varanasi flight, but right now it's not on the schedule. But it's wise to check all the airlines, in case things change.)

Keep in mind that flights in India, especially in the north (because of weather in the mountains and fog), are prone to delays---sometimes for hours, sometimes overnight. Do not try to rent a car yourself, but do get a car and driver, which is easily arranged from any hotel---the most reliable way to arrange a good car and driver service. If you do it in advance through a travel agent, it will cost you double or triple what you'll get locally.

To get to Sarnath from Varanasi, you can easily take a taxi, rickshaw, train, or bus---it's just 45 minutes away. But going to Bodh Gaya, in Bihar, and also Kushinigara in Uttar Pradesh, will be difficult in that amount of time. First and foremost, you need to check the flight schedules, since there may be only one or two flights per week (probably from Calcutta) to Bodh Gaya. And to get to Kushinigara, you have to take a bus or train (train would be better, about 6 hours) from Varanasi to Gorakhpur, and then it's an hour and a half drive from Gorakhpur to Kushinigara. (I'd recommend hiring a car and driver from Gorakhpur to Kushinigara, as it will be easier, safer, and more comfortable than a bus.)

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Ironwoord, MI: Is Antimalarial medicine needed? Travel will be the "Golden Triangle."

Diane Mehta: I would take the antimalaria medicine regardless of where you go, since people visit the larger cities from rural areas, and there's no telling whether you'll get sick in a big city or in a small one. To be safe, I always take the malaria pills. And especially since you start them a week before leaving, you always have a chance to see whether you feel any serious side effects---which is rare.