6-Month Family NRI Travel Itinerary in India (October-March)

Month 1: October – North India Beginning

Week 1-2: New Delhi and Jammu (Hometown Visit)

  • Days 1-7: New Delhi
    • Arrival and settling in
    • Visit India Gate, Red Fort, Lotus Temple
    • Explore Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar
    • Day trip to Akshardham Temple
    • Rest days interspersed for jet lag recovery
  • Days 8-14: Jammu (Hometown)
    • Visit Vaishno Devi Mandir
    • Explore Bahu Fort and Gardens
    • Visit Raghunath Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple
    • Day trip to Mansar Lake
    • Family time with relatives

Month 2: November – Spiritual Journey Begins

Week 3-4: Haridwar (First Half of 15-day Stay)

  • Days 15-28: Haridwar
    • Attend evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri
    • Visit Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Temple
    • Explore Shantikunj Ashram
    • Day trip to Rishikesh
    • Begin yoga retreat (7 days)

Month 3: December – Spiritual Immersion Continues

Week 5-6: Haridwar and Yoga Retreat

  • Days 29-35: Haridwar (Completing 15-day Stay)
    • Continue spiritual exploration
    • Visit Saptrishi Ashram
    • Explore Triveni Ghat
    • Nature walks along the Ganges

Week 7-8: Mathura-Vrindavan-Ayodhya Circuit

  • Days 36-42: Mathura and Vrindavan
    • Visit Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
    • Explore Banke Bihari Temple and ISKCON Temple
    • Visit Prem Mandir for evening light show
    • Boat ride at Vishram Ghat
  • Days 43-49: Ayodhya
    • Visit Ram Janmabhoomi
    • Explore Hanuman Garhi
    • Visit Kanak Bhawan
    • Evening aarti at Saryu River Ghats

Month 4: January – Rajasthan and Agra

Week 9-10: Agra and Surroundings

  • Days 50-56: Agra
    • Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal
    • Explore Agra Fort
    • Visit Mehtab Bagh for sunset view of Taj
    • Day trip to Fatehpur Sikri
    • Visit Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)

Week 11-12: Udaipur and Rajasthan

  • Days 57-70: Udaipur
    • Visit City Palace and Jagdish Temple
    • Boat ride on Lake Pichola
    • Explore Jag Mandir
    • Visit Saheliyon ki Bari
    • Day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort
    • Visit Karni Mata Temple for sunset views
    • Shopping for traditional Rajasthani crafts

Month 5: February – South India

Week 13-14: South Indian Temples

  • Days 71-77: Madurai
    • Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple
    • Explore Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace
    • Visit Gandhi Memorial Museum
    • Day trip to Alagar Kovil
  • Days 78-84: Other South Indian Temple Cities
    • Visit Thanjavur (Brihadeeswarar Temple)
    • Explore Rameswaram (Ramanathaswamy Temple)
    • Visit Thiruvannamalai (Arunachaleswarar Temple)
    • Day trip to Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple)

Month 6: March – Western India and Return

Week 15-16: Mumbai and Departure

  • Days 85-91: Mumbai
    • Visit Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre
    • Explore Gateway of India
    • Evening walk along Marine Drive
    • Day trip to Elephanta Caves
    • Visit Juhu Beach
    • Shopping and relaxation before departure
  • Days 92-98: Buffer Days/Flexible Planning
    • Additional days in favorite locations
    • Shopping for souvenirs
    • Visiting any missed attractions
    • Preparation for return journey

Transportation Between Destinations

  • Delhi to Jammu: Train (approximately 7-8 hours)
  • Jammu to Haridwar: Train (approximately 8-9 hours)
  • Haridwar to Mathura: Train (approximately 7-8 hours)
  • Mathura to Ayodhya: Train (approximately 10-11 hours)
  • Ayodhya to Agra: Train (approximately 8-9 hours)
  • Agra to Udaipur: Train (approximately 12 hours)
  • Udaipur to Madurai: Flight with connection in Mumbai or Chennai
  • Madurai to other South Indian cities: Combination of trains and private car
  • South India to Mumbai: Flight
  • Internal transportation: Combination of private cars, auto-rickshaws, and taxis

Accommodation Recommendations

  • New Delhi: 3-star hotel in Karol Bagh or Paharganj areas
  • Jammu: Family home or 3-star hotel with laundry facilities
  • Haridwar: Ashram stay or riverside hotel with laundry service
  • Mathura-Vrindavan: Mid-range hotel near temples
  • Ayodhya: Guest house or 3-star hotel
  • Agra: 3-star hotel with Taj Mahal view
  • Udaipur: Heritage hotel or lakeside property
  • Madurai: 3-star hotel near Meenakshi Temple
  • Other South Indian cities: Combination of 3-star hotels and heritage stays
  • Mumbai: 3-star hotel in Bandra or Juhu areas

Budget Considerations

  • Average daily budget: $200 (including accommodation, food, transportation, and sightseeing)
  • More expensive locations: Mumbai, Udaipur
  • More affordable locations: Haridwar, Mathura, Ayodhya
  • Balance expensive days with cheaper days as requested
  • Additional budget for shopping: $10,000 (as mentioned)
  • Flight budget: $10-15K Canadian (as mentioned)

Special Considerations

  • Alternate sightseeing days with rest days
  • Schedule laundry days every 7-10 days
  • Vegetarian food with chicken/fish 3 times a week
  • Family-friendly activities for children (14 and 7 years old)
  • Weather considerations: Progressively moving south as winter approaches
  • Spiritual focus with cultural experiences
  • Hometown visits incorporated into the itinerary

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