KHAJURAHO – VARANASI – MATHURA – AGRA – DELHI

CHENNAI – KHAJURAHO – VARANASI – MATHURA – AGRA – DELHI – CHENNAI

Jan 20, 2012

Started from Chennai to Jhansi by Rajdhani Express at 06:10 AM

Jan 21, 2012

Arrived Jhansi in kind of cold-cold winter morning at 05:10 AM

Ventured out by 7:00 AM in auto rickshaw got into bus to Khajuraho which left Jhansi at 08:15 AM

Initial 1 hour road journey was smooth. Bus stopped at 9:20AM for almost an hour.

There was no road exists between this point till Chhatarpur still this stretch was filled with vehicles. Resumed at 10:15AM passed via Nowgong and hopped into another bus in Chhatarpur which left at 12:40PM reached Khajuraho around 01:40PM

After checking few hotels, settled into Hotel Harmony where room was decent with OK facilities.

Had lunch by 03:30-04:00PM in Mediterrean Casa Dela –so called Italian chef ‘Food sucks’

Walked around –watched sunset – booked train tickets to Varanasi with travel agent.

Dinner at Sakshi Agarwal restaurant was really tasty tough price was a bit on higher side –very obvious for tourist place where loads of overseas travellers visit.

Jan 22

After having breakfast at Sakshi Agarwal marwadi restaurant covered western side of Khajuraho temples built by Chautela Rajputs. Went to Eastern side of temples covering Jain temple and others by bi-cycle. Had lunch in dhaba and ended the day by watching sun go down pond for 2^nd time.

Dinner at Agarwal restaurant cos food was really tasty and place looked neat and tidy.

Packed and we bid adieu to Khajuraho by 10:00PM as we were heading to Banaras by

Khajuraho Varanasi Link Express. The so called Link Express left at schedule departure time 11:20PM

Jan 23

As the link train from Gwalior/Jhansi was delayed we got stuck for 4-5 hours ended up wasting 1 FULL day in train with no water, tea, coffee, food, air-condition/heater in 3AC coach. Thanks to AC attendant Mr. Gupta for saving Electricity for North Central Railways NCR by never turning ON the AC ever during the daytime. I pity there were several foreigners as it’s only AC coach on the train.

Reached Allahabad at 02:30PM, after halting for 90min our snail pace train trip continued to Varanasi at 04:00PM, in spite of being delayed for over 5 hours.

Finally to everyone’s relief we reached Varanasi – holiest city of India around 08:30PM

This would be my WORST train journey ever. Kudos to NCR- North Central Railway . It took a tiresome, tedious, painful, time-consuming journey of almost 21 hours to cover mere 453KM.

Jan 24

Checked-in to hotel sherin-in after running around in cold Varanasi weather. 

Woke-up late and went to try train-bus tickets to Agra – couldn’t find any.  Booked train ticket to Mathura, after walking for few hours by river Ganges from Dasashwameda to Assi ghatt.

been to Kasi Viswanath,  Sree Annapoorni, Visalaakshi, Thondi Raj Ganesh temples.

Went by boat in river Ganges and witnessed Ganga Aarthi -pooja for 40-45 mins

Walk by river ganga would showcase life in all forms.

Jan 25

Went to Sarnath in morning, birth place of Buddhism where Buddha gave first sermon.

Saw few stupas and walked around to Saranganath temple & Chinese temple.

Ended our 2^nd day in Varanasi after visiting Sankat morchan –Hanuman temple & Durga temple.

Left Varanasi by train at 04:45PM which reached Mathura next day at 08:30AM

Mathura was next destination as we couldn’t get tickets to Agra from Varanasi.

Jan 26

Gokul, Brindavan and temples in Mathura we had to waste our time being there.

Lunch at Gokul was the only good thing happened in Mathura.

 Jan 27

Reached Agra about 02:00PM, distant view of Taj Mahal was spectacular on the way to Hotel.

As it was Friday – no entry Taj Mahal so walked to western gate and watched a movie in FUN cinemas.

Jan 28

Woke up late and went to witness symbol of love which attracts people like ants. 100s seemed like few 1000s would had been there on Saturday as entry is closed on Fridays. 

Spent few hours admiring & clicking pictures of Taj Mahal.  Left Agra to Delhi by bus which dropped us almost during midnight in New Delhi.

Jan 29

After breakfast walked around Cannaught Place…did some shopping & tried to have lunch in

 A big NO to G on cannaught place as it’s not worth it though many were to be seen during dinner time. Stopped with appetiser/starters and had lunch in McDonalds.

Went by tube till Dwaraka from Rajiv Chowk.  Ended with tasty milk shake in Welcome Juice cream parlor.

Jan 30 

shopping at cannaught place, visit to India Gate, Lotus Temple & Qut-b-minar.

try out My Bar in cannaught place - ambiance was great and food was 1000 times better than G cannaught place on all fronts - taste, quality and price.

Jan 31

took return train from Nizamuddin to Chennai -Duronto express which reached almost in time after travelling for 29.5 hours