OK--I am trying to maximize the use of a Jet Airways Visit India 15-day pass. This will be my first trip to India. I want to see all the essentials, get a taste for the country, and use the trip to help me decide where to go at a more leisurely pace next time. All the flying really doesn't bother me and I tend to blow through countries on my first visits and I like that.

I would love any hotel suggestions in the regions I propose (I can go from 5-star to hostel--will probably want to mix it up as I go). Any nightlife suggestions, places to eat, great sites, etc. I will begin my trip in a little over a week. I'm going alone. One hotel question--would I be better off waiting until I get there to book--or setting it up ahead of time--or does it vary by city?

Here's my proposal for visiting cities:
Start in Goa--four days/four nights--I envision enjoying the food, lounging on the beach, reading, and going out one night
Fly to Delhi--four days/four nights--and I will use part of this time to make it down to Agra and the Taj Mahal.
Fly to Leh--one day/one night--I really want to get close to the Himalayas for a bit
Fly to Udaipar--one afternoon/one night--
Fly to Jaipur--one day/one night--
Fly to Aurangabad--2 nights/2 days--see the caves
Fly to Mumbai--spend last 2 nights/3days

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

I have been reading up on fodors.com, and now I'm thinking maybe I should replace Leh with Varanasi.

I'm definitely thinking I need more than 15 days. Perhaps I should cut 2 nights out of Goa (or maybe one from Goa and one from Delhi) and add a night to Jaipur and a night to Varanasi?

OK--I am trying to maximize the use of a Jet Airways Visit India 15-day pass. This will be my first trip to India. I want to see all the essentials, get a taste for the country, and use the trip to help me decide where to go at a more leisurely pace next time. All the flying really doesn't bother me and I tend to blow through countries on my first visits and I like that.

I would love any hotel suggestions in the regions I propose (I can go from 5-star to hostel--will probably want to mix it up as I go). Any nightlife suggestions, places to eat, great sites, etc. I will begin my trip in a little over a week. I'm going alone. One hotel question--would I be better off waiting until I get there to book--or setting it up ahead of time--or does it vary by city?

Here's my proposal for visiting cities:
Start in Goa--four days/four nights--I envision enjoying the food, lounging on the beach, reading, and going out one night
Fly to Delhi--four days/four nights--and I will use part of this time to make it down to Agra and the Taj Mahal.
Fly to Leh--one day/one night--I really want to get close to the Himalayas for a bit
Fly to Udaipar--one afternoon/one night--
Fly to Jaipur--one day/one night--
Fly to Aurangabad--2 nights/2 days--see the caves
Fly to Mumbai--spend last 2 nights/3days

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

It's offpeak travel season in Goa for a reason. ;)

What I would do is pull up Jet Airways' schedule (available online in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format) and then put together what you can to maximize the amount of ground you cover.

HOw are you planning to get to Goa from one of the international gateways ?

HOw are you planning to get to Goa from one of the international gateways ?

Well, I didn't post the whole flight schedule. I'm flying in and out of Mumbai--and my first domestic flight I would leave (3 hours after I arrive) from BOM to Goa.

Wouldn't go for Varanasi, Leh is definitely better. Aurangabad is not very thrilling, so two nights would be too much. Just see the caves and get out of there.

You don't mention when you want to do this thing: DEL,Agra, Aurangabad & Rajasthan will be very if not frigging hot right now.

BOM & Goa will be covered by thick rain from middle of June. Very pleasant for indians, but not really thrilling for westerners. BOM gets a lot of tourists from the Persian Gulf who want to experience the Monsoon in June/July/August.

I would recommend cutting your time in Goa. My wife and I honeymooned there for four days, and by the third day we were starting to get bored (with the city, and not with each other ;) )

I have also spent time in Varanasi, and do not really know what the attraction is. Also, be wary of the "friendly" locals who attempt to start conversation with you. They will follow you for blocks trying to sell you merchandise and/or services.

My suggestion would be to spend more time in the hill stations of India. Beautiful scenery, and a more laid-back lifestyle. Whatever you decide, have a great trip!

If one goes to Goa, it may be advisable to change locations/beaches every couple of days, if boredome settles in quickly.

For summer "tourist" things in India, going to Leh, Srinagar, "hill stations" in Himachal, etc. and the such is probably a better idea.

If you are in Southern Goa May 26-28 perhaps we can perhaps meet for a drink and swap travel tips. I'll be at the Majorda Beach Resort for 3 monsoon soaked days.

ROW2Aisle--I would love to meet up for a drink and to swap stories, but we will miss each other. I will now only be in Goa May 21-22. Thanks, though!

To everyone else: Thanks for the feedback. You've talked me into leaving Varanasi for some other trip, and to get some more time in at Leh. (I'm avoiding Srinagar because it's specifically mentioned in a State Dept. briefing as very dangerous--any comments?)

So, my latest timeline based on your feedback:
Goa-2 days/2 nights
Fly to Delhi--3 nights/3 days--and I will one day to make it down to Agra and the Taj Mahal.
Fly to Leh--2 days/2 nights
Fly to Udaipar--2 nights/1.5 days--
Fly to Jaipur--2 nights/2 days--
Fly to Aurangabad--1 night/1 days--see the caves
Fly to Mumbai--spend last 3 nights/3days

ROW2Aisle--I would love to meet up for a drink and to swap stories, but we will miss each other. I will now only be in Goa May 21-22. Thanks, though!

To everyone else: Thanks for the feedback. You've talked me into leaving Varanasi for some other trip, and to get some more time in at Leh. (I'm avoiding Srinagar because it's specifically mentioned in a State Dept. briefing as very dangerous--any comments?)

So, my latest timeline based on your feedback:
Goa-2 days/2 nights
Fly to Delhi--3 nights/3 days--and I will one day to make it down to Agra and the Taj Mahal.
Fly to Leh--2 days/2 nights
Fly to Udaipar--2 nights/1.5 days--
Fly to Jaipur--2 nights/2 days--
Fly to Aurangabad--1 night/1 days--see the caves
Fly to Mumbai--spend last 3 nights/3days

Srinagar is fine -- if you are staying on a houseboat in the middle of Dal Lake or at the Intercontinental Grand Palace nearby. Stay around that area and avoid the "downtown" Lal Chowk area or the Hazratbal/Old Town areas (or any areas with lots of crowd or military convoys) and you will be fine. You can also go to the higher elevations of Gulmarg from Srinagar and that will be safe as well. When I was there in Srinagar a few weeks back, tons of tourists from the rest of India, and many Chinese and Israelis and a sprinkling of Germans and Brits and others.

You will have a heart attack adjusting to the altitude!

Leh is on a pretty high altitude - Be careful about aclimatization issues. Leh does not have much in terms of touristic things to do except some hiking etc. there is a paucity of decent restaurants (was the case few years ago) too.

Leh and "good food" still don't go well together in the same sentence.

As a mountain goat, I adjust to the altitude well; however, not all will. :D

Leh is fantastic. The sceninc beauty makes shortness of breath, the occasional nosebleed and sunburns seem like minor drawbacks.

The approach towrds the Leh airport, flying through the Himalayas, and making this one precise right turn make for a very thrilling plane ride. The problem with planning a one/two day trip, other than adusting to the altitude (which they say takes about a week), is the risk that you may not be able to make it there. Being that the flight path to Leh is on the risky side, even minor weather issues may cause cancellations or flights being diverted to Jammu or Chandigarh.

I can't say a day in Leh will make you love the place at all (or even want to go back again). But I guess you'll probably be back when you read this.