India (Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Shirdi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Khajuraho, Allahabad, Gangtok & Peeling City of Sikkim, Darjeelling & Kolkata) Sept /Oct 2019

Ganesh Festival in Hyderabad

Ellora Caves in Aurangabad (UNESCO)

Mountain scenery in Gangtok, Sikkim 

" My 32 days Cuti Cuti (Vacation) & Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) free & easy visit from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Northern part of Southern India, Western India, Central India, Eastern India & Sikkim (focusing on UNESCO heritage sites ie historical, religious festive celebrations ie cultural, mountain scenery (natural landscape) & stopovers in Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Shirdi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Khajuraho, Allahabad, Gangtok, Pelling, Darjeeling & Kolkata; travelling mainly by trains/buses/shared jeeps with my travel buddy from Singapore (10/9 - 11/10/2019); the timing of our visit coincided with the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja & Flower festivals in Sept & Oct each year in India - my 3rd visit to India, the last 2 visits were in 2007 & 2018 " 

States of India Map 

Total expenses incurred (32 days): US$20.42 + Rp22,375 + Rm1,655 = Rm3,083 (US$734)
Air Asia tickets (KL>Hyderabad 21.40>23.25): Rm404
Air Asia ticket (Kolkata>KL 00.45>07.15): Rm532
Visa: Multiple entries valid for 1 year issued in Oct 2018
Luggage check-in fee: Rm165
Travel Insurance: Rm47
Skybus airport KLIA: Rm6 x 2 (senior)
Hostel (24 nights): US$20.42 (booking fee) + Rp13,469 = Rm900

Trains (8 tickets): Rp6,600 = Rm405
Entrance fees: Rp2,895

Groceries (own prepared meals): Rm80 + Rp1,924(Rm196)
Food: Rm10 + Rp580(Rm35)
Metro/Bus/Auto Rickshaws: Rp3,446(Rm208)
Misc: Rp61(Rm3.60)

Entrance Fees : Rp2,895(Rm173)
- Golconda Fort                       =Rp300
- Ellora Caves                          = Rp600
- Ajanta Caves                         = Rp600
- Rani Ki-Vav                           = Rp600
- Sanchi Stupa                         = Rp600
- Darjeering Zoo/Museums    = Rp175
- Victoria Memorial                = Rp20

Train Tickets (8 tickets): Rp6,600 (Rm405)
- Secunderabad > Aurangabad (508km)       = Rp815 (3A lower, sleeper)
- Aurangabad > Dadar (365km)                    = Rp585 (CC lower)
- Mumbai Central > Ahmedabad (491km)   = Rp960 (3A side, sleeper)
- Ahmedabad > Bhopal JN (642km)             = Rp955 (3A lower,sleeper) 
- Bhopal JN > Khajuraho (368km)                = Rp615 (CC side)
- Khajuraho > Allahabad (318km)                 = Rp560 (3A lower,sleeper)
- Allahabad > New Jalpaiguri (832km)          = Rp1190 (3A lower,sleeper)
- New Jalpaiguri > Sealdah (567km)              = Rp920 (3A, side,sleeper)

Hostels (24 nights): Booking fees US$20.42 + Rp13,469 (Rm900)

- Deccan Comforts, Secunderabad (2 nights)  Rp500x2 = Rp1000
- Holiday Era, Aurangabad (3 nights)            Rp469x3 = Rp1409
- Backpackers Panda Colaba, Mumbai(3 nights)         US$5.26 + Rp636x3 =Rp1909
- Hotel Sanmati, Ahmedabad (3 nights)           Rp644x3 = Rp1932
- Stay Inn, Bhopal (2 nights)            US$3.18 + Rp678x2 =Rp1357 
- Headquarter Khajuraho (1 night + 1/2day extended)  

 US$0.79 + Rp336+Rp200=Rp536
- Hotel Pandim, Gangtok (2 nights)   US$1.82 + Rp340x2=Rp680
- Tashi Gyatsen, Peeling City (2 nights)          Rp655 x 2 =Rp1310
- Cozy Nest Homestay, Darjeeling (3 nights)                US$4.10 + Rp510x3=Rp1530
- Backpacker Park, Kolkata (3 nights)                          US$5.27 + Rp602x3=Rp1806

Exchange Rates: Rp100 (Rupee)=Rm6.09 (Ringgit Malaysia); US$1=Rm4.20

Travel itinerary : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Hyderabad, India > Aurangabad / Shirdi > Mumbai > Ahmedabad > Bhopal > Khajuraho > Allahabad > Gangtok > Peeling City, Sikkim > Darjeeling > Kolkata > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (8 train rides - 4,091km) 

Hindu Greeting & Leave-Taking.
It means "I bow to the divine in you"

My travel buddy from Singapore, Mr Lam 

Travel Highlights: 

1) Hyderabad, Telangana

Charminar, Hyderabad (1591)

2) Aurangabad, Maharashtra 

Ellora Caves, Aurangabad (UNESCO)

3) Shirdi, Maharashtra  

Former home of spiritual leader
Sai Baba,  a major pilgrimage site

4) Mumbai, Maharashtra

Gateway of India, Mumbai (1924)

5) Ahmedabad, Gujarat 

Rani Ki Vav, the Queen's step well
in Patan (UNESCO)

6) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Sanchi Stupa, Bhopal 

7) Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho Group of Monuments (UNESCO)

8) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 

The 3 tombs of Khusro Bagh, Allahabad

9) Gangtok, Sikkim 

M. G Marg, Gangtok (Sikkim) 

10) Pelling, Sikkim

Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery,
 Pelling, Sikkim (1642AD)

11) Darjeeling, West Bengal

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (toy train),
West Bengal (UNESCO) 

12) Kolkata, West Bengal 

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, West Bengal (1906)