turtle78,

back in 2002 I did Delhi-Varanasi-Agra-Ranthambore-Jaipur-Delhi in 2 weeks. It will forever be the greatest trip of my life. And yes the pace was brutal, I crammed far too much and yet I would probably do it all again the same way if that was all the time I had

Check out www.waynehazle.com/india/

Delhi->Varanasi was by overnight train. Varanasi-> Agra also.

Everything else was by driver. Agra->Ranthambore was very very long drive. MAYBE all flights would save you time, however, driving along some of the roads of India is a sight not to be missed. And you do need to ride the trains at least once.

So once again, you are cramming waaay too much for 2 weeks, but you can sleep and get your sanity back when you get home!

That should be do-able in two weeks, but you should lay it out day by day, including transport, to be sure. Travel in India is very exhausting, and the distances are considerable.

I agree with Wayne that you shouldn't fly everywhere - although for the last leg, Varanasi to Delhi, it could make sense. Definitely plan to spend some time on the trains, preferably in AC2 class, where you are more likely to find locals interested in talking with you.

See seat61.com/India.htm for lots of info on what train travel in India is like, and www.indianrail.gov.in/inet_metro_trns.html for schedules. My TRs for 10 weeks in India, mostly by train, are at www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2001.

great - thanks for all the advice! Really appreciate it!

Dear Turtle78...India is a big country. It is my humble opinion that you should do India in several trips and not just one do-it-all trip. Since youre starting Cochin, just stick to the South and cover Kerala & Tamil Nadu in detail.

Two weeks to do this entire itinerary is not a very bright idea. The thematic content of sight seeing in north India is very diffrent from the south of India. While on the one hand you have excellant indo-islamic architecture, beautiful tiger reserves, quitessential robust Hindu culture at varanasi, exotic sensuality of Khajuraho images, excellant Palace hotels up north, especially in Rajasthan; south India is known for it's beaches, nature at it's very best, backwater cruises, coalesced Indo-european cultural heritage & some wonderful temples. Conjoining the two sectors would make it unwieldy.
However, if you still wish to do Cochin & North India, I guess, without going through the travel technicalities, to arrive in Delhi & do the north India leg first. There is a direct flight from Varanasi to Mumbai & a connecting flight to Cochin.
The weather also improves by the end of October in Kochi. Remember, the best time to be in south west India is from say mid-november to March.
You will need to take a combination of road, air & rail modes of transport.
Very best for your plans!

Vanyavilas in Ranthambhore is worth the expense!

I read the OP to say that she had two weeks for the north India leg, not the whole trip. I agree that two weeks for both south and north would be way too short, but two weeks for the itinerary she outlines for the north should be doable, if rushed.

Khem Villas at Ranthambore will save you a lot of money & you will also get to meet FS Rathore, whose daughter-in-law runs the show. I would rate his knowlege on tigers perhaps second to only the late messers Jim Corbett / AAD Brander. When Bill Clinton visited India it was his responsibility to 'produce a tiger' before him...and he did an entire family!
I was also visiting the park a day before & had an interesting friendly exchange with him but that is a story for another day.
Happy Travels!