Wife and I would like to travel to India to visit the Buddhism historical sites of Varanasi and Bodh Gaya. Need info re visa (She is Thai with US passport; I am US citizen); flights to and from CR to India. I was there 30 years ago so I don't need info re local customs, places to stay, etc. It would be about a week to ten day trip.

Thanks for any assistance; this is my first use of this forum. We have a house on the Kok river 10km west of CR.

You would be better off with this query in the travel forum but you will both need visas which are available in Chiang Mai amongst others but take best part of a week to secure (they will not keep your passport).

Look at Jet Airways who are an excellent Indian 'cheaper' but modern and reliable airline. They are starting a BKK-Varanasi service in OCtober 09 but you will have to overnight day before as it's scheduled to leave before 0900. No idea on cost but BKK-Bombay-BKK is 10k which ain't bad. Business class is 20k which is pretty good.

Good luck.

Welcome to The Forum!

Interesting trip, please post a report when you are back !

Happy travel!

Me n my wife went to Bodh Gaya(bihar state) in 2005. Things might have been different now i guess. Irrespective of nationality all countries need visa to India,

my experience if you book thru a travel agent life is much easier from the hassels of transportation in India. There are few good hotels in Bodh gaya( i cant recall any name). India realy facinates there is a lot of difference than what we all are used too in our countries. Poor are too poor and rich are dam_n too wealthy.

in 2005 roads were too bumpy, carry your bottled water always. TOO MANY MOSQUITOES. people who help you are expecting tips, watch what you eat i had a stomach problem.

There is no straight flight CEI- India, we went from CEI-BKK & BKK - bodh gaya - bkk on Thai airways ( i dont know if it is still operating), we had booked all our luggage thru CEI to bodh gaya this way we only changed plane in BKK

bon voyage