India First Timer

Sep 24th, 2002, 04:50

I have never been to India. I have about a week's vacation in March. I would love to go to India. I would like to go to one place and just get the feel of the place. Not interested in hopping from place to place in such a short time.

So my question is what place would be the most rewarding for a first time India traveler to stay for a week? I'm thinking Mumbai, but what about Calcutta, Varnasi or Dehli?

Also how is it arriving in India late at night? I noticed if I wanted to go to anywhere beside Dehli or Mumbai from NY I would have to stay the night at the airport. Is this possible? What have other people done?

Sep 24th, 2002, 11:23

Also I just want to add that I really don't care if I see "the sights". I just want to be in India for a week and "feel" India. I'd rather stay away from the main tourist spots where the touts would be at their fiercest. So what I'm looking for is a city where it is worth going just to walk the streets, eat some good food, talk to the locals and maybe hear some music. Also to do this would I be better off hiring a guide to make everything flow a little smoother. Cheers.

I also want to add from what I have read. You guys seem a lot more friendly and helpful than those on LP's thorn tree. Better format too.

maree · Sep 25th, 2002, 05:35

Of the 4 places you mentioned, I would say Varanasi. Stay right on the ghats in the old city. You don't have to walk far to soak up the atmosphere here - through the winding alleys and along the ghats themselves. Plus you can hire a boat for dawn dusk excursions on the river. There are places where they sell instruments which put on cheap concerts a few times a week. As Varanasi is a lot smaller than the other places you mentioned, it would be a lot less overwhelming for a first timer to India.... the other places might just put you off wanting to return. However you would have to get there somehow from one of the other places - as you only have a week I'd suggest flying. Depending on what time you arrived you might be able to fly to Varanasi that day or else there are hotels around the airport (not the budget variety though.... in Mumbai I just hung out at the airport for 16 hours!) Good luck with your plans.

Sep 25th, 2002, 08:05

Is March always Holi month? If so, how would this be as an introduction to India or change my list of destination possibilities?

maree · Sep 25th, 2002, 09:22

Holi would be around March 18 next year but it sounds like they start throwing around the dyes a few weeks before that in some places. Take old clothes and keep your wits about you - it sounds quite mad. Everyone should experience at least one Indian festival. Check out iyou's photo of himself after Holi and decide if you want to look like that!

Sep 26th, 2002, 03:37

How long does holi last? Is it all building up to one day, March 18th? Or does a big like week long celebration start March 18th? Also will all cities celebrate holi?

maree · Sep 26th, 2002, 05:02

Not to sure - I think the actual day of Holi is the day after the full moon in March.... but it could be the day of the full moon. But it all starts getting crazy before that. It's a big Hindu festival so would be celebrated pretty much everywhere.

Sep 27th, 2002, 04:04

Thanks maree for all your help. I'm going to let all this info sit and see if this india itch stays with me for a few months. And if it does, and I think it will, I will have a whole bunch of other questions. Also with a place like India its probably wise to wait and see what the poltical climate is before booking tickets. During a war with Iraq would not be the best time to go. But I have a bit of a hunch that I will be in India this coming March.

Anybody else, feel free to offer suggestion in the mean time. Cheers.

maree · Sep 27th, 2002, 05:24

I was in India last year for Sept 11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan... felt perfectly safe - just made sure I read the news etc to see what was going on. I booked a ticket to India in May for this December and then it looked like India and Pakistan might have escalated their fighting.... things seem to have calmed down though and I feel pretty good about going.... in fact, I can't wait.

Lily · Sep 27th, 2002, 09:37

Hi
Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the Lunar calender, and Holi always falls on a full moon, this may occur in February or March. In 2003 the dates are March 17-18.

In Jaipur the Elephant Festival coincides with Holi and is one of the high points of the season. I have described this festival in an earlier post!

Sep 24th, 2002, 04:50	#1
Zazzlethorpe Posts: n/a	India First Timer I have never been to India. I have about a week's vacation in March. I would love to go to India. I would like to go to one place and just get the feel of the place. Not interested in hopping from place to place in such a short time. So my question is what place would be the most rewarding for a first time India traveler to stay for a week? I'm thinking Mumbai, but what about Calcutta, Varnasi or Dehli? Also how is it arriving in India late at night? I noticed if I wanted to go to anywhere beside Dehli or Mumbai from NY I would have to stay the night at the airport. Is this possible? What have other people done?

Sep 27th, 2002, 09:37	#10
Lily Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Jaipur, India Posts: 342	Hi Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the Lunar calender, and Holi always falls on a full moon, this may occur in February or March. In 2003 the dates are March 17-18. In Jaipur the Elephant Festival coincides with Holi and is one of the high points of the season. I have described this festival in an earlier post! __________________ Lily

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Sep 24th, 2002, 11:23	#2
Zazzlethorpe Posts: n/a	Also I just want to add that I really don't care if I see "the sights". I just want to be in India for a week and "feel" India. I'd rather stay away from the main tourist spots where the touts would be at their fiercest. So what I'm looking for is a city where it is worth going just to walk the streets, eat some good food, talk to the locals and maybe hear some music. Also to do this would I be better off hiring a guide to make everything flow a little smoother. Cheers. I also want to add from what I have read. You guys seem a lot more friendly and helpful than those on LP's thorn tree. Better format too.

Sep 25th, 2002, 05:35	#3
maree Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Zealander in Bangkok Posts: 850	Of the 4 places you mentioned, I would say Varanasi. Stay right on the ghats in the old city. You don't have to walk far to soak up the atmosphere here - through the winding alleys and along the ghats themselves. Plus you can hire a boat for dawn dusk excursions on the river. There are places where they sell instruments which put on cheap concerts a few times a week. As Varanasi is a lot smaller than the other places you mentioned, it would be a lot less overwhelming for a first timer to India.... the other places might just put you off wanting to return. However you would have to get there somehow from one of the other places - as you only have a week I'd suggest flying. Depending on what time you arrived you might be able to fly to Varanasi that day or else there are hotels around the airport (not the budget variety though.... in Mumbai I just hung out at the airport for 16 hours!) Good luck with your plans.

Sep 25th, 2002, 08:05	#4
Zazzlethorpe Posts: n/a	Is March always Holi month? If so, how would this be as an introduction to India or change my list of destination possibilities?

Sep 25th, 2002, 09:22	#5
maree Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Zealander in Bangkok Posts: 850	Holi would be around March 18 next year but it sounds like they start throwing around the dyes a few weeks before that in some places. Take old clothes and keep your wits about you - it sounds quite mad. Everyone should experience at least one Indian festival. Check out iyou's photo of himself after Holi and decide if you want to look like that!

Sep 26th, 2002, 03:37	#6
Zazzlethorpe Posts: n/a	How long does holi last? Is it all building up to one day, March 18th? Or does a big like week long celebration start March 18th? Also will all cities celebrate holi?

Sep 26th, 2002, 05:02	#7
maree Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Zealander in Bangkok Posts: 850	Not to sure - I think the actual day of Holi is the day after the full moon in March.... but it could be the day of the full moon. But it all starts getting crazy before that. It's a big Hindu festival so would be celebrated pretty much everywhere.

Sep 27th, 2002, 04:04	#8
Zazzlethorpe Posts: n/a	Thanks maree for all your help. I'm going to let all this info sit and see if this india itch stays with me for a few months. And if it does, and I think it will, I will have a whole bunch of other questions. Also with a place like India its probably wise to wait and see what the poltical climate is before booking tickets. During a war with Iraq would not be the best time to go. But I have a bit of a hunch that I will be in India this coming March. Anybody else, feel free to offer suggestion in the mean time. Cheers.

Sep 27th, 2002, 05:24	#9
maree Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Zealander in Bangkok Posts: 850	I was in India last year for Sept 11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan... felt perfectly safe - just made sure I read the news etc to see what was going on. I booked a ticket to India in May for this December and then it looked like India and Pakistan might have escalated their fighting.... things seem to have calmed down though and I feel pretty good about going.... in fact, I can't wait.