Dehli in July

indianovice

Yes, we know that we are crazy, however, July is the ONLY time we can go. We will be flying into Delhi on July 13, 2005 and will be there for 8 nights. Would love to do the Golden Triangle or some other tour if that is deemed to be too unbearbly hot. We noticed that only the Royal Orient trains actually operate on tour in July or the Rajdani or Shatbadi trains. Another suggestion made was to go north to Kashmir or to the Darjeeling area to try to escape the heat of the summer.

Suggestions about accomodation.... mode of travel....great sights to see would be appreciated. We are open-minded and looking forward to experiencing India but are more experienced business travellers than back-packers - although comfort and luxury take a back seat to safety.

Indianovice

SHIMLA

As you have admitted yourself, you are certainly crazy to attempt Delhi and the golden triangle in July !

Its better you head straight for the hills of Uttaranchal or Himachal; or better still, go to Leh.

Suggestions on mode of travel, accomodation, etc. will depend on where you finally decide to go.

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machadinha

Of course Delhi to Srinagar or Leh is about as far away as Toronto to Washington, DC. Darjeeling would be more like Toronto to Minneapolis. Leh would take you at least a day to get acclimatised to the altitude; Darjeeling would take you about two days by train if you're lucky and don't miss any trains, by air would still be the good part of a day if you have favorable connections, probably longer. To get in and out of Delhi and get used to it would probably already require a day if not longer.

I'd go for the heat and do a few towns in the more immediate vicinity which should be more than enough to keep you occupied for a week; I've never been there in the summer but I'm told the difference between say 38 and 45C is sort of academic, it's just hot, just make sure you drink plenty as you may not notice your perspiration & try to make the most of the early mornings.

In general and this is nothing against anyone in particular but they are recurring themes here:

To suggest to people and esp. first-timers that they can see this-and-that following such-and-such itinerary, preferably including some trekking and a yoga retreat, in a week involving non-stop travel and half a day at each stop isn't very realistic I think. That would be hard enough on resident Indians who know their way around and maybe can or are willing to fit in a lot of travel over a week (and god knows I've seen them whisking about -- Hi mom, this is me at monument X! Well I guess some Americans like to "do Europe" that way), but if you have to get used to the place first it's a different story. Realistically, "experiencing" anywhere in the world in 8 days is probably too much to ask.

Secondly, every time people ask about travel in the summertime and/or during the monsoon there's a choir of "don't do it!" But people do do it and survive, not to mention the millions of Indians who do. What makes you so sure tourists cannot survive this?

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Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

soulfood

I recommend this book
http://www.indiamapstore.com/outlook...r/IMS0093.html

traceyam

It all depends on what you're used to. Where I'm currently staying in the southern Arizona desert, temps exceed 46C in summer and there's 80-90% humidity before the monsoons hit. There are plenty of people out walking, jogging, and cycling even in those conditions. Someone here would be better able to handle Delhi in July than someone from a cooler, drier clime.

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Indojingai

Southern Arizona... monsoon
arhg... Delhi should prepare for tornados...
(j/k)

anyhow.. Indianovice: I read your other post/thread as well.
The kind of hotels that IMO fits you will all have online reservations and status checks. Also there is a list of hotels in this site .. did you try that?
IndiaMike Hotel Listing.


Choose your comfort level... travel to India can be slightly tiresome... so my north american friends tell me. (I dont dispute that, hence the advice.)

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tornado989

although my location says philadelphia, i m currently in delhi/gurgaon....