Help! broken ankle, traveling solo, can't leave the country

I'm not sure if I am posting this in the correct spot.

I'm 54 woman from the US
I broke my ankle in Kolkata stepping wrong on a curb and falling in the steets, The good news is I did have an excellent surgeon who put a pin in my ankle, but I now am on crutches until mid May and have been told not to leave India (even if I could I have rented my home in the states and have no place to go) Although the doctor says I can move to a cooler place I still have a difficult time with stairs and I need to stay in budget guest houses

To be honest I'm stumpped, I'm not sure how to get to travel with crutches and my bag (kolkata in April/May has horrible heat and I can't afford most of the places that have a botton floor room or a lift.

if I had a destination I could probable manage to hire someone to help me get there,
Any ideas... I need no or few stairs, own bathroom, easy access to food and cheap as possoble. and ideally someplace with bareable weather for april/May

thanks for any advice

Hi Jadeskirt

Pls read my private message

Regards

Dear Jadeskirt

Since I have not had any messages from you, I presume that access to Internet, and therefore to IM, is difficult for you due to your ankle injury.

I am a retired banker living in Kolkata, with 2 daughters in the USA, one (as it happens) in Berkeley. I showed your post to my wife, and we decided that we should try to help you. To what extent we can help, I don't know. We will try various options.

My wife and I would like to make contact with you. Please call me on 9038000747 or send me an e-mail on benu9714@gmail.com

Look forward to hearing from you

Hi: Very sorry to learn about your accident. Please think about contacting the US Consulate in Kolkata for advice and assistance:

U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone 91-33-3984-2400; fax 91-33-2282-2335.

Their job to to help US Citizens in need and you certainly qualify.

All the best to you during your recovery.

Airlines are well used to travellers with disabilities. Contact the city offices of such..

I appreciate so much all the suggestions. Sorry its taken so log to reply,

I'd look into a homestay in Kalimpong or Sikkim. Lots of lovely places there which shouldn't be terribly expensive. Good luck!

Hi all,
I was too optimistic to think I could get myself out of Kolkata on my own, I have about 5 more weeks before I can put weight on my broken ankle and an additional 2-4 weeks before I'm off my crutches. I am presently in a hotel I can't afford, plus I've been getting ill on some of the food that they are delivering to me.
I wonder if anyone knows of a budget hotel, perhaps near Sudder street that is accessible, First floor or lift, (a step or two is ok) Large enough so I can sit in a wheel chair part of the day, a TV would be nice since I'm pretty much hotel bound. Can pay up to 700 rupies (perhaps a bit more) . If its a good spot, I can commit to at a 5 week to 8 week stay.

Or, If anyone knows a specific guest house outside Kolkata, that is a drive away where I could recuperate, I would be happy to consider it,

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you

Hey Jadeskirt,
Just immediately contact U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, just inform them about your present conditions. In any case i dont thing you will have any visa issues.
Just relax.
I would suggest you to look for some paying guest. It would be more comfortable to you. In Rs. 700 budget there are plenty of hotels. and for the long stay then you can even bargain with them. I stayed there for more then a month at a low price of some Rs 120 for common bathroom, with a tiny room. That wont suit your present condition and requirement.
YMCA is there with large room on JLN road close to Sudder Street. Just search on the net you will get plenty of options.
If you want some cooler place then try to move to Darjeeling or close to Darjeeling. It is going to be much less then Rs 700. per day for good hotel. Home stay would me far much cheaper.
I would suggest you to be in contact with "xaverian". He would be of immense help to you.
If things dont work out then just let me know, then i will try to arrange you your stay.

Hey xaverian,
I truly appreciate your helping hand. Keep it up.

Thank you for your suggestions Poison Spy (love that name)
Xaverian has already been very helpful, but I need information about specific guesthouses or hotels, since my physical condition makes it impossible for me to shop around in person. I've stayed in many reasonable places in Kolkata over the years but sadly none of them would work for me now because of my accessibility needs. I called the YMCA but the hotel is on the second floor and they do not have a lift. I can handle only few stairs and that is with help...
I did call the US consulate and asked them to help me find a place or to help me hire a person to find find a place for me. They said they could not help me.
I'm hoping that a fellow traveler might have some ideas of specific places that would work for me. I can hire a car to drive out of Kolkata, if necessary.

Hi Jadeskirt,

How about the Sunflower Guest House? It is near Sudder Street, but not on it (closer to Park Street). It has an elevator. I haven't stayed there myself but friends have.

It comes highly recommended on IndiaMike, and these are the necessary details:

Sunflower Guest House ( Hotel)
4th Floor, 7 Royd Street,
South Kolkata.

Telephone 00 91 33 22299401

You might also try the Bodhi Tree Guest House in South Kolkata. It is more expensive but they might take pity on your condition. If you stay for several weeks, you might negotiate the price in your favour. It is in a house; no lifts required, no steps either. I have not stayed there myself but again, friends have stayed there (recently) and liked it a lot. Contact IndiaMiker Sama for the details, as she has stayed there twice!

Another idea: if you want to get out of the sultry heat of Kolkata and head for the greenery of West Bengal and a riverside hotel, take a look at this one:

http://www.indiamike.com/india-hotels/reviews/4906/

It is very cheap and you can have a room on the ground floor so no stairs to negotiate.

I have not been there either, but have heard only good reports.

The Manjusha Hotel in Murshidabad has a very helpful owner and staff and a beautiful and peaceful riverside garden. I think there are one or two steps from outside into the reception area and again out into the garden but as TD said there are groundfloor rooms with sort of balconies looking over the garden and river.

As far as I can recall the rooms do not have functioning TV's though.

And I think (someone else might have a better memory than me) there are only Indian-style toilets.

But certainly a cheap and relaxing place to while away the weeks.

Good luck

It seems like many IndiaMikers have visited the Manjusha at some time or another! Check out photos here:

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost//...hp?photo=44991
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost//...hp?photo=13052
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost//...hp?photo=16954