2nd trip to India, Delhi - Rajasthan - Goa - kerala - Mumbai

Hi All,

I was in India earlier this year for a month and i have my flights booked for my 2nd trip - 14th August to 5th September.
I am very excited although slightly worried about it being monsoon season. While i don't mind the rain we were also hoping to catch a *bit* of sun, SOMEWHERE(?!?) Sadly, this was the only time we could do. I was very keen to return to India, this time with my boyfriend in tow.

I'm going to book my internal flights next weekend and from there decide on areas to visit in Goa and Kerala.
Last time, I did not venture into Southern India, so any advice on those areas would be most appreciated.

Here is proposed itinery so far:

15 Delhi
16 Delhi
17 Udaipur
18 Udaipur
19 Udaipur
20 TRAVEL
21 Jaisalmer
22 Jaisalmer
23 Jaisalmer
24 TRAVEL
25 Goa
26 Goa
27 Goa
28 Goa
29 Goa
30 Kerala
31 Kerala
1Kerala
2Kerala
3 Mumbai
4 Mumbai
5 HOME

However, this is quite jammed packed and I'd really rather spend more time down South (ideally 7 days in Goa). However, these are my issues which I'm really hoping people might be able to answer on here:

1. Udaipur - I am going to Udaipur because I loved it so much last time. However, does anyone have a real idea what the weather is like there in August? Does it rain everyday? Does the sun ever shine or is it alway overcast? Are things shut? Would we get discounts on accomodation due to the monsoon season?

2. Jaisalmer - I have heard that this city is very beautiful and couldn't get there last time as it was so far out. Is it feasable to get here from Udaipur and then somehow catch a flight down to Goa? I thought, being in the desert, this place would be the most sunny place - if it's not going to be sunny, I am happy to miss it out and spend more time in Goa/ Kerala, as it's so far out.

3. Goa - Again, the weather!! I KNOW that it is monsoon season, I am not expecting sunny beaches etc etc. but does the sun EVER shine? What are the best places to visit? Which areas will be the busiest in Monsoon (my boyfriend likes a nightlife, I'm just happy with restaurants.) Is this enough time to spend in Goa?

4. Kerala - Again, are we spending enough time here, or should we cancel Jaisalmer? Will the weather be better in September as far south as Kerala?

I know that weather is featuring prominently in my message - but there are so many places I want to go, that I might as well pick somewhere with the more chance of some sun!!!

Weather patterns for India

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/c...p3?c=IN&refer=

Thanks for that. I was hoping that someone out there might have visited these locations during these periods though? It would be really helpful if someone could give me an idea of what it's really like. I have spent hours looking through websites, some say it is better than others, but it would be great for some first hand knowledge? Does it rain all day everyday? Is it overcast all day everyday? Does it rain so hard that everything is closed? etc. etc.

Well, I've just found this quoted on another thread:

"Kerala is God's own country.
Cover the following places - Cochin, Arthripally Water falls, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom/Alleppey & most importantly Poovar Islands.
Stay in a house boat in Kumarakom/Allepey.
Do not forget to travel in a boat from Alleppey to Kolam.
Most importantly, visit Poovar islands. It is the only place where a River, Lake, Ocean and Backwaters meet at one place.

Do a bit of googling to find out about these places.

Also, August end or September is a good time to visit Kerala as the rains are over leaving the place lush green, plus, its off season time so the rates r down."

...Looks like the weather there will be good and from my reading it sounds like a beautiful place, I'd be quite happy to spend all my time down south here, and not go to Goa but my boyfriend wants to go there, so never mind! Kerala sounds like a definate must though.

Does anyone know the quickest way to get from Delhi to Jaisalmer. I think the train takes 24hours!

India is a subcontinent. The weather varies a lot. Even in the monsoons; some places get torrid rains, and some just over cast and drizzle. Over the past few years, the weather patterns are, as far as I am told; quite erratic. If you really want to know how the weather is going to be ? you have to examine the past weather patterns.

I was really just hoping that there might be people on here who had visited the places that I've talked about in the monsoon period who are willing to share their experiences.
I appreciate that the weather varies everyday, like in England, but I could still give someone an idea of what the weather is like in the month of July here. That's the kind of information I'm looking for - how it varies on the day to day basis and in which locations I should expect total overcast, torrential rain - thunderstorms etc ALL the time. I've spent hours studying past weather patterns and they tell you how many days of rain, how much rain etc. but not whether it rains ALL day and if it's dark and dreary on the days that it's not rainy.

Is there anyone that can help?

hi, im travelling down south india at around the same time, but staying for 2 months, spending 1 month travelling. Ive done alot of research into weather and there appears to be no way of telling what it will be like when ur there. Im going in a week, but still dont think the weather forcaste at the mo will give me much indication of what it will be like when i arrive.
Im planning for all weather conditions, this way i cant be disapointed. Most things can still be done in the rain (unless its really awful) as long as u dont mind getting wet - well sunbathing might be an issue lol, but then sunbathing in india must be fully-clothes so not great anyway!

Hi Zoe,
Yes, you are probably right - I don't mind rain but my boyfriend is rather hoping for a *bit* of sun, I just don't want him to be dissapointed if there is no sun at all. Do you know if it's overcast all the time, or just some of the time? Whereabouts are you going?

I'm secretly hoping for a bit of sun 2! Im sure there will be a few days in 2 months where it will be nice - i think i would be very unlucky if not.
Generally i think it can rain constantly, and the next week just for a couple of hours then nice, who can tell! Im sure ud be pretty unluckly to get no sun at all. Also i here in tamil nadu the monsoon isnt that bad at all.
Im going to mumbai 4 a few day, then going to goa (north and south), then going to Karnataka for a little while, then ooty (think thats in tamil nadu) then kerala (where im going to be volunteering for a month)

Jaisalmer should be fine.
Udaipur .... well there was another post recently saying that the lake in Udaipur is dry and people are riding bicycles across it. That prompted me to look up the weather and as you say ... it shows lots of thunderstorms there but givs no indication if it is for one hour or all day. I'm intersted too as I'd like to spend quite a few days there!
There are some members living down that way .... hopefully they help us please?

Think I'm going to have to cancel Jaisalmer - just don't think I will be able to get there, which is a shame :-( If only it weren't so far away!

So, here's where I am now:

15 delhi
16 Delhi
17 Delhi
18 Delhi - travel to Udaipur
19 Udaipur
20 Udaipur
21 Udaipur
22 flight to Goa
23 Goa
24 Goa
25 Goa
26 Goa
27 Goa
28 Train to Kerala
29 Kerala
30 Kerala
31 Kerala
1 Kerala
2 Kerala Flight mumbai
3 Mumbai
4 Mumbai
5 Flight home

So now, I just need to keep my finges crossed re. the weather and decide on accoomdation and locations.

Can anyone suggest a cheap guest house in Connaught Place? I stayed in Pahar Ganj last time and really liked Gush International but fancied staying closer to the hub this time. They have quoted me 650 for a double air con room. Is there anything in CP area for this price or should I just stick with Gush? Atleast I know it's nice there.

Regarding Goa, any suggestions on which area to visit? While I am looking for a more authentic Indian experience, my boyfriend is looking for quite a party atmosphere.

With regards to the weather again, I have taken to asking people on Facebook. I pick people that live in the locations and they have given me a really good idea of what to expect from the weather in Delhi in August, they have been really helpful even though they don't know me! I'm going to move on to find people that live in Udaipur, Goa, Kerala and Mumbai next

Well, things are very quiet on here!
So,
I've decided to spend 4 nights, 3 days in Anjuna 1 day for my boyfirend - hopefully things will be lively there, then 1 day in Panaji and 1 day in Old Goa where we will cathc the train down to Kerala.
There, I hope to stay 3 days in Varkala, go to Kollam and get the boat ride to Allepey and spend a day there also - a bit worried that I'm cramming too much in!
So, here it is now:
15 Delhi
16 Delhi
17 Delhi - to Udaipur
18 Udaipur
19 Udaipur
20 Udaipur
21 Flight to Goa
22 Anjuna
23 Anjuna
24 Anjuna
25 Anjuna - to Panali
26 Panali - to Old Goa
27 Train Old Goa to Kerala
28 Varkala
29 Varkala
30 Varkala
31 Kollam
1 Kollam to Allepey
2 Allepey
3 Flight to Mumbai
4 Mumbai
5 HOME
Any thoughts advice, would be appreciated!
Just have to figure out now, where to stay, how to get from Goa airport to Anjuna, How to get from Anjuna to Panali and Old Goa (guessing local buses) train times from Old Goa down to Varkala, Travel from Larkala to Kollam, flight from Allepey to Mumbai.
Still a long way to go!