Crazy request

ottonowak

This is going to sound stupid.. but I have two weeks in India in the end of February. Last year at this time I spent in Kerala and loved it: such a good range of things to do: beaches, hill stations, culture.. well you don't need me to tell you. The best thing about it was that it is so manageable to get around. Now, I am looking for somewhere similar towards the end of Feb this year and just can't decide where! Any real passionate suggestions?????

abracax

The only other place I've found with the Kerala combination: hills, beaches, culture and easy travel is Sri Lanka. If you can handle being a day's drive from the beach and more difficult travel, Coorg has the hills, culture (Hindu, Muslim, indigenous, Tibetan) and nice weather, together with natural beauty and lots of opportunities for wandering around. Also handy to Mysore, which is one of the more manageable Indian cities.

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ottonowak

Thanks Abracax .. very helpful!

sogg22

Hi ottonowak, I noticed that you sound like you LOVED Kerala. I'm going there myself in the summer and wondered if you could give me some good advice on places to see/ hostels to stay in etc.

Thanks ever so much!
Sogg22

ottonowak

HI Sogg22 - thanks for the post. I started in Fort Cochin: stayed three nights at the Raintree Lodge: great place - very highly recommended. Then went for a three nights to Munnar: really loved this and stayed at Olive Brook: fantastic food and great setting. Really helpful staff as well. After this I went to Alleppey for two nights. Can't remember the name of the place I stayed but I can check it out if you are planning to go there. The town of Allepey didn't really do it for me but I did an early morning boat tour on the Vembanad ( sp?) Lake which was wonderful and worth going there. Also went to a few festivals which were on at the time. After that I am afraid I went for a bit of relaxation and tlc at Lagoona Davina near Trivandrum. This was great: food, setting and the massages were fantastic. I didn't really do the trip on the cheap because I was only in that part of India for about ten days but the places I mention above I could really not recommend enough.

Let me know if you need any other info!

somnath

Darjeeling – The Queen of Hills.
Sundarvans – World’s largest mangrove forest.
Dooars – Hills, forest, reserve forest, Sanctuary, wild life.
Vishnupur – The architecture (and terracotta)
Digha / Shankarpur – Beach.
Kolkata – The City.
Totas, Santals are among the tribal treasure.


Sorry, we cannot provide you a desert in West Bengal.

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* My Travel Pix...

Nick-H

Kerala's worth another visit!

And another ...And another.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

SHIMLA

True somnath, but you do have many wonderful desserts !!

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ijustwantotravel

Adding to Somnaths list
Tumling - a beautiful hamlet at 3000 m. As beautiful as it can get. Stay at Shikhar Lodge. And of course there is the entire route to Sandakphu and Phalut if you enjoy trekking on the snow (february end will be the right time). You will surely get some breathtaking sights of the mountains never to forget again.You can do it as an extension to your darjeeling trip

somnath

Ohhhh….. that’s right Shimla. Allow me to provide an example from Indiamike itself. just look at the new avatar of Ddutta:
http://www.indiamike.com/india/member.php?u=3236
OK friends another point......
desserts - Everywhere (ask Natasha or Jyotida, they are )


ijustwantotravel, welcome and thanks for the info. It was missed in my post. Thank you.

rangers

try..beaches ,temples,tribal hills and budhism in ORISSA.

ottonowak

thanks to all the replies .. great places and holiday inspirations for years to come.... !!!

dimitri

There are plenty of places to see in kerala. It is the only place in India which is present in the list of 50 best destinations in the world as selected by National Geographic Channel.

Munnar is a wonderfully serene and calm hillstation. It is not crowded or dirty like Ooty. If you are looking for a quite and beautiful vacation, lfar from the maddening crowd look no further.

If backwaters is what you seek, then Kumarakam is awesome.

If you want to sunbath and relax, then Kovalam with its beautiful beaches and traditionally constructed hotels are really awesome.

There is one destination which is yet to be promoted as a tourist spot in Kerala. That is Wayanad. Here you will find nature in its pristine self. If you are the one for wildlife then this is the place. Tiger, elephants, deers, gian squirrel, panther, bears, macaques and hundreds of rare birds.. it has everything.