Heat help!

Laanisa · Oct 23rd, 2007, 16:31

Hi everyone..

I will be travelling to India end of January. its my first time and i am planning to be away for 3-4 months. The itinerary so far is very open, i am planning to be around Goa and then go to Kerala for the first 6 - 8 weeks and the travel around for 2 months. My question is where would be the best place to go in mid March-April, where is the heat most bearable (i understand that Goa-Kerala will be too hot by then?) and what areas are a definite no-go because of the heat?
Should i go north, to the himalayas?

I would also like to know what kind of heat there is in India (especially the south)in what way is it unbearable? I used to live in north Spain many years and especially in Barcelona its so humid i suffered all the time..and what's your best tips to manage the heat?

Many questions, i hope someone can help

Aishah · Oct 23rd, 2007, 16:44

Laanisa - I am not an expert on the South but was there one time in December and January. The heat is hot and humid even in those winter months, more dry when I went further north to Karnataka, and Hampi but stil HOT! My best times were in the hills - Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. Some people enjoy this heat and you may be one of them and no need to escape in the Southern winter to the hills! As for March - Rajasthan is fairly doable in March especially towards the East - the intense heat has still not come but by April you will want to head to the hills for sure . Himachel Pradesh, Uttaranchel, whatever.. all good places to head to in April. It will be 40'c daily out our way then.

SAHM · Oct 23rd, 2007, 19:25

Do NOT go to Chennai, in April and May the temperatures reach 45 degrees C (120 degrees F) nearly every day. The humidity is high also.

People in Chennai often to go Ooty or another hill station to cool off.

SAHM

Nick-H · Oct 23rd, 2007, 19:46

It really does depend on what one means by too hot.

As Sahm says, Chennai is very uncomfortable from mid April to mid June. It is far from the hottest place in India, and will be a good ten degrees C less than the desert temperatures of Rajastan --- but it has terrible humidity which doesn't reduce much even in the cooler months (now to February).

Kerala will be a little cooler, with the monsoon starting early June. I have been on holiday there from UK in March/April and found it quite bearable, and yes, that was before I acclimatised to Chennai temperatures. In fact I took advantage of hotel rates being lower from April 1st, as the high season comes to an end.

The Tamil Nadu temperatures dropped very sharply from their maximum this mid June (people were seen wearing their winter woolly hats! Yes, 30 can seem cool when it was 45 yesterday!) but we had unusual share of the SW monsoon in Chennai. Who knows what will happen next year!

You should be reasonably OK there after mid-June, by which time you'll have acclimatised somewhat anyway. So you could escape the SW monsoon (maybe) by coming over our side.

Your worst climate shock will be returning to London after the trip

atala · Oct 23rd, 2007, 21:03

The advantage of the humid heat is you are not dehydrating as easily, as in the dry heat which you tend to feel less. In dry heat you need to consciously drink a lot all the time.

Aishah · Oct 24th, 2007, 08:27

Atala - Funnily, I seem to drink more in humidity because I perspire far more - I take a drink and it just pours out of my skin! When it is really hot and dry I drink a lot but as temps come down have to remind myself to drink. This OT I'm afraid!

brownboy66 · Oct 24th, 2007, 08:42

we moved to India in April - just in time for the 40-45 degree heat of Delhi! Interesting experience - not realising how much you are sweating until your somewhere cool enough for the sweat to condense! We went north to Chandigarh for about a week in June/July and what a difference! Just that few degrees drop in temperature. As hot as it was, though, the past few months with their high humidity were worse I think. Temperature of say 34-40 degrees, but 70% plus humidity. Lovely now though - a chilly 22 degrees outside....brrrrrrr.

So what's the best place to weather the heat? Anywhere you can find a swimming pool!

shashank.aggarwal · Oct 24th, 2007, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownboy66

Lovely now though - a chilly 22 degrees outside....brrrrrrr.

For me this is the best time to be in Delhi...it cannot be coincidence that some major festivals come in these pleasant times..!!

atala · Oct 24th, 2007, 23:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

Atala - Funnily, I seem to drink more in humidity because I perspire far more - I take a drink and it just pours out of my skin! When it is really hot and dry I drink a lot but as temps come down have to remind myself to drink. This OT I'm afraid!

In dry heat the sweat just evaporates, while in humid heat you feel it physically, which is why dry heat is more dangerous, reduced sensation of the water need to cool you down.

ALPHABAR · Oct 24th, 2007, 23:57

a simple strategy is to choose your hotel room/hut with an eye on the sun...

try and select a room that is east facing...that way, you get the sun during the morning but by midday the sun is on the other side of the building.

this makes such a difference when you arrive back at the end of your day - your room/hut is relatively cool. if it's been facing the sun during the afternoon and evening it will be very hot - and stay that way during most of the night.

also, if staying in a hotel with more than one level - don't take a room on the top floor - these rooms will be exposed to direct sunlight most of the day.

tacita · Oct 25th, 2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by atala

...which is why dry heat is more dangerous...

hmmmm...i thought it was just the opposite, because high humidity slows the evaporation of perspiration, which is our "cooling" mechanism. but perhaps dry heat can be more dangerous if one is fooled into thinking it's not too hot because of an apparent lack of perspiration.

edit: sorry, see now that this was already mentioned above.

brownboy66 · Oct 25th, 2007, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by janice

hmmmm...i thought it was just the opposite, because high humidity slows the evaporation of perspiration, which is our "cooling" mechanism. but perhaps dry heat can be more dangerous if one is fooled into thinking it's not too hot because of an apparent lack of perspiration.

the way I had it explained to me (by a friend who lived in Saudi for a while) is that with the dry heat you are still perspiring - but it evaporates instantly - so you don't even realise how much water you're losing until your dangerously dehydrated. Hence - keep drinking water even if you don't feel thirsty...

or

don't get out of the pool!

Aishah · Oct 25th, 2007, 08:23

alphabar - a very wise posting! Where I come from originally (NZ)you look for the sun, here, unless you are up in the mountains you avoid the sun at all costs! My house is built with this in mind - windows facing east with a broad sheltering verandah attached to where the room starts so morning sun even is minimal - it is dug into full underground by the time you go back to the back storeroom. There is a floor of rooms above us and soon another floor..This makes for the coolest part of the building where I live permanently. There is an appreciable difference in temp. and I don't need to use a/c for as many months as I have previously in other rooms where I have lived.
Recently I stayed in top rooms in Jodhpur - all others were occupied so no choice - we had that cooler running in the hot afternoons - managed with windows and doors open for the night with just a fan. The heat in Rajasthan won't build up until towards the end of March - so keep in mind the travelling dates before April. For me, the mountains are just heaven, when I finally reach them after mid-May!
OT - sweat, water and drinking ... important to drink lots of water daily no matter where we are! I have to remind myself when I go back in cool times to Oz and NZ this one!

GauhatiBoy · Oct 25th, 2007, 08:57

Dry heat is less miserable but dehydration can sneak up on you in it.

I prefer dry heat but I also make sure to drink plenty of water.

If you are not used to those temperatures, don't take the chance that you might regret your plans. My 2 paisa. You will surely have a great time in the mountains.

By the way, I'm an air conditioning service tech.

Aishah · Oct 25th, 2007, 09:12

Laanisa - thinking about your post, my advice would be go with your plans and if you find all too uncomfortable for you with heat,do as Gauhati boy suggests, escape to the hills. You can have a fabulous time there - the environment is beautiful, great for walking many areas that are different as well.. Hills for South India are mainly Nilgiris, or Kodaikanal. There are hills Maharashta area but I'm not sure where.. North India already mentioned.

Oct 23rd, 2007, 16:31	#1
Laanisa Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: London Posts: 39	Heat help! Hi everyone.. I will be travelling to India end of January. its my first time and i am planning to be away for 3-4 months. The itinerary so far is very open, i am planning to be around Goa and then go to Kerala for the first 6 - 8 weeks and the travel around for 2 months. My question is where would be the best place to go in mid March-April, where is the heat most bearable (i understand that Goa-Kerala will be too hot by then?) and what areas are a definite no-go because of the heat? Should i go north, to the himalayas? I would also like to know what kind of heat there is in India (especially the south)in what way is it unbearable? I used to live in north Spain many years and especially in Barcelona its so humid i suffered all the time..and what's your best tips to manage the heat? Many questions, i hope someone can help Last edited by machadinha : Oct 23rd, 2007 at 16:38. Reason: moved to create own thread

Oct 23rd, 2007, 16:44	#2
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,448	Laanisa - I am not an expert on the South but was there one time in December and January. The heat is hot and humid even in those winter months, more dry when I went further north to Karnataka, and Hampi but stil HOT! My best times were in the hills - Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. Some people enjoy this heat and you may be one of them and no need to escape in the Southern winter to the hills! As for March - Rajasthan is fairly doable in March especially towards the East - the intense heat has still not come but by April you will want to head to the hills for sure . Himachel Pradesh, Uttaranchel, whatever.. all good places to head to in April. It will be 40'c daily out our way then. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Oct 23rd, 2007, 19:46	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,832	It really does depend on what one means by too hot. As Sahm says, Chennai is very uncomfortable from mid April to mid June. It is far from the hottest place in India, and will be a good ten degrees C less than the desert temperatures of Rajastan --- but it has terrible humidity which doesn't reduce much even in the cooler months (now to February). Kerala will be a little cooler, with the monsoon starting early June. I have been on holiday there from UK in March/April and found it quite bearable, and yes, that was before I acclimatised to Chennai temperatures. In fact I took advantage of hotel rates being lower from April 1st, as the high season comes to an end. The Tamil Nadu temperatures dropped very sharply from their maximum this mid June (people were seen wearing their winter woolly hats! Yes, 30 can seem cool when it was 45 yesterday!) but we had unusual share of the SW monsoon in Chennai. Who knows what will happen next year! You should be reasonably OK there after mid-June, by which time you'll have acclimatised somewhat anyway. So you could escape the SW monsoon (maybe) by coming over our side. Your worst climate shock will be returning to London after the trip __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Oct 23rd, 2007, 19:25	#3
SAHM Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 89	Do NOT go to Chennai, in April and May the temperatures reach 45 degrees C (120 degrees F) nearly every day. The humidity is high also. People in Chennai often to go Ooty or another hill station to cool off. SAHM

Oct 23rd, 2007, 21:03	#5
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	The advantage of the humid heat is you are not dehydrating as easily, as in the dry heat which you tend to feel less. In dry heat you need to consciously drink a lot all the time.

Oct 24th, 2007, 08:27	#6
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,448	Atala - Funnily, I seem to drink more in humidity because I perspire far more - I take a drink and it just pours out of my skin! When it is really hot and dry I drink a lot but as temps come down have to remind myself to drink. This OT I'm afraid!

Oct 24th, 2007, 08:42	#7
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,143	we moved to India in April - just in time for the 40-45 degree heat of Delhi! Interesting experience - not realising how much you are sweating until your somewhere cool enough for the sweat to condense! We went north to Chandigarh for about a week in June/July and what a difference! Just that few degrees drop in temperature. As hot as it was, though, the past few months with their high humidity were worse I think. Temperature of say 34-40 degrees, but 70% plus humidity. Lovely now though - a chilly 22 degrees outside....brrrrrrr. So what's the best place to weather the heat? Anywhere you can find a swimming pool!

Oct 24th, 2007, 23:57	#10
ALPHABAR Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SWEDEN Posts: 69	a simple strategy is to choose your hotel room/hut with an eye on the sun... try and select a room that is east facing...that way, you get the sun during the morning but by midday the sun is on the other side of the building. this makes such a difference when you arrive back at the end of your day - your room/hut is relatively cool. if it's been facing the sun during the afternoon and evening it will be very hot - and stay that way during most of the night. also, if staying in a hotel with more than one level - don't take a room on the top floor - these rooms will be exposed to direct sunlight most of the day.

Oct 25th, 2007, 08:23	#13
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,448	alphabar - a very wise posting! Where I come from originally (NZ)you look for the sun, here, unless you are up in the mountains you avoid the sun at all costs! My house is built with this in mind - windows facing east with a broad sheltering verandah attached to where the room starts so morning sun even is minimal - it is dug into full underground by the time you go back to the back storeroom. There is a floor of rooms above us and soon another floor..This makes for the coolest part of the building where I live permanently. There is an appreciable difference in temp. and I don't need to use a/c for as many months as I have previously in other rooms where I have lived. Recently I stayed in top rooms in Jodhpur - all others were occupied so no choice - we had that cooler running in the hot afternoons - managed with windows and doors open for the night with just a fan. The heat in Rajasthan won't build up until towards the end of March - so keep in mind the travelling dates before April. For me, the mountains are just heaven, when I finally reach them after mid-May! OT - sweat, water and drinking ... important to drink lots of water daily no matter where we are! I have to remind myself when I go back in cool times to Oz and NZ this one!

Oct 25th, 2007, 08:57	#14
GauhatiBoy Not sure where I'm from Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon USA Posts: 284	Dry heat is less miserable but dehydration can sneak up on you in it. I prefer dry heat but I also make sure to drink plenty of water. If you are not used to those temperatures, don't take the chance that you might regret your plans. My 2 paisa. You will surely have a great time in the mountains. By the way, I'm an air conditioning service tech.

Oct 25th, 2007, 09:12	#15
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,448	Laanisa - thinking about your post, my advice would be go with your plans and if you find all too uncomfortable for you with heat,do as Gauhati boy suggests, escape to the hills. You can have a fabulous time there - the environment is beautiful, great for walking many areas that are different as well.. Hills for South India are mainly Nilgiris, or Kodaikanal. There are hills Maharashta area but I'm not sure where.. North India already mentioned.

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