Hi all - advice on a 5 month India trip.

Nikos

Hi Guys,

Im arriving into Goa on the 5th Of November and returning on the 2nd of April, just over 5 months. Ideally, i would have preferred to get into Mumbai or Delhi - but i got my charter flights through my current employer at a staff rate so couldnt refuse!

The plan is to travel round India in a clockwise direction, heading up to Mumbai, Delhi, Shimla, over to Darjeeling, down the east coast to Chennai then Hyderbrad and back to Goa. I plan to do this all by train, however may have to take out Darjeeling die to the currect situation there.

Has anyone ever taken this route before, and do you think it is possible to complete in 5 months. I will living on a shoestring budget, and wish to see as many places on the way. I have extensivly searched this website already, however feel like i have all the pieces to the jigsaw, but no idea where to put them all!

I will be travelling solo, with approx 3000GBP.

Any advice would be great!

Cheers,

Nick

ananda2193

Of course it's possible! And $6000 US for 5 months ain't a shoestring budget. You'll live fairly comfortable on that much.

Hymz

Hello Nick,
1) 5 months is a fairly long time and you will be able to do justice to the itinerary locations.
2) Firstly create various legs to your 5 months journey, with a clear objective with what do you want to achieve with each leg. Is it about touching most location in the leg or is it finding that few places that comforts you. As per your need lay down the city looking at a google map or a lonely planet guide.
3) Train passes are available for international tourists for a six month period. If you are clear about your itinerary, then a request at the Railways station master can be given for provision of confirmed tickets for all you sector. I am assuming that you will book tickets two months in advance.
4) My suggestion to your itinerary will be Goa(beaches) -Mumbai (city)- Jaipur (palaces) -Chokhi Dhani (village stay) - Jodhpur (places/ desert)- Ranthambore (wildlife)- Agra(Taj)- Delhi (city)- Simla (hill)- Manali (hill)- Lahaul /Spiti Valley (valley)- Manali - Leh(valley)- Kargil -Srinagar(valley)- PAtnitop (hill)- Amritsar (holy Temple)- Dalhousie (hill)- Haridwar (hill) - Corbett (Wild life)- Mussories(hill)- Valley of flowers (Valley)-Varanasi (holy ghats)-NJP - Darjeeling (hill)- Gangtok (hill)- Jaladpara (Wildlife)- Calcutta (city)- Bhubhaneshwar (Beach / holy)- Puri (holy)- Vishakapatnam (city)- Hyderabad (city)- Bangalore (city) -Ooty (hill) - Chennai (city)-Madurai(temple) - Kanyakumari (tip of india)- Trivandrum (kerala route)- Kochi(kerala route) - Goa Except for few of them where railways dont operate the the route is optimized in terms of best rail connectivity.
5) A budget for 5 months is really tough. Personally I dont think it will be sufficient for the routes i have mentioned, as the terrain in Ladakh (north of simla) would be an expensive proposition. Either stick to less locations or increase the budget by another 2000 GBP. The more the location you go the more tolerance for budget you should have. Its not about commuting fares, but also about renegotiating room rates, getting lost, and other factors associated with it.

Hopefully I am able to help you on your query.

Cheers
Hymz

__________________
A journey is transportation of the mind ---> If you can transport your mind ---> the location does not matter !!

roopeeman

You'll e fine with 3000£! You even fly, rest your butt very decent hotel rooms, participate in courses, give to the poor and travel 300km by taxi! I'd concentrate to the north and northeast plus Mumbai, Goa and the hillstations of Kerala and prob. TN. Ladakh is a must. Leave most of your baggage in Rishikesh(UA) and Take a bus/walk up to Gangotri. On the way, stop in Gangnani for a night, enjoy sulphur springs and ask for Nirinjan!

waving monkey

Hi guys I'm a newbie
how about traveling around on $500usd pre- month.

capt_mahajan

Impossible question to answer, without knowing where you want to go and what level of comfort you will accept.

Why don't you start a thread in the itinerary section?

Generally speaking, 500 usd per month is possible provided you don't spend much too much on travelling or hotels, and preferably stay in smaller hotels/accomodation outside cities.

waving monkey

Dear Mahajan:

Thanks for swift response.I love this site.The members are knowledgeable and generous.Less then a week of reading responses
has speeded up info intake.

waving monkey

machadinha

I'd been thinking at Rs. 700 a day (the 500 dollars) it should put you in something of a reasonable if unluxurious budget bracket.

Thing is, I have no way of knowing that until I try it myself again. Prices change, and what may be fine for me may not be for you, etc.

The OP would be looking at around 1700 Rs. per day, which to me would seem more than adequate, if probably still not overly flamboyant. But barring any extravagant wishes, it should see one more than a fair way.

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waving monkey

Thanks Machadinha,

Thats going to have to do it.First time in India. Going for the
Lotus Circuit.On the low down.I'm geecked.Might end up in Darjeeling for a stay if its not expensive.Maybe outside of town.

Is this site as much fun to old hands as it is to newbies.

Thanks
waving monkey

machadinha

Hey, what do you think keeps us going

Cheers. Have fun, and ask (or preferably read first ) away. And yes, make no mistake, it's always fun to "pass on the flag" as it were (or is that the candle in English? Whatever, you'll catch my drift. And don't forget none of us actually "know" either. There are too many variables. But one can get a general sense going by the common denominator in a line of answers or reports, I guess. Or should hope.)

roopeeman

Let's keep in mind that many people in India work hard for a 2000.-R./month salary and have to nourish a family. And food and transportation is
cheap and ok. 700.-R is fine if travel by 2nd sleeper, bus and the occasional tuktuk. It of course requires a certain intelligence that you have to develop. But that's an interesting part of travelling.

waving monkey

Dear roopeeman
Thanks for your encouragement this country is very exciting.
And I look forward to more ideas from you and your friends.

waving monkey

ananda2193

Waving Monkey, $500 a month is definitely doable in India. Don't plan on traveling everyday though as that will eat up a large portion of your money. It's possible in some places to live on half that or less if you choose. Vegetarian food is very cheap in India. And you should have money for a few beers a day also if you eat cheap. In Goa and Pondicherry beers are real cheap. Around $1 a large bottle. $2-3 in most other places.

waving monkey

thanks ananda,

This is very encouraging to hear from several ole hands.

It makes sense that travel[trains]eat up budget but they are
still quit cheap.

wm