India is too big! Help!

sageearth · Feb 27th, 2007, 11:02

Hi Everyone!

I arrived in Mumbai last night all safe and sound. I have been travelling for the past four days (stayed in KL for awhile India/Nepal been my main destinations) and now that I'm in Mumbai I am overwhelmed by choice! I want to get out of the cities. this much is certain. I want to relax somewhere nice. I like mountains, I like the beaches, I like deserts. I also would like to meet up with some travellers, I'm starting to get tired of talking to myself! (Even though I can be a very itneresting conversationalist if I do say so myself

) My first itinerary (vague as it was) had me going to Diu steven_b helped me with trains times (in gurjat thread) but now I'm thinking Goa I want to meet others and hang out and have fun! My only restriction is I want to be in Nepal for early April to spend 6 weeks and I fly out of New Delhi on 24th May for Germany. Either than that nothing. Help!

Tapestry · Feb 27th, 2007, 11:58

Goa sounds like a logical next destination. But if your general trend is to go North all the way to Nepal, then you should probably pull out the map and look at the general "line" between Goa and Kathmandu, and decide to visit places along that route in the time that you have. The key to managing a visit to India is to put some things that you want to do, but which are too far out of the way, into the "next time" column. If you like beaches, you have Goa and Diu, then for deserts you have parts of Gujarat and then Rajasthan. Keep going North and you have mountains and hill stations. You'll be able to hit a lot of great sites, all in the same northward traveling trend, just don't get distracted by things like Kerala's backwaters and Calcutta, etc, because then you'll spend all your time in transit. Continue on a progressive path from Goa to Kathmandu and you'll be fine. If you have questions about whether certain destinations are worthwhile or worth a miss, you can always as on IM.

Good luck.

sageearth · Feb 27th, 2007, 13:26

thanks Tapestry, it's really hrad to figure out what to do. I thought I had it set in my head but had ahunch I'd change my mind once I got here

I'll probably head toward Goa take a few days to relax and work out a route north!

steven_ber · Feb 27th, 2007, 13:46

I hope my comment that "the beaches of Diu will be dissapointing compared to Malasia" isn't pushing you towards Goa, I should have said "the beaches of India" (not including the islands).

Goa has many different places to go to, without research you may end up in a place where "meet up with some travellers" may make you wish you hadn't bothered, meaning there are many 'package holiday' tourists in Goa.

I find these people great to get on with, but if you're looking for 'travellers', they may not be what you had in mind.

The attitude of the 'locals' (didn't see many goans) in some parts of Goa is also appaling, they're used to package tourists who'll pay whatever price they ask, and they don't need the custom of anyone who knows the real prices, so much so, that they've turned things around onto tourists.

Many times I was told "the English always argue about the price", after being quoted a non-negotiable Rs50 for a Rs12 rickshaw ride. (every rickshaw I asked quoted the same price, even when we'd walked halfway back)

steven_ber · Feb 27th, 2007, 13:51

It seems to me that you have a choice to make today.

Go to Diu, then slowly go through Gujarat and Rajasthan, then Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Nepal, this way you'll have time to visit lots of small places that tourists normally miss.

OR

Go to Goa, then hurry through Rajasthan just going to the big tourist places.

Have the confidence to go to Diu, then the slow route, you won't regret it.

bijapuri · Feb 27th, 2007, 15:10

there's a thriving traveler scene in Udaipur as well as Pushkar, if you are heading that way, as suggested by SB. Likely to meet up with farangs there on your way to the mtns- where you will want to go in a few weeks when Ma India starts to fry puris on it's soil!
oh, I forgot one thing.
if you are in Bombay, you simply "must" (hahaha) visit Ajanta and Ellora on your way north! Easy to reach from BOM, and then easy from there to get to Rajasthan.

sageearth · Feb 27th, 2007, 16:04

Ahh thanks for the replies,. I read thema fter I purchased a train ticket for tomorrow night to Goa ;( But that's no matter. I'm thinking of staying somewhere in Benaulim, is that a decent place?

My vague itinerary now is to travel three weeks in the south pushing north all the time toward Nepal, so I'm looking at maybe Hyderabad, then through to Orissa, then Kolkotta, then Darjeeling and over the border to Nepal. SPend about a month or so in Nepal then go over the boarder to Varanesi, Agra and do two weeks in Rajasthan (I guess it will need to be just touristy type places or spend soem quality time in a few places) before going back to Delhi to get my flight out of the country. There just isn't enough time!

don't worry steven_b it wasn't your comment that put me off, I was in two minds about going north anyway. I just wanted to get to a relativeley easy to get to place so I can get my bearings and plan out a more concrete itinerary. I just really hope I haven't short changed myself. I guess I was just getting tired of constant travel, travel, wanting to sit down a be quite for a bit and chill out somewhere, so far I'm finding travellers to be a bit stand-offish anyway? Doesn't bother me I like been alone. It seemed to me that all the routes to Diu seemed more tiring then easy-as Goa.

But I must look at it this way, this is only my first trip to India (so far liking it very much even though I have been here one night and a day!) I am sure to come back to cover the parts I have missed. It's just such a huge country it's really hard to see everything!

Feb 27th, 2007, 11:02	#1
sageearth Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 5	India is too big! Help! Hi Everyone! I arrived in Mumbai last night all safe and sound. I have been travelling for the past four days (stayed in KL for awhile India/Nepal been my main destinations) and now that I'm in Mumbai I am overwhelmed by choice! I want to get out of the cities. this much is certain. I want to relax somewhere nice. I like mountains, I like the beaches, I like deserts. I also would like to meet up with some travellers, I'm starting to get tired of talking to myself! (Even though I can be a very itneresting conversationalist if I do say so myself ) My first itinerary (vague as it was) had me going to Diu steven_b helped me with trains times (in gurjat thread) but now I'm thinking Goa I want to meet others and hang out and have fun! My only restriction is I want to be in Nepal for early April to spend 6 weeks and I fly out of New Delhi on 24th May for Germany. Either than that nothing. Help!

Feb 27th, 2007, 13:46	#4
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,567	I hope my comment that "the beaches of Diu will be dissapointing compared to Malasia" isn't pushing you towards Goa, I should have said "the beaches of India" (not including the islands). Goa has many different places to go to, without research you may end up in a place where "meet up with some travellers" may make you wish you hadn't bothered, meaning there are many 'package holiday' tourists in Goa. I find these people great to get on with, but if you're looking for 'travellers', they may not be what you had in mind. The attitude of the 'locals' (didn't see many goans) in some parts of Goa is also appaling, they're used to package tourists who'll pay whatever price they ask, and they don't need the custom of anyone who knows the real prices, so much so, that they've turned things around onto tourists. Many times I was told "the English always argue about the price", after being quoted a non-negotiable Rs50 for a Rs12 rickshaw ride. (every rickshaw I asked quoted the same price, even when we'd walked halfway back) __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Feb 27th, 2007, 15:10	#6
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	there's a thriving traveler scene in Udaipur as well as Pushkar, if you are heading that way, as suggested by SB. Likely to meet up with farangs there on your way to the mtns- where you will want to go in a few weeks when Ma India starts to fry puris on it's soil! oh, I forgot one thing. if you are in Bombay, you simply "must" (hahaha) visit Ajanta and Ellora on your way north! Easy to reach from BOM, and then easy from there to get to Rajasthan. __________________ lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

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Feb 27th, 2007, 11:58	#2
Tapestry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 326	Goa sounds like a logical next destination. But if your general trend is to go North all the way to Nepal, then you should probably pull out the map and look at the general "line" between Goa and Kathmandu, and decide to visit places along that route in the time that you have. The key to managing a visit to India is to put some things that you want to do, but which are too far out of the way, into the "next time" column. If you like beaches, you have Goa and Diu, then for deserts you have parts of Gujarat and then Rajasthan. Keep going North and you have mountains and hill stations. You'll be able to hit a lot of great sites, all in the same northward traveling trend, just don't get distracted by things like Kerala's backwaters and Calcutta, etc, because then you'll spend all your time in transit. Continue on a progressive path from Goa to Kathmandu and you'll be fine. If you have questions about whether certain destinations are worthwhile or worth a miss, you can always as on IM. Good luck.

Feb 27th, 2007, 13:26	#3
sageearth Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 5	thanks Tapestry, it's really hrad to figure out what to do. I thought I had it set in my head but had ahunch I'd change my mind once I got here I'll probably head toward Goa take a few days to relax and work out a route north!

Feb 27th, 2007, 13:51	#5
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,567	It seems to me that you have a choice to make today. Go to Diu, then slowly go through Gujarat and Rajasthan, then Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Nepal, this way you'll have time to visit lots of small places that tourists normally miss. OR Go to Goa, then hurry through Rajasthan just going to the big tourist places. Have the confidence to go to Diu, then the slow route, you won't regret it.

Feb 27th, 2007, 16:04	#7
sageearth Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 5	Ahh thanks for the replies,. I read thema fter I purchased a train ticket for tomorrow night to Goa ;( But that's no matter. I'm thinking of staying somewhere in Benaulim, is that a decent place? My vague itinerary now is to travel three weeks in the south pushing north all the time toward Nepal, so I'm looking at maybe Hyderabad, then through to Orissa, then Kolkotta, then Darjeeling and over the border to Nepal. SPend about a month or so in Nepal then go over the boarder to Varanesi, Agra and do two weeks in Rajasthan (I guess it will need to be just touristy type places or spend soem quality time in a few places) before going back to Delhi to get my flight out of the country. There just isn't enough time! don't worry steven_b it wasn't your comment that put me off, I was in two minds about going north anyway. I just wanted to get to a relativeley easy to get to place so I can get my bearings and plan out a more concrete itinerary. I just really hope I haven't short changed myself. I guess I was just getting tired of constant travel, travel, wanting to sit down a be quite for a bit and chill out somewhere, so far I'm finding travellers to be a bit stand-offish anyway? Doesn't bother me I like been alone. It seemed to me that all the routes to Diu seemed more tiring then easy-as Goa. But I must look at it this way, this is only my first trip to India (so far liking it very much even though I have been here one night and a day!) I am sure to come back to cover the parts I have missed. It's just such a huge country it's really hard to see everything!