north or south for first-timer in July

spacedotdash · Apr 9th, 2008, 09:40

Hello everybody! I've been lurking around the forum for the past few weeks or so, since I found out I'll be going to India for the summer. But now I'm in need of some advice. I'm heading over in June to participate in a course that lasts all month and takes place mostly in Delhi and Jaipur, but I'm staying for another month to do some travelling on my own. Its not the time of year I'd pick for my first trip, but I'm determined to make the most of it. However, I'm really having trouble deciding what to do!

I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 possibilities - either head up north to around Manali, Shimla and Ladakh, and expose myself to the possibility of AMS and a busier tourist season but some amazing (more temperate) views - or head down south to around Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and deal with some wet but have a better idea of what to expect. Its not the rains that really worry me, but the 40+degree heat. I'm leaning toward the north since I was already planning on a trip in the fall to do some volunteering and general travel before I found out I was accepted for the summer course, and I know the fall will be a better time to explore (most of) the areas. But as I'm a young single woman who'll mainly be travelling alone and on as tight a budget that I can manage, I don't know what plan of attack is best. Maybe neither - are there some other suggestions out there??

I'm looking for any kind of advice/suggestion you can give me!

zoltan · Apr 9th, 2008, 10:04

I've been to Manali & Shimla & had no issues with AMS (not sure how you may go with Ladakh though).

When I was there, it was the off-season and almost no tourists. It will be *very* busy during the peak time and, if you are on a tight budget, you'd be pushing to get cheap rooms anywhere.

If you can cope with the big wet, go down South - although it may also be quite humid & hot also, but it will be cheaper.

Cheers
Zoltan

capt_mahajan · Apr 9th, 2008, 10:24

July will have rains in the mountains too- except Ladakh, which would be a good choice. You can still get some rain there, weather patterns have changed- but it should be lesser than Himachal.

Agree with Zoltan about the AMS- which may well be a factor in Ladakh- do browse this forum for more information on this.

Apr 9th, 2008, 09:40	#1
spacedotdash Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1	north or south for first-timer in July Hello everybody! I've been lurking around the forum for the past few weeks or so, since I found out I'll be going to India for the summer. But now I'm in need of some advice. I'm heading over in June to participate in a course that lasts all month and takes place mostly in Delhi and Jaipur, but I'm staying for another month to do some travelling on my own. Its not the time of year I'd pick for my first trip, but I'm determined to make the most of it. However, I'm really having trouble deciding what to do! I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 possibilities - either head up north to around Manali, Shimla and Ladakh, and expose myself to the possibility of AMS and a busier tourist season but some amazing (more temperate) views - or head down south to around Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and deal with some wet but have a better idea of what to expect. Its not the rains that really worry me, but the 40+degree heat. I'm leaning toward the north since I was already planning on a trip in the fall to do some volunteering and general travel before I found out I was accepted for the summer course, and I know the fall will be a better time to explore (most of) the areas. But as I'm a young single woman who'll mainly be travelling alone and on as tight a budget that I can manage, I don't know what plan of attack is best. Maybe neither - are there some other suggestions out there?? I'm looking for any kind of advice/suggestion you can give me!

Apr 9th, 2008, 10:04	#2
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 645	I've been to Manali & Shimla & had no issues with AMS (not sure how you may go with Ladakh though). When I was there, it was the off-season and almost no tourists. It will be very busy during the peak time and, if you are on a tight budget, you'd be pushing to get cheap rooms anywhere. If you can cope with the big wet, go down South - although it may also be quite humid & hot also, but it will be cheaper. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Apr 9th, 2008, 10:24	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	July will have rains in the mountains too- except Ladakh, which would be a good choice. You can still get some rain there, weather patterns have changed- but it should be lesser than Himachal. Agree with Zoltan about the AMS- which may well be a factor in Ladakh- do browse this forum for more information on this.

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