NRI's first trip to india

reelist · Nov 4th, 2009, 00:56

hi there!

i'm a british born NRI, and im planning to visit india for the first time (i'm 25 now) in january. i'm leaving my job and have given myself a minimum time frame of 4 months, but will most likely stretch it out up to 12 months if money permits and i find somewhere to volunteer for a few months. i've got a very rough itinerary planned out below, so any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome. i want to do the whole journey by rail and road, with as few flights as possible.

mumbai - 1 week
goa - 2/3 weeks
kerala - 2/3 weeks
bangalore - 1/2 weeks
pondicherry - 1 week
chennai - 1 week
kolkata - ?
darjeeling - 3/4 days
nepal/khatmandu - 1 week
--
thats as far as i've planned, but other destinations i want to visit are:

varanasi, dharmasala, delhi, jaipur, jodhpur, rishikesh, amritsar, leh (safety permitting), shimla (maybe) ahmedabad, rajkot, diu. then ending in mumbai for my return flight.

i want to have a solid itinerary of stops before i go, but with more relaxed timescales incase i feel like i want to stay at a particular stop a little longer.

i have some concerns, particularly with the weather. i understand the monsoons will hit around march/april time, so how will this affect me getting around on public transport? how cold does it get in the north - should i pack for cold weather?
is there anything i could fit in between chennai and kolkata?
is it worth visiting the north eastern states? i do want to take in some of indias bhuddist culture, visiting some monastaries.
how safe is it really to travel in jammu and kashmir? the guidebooks stress caution, but any real life experience would be helpful.

in amongst that, i want to fit in some volunteer work and some time in an ashram to learn yoga and meditation. so if you could recommend places to stop for either, then again, it would be appreciated. (i'll be posting threads on the respective boards for specific advice as well)

i'm going with the mentality that if this was to be the only time i visit india, i want to see and experience everything, so that next time i visit i'll be much more relaxed and wont feel so pressured into running around, getting all the boxes ticked, so to speak. so with that in mind, if theres anything i've missed (i'll be adding to this as i research more), then please please let me know!

---

i think thats about it! its been good to actually get this all written down, as i've been planning it in my head for the last 4-6 weeks and hadnt actually written anything down! i hope i can use this thread to draw up a full itinerary!

reelist · Nov 4th, 2009, 15:51

bump! anyone?

edit:

having spent many hours since last night sifting through the threads and articles, it looks like i might have to be a bit more strict with the timing, given that you have to book train tickets so far in advance! is this the case all over india (i.e. booking 2-3 months ahead?) or just the busier areas? are there any alternatives which allow me to book with less advance notice? how far in advance would i need to book accommodation? i was hoping to book my stays a few days in advance from my current location, is this a bit naive?

thanks in advance!

vonkla · Nov 4th, 2009, 20:13

For the planning stage of your train journeys http://erail.in/ is very useful.
It is possible to select your routes and play with the dates to get an idea of the availability of the seats.

You cannot book tickets in this site.

namaste_cat · Nov 4th, 2009, 21:23

Quote:

i'm a british born NRI, and im planning to visit india for the first time (i'm 25 now) in january. i'm leaving my job and have given myself a minimum time frame of 4 months, but will most likely stretch it out up to 12 months if money permits and i find somewhere to volunteer for a few months.

Unless you have OCI or PIO status, with a tourist visa of any duration you will be limited to a 180 day stay per India visit. And if you get a 3 or 6 mo visa, the clock starts ticking on the date of issue, so that cuts into the time actually spent in India. So sort all that out before you make any concrete plans/reservations.

Once you have it sorted, look around the forums because all your questions about J&K safety, weather, monsoons, visa issues, etc have all been covered. If you have specific concerns, you can post them there.

Hope you have a wonderful trip to Mother India

reelist · Nov 5th, 2009, 02:52

thanks for the replies guys!

i've been told i can get a visa for as long as 12 months, and specify the start date too, so that should be ok. i'll need to run down to the visa office in december before i go.

i've just gotten lost within these forums the past 24 hours! theres just so much information. i'm still working out how to book my first train ticket from mumbai-madgoan, so hopefully will have that sorted by tomorrow, fingers crossed!

any comments on the itinerary?

nycank · Nov 5th, 2009, 03:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelist

thanks for the replies guys!

i've been told i can get a visa for as long as 12 months, and specify the start date too, so that should be ok. i'll need to run down to the visa office in december before i go.

i've just gotten lost within these forums the past 24 hours! theres just so much information. i'm still working out how to book my first train ticket from mumbai-madgoan, so hopefully will have that sorted by tomorrow, fingers crossed!

any comments on the itinerary?

Read other threads as well as a sticky. You were mis-informed. Your best bet is to get an OCI card. Will take you about two months if all is neat and clean. A tourist Visa will require leaving the country after 180 days (not 180 days in the country,) but 180 days after the date your visa is issued.

namaste_cat · Nov 5th, 2009, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelist

i've been told i can get a visa for as long as 12 months, and specify the start date too, so that should be ok. i'll need to run down to the visa office in december before i go.

That might be, but as I said in my previous post -- Unless you have OCI or PIO status, with a tourist visa of any duration you will be limited to a 180 day stay per India visit. So even if you get a 1 yr visa, you will have to leave India and re-enter after 180 days there.

sympara · Nov 5th, 2009, 10:24

Welcome to IM.... India..

you can also think about Assam arunachal , Nagalad and other places of NE

paradise unexplored....

reelist · Nov 5th, 2009, 17:43

i did consider the north eastern states, but im not sure if i have the time. i booked my flights yesterday and have given myself from 06/01 to 31/06, essentially 5 months. the dates can be changed but 5 months sounds about right, unless i start working.

can anyone suggest any stops between chennai and kolkata? thats the only part of my itinerary which involves a relatively large journey. if not, i'll look into flights once i'm there, but as i said, i'd rather stick to rail where i can.

reelist · Nov 5th, 2009, 17:44

nycank and cat, i'll have to double check but when my parents recently went to india, they were granted a 12 months visa.

nycank · Nov 5th, 2009, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelist

nycank and cat, i'll have to double check but when my parents recently went to india, they were granted a 12 months visa.

Dont matter what visa they were granted. The rules for Tourist visa are pretty clear. I had a 10 year, multiple entry visa; but each stay not to exceed 180 days. If you get a six month visa, say on 15th December, it will expire mid June. If you get a one year visa, then you are doing fine, stay for up to 180 day.

reelist · Nov 5th, 2009, 19:21

ahh right, i see what you mean. well i'm planning to enter nepal for about a week sometime in march/april, so when i return to india that'll give me another 180 days. thanks for that bit of info!

nycank · Nov 5th, 2009, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelist

ahh right, i see what you mean. well i'm planning to enter nepal for about a week sometime in march/april, so when i return to india that'll give me another 180 days. thanks for that bit of info!

You will have to go to the Indian Embassy in Nepal to get a fresh visa in case you have a six month visa.

*jyoti* · Nov 5th, 2009, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelist

...

mumbai - 1 week
goa - 2/3 weeks
kerala - 2/3 weeks
bangalore - 1/2 weeks
pondicherry - 1 week
chennai - 1 week
kolkata - ?
darjeeling - 3/4 days
nepal/khatmandu - 1 week
--
thats as far as i've planned, but other destinations i want to visit are:

varanasi, dharmasala, delhi, jaipur, jodhpur, rishikesh, amritsar, leh (safety permitting), shimla (maybe) ahmedabad, rajkot, diu. then ending in mumbai for my return flight.

Unless you are wanting to take a break at that point and really excited about seeing Bangalore, 2 days in Bangalore should do it ... maximum. Use the time to visit Delhi & Rajasthan, which I would certainly try to see before Bangalore.

Ditto on a week in Chennai. Sorry, Nick! But I was there for 3 days visiting friends & there was little to do! A week in Chennai/Pondicherry should be sufficient, unless you are really keen on being at the beach as much as possible. Already you have 2-3 weeks in Goa, which would be a lot more than I would "budget" of my time.

reelist · Nov 5th, 2009, 21:13

thanks for your replies guys, you've all been really helpful! i'll probably shorten my stay in bangalore now, which will buy me a day or two!

i've got the first two months planned now, ending in chennai. i'm leaning towards flying to kalkata from chennai now. is it easy to book flights at short notice when on the ground in india?

Nov 4th, 2009, 00:56	#1
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	NRI's first trip to india hi there! i'm a british born NRI, and im planning to visit india for the first time (i'm 25 now) in january. i'm leaving my job and have given myself a minimum time frame of 4 months, but will most likely stretch it out up to 12 months if money permits and i find somewhere to volunteer for a few months. i've got a very rough itinerary planned out below, so any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome. i want to do the whole journey by rail and road, with as few flights as possible. mumbai - 1 week goa - 2/3 weeks kerala - 2/3 weeks bangalore - 1/2 weeks pondicherry - 1 week chennai - 1 week kolkata - ? darjeeling - 3/4 days nepal/khatmandu - 1 week -- thats as far as i've planned, but other destinations i want to visit are: varanasi, dharmasala, delhi, jaipur, jodhpur, rishikesh, amritsar, leh (safety permitting), shimla (maybe) ahmedabad, rajkot, diu. then ending in mumbai for my return flight. i want to have a solid itinerary of stops before i go, but with more relaxed timescales incase i feel like i want to stay at a particular stop a little longer. i have some concerns, particularly with the weather. i understand the monsoons will hit around march/april time, so how will this affect me getting around on public transport? how cold does it get in the north - should i pack for cold weather? is there anything i could fit in between chennai and kolkata? is it worth visiting the north eastern states? i do want to take in some of indias bhuddist culture, visiting some monastaries. how safe is it really to travel in jammu and kashmir? the guidebooks stress caution, but any real life experience would be helpful. in amongst that, i want to fit in some volunteer work and some time in an ashram to learn yoga and meditation. so if you could recommend places to stop for either, then again, it would be appreciated. (i'll be posting threads on the respective boards for specific advice as well) i'm going with the mentality that if this was to be the only time i visit india, i want to see and experience everything, so that next time i visit i'll be much more relaxed and wont feel so pressured into running around, getting all the boxes ticked, so to speak. so with that in mind, if theres anything i've missed (i'll be adding to this as i research more), then please please let me know! --- i think thats about it! its been good to actually get this all written down, as i've been planning it in my head for the last 4-6 weeks and hadnt actually written anything down! i hope i can use this thread to draw up a full itinerary!

Nov 4th, 2009, 20:13	#3
vonkla Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 562	For the planning stage of your train journeys http://erail.in/ is very useful. It is possible to select your routes and play with the dates to get an idea of the availability of the seats. You cannot book tickets in this site. __________________ . See our travel journals Mumbai-Dehli in three months; From Kochi to Delhi

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
17 days in india, first trip - is this nth india itinerary realistic?	natti	India Travel Itinerary Advice	7	Mar 11th, 2009 22:07
Air fares for NRI'S	zak	Domestic India Flights	6	Aug 7th, 2006 20:15
Hi First Trip to Great India, any good suggestion for North India?	muthukee	Introduce Yourself	6	Sep 19th, 2005 10:49
25 billion NRI's!	Arun	Chai and Chat	11	Aug 8th, 2005 18:26

Nov 4th, 2009, 15:51	#2
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	bump! anyone? edit: having spent many hours since last night sifting through the threads and articles, it looks like i might have to be a bit more strict with the timing, given that you have to book train tickets so far in advance! is this the case all over india (i.e. booking 2-3 months ahead?) or just the busier areas? are there any alternatives which allow me to book with less advance notice? how far in advance would i need to book accommodation? i was hoping to book my stays a few days in advance from my current location, is this a bit naive? thanks in advance!

Nov 5th, 2009, 02:52	#5
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	thanks for the replies guys! i've been told i can get a visa for as long as 12 months, and specify the start date too, so that should be ok. i'll need to run down to the visa office in december before i go. i've just gotten lost within these forums the past 24 hours! theres just so much information. i'm still working out how to book my first train ticket from mumbai-madgoan, so hopefully will have that sorted by tomorrow, fingers crossed! any comments on the itinerary?

Nov 5th, 2009, 10:24	#8
sympara Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: INDIA Posts: 30	Welcome to IM.... India.. you can also think about Assam arunachal , Nagalad and other places of NE paradise unexplored....

Nov 5th, 2009, 17:43	#9
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	i did consider the north eastern states, but im not sure if i have the time. i booked my flights yesterday and have given myself from 06/01 to 31/06, essentially 5 months. the dates can be changed but 5 months sounds about right, unless i start working. can anyone suggest any stops between chennai and kolkata? thats the only part of my itinerary which involves a relatively large journey. if not, i'll look into flights once i'm there, but as i said, i'd rather stick to rail where i can.

Nov 5th, 2009, 17:44	#10
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	nycank and cat, i'll have to double check but when my parents recently went to india, they were granted a 12 months visa.

Nov 5th, 2009, 19:21	#12
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	ahh right, i see what you mean. well i'm planning to enter nepal for about a week sometime in march/april, so when i return to india that'll give me another 180 days. thanks for that bit of info!

Nov 5th, 2009, 21:13	#15
reelist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London Posts: 16	thanks for your replies guys, you've all been really helpful! i'll probably shorten my stay in bangalore now, which will buy me a day or two! i've got the first two months planned now, ending in chennai. i'm leaning towards flying to kalkata from chennai now. is it easy to book flights at short notice when on the ground in india?