Suggestions Please - Where to go in Northern India in May/June?

bearaman · Jan 11th, 2008, 22:24

Hi Everyone,
My girlfriend and myself are planning a trip to India from May 27 - June 15. Since it will be hot, we're looking at visiting places in the north of the country. I'm also aware that this is when many people choose to take holidays and many places in the north will be busy.
Where do you recommend we visit? We both like nature, animals, meeting local people, Indian train journeys and eating wonderful Indian food.
Can you please suggest a list of places that are not too busy as well as places that must be visited?
Also, any recommended places to stay would be very welcome.
Thanks for your time. I'm happy that I found this web site.
John

capt_mahajan · Jan 11th, 2008, 22:40

Smaller places in Kumaon or Garwahl in Uttarakhand would be my first choice. Do browse the Uttarakhand forum here on indiamike.

A train ride to either Kathgodam or Haridwar and then by road...

Also www.kmvn.org
www.gmvnl.com

look up accomodations there, for smaller places.

As long as you avoid the tourist traps like Nainital and Mussoorie and stick to smaller places, (the smaller the better) all your requirements will be met, except perhaps animals. (if you mean a wildlife sanctuary).

bearaman · Jan 14th, 2008, 20:43

Thanks Captain!
Some good tips there, appreciated. I take it that these places will be much cooler than the plains in May/June period?
You mentioned a few tourist traps, are there others that should be avoided during this period?
We've narrowed our search to H.P., Ladackh, Kashmir and Utterkhand.
Thanks,
John

bearaman · Jan 15th, 2008, 17:25

With the time of year I'll be visiting India, I've decided to visit Ladackh and H.P. We have about three weeks. I will also visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
As I mentioned, we like smaller places with not huge crowds.
Can anyone suggest a list of places for us to follow?
Many thanks to all the great people on this forum!
John

capt_mahajan · Jan 15th, 2008, 17:31

Sorry, I didnt see your earlier post before this. I think it may be academic now, but for the record, I would avoid Nainital, Mussoorie and Almora (within the city) during that time.

In May/June, since you have decided HP, I would avoid Shimla. Will leave the basic question about smaller places in HP to others since I haven't been there for awhile.

solo_trekker · Jan 15th, 2008, 19:01

a suggestion -
try the less frequented spiti valley...
it is outta the world...

delhi - shimla (shatabdi to kalka and then the toy train)
shimla - rekong peo (on the hindustan tibet route)
rekong peo - tabo (tabo is the ajanta of the himalayas)
tabo - dhankar monastery (and the lake too)
dhankar - pin valley (an unbelievable place)
pin valley - kazaa (the base of spiti valley)
kazaa - kibber (the only bus leaves at 5.30) (kibber is the highest village, reachable by road, in the world)
kibber - kei monastery (again, world famous)
kei - kazaa (back to base)
kazaa - kunzum la
one option here could be to trek to the chandra tal...
or u could carry on straight to manali via rohtang la...
kunzum la - rohtang la
rohtang la - manali (do check out old manali and vashisht)
manali - dharamshala
dharamshala - amritsar
amritsar - delhi (the shatabdi express again)

you could vary the itinerary as per the choice of number of days u wanna spend at each one of the places... but the passes open only in the end of june, not earlier... sometimes even in july...

this way, u get to see most of the places, don't do a place twice, and get the maximum in the minimum possible time...!
ofcourse,u could always carry on to ladakh from spiti valley and do the leh road... but u need to have more time for that...
for ladakh, u need a minimum of two weeks...

all the best...!

bearaman · Jan 15th, 2008, 19:49

Great tips Solo - thanks!
One thing I should mention is that we'd like to travel to one or two areas of real beauty and just stay there for a number of days. Your trip plan sounds amazing but maybe there's too much traveling and not enough relaxing?
If you had to Solo, where would you base yourself for four days? We love nature, animals, birds, Indian veg food and meeting interesting locals.
Thanks again.
John

solo_trekker · Jan 17th, 2008, 19:23

hi again...
u r talking about two different things...

if it's real natural beauty u r keen on, i would still insist on spiti valley... no, there's no need to rush things while u r there - u can leave out pin valley.
another option is to both go and come back via manali - that makes the trip much shorter. spiti valley is a place where lotsa people spend not just a few days, but weeks and even months at a stretch...! lotsa monasteries, lotsa trekking n biking possibilities if u r interested, or u can just take your novels and plonk yourself next to the spiti river bed...! and there is the option of staying with the local villagers or even in some of the monasteries which allow it...

what happens is this - u think u'll rather relax... but then there is sooo much to see that one doesn't really wanna miss out on anything...!

if it were the winter months u were interested in, corbett could be ideal - thatz the wildlife sanctuary on the base of the himalayas in uttarakhand... lotsa birds n animals n ofcourse, the tigers...! and some hill stations where u could relax are also not very far away - ranikhet is a clean option u could consider - it's a hill station...

i have a personal bias towards the himalayas - soo, i can only see as far as the snowy peaks...!

Jan 11th, 2008, 22:24	#1
bearaman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 8	Suggestions Please - Where to go in Northern India in May/June? Hi Everyone, My girlfriend and myself are planning a trip to India from May 27 - June 15. Since it will be hot, we're looking at visiting places in the north of the country. I'm also aware that this is when many people choose to take holidays and many places in the north will be busy. Where do you recommend we visit? We both like nature, animals, meeting local people, Indian train journeys and eating wonderful Indian food. Can you please suggest a list of places that are not too busy as well as places that must be visited? Also, any recommended places to stay would be very welcome. Thanks for your time. I'm happy that I found this web site. John

Jan 11th, 2008, 22:40	#2
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	Smaller places in Kumaon or Garwahl in Uttarakhand would be my first choice. Do browse the Uttarakhand forum here on indiamike. A train ride to either Kathgodam or Haridwar and then by road... Also www.kmvn.org www.gmvnl.com look up accomodations there, for smaller places. As long as you avoid the tourist traps like Nainital and Mussoorie and stick to smaller places, (the smaller the better) all your requirements will be met, except perhaps animals. (if you mean a wildlife sanctuary). __________________ . Humpty Dumpty was pushed. Indiamike moderating team ..ich bin ein oneliner

Jan 15th, 2008, 17:25	#4
bearaman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 8	Suggested Places to Visit? With the time of year I'll be visiting India, I've decided to visit Ladackh and H.P. We have about three weeks. I will also visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. As I mentioned, we like smaller places with not huge crowds. Can anyone suggest a list of places for us to follow? Many thanks to all the great people on this forum! John

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Jan 14th, 2008, 20:43	#3
bearaman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 8	Thanks Captain! Some good tips there, appreciated. I take it that these places will be much cooler than the plains in May/June period? You mentioned a few tourist traps, are there others that should be avoided during this period? We've narrowed our search to H.P., Ladackh, Kashmir and Utterkhand. Thanks, John

Jan 15th, 2008, 17:31	#5
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	Sorry, I didnt see your earlier post before this. I think it may be academic now, but for the record, I would avoid Nainital, Mussoorie and Almora (within the city) during that time. In May/June, since you have decided HP, I would avoid Shimla. Will leave the basic question about smaller places in HP to others since I haven't been there for awhile.

Jan 15th, 2008, 19:01	#6
solo_trekker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: noida Posts: 341	a suggestion - try the less frequented spiti valley... it is outta the world... delhi - shimla (shatabdi to kalka and then the toy train) shimla - rekong peo (on the hindustan tibet route) rekong peo - tabo (tabo is the ajanta of the himalayas) tabo - dhankar monastery (and the lake too) dhankar - pin valley (an unbelievable place) pin valley - kazaa (the base of spiti valley) kazaa - kibber (the only bus leaves at 5.30) (kibber is the highest village, reachable by road, in the world) kibber - kei monastery (again, world famous) kei - kazaa (back to base) kazaa - kunzum la one option here could be to trek to the chandra tal... or u could carry on straight to manali via rohtang la... kunzum la - rohtang la rohtang la - manali (do check out old manali and vashisht) manali - dharamshala dharamshala - amritsar amritsar - delhi (the shatabdi express again) you could vary the itinerary as per the choice of number of days u wanna spend at each one of the places... but the passes open only in the end of june, not earlier... sometimes even in july... this way, u get to see most of the places, don't do a place twice, and get the maximum in the minimum possible time...! ofcourse,u could always carry on to ladakh from spiti valley and do the leh road... but u need to have more time for that... for ladakh, u need a minimum of two weeks... all the best...!

Jan 15th, 2008, 19:49	#7
bearaman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 8	Great tips Solo - thanks! One thing I should mention is that we'd like to travel to one or two areas of real beauty and just stay there for a number of days. Your trip plan sounds amazing but maybe there's too much traveling and not enough relaxing? If you had to Solo, where would you base yourself for four days? We love nature, animals, birds, Indian veg food and meeting interesting locals. Thanks again. John

Jan 17th, 2008, 19:23	#8
solo_trekker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: noida Posts: 341	hi again... u r talking about two different things... if it's real natural beauty u r keen on, i would still insist on spiti valley... no, there's no need to rush things while u r there - u can leave out pin valley. another option is to both go and come back via manali - that makes the trip much shorter. spiti valley is a place where lotsa people spend not just a few days, but weeks and even months at a stretch...! lotsa monasteries, lotsa trekking n biking possibilities if u r interested, or u can just take your novels and plonk yourself next to the spiti river bed...! and there is the option of staying with the local villagers or even in some of the monasteries which allow it... what happens is this - u think u'll rather relax... but then there is sooo much to see that one doesn't really wanna miss out on anything...! if it were the winter months u were interested in, corbett could be ideal - thatz the wildlife sanctuary on the base of the himalayas in uttarakhand... lotsa birds n animals n ofcourse, the tigers...! and some hill stations where u could relax are also not very far away - ranikhet is a clean option u could consider - it's a hill station... i have a personal bias towards the himalayas - soo, i can only see as far as the snowy peaks...!

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