India Trip...Advice??

michaela99 · Feb 27th, 2007, 20:58

Me and my partner have decided, at long last,to leave the rat race and take ourselves around the world, starting in India. We plan on staying in India for 5 months (from end March-Sept)..

We havent had much time to plan (we only decided to go about 5 weeks ago!) ....I have booked a hotel in Mumbai for 1 night and 2 train tickets to Goa for the next day...and thats about as far as it goes. Both being quite free spirited people we generally like to go with the flow and not to have to many solid plans (life's what happens when you dont make plans..!)

Can anyone give me some good tips on places to go? Plan on staying in Goa for maybe a month or two, perhaps Palolem or Patnem, then Kerala, Hampi? Where's a good place to be in Monsoon season? Is it relatively easy to get from Madgaon to Palolem?....

Any tips/help/advice would be gratefully received! :-)

Michaela

Darmabum · Feb 27th, 2007, 21:38

will be there for most of it. Personally I liked being there during monsoon. The gradual buildup of clouds . . . watching the Ganges rise daily . . . the refreshing feel of afternoon/evening rains . . . and then there's the heat. Temps in Varanasi, where I was for six months, into the low/mid/upper 40's everyday . . . for months . . .
To avoid the monsoon I think Ladakh is about the only dry place during that time. The rains can/will slow/stop transportation sometimes. Besides being flexible, be patient. The general tendency of the monsoon is from south to north. In Varanasi we didn't get much rain until June/July.

Five months is a great amount of time to have! Have a Great Trip.

Scott

michaela99 · Feb 27th, 2007, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darmabum

will be there for most of it. Personally I liked being there during monsoon. The gradual buildup of clouds . . . watching the Ganges rise daily . . . the refreshing feel of afternoon/evening rains . . . Scott

exactly what I was thinking....

defo dony want to be anywhere dry !

cyberhippie · Feb 27th, 2007, 22:04

Ahh distance makes the heart fonder Scott, how about those power outages!!

michaela99 · Feb 27th, 2007, 22:18

all part of the adventure, no? ;-)

matt_the_hat_82 · Feb 27th, 2007, 22:37

Hey there!

North Goa, Hampi and Kerala are beaufil places. Not sure about the monsoon as I just got back (left in December) but I loved every minute.

Don't miss Periyar Wildlife Park in Kumily if not for the (slim) chance of meeting a tiger the journey into the Ghats is incredible and Munnar is only about 4-5 hours away.

Have a fantastic time but keep a good eye on your camera on the train - my mistake

savyasachi · Apr 3rd, 2007, 02:03

I seriously have no clue why on the earth every westerner wants to visit Varanasi, to get duped by some idotic sadhu and then to complain back home that I got duped.

Guys, wake up... there are tons of other places you could visit and enjoy really to the fullest..
Another destination Goa, yes its a good place. I call it Indian Ibiza. I am born and brought up in Mumbai but have never been to Goa..

My advice would be, jot down the things that fancy you. Every state has something very specific to offer, like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh are more into culture. Kerala, HimachalPradesh, Uttaranchal are more into Eco/Nature tourism so on so forth..

If I were Michaela, I would start off with Mumbai. Its the most crowded and money minded city (but its not rude as some magazine cited a year ago), experience how life and watch goes hand in hand, Head to Goa, Enjoy Goa for couple of days, Go down to Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty. Slip into Kerala. Go down to the southernmost tip of India - Kanyakumari. Visit Vivekananda Smarak (monument) Head up in TamilNadu and there are many places there (I am not good at this region) Visit Sahyadri ranges in Maharashtra and if you like to see old forts built by 16th century Maratha king Shivaji, there are tons of them there. This was the only king in Indian empire who had a strong navy. He built tons of sea-side forts which have a peculiar architecture. Head up in Rajasthan and visit loads of places, too many to note. Go upto Delhi and roam around there. Hit Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal. Visit Varanasi and get duped by some sadhu that claims to know your fortune. Get drugged on bhang if you prefer. North eastern part of India, like Assam and Sikkim is also brilliant to visit but check with local authorities if its ok to go there because of non-stop militant problem.

I can come up with lot of itinerary but this is very rough sketch you could try... Finally, it all depends what you really want..

Finally, watch out, don't flash your strong currency and attitude or get duped.

Feb 27th, 2007, 20:58	#1
michaela99 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northants, UK Posts: 6	India Trip...Advice?? Me and my partner have decided, at long last,to leave the rat race and take ourselves around the world, starting in India. We plan on staying in India for 5 months (from end March-Sept).. We havent had much time to plan (we only decided to go about 5 weeks ago!) ....I have booked a hotel in Mumbai for 1 night and 2 train tickets to Goa for the next day...and thats about as far as it goes. Both being quite free spirited people we generally like to go with the flow and not to have to many solid plans (life's what happens when you dont make plans..!) Can anyone give me some good tips on places to go? Plan on staying in Goa for maybe a month or two, perhaps Palolem or Patnem, then Kerala, Hampi? Where's a good place to be in Monsoon season? Is it relatively easy to get from Madgaon to Palolem?.... Any tips/help/advice would be gratefully received! :-) Michaela

Feb 27th, 2007, 21:38	#2
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 764	You will be going during monsoon, will be there for most of it. Personally I liked being there during monsoon. The gradual buildup of clouds . . . watching the Ganges rise daily . . . the refreshing feel of afternoon/evening rains . . . and then there's the heat. Temps in Varanasi, where I was for six months, into the low/mid/upper 40's everyday . . . for months . . . To avoid the monsoon I think Ladakh is about the only dry place during that time. The rains can/will slow/stop transportation sometimes. Besides being flexible, be patient. The general tendency of the monsoon is from south to north. In Varanasi we didn't get much rain until June/July. Five months is a great amount of time to have! Have a Great Trip. Scott __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Feb 27th, 2007, 22:37	#6
matt_the_hat_82 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 38	So jealous Hey there! North Goa, Hampi and Kerala are beaufil places. Not sure about the monsoon as I just got back (left in December) but I loved every minute. Don't miss Periyar Wildlife Park in Kumily if not for the (slim) chance of meeting a tiger the journey into the Ghats is incredible and Munnar is only about 4-5 hours away. Have a fantastic time but keep a good eye on your camera on the train - my mistake

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Feb 27th, 2007, 22:04	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	Ahh distance makes the heart fonder Scott, how about those power outages!!

Feb 27th, 2007, 22:18	#5
michaela99 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northants, UK Posts: 6	all part of the adventure, no? ;-)

Apr 3rd, 2007, 02:03	#7
savyasachi Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6	I seriously have no clue why on the earth every westerner wants to visit Varanasi, to get duped by some idotic sadhu and then to complain back home that I got duped. Guys, wake up... there are tons of other places you could visit and enjoy really to the fullest.. Another destination Goa, yes its a good place. I call it Indian Ibiza. I am born and brought up in Mumbai but have never been to Goa.. My advice would be, jot down the things that fancy you. Every state has something very specific to offer, like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh are more into culture. Kerala, HimachalPradesh, Uttaranchal are more into Eco/Nature tourism so on so forth.. If I were Michaela, I would start off with Mumbai. Its the most crowded and money minded city (but its not rude as some magazine cited a year ago), experience how life and watch goes hand in hand, Head to Goa, Enjoy Goa for couple of days, Go down to Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty. Slip into Kerala. Go down to the southernmost tip of India - Kanyakumari. Visit Vivekananda Smarak (monument) Head up in TamilNadu and there are many places there (I am not good at this region) Visit Sahyadri ranges in Maharashtra and if you like to see old forts built by 16th century Maratha king Shivaji, there are tons of them there. This was the only king in Indian empire who had a strong navy. He built tons of sea-side forts which have a peculiar architecture. Head up in Rajasthan and visit loads of places, too many to note. Go upto Delhi and roam around there. Hit Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal. Visit Varanasi and get duped by some sadhu that claims to know your fortune. Get drugged on bhang if you prefer. North eastern part of India, like Assam and Sikkim is also brilliant to visit but check with local authorities if its ok to go there because of non-stop militant problem. I can come up with lot of itinerary but this is very rough sketch you could try... Finally, it all depends what you really want.. Finally, watch out, don't flash your strong currency and attitude or get duped.

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