NYC to India Solo Trip

Greetings,
I will be travelling solo in India from the end of July until...I buy a ticket home, or elsewhere. I'm working on a loose itinerary based on my readings in LP, websites, etc. -- would really, really appreciate any ideas for places to go, things to do. This will be my first time in the country. Looking to see lots of MUSIC, films, performance, religious sites. Considering doing a group motorcycle tour, taking music classes, yoga, meditation. All while taking loads of photos, drawing and writing. Would love to hook up with other like-minded adventurers along the way! I am 27 y/o male from NYC. THANKS!
~j-joe

HI JOe. YOu sound like a very intersting guy, and I couldn't resist responding as I am a native New Yorker who has been traveling, living and working in India on and of for the past 15 years, and by the likes of it and reading about your intersts, I am excited about your trip!.....I actually live between New Delhi and New York, and just got back to the States after a year..Saw your posts and have a few things to say..First, i think/hope you will love India and get to experince all the differnt modes.things you mentioned..it is all there for the asking, seeing, experiencing..., religious sites, places to do Yoga, mediations, films, culture, etc,,etc..And yes, all along the way, wherever you are, you will find both like minded, and not so like minded travelers, as well as the beautiufl and souring native population,..Looking over your intersts, i immediately have a few reccomednations for YOU of places i think you will really like, dig, enjoy, etc..Before I rant and rave, I might add that JULY is not necc. the best time to travel between the heat and the rains, but being that you ahve all the time in the world, you can definatley find places to go to enjoy in JULY, up in the mountains, etc, and soon enough, it will be September...Okay, places that i think you may like and why are RISHIKESH, (spiritual, beautiufl,, the ganges, Yoga, meditation, etc), MANALI, ( a colorful MOuntain town for many reasons-great place to write, walk, and enjoy-filled with travelers), Varanasi, (holy holy city, unbeleivably colorful and fascinating-extraordinary, also, musical, mediative,etc!), Calcutta(Bengali known for their arts-etc), Bombay(hip and happening, Bollywood, films, shows, clbs, etc..I love Bombay!), exploring Delhi(also many theatre stuff, etc), Ladakh(may consider this region the summer months-unbleivable beautiuflly, meditative,)...This is just a mini mini starter list of places to think about for the first few months primarily in the North...I have plenty plenty more ideas...Feel free to e-mail me for more suggestions or advice, Would be happy to help and chat with a fellow- New Yorker.. Dreamingofindia@aol.com

Greetings fellow New Yorkers...I'm working on a late august / early september departure from NY too. First trip to india --

Thinking of a few months in Rishikesh at an ashram and then heading south perhaps to Kerala. Trying to keep it loose and not overplan.

Any advice on a peaceful place to practice yoga -- I've been guided Parmarth Niketan, but still looking for suggestions.

Hi Joe, I will be travelling to India for about 2 monthsas from the end of June. I will be travelling alone and am quite flexible about the places but would love to see Kerala, and the movies scene of Bombay . rubina@maltanet.net is my add