Visiting Manali, McLeod Ganj,Ladakh...in few days!!

Marta

Hello to everyone!
I am traveling to India de 26th, I can´t hardly sleep since I have a lot of doubtsWe are thinking on visiting Manali, McLeod, Gangotri...but I think it will be really cold there!! Plus How I can find a driver that will take me around this area? Or maybe I have to do it by bus...I don´t know.
Then we want to visit Rajashtan and varanasi and think we will combine taxis and buses with trains. Is it going to be cold in this area? I am freaking aout since we still don´t have anything set, can anyone help me??

Thank you!!!!
Marta.

kullukid

Hi, Don't worry, worrying is normal (does that make sense?) yes it will be quite cold especially Gangotri save it for warmer times. If i was you i would catch an express train from Delhi to Amritsar (golden temple) stay overnight then catch a train from Amritsar to pathankot where you can change to a bus for Mcleod (or alternatively you can catch the toy train from pathankot to kangra then bus/taxi to Mcleod) I find Bhagsu just above Mcleod a nicer place to stay try the seven seas guest house its good clean & cheap in a nice setting. Once you are here you can really chill then decide whether to continue to Manali which is very easy to get to by local bus from here depending on the weather bearing in mind you are coming from sunny spain you may find it a touch cold so wrap up! Personally i use local buses & trains rather than taxis but everyones different, what you need to decide is whether you want to SEE India or EXPERIENCE India local buses & trains certainly make you experience India which is what i think it's all about. If you do get to Manali try the sunshine guest house.

redthreadzen

You can catch an overnight train direct from Dheli to Patankot, from there a bus from the bus staion a short walk (just ask) will take you to dharamsala, this is about 5ks down the hill from mcloud gange and a bus from the bus station will take you up the hill. If you have heaps of cash you can get a mini van taxi from patankot to mcloud gange (around 1000rps) if you share it with others it will be cheaper. Unlike the above post I found Bagsu a little quit and out of the way.

Mcloud gange in a great place to get settled in india, it has a high tibetan population and they are really cool poeple. Its the home of the deli lama so lots of good vibes around there. Lots of westerners go there so it pretty easy to feel comfortable and share info.

Stop in at the sunrise cafe, and say hello to ramesh for me.

redthreadzen

1.It will be bloody cold - but you can buy warm stuff there. exept warm sleeping bags

2. Im a little suspicious about the last post because it apears to come from the guest house it is recomending. who knows.

Marta

I really apreciate all your commets, thank you! Should I visit Rishikesh and Haridwar? And should I visit this part of India before visiting Rajashtan or after, what do you recomend?

redthreadzen

whilst all these places are in northern india that are a little in oposite directions. I can thouroughly recoment rishikesh (thats where the beatles did there india thing) and you have to go through Hardimar to get there. they are both very important pilgrimage places for Hindus, so are great to visit. The gunga river is the main attracton. In hardiwar the river flows very fast through man made type canal and its worth spending a day there at dust they do some nice rituals there. rishikesh is a more natural river setting and Its very beutiful once again lots of westerners go there so its easy to get by.

Ragastan is a little different but also beutiful, more dry and desert like but steeped in history. After the other places its probably a nice place to get warm. Please leave your itinery a little open so you can decide which place to go next, it leaves things open for adventure and is less stressful. you may meet others going in your direction or want to stay in places you like a little longer.