Does someone know of a good kite shop?

Peg A. Ming

Namasté good people of the digital orb, we´re travelling to India next january, and we´re thinking of bringing home some good old kites. We are not planning to import any large quantities, mind you, just buying a few for personal gifts, but we´re really interested on the different shapes and techniques of flying and building them, because we belong to a kite club in Madrid, Spain. We´re lucky January seems to be a good month for kites, so presumably we´ll see some activity happening on indian skies, but we´d like to visit a good shop. We recently saw a very good video on youtube that featured an interview with a kite seller in his AMAZING shop, but unfortunately didn´t say where it´s located. Any help out there? Thank you kindly, Dexter and Peg.

York_Katni

I am unable to locate your post of getting to Kerala from Varanasi. You will need to ensure that you synchronise your program to reach Thane on the days which 2201 operates. Here it is


1094 +MAHANAGARI EXP VARANASI JN 11:30 THANE 13:18 DAILY Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -

Change trains at Thane
You Queried For
Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
2201 KCVL GARIB RATH 15/10/2009 LOKMANYATILAK T MON FRI

SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 LTT LOKMANYATILAK T 1 Source 16:55 0 1
2 TNA THANE 1 17:18 17:20 18 1
3 PNVL PANVEL 1 18:10 18:15 53 1
4 RN RATNAGIRI 1 23:53 23:58 415 1
5 SWV SAWANTWADI ROAD 1 02:26 02:28 640 2
6 KRMI KARMALI 1 03:25 03:27 710 2
7 MAO MADGAON 1 04:15 04:25 750 2
8 KAWR KARWAR 1 05:22 05:24 832 2
9 ANKL ANKOLA 1 05:50 05:52 871 2
10 BIJR BIJOOR 1 07:48 07:50 1015 2
11 UD UDUPI 1 08:48 08:50 1099 2
12 MAJN MANGALORE JN 1 10:15 10:25 1180 2
13 KGQ KASARAGOD 1 11:10 11:12 1231 2
14 CAN KANNUR 1 12:30 12:32 1317 2
15 CLT KOZHIKODE 1 14:03 14:05 1406 2
16 TIR TIRUR 1 14:45 14:47 1447 2
17 SRR SHORANUR JN 1 16:05 16:10 1492 2
18 TCR THRISUR 1 16:45 16:50 1525 2
19 ERN ERNAKULAM TOWN 1 18:30 18:40 1597 2
20 KTYM KOTTAYAM 1 20:08 20:10 1659 2
21 CNGR CHENGANNUR 1 20:53 20:55 1693 2
22 QLN KOLLAM JN 1 22:10 22:15 1755 2
23 KCVL KOCHUVELI
OR

1108 +BUNDELKHAND EXP VARANASI JN 17:10 JHANSI JN 06:40 Y Y Y
Alternatively for heading down to the deep south every Saturday from Jhansi to Nagarcoil, take the 2642 THIRUKURRAL EXPRESS Trivandrum is a few hours away from Nagarcoil.

JHS JHANSI JN 1 12:45 12:55 403 1
4 BPL BHOPAL JN 1 17:10 17:15 694 1
5 ET ITARSI JN 1 18:55 19:05 786 1
6 BZU BETUL 1 20:29 20:31 893 1
7 NGP NAGPUR 1 23:15 23:25 1083 1
8 BPQ BALHARSHAH 1 02:55 03:05 1294 2
9 BZA VIJAYAWADA JN 1 10:35 10:50 1746 2
10 GDR GUDUR JN 1 15:03 15:05 2039 2
11 MS CHENNAI EGMORE 1 18:15 18:40 2181 2
12 TBM TAMBARAM 1 19:03 19:05 2206 2
13 CGL CHENGALPATTU 1 19:28 19:30 2236 2
14 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 21:10 21:20 2339 2
15 VRI VRIDHACHALAM JN 1 21:58 22:00 2394 2
16 TPJ TIRUCHCHIRAPALI 1 00:35 00:40 2517 3
17 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 02:15 02:20 2611 3
18 KQN KODAIKANAL ROAD 1 02:43 02:45 2637 3
19 MDU MADURAI JN 1 03:25 03:30 2677 3
20 VPT VIRUDUNAGAR JN 1 04:08 04:10 2720 3
21 SRT SATUR 1 04:33 04:35 2747 3
22 CVP KOVILPATTI 1 04:53 04:55 2769 3
23 MEJ MANIYACHCHI JN 1 05:29 05:30 2805 3
24 TEN TIRUNELVELI 1 06:25 06:30 2834 3
25 NCJ NAGERCOIL JN 1 08:10 08:15 2907
CHANGE TRAINS FROM NAGARCOIL TO TRIVANDRUM
CONNECTION ANANTAPURI EXP *NAGERCOIL JN 09:10 TRIVANDRUM CNTL 11:05
otherwise take 2652 every tuesday or thursday from Jhansi[leave the preceeding night by bundelkhand]
You Queried For
Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
2652 T N SMPRK KRNTI 15/10/2009 H NIZAMUDDIN TUE THU

It's not going to take you all the way to Nagarcoil, but you can hop on to the Ananthapuri which will be trailing it at Madurai if you are headed to trivandrum or take the Trivandrum Mail from Madras
SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 NZM H NIZAMUDDIN 1 Source 07:25 0 1
2 JHS JHANSI JN 1 13:50 14:00 403 1
3 BPL BHOPAL JN 1 17:45 17:55 694 1
4 NGP NAGPUR 1 00:05 00:15 1083 2
5 BZA VIJAYAWADA JN 1 10:35 10:50 1746 2
6 MS CHENNAI EGMORE 1 18:15 18:40 2181 2
7 TBM TAMBARAM 1 19:03 19:05 2206 2
8 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 21:10 21:20 2339 2
9 VRI VRIDHACHALAM JN 1 21:58 22:00 2394 2
10 ALU ARIYALUR 1 22:30 22:32 2447 2
11 TPJ TIRUCHCHIRAPALI 1 00:35 00:40 2517 3
12 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 02:15 02:20 2611 3
13 MDU MADURAI JN 1 03:45 Destination 2677
The faster way is to change at Chennai[MADRAS NOTE THAT THE TERMINALS ARE DIFFERENT AND 2642 IS A WEEKLY OPERATION] to the quickest and star trains of the route, if you are heading to Cochin and then Munnar---

2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL 19/10/2009 CHENNAI CENTRAL MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 MAS CHENNAI CENTRAL 1 Source 20:00 0 1
2 KPD KATPADI JN 1 21:43 21:45 130 1
3 SA SALEM JN 1 00:25 00:30 334 2
4 ED ERODE JN 1 01:25 01:30 396 2
5 PGT PALAKKAD 1 03:45 03:50 538 2
6 TCR THRISUR 1 05:00 05:05 615 2
7 AFK ANGAMALI 1 05:48 05:50 661 2
8 AWY ALUVA 1 06:02 06:05 670 2
9 ERN ERNAKULAM TOWN 1 06:35 06:45 687 2
10 TRTR TRIUPUNITTURA 1 07:03 07:05 699 2
11 KTYM KOTTAYAM 1 07:55 08:00 749 2
12 CGY CHANGANASERI 1 08:18 08:20 767 2
13 TRVL TIRUVALLA 1 08:28 08:30 775 2
14 CNGR CHENGANNUR 1 08:38 08:40 784 2
15 MVLK MAVELIKARA 1 08:53 08:55 796 2
16 KYJ KAYANKULAM JN 1 09:08 09:10 804 2
17 QLN KOLLAM JN 1 10:10 10:15 845 2
18 VAK VARKALA 1 10:36 10:38 868 2
19 TVP TRIVANDRUM PETT 1 11:14 11:15 907 2
20 TVC TRIVANDRUM CNTL 1 11:35 Destination 909

OR THE DIRECT OPTION ONE OF THE LESS RELIABLE, LATE RUNNING AND DIRTIER TRAINS IN THE ROUTE[IMAGINE ITS STATE AS IT REACHES ERNAKULAM WHICH TAKES THE SAME TIME EVEN WITH ALL THE CHANGES] PATNA ERNAKULAM BIWEEKLY EXPRESS
5 BSB VARANASI JN 1 20:55 21:15 229 1
6 GYN GYANPUR ROAD 1 22:17 22:18 289 1
7 ALY ALLAHABAD CITY 1 00:15 00:17 351 2
8 ALD ALLAHABAD JN 1 00:30 01:00 353 2
9 STA SATNA 1 03:45 03:50 531 2
10 KTE KATNI 1 05:00 05:05 629 2
11 JBP JABALPUR 1 06:30 06:40 720 2
12 ET ITARSI JN 1 10:35 10:55 965 2
13 GDYA GHORADONGRI 1 11:48 11:49 1035 2
14 BZU BETUL 1 12:27 12:28 1072 2
15 NGP NAGPUR 1 15:10 15:20 1262 2
16 SEGM SEVAGRAM 1 16:20 16:21 1339 2
17 CD CHANDRAPUR 1 17:59 18:00 1460 2
18 BPQ BALHARSHAH 1 19:10 19:20 1474 2
19 SKZR SIRPUR KAGAZNGR 1 20:09 20:10 1543 2
20 BPA BELAMPALLI 1 20:49 20:50 1582 2
21 MCI MANCHIRYAL 1 20:59 21:00 1601 2
22 RDM RAMGUNDAM 1 21:09 21:10 1615 2
23 WL WARANGAL 1 23:15 23:17 1717 2
24 KMT KHAMMAM 1 00:35 00:37 1825 3
25 BZA VIJAYAWADA JN 1 02:50 03:00 1926 3
26 TEL TENALI JN 1 03:28 03:29 1957 3
27 OGL ONGOLE 1 04:53 04:54 2064 3
28 NLR NELLORE 1 06:27 06:28 2180 3
29 GDR GUDUR JN 1 07:58 08:00 2219 3
30 KHT SRI KALAHASTI 1 08:43 08:44 2279 3
31 RU RENIGUNTA JN 1 09:05 09:25 2302 3
32 TPTY TIRUPATI 1 09:50 10:00 2312 3
33 CTO CHITTOOR 1 11:14 11:15 2383 3
34 KPD KATPADI JN 1 12:35 12:40 2416 3
35 JTJ JOLARPETTAI 1 13:55 14:00 2500 3
36 SA SALEM JN 1 15:30 15:35 2620 3
37 ED ERODE JN 1 16:40 16:50 2682 3
38 TUP TIRUPPUR 1 17:34 17:35 2732 3
39 CBE COIMBATORE JN 1 18:40 18:45 2782 3
40 PGT PALAKKAD 1 19:50 19:55 2836 3
41 TCR THRISUR 1 21:45 21:50 2913 3
42 AWY ALUVA 1 22:50 22:53 2968 3
43 ERS ERANAKULAM JN 1 23:45

OR

+VARUNA EXPRESS VARANASI JN 04:55 LUCKNOW NR 09:50
CHANGE AT LUCKNOW TO 2592 GORKAHPUR BANGALORE EXPRESS EVERY SATURDAY OR 5115 GORAKHPUR YESVANTPUR EXPRESS EVERY MONDAY[THIS TRAIN HAS THE SAME TIMINGS BUT SLOWS DOWN AFTER HYDERABAD, IF YOU WANT TO REACH BANGALORE FASTER TAKE REST IN BANGALORE, BEFORE LEAVING IN THE EVENING THERE IS A TRAIN CALLED SC YPR GARIB RATH IN THE EVENING FROM HYDERABAD WHICH LEAVES SECUNDERABAD LATER THAN 5115, BUT REACHES BANGALORE AT 700AM] AVOIDS THE HASSLE OF MANY CHANGES
8 LJN LUCKNOW NE 1 11:30 11:50 279 1
9 ON UNNAO JN 1 12:38 12:40 333 1
10 CNB KANPUR CENTRAL 1 13:12 13:22 350 1
11 ORAI ORAI 1 14:58 15:00 456 1
12 JHS JHANSI JN 1 16:45 17:05 570 1
13 LAR LALITPUR 1 18:06 18:08 660 1
14 BPL BHOPAL JN 1 21:15 21:25 861 1
15 ET ITARSI JN 1 23:05 23:15 953 1
16 GDYA GHORADONGRI 1 00:07 00:09 1023 2
17 BZU BETUL 1 00:53 00:55 1059 2
18 AMLA AMLA JN 1 01:19 01:21 1082 2
19 PAR PANDHURNA 1 02:23 02:25 1146 2
20 NGP NAGPUR 1 04:10 04:20 1250 2
21 SEGM SEVAGRAM 1 05:18 05:20 1326 2
22 HGT HINGANGHAT 1 05:48 05:50 1363 2
23 CD CHANDRAPUR 1 08:18 08:20 1447 2
24 BPQ BALHARSHAH 1 09:20 09:30 1461 2
25 SKZR SIRPUR KAGAZNGR 1 10:18 10:20 1531 2
26 BPA BELAMPALLI 1 10:58 11:00 1569 2
27 MCI MANCHIRYAL 1 11:11 11:13 1589 2
28 RDM RAMGUNDAM 1 11:23 11:25 1602 2
29 KZJ KAZIPET JN 1 12:45 12:47 1695 2
30 SC SECUNDERABAD JN 1 15:30 15:40 1827 2
31 BMT BEGAMPET 1 15:58 16:00 1831 2
32 RC RAICHUR 1 20:53 20:55 2118 2
33 GTL GUNTAKAL JN 1 22:55 23:00 2239 2
34 ATP ANANTAPUR 1 00:58 01:00 2324 3
35 DMM DHARMAVARAM JN 1 02:10 02:20 2358 3
36 HUP HINDUPUR 1 03:28 03:30 2437 3
37 BNCE BANGALORE EAST 1 05:13 05:15 2540 3
38 BNC BANGALORE CANT 1 05:28 05:30 2542 3
39 SBC BANGALORE CY JN 1 05:55AM
AFTER BREAK IN BANGALORE
+ERNAKULAM SF EX BANGALORE CY JN 17:15 ERANAKULAM JN 04:20
KOCHUVELI GARIB RATH[LOOK OUT FOR TRAINS WITH THIS BRAND NAME REAL GOOD VALUE AND FAST] APART FROM PLENTY OF OTHER TRAINS YOU WILL FIND IN WEBSITES THAT BOOK TICKETS FOR YOU LIKE IRCTC AND CLEAR TRIP

ONE MORE LAST OPTION TO COMPLETE ALL PERMUTATIONS MORE OUT A LABOUR OF LOVE THIS CHAIN WORKS ONLY ON MONDAYS if you are going via Bangalore to Kerala or if via Madras take the Tamil Nadu to Madras on all other days[TAMIL NADU EXPRES IS A DAILY TRAIN, BUT THE GONDWANA DOES NOT RUN TWICE A WEEK] and then take one of the many kerala bound trains from Madras[[B[COLOR="Orange"]]BUT THIS IN MY VIEW WORKS OUT AS THE BEST OPTION THE TRAINS ARE SO MUCH MORE RELIABLE AND START NEAR OR FROM VARNASI AND SOME REST CAN BE AVAILED THE LEGS STRETCHED BETWEEN THE CHANGES].The Tamil Nadu is one of the most reliable and important trains in the Indian railway network and it is rare for the sarnath or the gondwana to be late.

TRAIN NUMBER 5159 DAILY CHHAPRA DURG SARNATH EXPRESS 2AC,3AC
BSB VARANASI JN 1 12:10 12:25 206 1
15 BOY BHADOHI 1 13:05 13:07 251 1
16 JNH JANGHAI JN 1 13:34 13:36 281 1
17 PLP PHULPUR 1 14:04 14:06 304 1
18 ALD ALLAHABAD JN 1 15:15 15:40 341 1
19 NYN NAINI 1 15:58 16:00 348 1
20 SRJ SHANKARGARH 1 16:28 16:30 386 1
21 DBR DABHAURA 1 16:58 17:00 418 1
22 MKP MANIKPUR JN 1 17:40 17:45 441 1
23 JTW JAITWAR 1 18:26 18:28 499 1
24 STA SATNA 1 18:55 19:00 519 1
25 UHR UNCHHERA 1 19:20 19:22 540 1
26 MYR MAIHAR 1 19:34 19:36 554 1
27 KTE KATNI 1 20:50 21:10 617 1
28 CHD CHANDIA ROAD 1 21:56 21:58 658 1
29 UMR UMARIA 1 22:16 22:18 677 1
30 BRS BIRSINGHPUR 1 22:40 22:42 706 1
31 SDL SHAHDOL 1 23:30 23:35 744 1
32 BUH BURHAR 1 23:51 23:53 763 1
33 AAL AMLAI 1 00:04 00:06 772 2
34 APR ANUPPUR JN 1 00:25 00:30 785 2
35 PND PENDRA ROAD 1 01:12 01:14 835 2
36 BIG BELGAHNA 1 02:23 02:25 888 2
37 KGB KARGI ROAD 1 02:48 02:50 904 2
38 BSP BILASPUR JN 1 04:00 04:20 936 2
39 BYL BELHA 1 04:38 04:40 951 2
40 BYT BHATAPARA 1 05:03 05:05 982 2
41 TLD TILDA 1 05:23 05:25 1008 2
42 R RAIPUR JN 1 06:05 06:15 1046 2
43 BPHB BHILAI PWR HS 1 06:42 06:44 1073 2
44 DURG DURG 1 07:30 Destination
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Change to a Nagpur bound train such as 2402 gondwana express for the relatively short ride leaving durg at 8.40AM and reaching Nagpur at 12.40PM RUNS ALL DAYS BARRING TUESDAYS AND SUNDAYS
DURG DURG 1 08:40 08:45 280 1
10 RJN RAJ NANDGAON 1 09:06 09:08 309 1
11 DGG DONGARGARH 1 09:31 09:33 341 1
12 G GONDIA JN 1 10:36 10:38 414 1
13 BRD BHANDARA ROAD 1 11:24 11:26 482 1

14 NGP NAGPUR 1 12:40 13:05 5

=============CHANGE AT NAGPUR==========
[U]2976 JAIPUR BANGALORE/MYSORE EXPRESS [/u]EVERY TUESDAY FROM NAGPUR EVERY TUESDAY

NGP NAGPUR 1 14:00 14:10 1092 2
20 SEGM SEVAGRAM 1 15:12 15:14 1168 2
21 CD CHANDRAPUR 1 16:48 16:50 1289 2
22 BPQ BALHARSHAH 1 17:35 17:45 1303 2
23 SKZR SIRPUR KAGAZNGR 1 18:38 18:40 1372 2
24 BPA BELAMPALLI 1 19:13 19:15 1411 2
25 MCI MANCHIRYAL 1 19:27 19:29 1431 2
26 KZJ KAZIPET JN 1 20:58 21:00 1537 2
27 KCG KACHEGUDA 1 23:45 23:55 1675 2
28 JCL JADCHERLA 1 01:08 01:10 1763 3
29 MBNR MAHBUBNAGAR 1 01:27 01:29 1780 3
30 GWD GADWAL 1 02:26 02:28 1855 3
31 KRNT KURNOOL TOWN 1 03:41 03:43 1911 3
32 DHNE DHONE 1 05:10 05:15 1964 3
33 GTL GUNTAKAL JN 1 06:25 06:40 2033 3
34 ATP ANANTAPUR 1 07:48 07:50 2119 3
35 DMM DHARMAVARAM JN 1 09:00 09:05 2152 3
36 HUP HINDUPUR 1 10:13 10:15 2231 3
37 BNC BANGALORE CANT 1 12:20 12:25 2337 3
38 SBC BANGALORE CY JN 1 12:50 13:05

Take the Jaipur Bangalore Express to Bangalore THE KERALA CONNECTIONS FROM BANGALORE REMAIN UNALTERED AND ARE GIVEN ABOVE
OR
2622 TAMIL NADU EXPRESS A VERY VERY RELIABLE TRAIN

+TAMIL NADU EXP *NAGPUR 14:30 CHENNAI CENTRAL 07:10 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y - -

FROM MADRAS TAKE THE EVENING TRIVANDRUM EXPRESS LEAVING FOR TRIVANDRUM AT 1500HRS and getting to Trivandrum[2697 TRIVANDRUM EXPRESS--->2697 +TRIVANDRUM EXP CHENNAI CENTRAL 15:15 ERNAKULAM TOWN 02:05 N N N N N N Y} early in the morning or if you can change trains, or the daily 2696 which leaves for trivandrum at 1600hrs everyday and avoid the wait at Madras hop on to the West Coast express[DEP 11.30am] which will take you as far as Shornur at 2200hrs and change to the 6344 Amritha Express leaving Shornur at 2310hrs and getting to Cochin at 1.10AM or trivandrum early next morning, if you perceive yourself as superman. OR rest in a hotel in Madras and take the evening Trivandrum Mail.

Peg A. Ming

That is a lot of info for us to study! Thank you so much.

York_Katni

Thanks and for the efforts taken would be very eager to know which train you took. Avoid the patna-ernakukam like plague. It's a filthy train which is best left alone. If you can change trains once in a while[remember you are going southwards and it is a wick-penzance crossing so give some break]. If you can take the Sarnath or 2592 then it would be a good option with some option of rest at Bangalore or Madras which has good places to stay. Otherwise there are breathless ways I have suggested. You are not losing much time. The Sarnath-Gondwana-Jaipur Mysore/Bangalore express[if heading to bangalore extuesday from ngp] or Tamil Nadu daily is the best option in my view.

Peg A. Ming

Thank you so much, York. We´re still undecided about our itinerary, and new things keep coming up, but we´ll definitely tell you how do we do it. I´ll post our draft route in this thread as soon as we know more- at the moment we´re so busy working, gathering our pennies for India, so we didn´t have real time to plan - or to thank you kindly! dexter and peg.

rushijoshi

Hi Peg A. Ming,

January is good month for kite lovers. 14th January and 15th January is celebrating is Makarsankranti in India and lot of area of country is doing Kite Flying on same day.

Ahmedabad and Gujarat is special for this festival, it's entier two day kite flying festival in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Government also perfomrs International Kite Flying Competitioin in Ahmedabad. For more details please visit www.vibrantgujarat.com

Lot of people across the glob are coming to Ahmedabad for Kiteflying. (I will be there on those days).

If you are coming to Ahmedabad for Kiteflying and to see the festival then let me know, I will search some good owners who are building big and varities kites.

Regards
Rushi

Sharmscharms

Make sure that you pack those kites extra carefully as they are very fragile. My father in law brought some back from India a few years ago on request of my husband. Despite his careful attempts to cushion them, a few kites still got broken. Would be a good idea to buy a few more than you need just in case.

Peg A. Ming

Thank you, Sharms. We didn´t even think of that, not for a moment. We´ll make sure the kites will travel safely, and personally pack them in a wooden flycase. We really appreciate your advice. Namasté, Dexter and Peg.

Peg A. Ming

hello, Rushi; you are so very kind. Yes, we intend to go to Ahmenabad around January 12th, and stay in the area for a few days. We´ll try to buy and fly some kites, and we´re so excited about it! it would be very nice to get in touch with you for advice while we´re there, if you´re ever so kind and you find time to spare with us. And if we´re able to find a hotel! Everybody says the city gets overcrowded during the festival! Keep in touch, Dexter and Peg.

Peg A. Ming

Dear York, your uninterested effort will not be at all wasted. If you follow this thread, let us tell you that we will try to take the Tamil Nadu express, since you recommend it as the most reliable, and we don´t mind taking a peek of Tamil Nadu anyway. We´re not sure we understand the route, though: it may be too much information for this two poor foreigners. So, for now, just telling you that we´ve decided to take that particular train on Monday Jan 3d. Thanks again, Dexter and Peg.

rushijoshi

Hi Dexter and Peg,

Most welcome to city of Joy "Ahmedabad".

How many days are you going to spend in Ahmedabad, what kind of hotel are you looking for? How may persons coming?

This time kite festival is going to be held on 14th January.

Right now I am in Pune but I will be there for sure, in my 29 years of life I have not missed a single Kite Flying Day .

Last year we were not able to enjoy as wind was not good, but this time hoping for best. We will start buying Kites in early December.

Regards
Rushi

Peg A. Ming

Hello Rushi, you´re a very kind person. Our plan to hit ahmenabad hasn´t been settled yet. You see, we were planning to travel south and we only have four weeks. Kite festival happens right in the middle, and it´s a bit way out of every other place we wanted to visit! So, if we finally make it, we would like to be there around Jan 12th and stay for two days in the area. We´ve been trying to book a hotel, thinking they all must be full in this time of the year, but it hasn´t been easy so far. We can spend a maximum of 500Rs for a double room per night. I don´t know, maybe we won´t able to make it. We´ll let you know as we get closer in time.
We were wondering, perhaps you know whether there are other areas where kite flying and building is an important activity. Do they fly kites in the south as well? Could we also find constructors in places like delhi or varanasi? Thank you very much, Dexter and Peg.

Freereedsqueezer

I was at the kite festival in Varanasi last year and got to spend the day at our friends house on the rooftop. It was really a lot of fun, I have never seen so many kites (and lack of birds) in my life! The whole city was full of kite flying and of course kite fighting or whatever they call it.

We slept at Assi Ghat, there's a good kite shop next to the Melody Music house on Shivala road. From Assi Ghat turn right on Shivala road and go down a few blocks. You'll see Melody Music house on the left and to the right of it is the kite shop. They're very inexpensive also. I did pack 25 of them to take back for my sons classmates but most of them didn't survive, they are quite delicate.

It takes a little bit to get used to flying them, especially as everyone is trying to cut your string. The day after the festival my son and I launched a kite off of our hotel at Assi Ghat and it was the highest kite in the city, it took a long time for the local kite expert next door to finally cut our string, I think he was impressed or we just got lucky.

Another story is that a couple kids were rowing us around on the Ganges and picking up kites in the river. He'd let them dry and in the most confident manner told me that it was a holy kite because of the river and then he launched it as we were going down towards the main ghat and he cut everyones line on the way down, probably minimum 20 kites he got before he reeled in the line!

So you can guess we enjoyed it in Varanasi! Have fun....

__________________
Freereedsqueezer

Peg A. Ming

Thanks a lot fur such useful info, squeezer! If someone else out there can give us more info, we´ll be very grateful. For instance, we would like to know if those kite shops open all year round or only around the festival dates. Or if kite activity is also big in the south, where we will presumably be -perhaps- around Jan 14th. Or, this is to you, squeezer, how fragile they are, exactly? Would it be possible to extra carefully pack a fair amount of them, in a padden wooden case, and send them back to ol´ europe?
Thank you so much, Dexter and Peg.