first time traveling on my own

stillsearching · Sep 11th, 2003, 01:59

I am planning to join the ranks of many travelers. I am setting out in march to explore the world and my self. It is my beleif that by dropping all securities and exposing myself to the elements of life that I will experience so much more out of this expereince. I am looking for a good guest house in the north of India to begin my travels. From here I beleive that I will meet and find out so much more about what I want to do while traveling.

Please let me know if you have any information on traveling really cheap

wonderwomanusa · Sep 11th, 2003, 11:03

Welcome to IndiaMike!

I'm sure that you will experience more than you ever dreamed on your travels. However, your question is a bit vague and "north India" is really big. So how about having a browse through your guidebook and getting some very basic info, and then asking more specific questions.

One thing to note, is that if you arrive in India in March, it will be getting to the warmest part of the year. In Delhi in March, average temperatures range from 57F to 85F... so you might want to do a little quick sightseeing and then head for the mountains.

The Lonely Planet Guide to India is very good about travelling cheap -- it will give you recent specific prices for rail fares, hotels, and meals.

stillsearching · Sep 11th, 2003, 20:59

You are so right about the vagueness of my topic. I was really just wanting to get started with no real plans. I do know that I am interested in the north as I am a landscape photographer and painter. I have picked March only because of time and circumstances. Is it better to travel later or is March OK. I really don't want to wait another year for another September, but if it is that bad I could probably postpone. I was thinking the north region near Manali, Jaialmer, Varanasi and if possible Leh. I know Kashimer is not so good right now but would really love to go. It just sounds so great. I think I will get to India and talk and listen to opinions. I am really just looking for a good starting point, a guest house. I have found a couple in Manali, (which I though could be a good starting point as it has many travelers milling about. Jaisalmer is another starting point option.

Tell me what you think?

Thanks

wonderwomanusa · Sep 12th, 2003, 05:03

The best weather is from October to March. In June, in Delhi, it can be 105F and 95% humdity. Think about Miami in August -- it's like that only warmer. It'll be okay in the mountains until the rains come ... then the roads start washing out, mud starts sliding.. not the greatest time. A friend is just leaving Simla and says it's gloomy and wet.

Have you looked through our hotel section? There are a bunch of hotels listed there, by region, so it's a good place to start.

stillsearching · Sep 12th, 2003, 05:32

thank you so much. This information makes all me plans interesting. I was thinking of March because I really need to get out of my job and can only handle about 6 more months. I was wanting to go then. Maybe my plans will change a bit and I will travel in Mid September of next year. I am beginning to look into some places here in the states to study for a bit. Maybe I will do this first and then travel.

Thank you for your time.

How many times have you been to India? Do you know of any places to study arts and holistic studies (Body mind and spirit).

wonderwomanusa · Sep 13th, 2003, 03:16

I'm about to leave on my 4th visit to Mom India. Haven't a clue where you should study the things you are looking for; I've a major interest in textiles (and a minor in old temples) and am following that subject around the country.

I love pilgrimage towns, but am not looking for a teacher.

MadnoMad · Sep 13th, 2003, 09:18

Hi WW.
if you are interested in textiles and temples then the south is the place to be....guess you already knew that....but if you want specific details then I think you should visit coimbatore and tirupur which is the textile market hotspot of south India.....both the places survive on their respective textile and garments businesses....

MadnoMad

wonderwomanusa · Sep 14th, 2003, 00:29

Textile markets are the second things I check out in a new city -- first one being the veggie markets. For some reason, I am always curious about what people eat.

Coimbatore and Tirupur markets: are those areas where the textiles are created? What will I find there?

At various times, I've been in villages where women embroider mirrors onto cloth, do tiedye, weave ikat and double ikat sarees, do batik and block printing. I enjoy the process, and always have a bag full of sarees and lunghyi pieces when I leave India.

bijapuri · Sep 14th, 2003, 01:35

textile alert-
Chanderi, near Jhansi, is reputed to have looms aplenty, and is fanous for its saris
It also has a stupendous fort/palace, Jain temples,and a small rest house. Babur laments that his cannonballs just bounced right off the walls of the fort!

I will be visiting there total A list for my next trip!

http://www.momentsworld.com/MP-7.Chanderi.htm

http://www.chandericluster.org/

steveribs · Sep 14th, 2003, 04:16

Hi stillsearching

I'm no authority as I've only been to India once, but I think March would be OK climate-wise to look around Uttar Pradesh and/or Rajasthan. As WW said though, it starts to get too hot during April, but then you could head up into Himachal Pradesh (Himalayas) which is beautiful. India is a major Buddhist as well as Hindu centre and there will be Ashrams, monasteries and all kinds of places to turn up and meditate or chill out or investigate or whatever you want to do. Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama hangs out, Sarnath is the birthplace of Buddhism, Varanasi is the holiest of the holy Hindu cities. Ashrams are all over the place, such as Rishikesh, Haridwar. I'm no expert though, just a sponge for information. I'm thinking of spending some time in an Ashram and maybe a Buddhist monastery on my next trip. Good luck.

Sep 11th, 2003, 01:59	#1
stillsearching Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 3	first time traveling on my own I am planning to join the ranks of many travelers. I am setting out in march to explore the world and my self. It is my beleif that by dropping all securities and exposing myself to the elements of life that I will experience so much more out of this expereince. I am looking for a good guest house in the north of India to begin my travels. From here I beleive that I will meet and find out so much more about what I want to do while traveling. Please let me know if you have any information on traveling really cheap

Sep 11th, 2003, 11:03	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	Welcome to IndiaMike! I'm sure that you will experience more than you ever dreamed on your travels. However, your question is a bit vague and "north India" is really big. So how about having a browse through your guidebook and getting some very basic info, and then asking more specific questions. One thing to note, is that if you arrive in India in March, it will be getting to the warmest part of the year. In Delhi in March, average temperatures range from 57F to 85F... so you might want to do a little quick sightseeing and then head for the mountains. The Lonely Planet Guide to India is very good about travelling cheap -- it will give you recent specific prices for rail fares, hotels, and meals. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Sep 13th, 2003, 09:18	#7
MadnoMad Simply SyKaDeLiCk Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 90	Hi WW. if you are interested in textiles and temples then the south is the place to be....guess you already knew that....but if you want specific details then I think you should visit coimbatore and tirupur which is the textile market hotspot of south India.....both the places survive on their respective textile and garments businesses.... MadnoMad __________________ One world, One man, One plan....Travel...unfortunately just one life!

Sep 14th, 2003, 01:35	#9
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	textile alert- Chanderi, near Jhansi, is reputed to have looms aplenty, and is fanous for its saris It also has a stupendous fort/palace, Jain temples,and a small rest house. Babur laments that his cannonballs just bounced right off the walls of the fort! I will be visiting there total A list for my next trip! http://www.momentsworld.com/MP-7.Chanderi.htm http://www.chandericluster.org/ __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

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Sep 11th, 2003, 20:59	#3
stillsearching Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 3	You are so right about the vagueness of my topic. I was really just wanting to get started with no real plans. I do know that I am interested in the north as I am a landscape photographer and painter. I have picked March only because of time and circumstances. Is it better to travel later or is March OK. I really don't want to wait another year for another September, but if it is that bad I could probably postpone. I was thinking the north region near Manali, Jaialmer, Varanasi and if possible Leh. I know Kashimer is not so good right now but would really love to go. It just sounds so great. I think I will get to India and talk and listen to opinions. I am really just looking for a good starting point, a guest house. I have found a couple in Manali, (which I though could be a good starting point as it has many travelers milling about. Jaisalmer is another starting point option. Tell me what you think? Thanks

Sep 12th, 2003, 05:03	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	The best weather is from October to March. In June, in Delhi, it can be 105F and 95% humdity. Think about Miami in August -- it's like that only warmer. It'll be okay in the mountains until the rains come ... then the roads start washing out, mud starts sliding.. not the greatest time. A friend is just leaving Simla and says it's gloomy and wet. Have you looked through our hotel section? There are a bunch of hotels listed there, by region, so it's a good place to start.

Sep 12th, 2003, 05:32	#5
stillsearching Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 3	thank you so much. This information makes all me plans interesting. I was thinking of March because I really need to get out of my job and can only handle about 6 more months. I was wanting to go then. Maybe my plans will change a bit and I will travel in Mid September of next year. I am beginning to look into some places here in the states to study for a bit. Maybe I will do this first and then travel. Thank you for your time. How many times have you been to India? Do you know of any places to study arts and holistic studies (Body mind and spirit).

Sep 13th, 2003, 03:16	#6
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	I'm about to leave on my 4th visit to Mom India. Haven't a clue where you should study the things you are looking for; I've a major interest in textiles (and a minor in old temples) and am following that subject around the country. I love pilgrimage towns, but am not looking for a teacher.

Sep 14th, 2003, 00:29	#8
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	Textile markets are the second things I check out in a new city -- first one being the veggie markets. For some reason, I am always curious about what people eat. Coimbatore and Tirupur markets: are those areas where the textiles are created? What will I find there? At various times, I've been in villages where women embroider mirrors onto cloth, do tiedye, weave ikat and double ikat sarees, do batik and block printing. I enjoy the process, and always have a bag full of sarees and lunghyi pieces when I leave India.

Sep 14th, 2003, 04:16	#10
steveribs Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK Posts: 17	Hi stillsearching I'm no authority as I've only been to India once, but I think March would be OK climate-wise to look around Uttar Pradesh and/or Rajasthan. As WW said though, it starts to get too hot during April, but then you could head up into Himachal Pradesh (Himalayas) which is beautiful. India is a major Buddhist as well as Hindu centre and there will be Ashrams, monasteries and all kinds of places to turn up and meditate or chill out or investigate or whatever you want to do. Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama hangs out, Sarnath is the birthplace of Buddhism, Varanasi is the holiest of the holy Hindu cities. Ashrams are all over the place, such as Rishikesh, Haridwar. I'm no expert though, just a sponge for information. I'm thinking of spending some time in an Ashram and maybe a Buddhist monastery on my next trip. Good luck.

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