In Delhi next week - advice for Rajasthan? Himachal? Uttarakhand?

flapcats

Hi there,

We're flying from the UK to Delhi next week for three weeks.
Keeping the heat in mind, our itinary is loose - we'll see how we're doing and try as much as we can, probably getting up at 5am to avoid the heat.

Am planning to travel clockwise from Delhi, down to Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur to Mt Abu and if it's not insanely hot into Jodhpur and Jaisalmer and back to Delhi somehow.

We'll be using trains and busses and travelling very light (am both carrying 25litre backpacks only) - ie: factor 50x suncream, 2x t-shirts and camera.

We've been to India before, but to Goa, Kerrala, Tamil-Nadu down to Kanyakumari and backwaters etc, never up-north.

Is there anything you think we should know about? I'll be travelling with my wife.
Thanks.
M

Casey

Buses for short journeys in Rajasthan are quite pleasant (5 hours and under) and are a good way to get around if trains are inconvenient or non-existent for where you want to go. Enjoy your trip!

unclelach

It will be "insanely hot" everywhere you have mentioned except maybe Mt Abu. I was in North India until 15th April and even then the temperature was approaching 40 C which is too much for me. Foreign tourists die from heat exhaustion most years at this time of year in North India. Keep up your fluid intake.

rajuindia

Why don't you hire a A/C car with driver for your travel? It's too hot at this moment in Rajasthan. During this time it is not very good idea to travel by buses and trains. Even still if you do that then just travel in A/C cabins, will be better for you.
Have a nice holidays.

shashank.aggarwal

Oh My My...sorry..I dont want to discourage you..but this is the WORST time to be in this part of the country...you will get raosted...specially in Rajasthan...

Even as a typical North Indian, used to these conditions, I am not able to venture out these days..forget about Rajsthan..

even if you will brave the heat..it would be touch for you to enjoy the tour..

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tnog

I would have to agree with Shashank and Unclelach.

I've lived in Delhi for 2 1/2 years. Every summer it gets really, really hot. The temp will hover in the low 40's this week and generally, it will be hotter in Rajasthan. It's around 45 there now.

At the height of the summer it's not uncommon for people to die, especially those who are poor old, young or unwell. Many foreigners, who are not acclimitized to the heat, get clobbered. You'll likely feel drained most of the time, maybe a bit cranky, and will have to drink a lot of water.

Many people opt to leave the plains for the much cooler mountains, to places in H.P., Uttaranchal etc. Might be worth considering...wait I should consider it myself!

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shashank.aggarwal

Even I am running of to Himalays in Mid June !!

Got my tickets for Bagdora..just deciding where to go ..

Sikkim OR Darjeeling

tnog

You lucky, cool devil!

Me? I'm sticking it out till the end of June. Then off to SE Asia for a cycle tour.



Though, I think my observation about the lack of acclimitzation of foreigners is accurate. I help to teach at a martial arts club here in Delhi. We have a mixed group of people, both Delhites and videshi.

Even though I feel more used to the heat now, I often find that many recent, (and not so recent) arrivals are easily fatigued after just basic exercises.

nosianai

flapcats, do yourself a favour and postpone that trip to Rajasthan. Sure, it's kitsch-curry and amazing, but you'll spoil your entire experience if you go there in summers.

Imagine to wake up in the morning covered in sweat. Imagine taking a shower, drying yourself and then wondering whether you haven't dried yourself properly or whether you're sweating again. Imagine drinking so much water that you feel sick. Imagine how every piece of clothing is soaked in sweat, sticking to your skin. It's not that you would feel 'cranky'. You'll be pissed. Every move hurts. You see those beautiful monuments, the dazzling markets and the amazing cultural programs but you just want to kick everybody, beat the shit out of the touts and basically through yourself on the ground - anywhere there is shade.
I live in Delhi. You cannot get 'accustomed' to 45degrees. Every moment you don't spend in a room with A/C is torture.

Do yourself a favour: Go to the hills.

shashank.aggarwal

yeah..look for some treks in Himalayas, maybe from Uttrakand, Himachal Pradesh or from Sikkim. This is the ideal time to explore himalayas as most of the passes and regios would be open, otherwise they are in so extreme conditions that they have to closed in winters...

flapcats

Thanks for the replies. We'll make a 'plan B'.
Is it easy to get internal flights to Himachel Pradesh?

Do you think we be able to walk in and book at the airport?

shashank.aggarwal

well himachal might not be that well connected by air due to hilly terrain..rather..there are good buses plying from Delhi to various destinations..u may try that..

try airdeccan.net - its a low cost domestic career..



I guess this would be the best time to enjoy Leh...I guess other members would be able to throw some light on the same..

tnog

But just imagine how much better you can beat the sh*t out of touts and throw yourself on the ground if you know the right martial arts moves!



Flapcats, anyways there's a regional airport in Bhuntar, 3 hrs from Kulu. You should check with a travel site like makemytrip.com, to get an idea about the fare prices or directly through the airline websites. According to the LP, Jagson Airlines and Indian Airlines? flies to Bhuntar.


However keep in mind that this would be around peak season, so the prices of tickets might be pretty steep. It would probably be best to book as far ahead as possible.

Though, you can probably get a ticket on an AC Volvo bus. But again, since its peak travel season, the seats on the government HPTDC buses get booked pretty quickly. HP Tourism runs daily AC and deluxe buses that leave from the Chandralok building on Janpath near CP.

They leave around 5 pm everyday. There are plenty of other options of course, with private and other state carriers but, I tend to prefer the HP gov. for some reason...

unclelach

From Delhi there are overnight trains to railheads or junctions in towns which lie at the bottom of the foothills. Although everybody who is able is attempting to leave Delhi's heat there may be tourist quota AC berths left on the trains. New Delhi railway station has a booking office reserved for foreign tourists.

You can travel by night to Kalka and then take the morning mountain railway to Shimla. Another possibility is to go to Dehradun then take a jeep up to Mussoorie. Once I took a night train to Pathankot then went by narrow gauge train and taxi to McLeod Ganj.

Maybe an AC bus all the way is a better choice in the heat.

Some people find Manali the most attractive mountain resort during the hot months but my visit there lies in the future.

shashank.aggarwal

Pathankot is a good option from there you can go towards Dharamshala, McLeodganj, Dalhousie, Khajiyar and other places..

Anyways..just for your info there are certain trains that go on that route hoever does'nt actually go to Pathankot..

Just to increase your options just Remember a place by name of "Chakki Bank", all trains going to Jammu go to Chakki bank, its a very small station, you can get down here as it is only couple of miles from Pathankot..