I'm not going there again,,,,,,,,

SitaParityaga · Jun 7th, 2004, 06:07

[quote] from WW USA...
'I dunno what it was about Allahabad. It was on my first visit to India, and I got off the train there. Stayed in a hotel that someone had told me about, on the cantonment side. Woke up the next morning with a huge feeling of DREAD"

I also spent some time in Allahabad....stayed with a local family in "civil lines" (the cantonment area).
Staying with the family was great, loved the sangam (the confluence of the Yamuna, the Ganges and the invisible Saraswati rivers), and the Hanuman temple on the way to the sangam.....otherwise there isn't much to pull me back there either.
Although....it is the only place where I've found my beloved cheap wool blankets with a different plaid on each side. I might get off the train just for those and the Hanuman temple.

Vasko · Jun 7th, 2004, 16:54

Some places are initially interesting only because they have a few special sight-seeing attractions to offer. Once you see them, the place doesn't seem to have much else to offer.

So I choose Mamallapuram. The "romantic" (see LP) Shore Temple was a massive disappointment. It probably wasn't romantic for me because I was alone - and lonely - and hassled out of my mind.

But as has been noted above, the experiences people have of places is influenced by so many things. Some of my favorite places have been listed here; Dr Funkenstein, Hyderabad was/is one of these!!!

And 'm glad to hear many like Mumbai, too, besides myself.

lobo · Jun 7th, 2004, 22:49

I hated delhi at first its intimidating (main bazzar) noisy and if u are a first timer to india frightening. I made my way down to goa (benaulim) which was beautiful.
On return to delhi a bit more of a seasoned traveller I really enjoyed the main bazzar.
Familiarity breeds routine which breeds a feeling of safety.
I actually cant wait to go back!!!

bijapuri · Jun 8th, 2004, 00:53

I feel ya, Vasko . . .
I've been going to Mahabs since 1970, and I've seen it all there, so to speak. Nowadays it's just a place to sleep after landing in Chennai, and a day at the beach in the places a few km north of the main town. Mahabs central could be called "Little Srinigar" these days, but the Mammalla Bhavan accross from the bus stand still has great talis, and hasn't changed one bit.

oh. to give you an idea how it has changed . . . my first visit I slept in the shore temple, and the beach was still in front of it. There was no wall, or wire, or admit fee or chowkidar, just me, a few friends, and a few little orange pills with which we communed with the gods

The stars that night were magnificent!!!

edwardseco · Jun 8th, 2004, 07:11

Puri isn't bad unless you plan to swim. You get good seafood there. Chandigarh is the armpit of the world.
Agra ranks in there which must be a paradox as I have been there several times and hope to go back. There is a great Taj mystery computer game available.
Hyderabad is the best and its Hyderabad-Secunderabad to you yahoos..

wonderwomanusa · Jun 8th, 2004, 08:51

Quote:

my first visit I slept in the shore temple, and the beach was still in front of it.

In 1989, I loved Mamalipuram. The sites were free and people in town were so sweet! Just after midnight on New Year's morning, we walked about a kilometer down the beach from the temple (and the Indian tourists) and went skinny dipping! It was great!

But when I went in December, I found fences around the shore temple, and admissions charges. The beach was dirtier than it was 15 years ago, and the hotel keepers greedier. And yes, there were all those Kashmiris who never "got" that I would talk with them but would not enter their shop. The food was very good there, but after a couple of days, I went back to Puri, which is a town I really love.

butterball · Jun 8th, 2004, 12:33

Agree

I was VERY disappointed with Mahabs... Went there for the first time last January & was underimpressed.

I don't think it ranks anywhere near the bottom of the "I won't go there again.." list, but it was just a little too ... something... not sure..

Yes, the thalis at the Mamala Bhavan were ther real 'dished out of a bucket but taste great' variety - also ate VERY well at the smart A/C restaurant about half way down the main rd on the left coming away from the bus stand... The 50rs thalis really were superb...

The beach threw up some real surprises.. I took a walk say 3 km and encountered a washed up cow's head ( decaying ) , a dead dog, the usual turds and on the way back by the fishing boats, I notived the ground moving underneath me...

MAGGOTS ! Billions of them !

A whole area probably the size of a tennins court just carpeted..

.... and the stink of the drying ( rotting ? ) fish..

1WorldinaCave · Jun 8th, 2004, 15:28

my skin is crawling now Butterball!
thanks for the sensation.

I think it was the maggots that did it.

LaContessa · Jun 8th, 2004, 17:50

Good lord. Did you really have to mention the maggots? LOL.

I loved Mahabs when I went there in 1990, stayed a week and it was fabulous.

Having read what people say about it now, I doubt I'd go back.

I wouldn't go back to Agra either, twice is enough, and the second time I had to virtually bribe my way out of town as we couldn't get a train or bus ticket for weeks...

But anywhere else I'd go, apart from maybe Kovalam..

butterball · Jun 8th, 2004, 18:38

Maybe I was just unlucky with the maggots... a 'bad maggot day' perhaps..

I don't regret going - so don't let it put you off if you're thinking of visiting..

yu_gen · Jun 8th, 2004, 19:01

I thought Delhi was a wonderful and chaotic place to be. I stayed in the Navrang Hotel, Paharganj and thoroughly enjoyed it. Old Delhi fairly blew my head off!

yu_gen · Jun 8th, 2004, 19:03

I'm flying out to India on the 17th June and would appreciate any info whatsoever on Rishikesh?

volga_volga · Jun 8th, 2004, 19:06

yu_gen,

why don't you look in the Destinations?

here and then here

and then write any specific questions if you still have any? under Rishikesh thread

shere · Jul 25th, 2004, 03:43

Shimla. Went there a few years ago for the first time and hated the place so much I wanted to leave after 10 minutes. It was too overcrowded and I should have stayed another day at Kasauli instead.

Chandra · Jul 25th, 2004, 17:26

I don't think I'll give Nagpur a second chance. I ecountered a mob of touts, Agra-style, but in Agra you're at least prepared for it. They actually tore my clothes apart. Crazy stuff.

I don't have a great impression of Chennai either. Though I had some really good experiences there, the hassle is strongest in memory...

But probably it was just bad luck.

Jun 7th, 2004, 06:07	#31
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 852	Allahabad [quote] from WW USA... 'I dunno what it was about Allahabad. It was on my first visit to India, and I got off the train there. Stayed in a hotel that someone had told me about, on the cantonment side. Woke up the next morning with a huge feeling of DREAD" I also spent some time in Allahabad....stayed with a local family in "civil lines" (the cantonment area). Staying with the family was great, loved the sangam (the confluence of the Yamuna, the Ganges and the invisible Saraswati rivers), and the Hanuman temple on the way to the sangam.....otherwise there isn't much to pull me back there either. Although....it is the only place where I've found my beloved cheap wool blankets with a different plaid on each side. I might get off the train just for those and the Hanuman temple.

Jun 8th, 2004, 00:53	#34
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	I feel ya, Vasko . . . I've been going to Mahabs since 1970, and I've seen it all there, so to speak. Nowadays it's just a place to sleep after landing in Chennai, and a day at the beach in the places a few km north of the main town. Mahabs central could be called "Little Srinigar" these days, but the Mammalla Bhavan accross from the bus stand still has great talis, and hasn't changed one bit. oh. to give you an idea how it has changed . . . my first visit I slept in the shore temple, and the beach was still in front of it. There was no wall, or wire, or admit fee or chowkidar, just me, a few friends, and a few little orange pills with which we communed with the gods The stars that night were magnificent!!! __________________ 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

Jun 8th, 2004, 19:06	#43
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,460	rishikesh yu_gen, why don't you look in the Destinations? here and then here and then write any specific questions if you still have any? under Rishikesh thread

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Jun 7th, 2004, 16:54	#32
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 452	Some places are initially interesting only because they have a few special sight-seeing attractions to offer. Once you see them, the place doesn't seem to have much else to offer. So I choose Mamallapuram. The "romantic" (see LP) Shore Temple was a massive disappointment. It probably wasn't romantic for me because I was alone - and lonely - and hassled out of my mind. But as has been noted above, the experiences people have of places is influenced by so many things. Some of my favorite places have been listed here; Dr Funkenstein, Hyderabad was/is one of these!!! And 'm glad to hear many like Mumbai, too, besides myself.

Jun 7th, 2004, 22:49	#33
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	I hated delhi at first its intimidating (main bazzar) noisy and if u are a first timer to india frightening. I made my way down to goa (benaulim) which was beautiful. On return to delhi a bit more of a seasoned traveller I really enjoyed the main bazzar. Familiarity breeds routine which breeds a feeling of safety. I actually cant wait to go back!!!

Jun 8th, 2004, 07:11	#35
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,582	Puri isn't bad unless you plan to swim. You get good seafood there. Chandigarh is the armpit of the world. Agra ranks in there which must be a paradox as I have been there several times and hope to go back. There is a great Taj mystery computer game available. Hyderabad is the best and its Hyderabad-Secunderabad to you yahoos..

Jun 8th, 2004, 12:33	#37
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London .. sometimes ;o) Posts: 672	Agree I was VERY disappointed with Mahabs... Went there for the first time last January & was underimpressed. I don't think it ranks anywhere near the bottom of the "I won't go there again.." list, but it was just a little too ... something... not sure.. Yes, the thalis at the Mamala Bhavan were ther real 'dished out of a bucket but taste great' variety - also ate VERY well at the smart A/C restaurant about half way down the main rd on the left coming away from the bus stand... The 50rs thalis really were superb... The beach threw up some real surprises.. I took a walk say 3 km and encountered a washed up cow's head ( decaying ) , a dead dog, the usual turds and on the way back by the fishing boats, I notived the ground moving underneath me... MAGGOTS ! Billions of them ! A whole area probably the size of a tennins court just carpeted.. .... and the stink of the drying ( rotting ? ) fish..

Jun 8th, 2004, 15:28	#38
1WorldinaCave Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 66	my skin is crawling now Butterball! thanks for the sensation. I think it was the maggots that did it.

Jun 8th, 2004, 17:50	#39
LaContessa Diabla Supreme Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 122	Good lord. Did you really have to mention the maggots? LOL. I loved Mahabs when I went there in 1990, stayed a week and it was fabulous. Having read what people say about it now, I doubt I'd go back. I wouldn't go back to Agra either, twice is enough, and the second time I had to virtually bribe my way out of town as we couldn't get a train or bus ticket for weeks... But anywhere else I'd go, apart from maybe Kovalam..

Jun 8th, 2004, 18:38	#40
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London .. sometimes ;o) Posts: 672	Maybe I was just unlucky with the maggots... a 'bad maggot day' perhaps.. I don't regret going - so don't let it put you off if you're thinking of visiting..

Jun 8th, 2004, 19:01	#41
yu_gen Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 16	I thought Delhi was a wonderful and chaotic place to be. I stayed in the Navrang Hotel, Paharganj and thoroughly enjoyed it. Old Delhi fairly blew my head off!

Jun 8th, 2004, 19:03	#42
yu_gen Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 16	I'm flying out to India on the 17th June and would appreciate any info whatsoever on Rishikesh?

Jul 25th, 2004, 03:43	#44
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,100	Shimla. Went there a few years ago for the first time and hated the place so much I wanted to leave after 10 minutes. It was too overcrowded and I should have stayed another day at Kasauli instead.

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Jul 25th, 2004, 17:26	#45
Chandra Compulsive India traveller Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Oslo/Trondheim, Norway Posts: 195	I don't think I'll give Nagpur a second chance. I ecountered a mob of touts, Agra-style, but in Agra you're at least prepared for it. They actually tore my clothes apart. Crazy stuff. I don't have a great impression of Chennai either. Though I had some really good experiences there, the hassle is strongest in memory... But probably it was just bad luck.