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India: where to begin???

Mrs Miggins

Mrs Miggins

It’s all happening tomorrow
Hi all,

I may be heading to India for a month from the end of October but it is so vast even beginning to try to think about where to go makes my head hurt!

I'd love to see Jaipur and the Taj Mahal. Goa appeals as does Kerala. But these are places I know of and there is so much more!

What advice do you lovely people have on trying to plan a trip? I don't want to pack in too much and prefer to take things slowly. And i don't want a nailed down itinerary either - just a loose framework.

I'll be coming from Myanmar and need to fly to Brisbane at the end.
 
Yes, its vast - good idea to not try to cover too much ground and take it slowly.
My 2p would be don't miss Benares (Varanasi) and also try to go to Mandu, in Madhya Pradesh.
Kerela is relaxing and pretty, but a maybe a little bit dull, good place to recharge between other things - but if you do head that far south do go to Tamil Nadu whilst you're down there, I loved the city of Madurai, though its kind of the opposite of relaxing.
 
I started in Delhi, train up to Shimla, back to Delhi, train over to Agra, back to Delhi, train down to goa. Then chilled out there for a week.

So started with hussle n bussle. Then relaxed.
 
Reiabuzz said:
You might like Jaipur during those days... utter chaos, in a way only India can produce (even more than the usual bonkers-ness that is India). Unbridled joy. I might go too this year, depending on money/life etc.
Click to expand...
Sounds just great!
 
A month can hardly do justice to India. I've spent about 6 months in India over several visits,......going again in November :cool:
 
DrRingDing said:
A month can hardly do justice to India. I've spent about 6 months in India over several visits,......going again in November :cool:
Click to expand...
Oh I know....a month will hardly scratch the surface but that is the time I have available and how is it with tourist visas? 30 days is pretty standard no?
 
If you're not planning to stay for four years (or a lifetime) try approaching the question from the other end - not 'what are the don't-miss bits of India?' (because there are thousands of them), but more 'what's my interest / my favourite thing and where in India will be best for that?'. So, if you're a deserts and palaces fan, Rajasthan. If you like jungle and temple and beaches, south India. If you're hugely interested in Hinduism & spirituality, a different circuit. etc etc. But in general I would say as long as the climate where you're at suits you, then you're better off sticking in a smaller area for longer, than trying to cover this giant in a month.
 
trabuquera said:
If you're not planning to stay for four years (or a lifetime) try approaching the question from the other end - not 'what are the don't-miss bits of India?' (because there are thousands of them), but more 'what's my interest / my favourite thing and where in India will be best for that?'. So, if you're a deserts and palaces fan, Rajasthan. If you like jungle and temple and beaches, south India. If you're hugely interested in Hinduism & spirituality, a different circuit. etc etc. But in general I would say as long as the climate where you're at suits you, then you're better off sticking in a smaller area for longer, than trying to cover this giant in a month.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's good advice. I've been on the road long enough now to know that slowing down and spending more tume in places allows you to get the feel of them rather than rushing to a new place every other day....

I guess I like temples and beautiful buildings and then I want some glorious, lazy beach time....
 
As others have said, it depends on what you're after, time constraints, budget etc. Would certainly recommend picking a region and not pushing the travel too hard so as to absorb the atmosphere properly. Maybe Tamil Nadu and Karnataka? Both with good temple/historical spots but within a day's striking distance of either Kerala or Goa for the beaches.

Jealous. I've spent about a year of my life there in all, but haven't been back for sixteen years :(

ETA: Of the North, Varanasi and Jaisalmer were my favourites. Biggest annoyance? British middle class fake hippy know-alls, feeling smug after haggling Rs 20 off a fare from a rickshaw driver. Avoid these people. Have fun! :)
 
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DrRingDing said:
How long is a decent time to be in Varanasi?
Click to expand...

I spent a few days each time I was there, mainly just exploring round the ghats. Sunrise and sunsets were magic. I also took the short journey to Sarnath to see the Buddhist sites. IIRC, there are courses in playing the sitar and courses on Hinduism at the university if you want to stay longer, but that was a few years back so info may be out of date.
 
Varanasi ... If you go I really recommend a guesthouse called the Sun View Lodge on Khedar Ghat - it's an old family house right on the river, balcony all along the front (very simple cheap really basic rooms but lovely family and you could sit there on the balcony all day long just watching the world). :)

found a photo from the balcony (the foot isn't mine its my friends')
P1010652.jpg
 
Mrs Miggins said:
Hi all,

I may be heading to India for a month from the end of October but it is so vast even beginning to try to think about where to go makes my head hurt!

I'd love to see Jaipur and the Taj Mahal. Goa appeals as does Kerala. But these are places I know of and there is so much more!

What advice do you lovely people have on trying to plan a trip? I don't want to pack in too much and prefer to take things slowly. And i don't want a nailed down itinerary either - just a loose framework.

I'll be coming from Myanmar and need to fly to Brisbane at the end.
Click to expand...

I was very disappointed with Goa but I only visited palolem which is like benidorm (i'd imaging). Venture a little further south into the state of Karnataka and specifically kudle beach....

kudle_gokarn.jpg

...which is lovely and unbuilt up. Everything is a quarter of the price it is in Goa.

I'd also recommend Hampi too.

http://tinyurl.com/j55obay

munnar was great for day long walks through the tea plantations. it feels like you are back in western europe. Similar climate.

I went for 5.5 weeks and only explored the South and it wasn't long enough. This included 2 internal flights to save time but I loved the trains.

my advice for a month would be choose north or south.

Its a wonderful wonderful country. it has a very unique energy and spirit.

This is a good book to get you in the mood (and popular with westerners on holiday there)...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shantaram-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0349117543
 
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