Visting India

[Iain Ross]

Hey can any of you recommend somewhere to take a holiday in India?

[Varun Khanna]

Depends on what interests (Beaches, History, Scenaries etc.) you the most and the timing of your visit.

[Mani Ram]

How would you like to spend the time in India? Adventure sports? Visiting places of architectural significance (like forts & palaces)? In hill resorts? Pilgrimage places? Beaches? Or something else?
I can recommend something based on what your interest is.

[Arjun Shastry]

Generally tourists visit during Nov. to March where season is pleasant overall.There are many places to visit:
1)Norh:Simla,Delhi(red Fort),Agra(Taj Mahal),Jaipur
2)Western India(Mumbai(its heavily sweating!!!),Goa)
3)South India(Chennai,Bangalore(its raining here),Kanyakumari,Kerala)
4)Eastern India(Kolkata,Puri,Darjiling).These are only few places...

[Arjun Shastry]

Originally posted by Varun Khanna:
Depends on what interests (Beaches, History, Scenaries etc.) you the most and the timing of your visit.

He will be coming for holiday,What other interests will anybody have?

[Mani Ram]

Originally posted by Capablanca Kepler:

He will be coming for holiday,What other interests will anybody have?

Do you mean the personal interests has nothing to do with the holiday (or vice versa)!?
I like to spend my holidays in places like Goa or Kerala, where as my friend prefers visiting places like Rameswaram or Kanyakumari. Don't you think the difference of preference is due to the difference in out interests?

[Iain Ross]

Apologies for the lack specific details in my earlier post. I am interested in learning about your country and its peoples so a bit of culture would be good. I like the outdoors so places with activites (walking etc) would be of interest. I am not a great one for beaches but my better half is so some advice on the front would also be welcome. I appreciate any comments you guys can give.

[Mani Ram]

One more question (an important one too). How long you are planning to spend your time in India?
[ April 06, 2004: Message edited by: Mani Ram ]

[Iain Ross]

Ideally 3-4 weeks but this will depend upon my work commitments at the end of the year.

[Mani Ram]

I will recommend you to visit the following places
-Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & nearby places (Heritage Tour - North India)
-Shimla, Kulu & Manali (Hill resorts - North India)
-Goa (Beach - West India)
-Kerala (South India)
If you have enough time, you can visit Andaman islands too.
One cultural front, you might like to visit places like Rishikesh, Haridwar also (North India)

[R K Singh]

How can you guys forget the central India ..
Khajoraho , Rapti
And then in West: Ajanta- Elora caves.
In north, one should not miss Kashi & Prayag(if coming to know the culture.)
hmm... but 3-4 month is too less for India ..

[Ashok Mash]

LonelyPlanet - ThornTree - Asia - Indian Subcontinent
Cheers.

[HS Thomas]

Why is Manglore not mentioned at all anywhere ?
Mangalore in Tulu Nadu sounds enchanting.
[ April 06, 2004: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Sadanand Murthy]

Originally posted by Capablanca Kepler:
Generally tourists visit during Nov. to March where season is pleasant overall.There are many places to visit:
1)Norh:Simla,Delhi(red Fort),Agra(Taj Mahal),Jaipur
2)Western India(Mumbai(its heavily sweating!!!),Goa)
3)South India(Chennai,Bangalore(its raining here),Kanyakumari,Kerala)
4)Eastern India(Kolkata,Puri,Darjiling).These are only few places...

You missed:
North India - Rajasthan (other than Jaipur) : with Mt.Abu as a hill resort, Jaisalmer with its camel rides, ancient sandstone forts & the 2 week desert festival in Jan or Feb.
North India - Ooty, Mussorie, Nainital
Western India - Aurangabad (close to Mumbai)

Iain, if you have the money then one option is to take the Palace on Wheels tour. It is a train fully equipped for westerners comforts & that takes you around certain touristy places over a period of 2 weeks or so. You live in the train & are treated like a royal. It is quite expensive. The last time that I'd checked out the price was in 1997 and it was about USD 3000 per person (or thereabouts). But this will only take you through the beaten track - you will get to know a fraction of India this way.
[ April 06, 2004: Message edited by: Sadanand Murthy ]

[R K Singh]

Originally posted by HS Thomas:
Why is Manglore not mentioned at all anywhere ?
Mangalore in Tulu Nadu sounds enchanting.

Mangaloer is in Karnatka not in Tulu Nadu Tamilnadu.
AW I was wondering why no one has mentioned Hampi.
hmm .. list will be long enough to write a book.

[Sadanand Murthy]

Originally posted by R K Singh:

Mangaloer is in Karnatka not in Tulu Nadu Tamilnadu.

HST may have been referring to the fact that the main language spoken by Mangloreans is Tulu.

[R K Singh]

Originally posted by Sadanand Murthy:

HST may have been referring to the fact that the main language spoken by Mangloreans is Tulu.

I should have checked the link first
AW I think once he must travel in Indian Railways, if not in general class than atleast in sleeper class. As someone said long back, travel in Indian Railways to feel India.

[HS Thomas]

I've heard that Mysore is better for tourists to visit than Bangalore.
Hampi looks good too. What are those buildings in the forefront.
[ April 06, 2004: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Ranga Sreenivasan]

Some places that I could think of...in no particular order
* Puri
* Konark
* Tanjavur
* Trichy
* Kanyakumari
* Guruvayur
* Udipi
* Hampi
* Jodhpur
* Udaipur
* Shimla
* Darjeeling
* Haridwar/Rishikesh/Badrinath

[HS Thomas]

No recommendations for Kashmir - Jammu & Kashmir

[Arjun Shastry]

HS,he wants to return alive!! .
Some information on visting west coast by train:
some phone numbers.
partial westcoast train map.
[ April 07, 2004: Message edited by: Capablanca Kepler ]

[HS Thomas]

If you mean the terrorist activities - it's open house.

[Mohan Panigrahi]

Hi Iain,
As you said you want to explore the culture and people, you might be interested to stay with some traditional indian families. There are various government authorized schemes where tourists get to stay as paying guest with families. Getting to know India at grass-roots would be a lot of fun, I guess....
Also if you are one of spritual kind or interested in antique India, don't miss the ancient temples. With the elaborate deity worship, festivities and celebrations surrounding them, they provide you a different perspective to look at India. They are spread all over the country and you can easily get a list from your travel adivser/agent.
Good luck!

[Iain Ross]

Many thanks to all who have taken time to reply. I now have plenty of information to make a start with my planning. Cheers.
-Iain

[R K Singh]

Originally posted by HS Thomas:
I've heard that Mysore is better for tourists to visit than Bangalore.
Hampi looks good too. What are those buildings in the forefront.

In Bangalore as such nothing special is there excepts gardens and pubs....
Mysore is worth visiting ..

[Sumedh]

Check Incredible !ndia.

[amchi gelo]

I am from Mysore and Mysore rocks! If you like palaces, you must check it out.

Originally posted by HS Thomas:
I've heard that Mysore is better for tourists to visit than Bangalore.
Hampi looks good too. What are those buildings in the forefront.
[ April 06, 2004: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]