I'm glad it worked out for you, Peg. For me, personally, I wouldn't call temps above 110 "hot but tolerable." But your report is a good resource for people heading to India in May - they will know what to expect.

Well, Peg - you didn't listen.

A trip where sightseeing [and ANY activity] is well nigh impossible between 9.00 AM and 4.00 P.M. is a waste of time. I know Peg, I've made the same mistake. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to really get moving till about 9.00 AM - so my fabulous HOT Indian adventure lasted from, oh - about 4.00 p.m. till errr... sunset. About two hours a day. The rest of time I spent lolling around, thinking of somewhere cool.

I'm glad your Pollyanna pills worked for you. My prescription ran out.

better you than me, but glad you had a good time....try november or december next time..

Glad u had a good time....hot summertime is mango season in India. Did u try some of the many varieties of mangoes? That is if u like mangoes.

I know, I know, I didn't listen. But Dogster I am a morning person so being up by 6 am was no problem for me. So I was able to do a bit more activities.

Kathie, I guess since my company transfered me to the UAE I think I'm more tolerable (or maybe I think I am)to the heat. And in teh shade it really wasn't bad. Might not have been so if I was coming directly from the US.

Magical I did try the mangoes, very good.

Rhkkmk fortunately I have a 10 year visa, so I'm sure I'll get there at different times of the year. I mainly went in May because it was my birthday, and a good time to see animal sightings. I saw a tigress around the water hole, and again laying in the stream. So it was worth it.

I also went to Rajasthan in early May this year against the advice of many people. Like Peg I also felt the climate was tolerable and the heat didn't spoil my trip. Maybe it is because I have lived in hot and humid South East Asia for a few years. The temperature went up to 49C when we were in Jaisalmer one afternoon so my companion and I stayed indoor for a few hours and went out again soon after 3pm.

I found there were a few benefits travelling during this time of year:

1) hotels accommodation were half the price if compared to peak tourist season (Novemeber to February). We could afford to stay in upscale hotels which would otherwise out of our league.

2) cheaper airfare

3) There were less foreign tourists. When I showed my photo of me sitting on Diana bench with Taj Mahal at the background, friends were surprised that there weren't other tourists in the photo.

4) Good for sighting tigers. We saw two tigers and a leopard (a rear sighting according to our guide)in Ranthambhore national park.

The downsides: brown vegetation and glaring bright sun were not that good for photography. It was like walking on hot charcol at some places where we have to take off our footwears. We soon learned to pack a pair of thick socks with us on our daypack. Dust.

We planned our itinerary in such a way that we were always indoor during the hottest time of the day (palaces, musuems, restaurants or travelling in air conditioned cars).

Would I go back to India in May again? The answer is a resounding YES.

Thanks for the input on May, including specific temps. What were your Bandhavgarh sightings like, Peg?

I agree completely glinky. I had three wonderful sightings of a tigress, one on the back of an elephant, she was laying on the rock. One at the water hole, and another she walked up to a stream and laid down in it. Saw many birds, monkeys, all three kinds of deer, but I wasn't forutnate to see a sloth beer or leapord (although one was spotted a few minutes before we arrived in one spot). Since I had the jeep to myself, I chose to go to Zone 3 for one drive since I had already seen a tiger. Loved it there, no one else was in that zone. Saw antelope and a huge wild boar. Animals are afraid of the jeeps in that part of the park, so they scatter easily. The view from the check point was amazing, its on a hill overlooking the park. I only had five drives, as they close the park on Wednesday nights so I lost one.

Peg, I'm so glad you had a good time and saw that tigress. For me to be there in that heat, someone would have to be holding a member of my family hostage somewhere--and only specifiic members--I wouldn't bear that heat for all. Of course, I was born and raised on the Canadian border. I moved to Boston for the warmer weather, LOL

I lost one drive too due to the Wed pm close. Sloth bears and leopards are quite rare. Thanks for the Zone 3 info.

BostonHarbor LOL,I originally moved from Ohio to DC for the warmer weather, then three months ago my work decided I should try for even warmer weather in the UAE. Which I guess is why I said it was tolerable.