We have been thinking of going to Jaipur for the Elephant Festival and Holi in March 2014. What other places should we consider instead of Jaipur?

Where Holi is concerned best can also mean worst depending on one's tastes in "experience". I've been in Jaiselmer twice for Holi, quite an adventure. I suggest you choose a place where you can stay in for the duration in case it's a bit much for you. A place with a restaurant, for instance, or one nearby that delivers.

The place we were--Udai Bilas-- basically kept us prisoner there for Holi saying they wouldn't allow their guests to leave the grounds for the day. And, the agency we got the car and driver from told us that the car couldn't be driven on Holi. What we were told is that many men who go away from their homes or small towns to work elsewhere return home for a few days of drunken revels for Holi. I second the advice to find a nice place where you can settle in for the day.

Holi isn't just a day. It's several days leading up to the holiday as well. Besides the colored water & dyes that are thrown at passersby there are serious fireworks everywhere. If you can stay in a resort or hotel that's separate from other buildings it would be best. A favorite thing is to throw these cherry bomb things in the small spaces between buildings where they make enormous explosions all out of proportion to their size in the confined spaces and if you happen to be staying in one of the buildings it goes on day & night for several days, pretty awful. It's billed as a happy holiday but in my experience is unnerving to downright dangerous. If you can avoid it, staying in a resort-type environment or even not being there at all it would be the better part of valor.

I once spend it with a organization in Udaipur. It was the best experience ever! And the kids we played with had so much fun, so did all the volunteers. I can send you a link?

My husband and I wanted to experience a holiday or festival while visitng India. I did not realize that Holi might be too stimulating for tourists.

Petricia,
Thanks. I would like a link.

Hey.

The link to the organizations website is www.stepvolunteer.com
I hope you have an amazing time in India if you have any questions about the organization just ask

Yes......Holi festival is India a big festival and I would suggest in my opinion that Holi you can enjoy in Jaipur with Elephant Festival ... great fun

Much better to time your visit to AVOID Holi. Actually, you should think very carefully about visiting during many festivals in India, as the crowds will almost certainly be overwhelming. I did enjoy Durga Puja in Kolkata, but that involved a lot of individual celebrations, rather than one mass gathering. It is not, however, unusual for religious pilgrimages to result in deaths.

E.g. http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/world/...ths/index.html