India at the end of May
 

My boyfriend and I are planning to spend around a week in India at the end of May (that's the only timing for us). I know it's extremely hot and humid at this time, so I'm wondering if anyone has any idea of comfortable places to go? And how many places should we visit for 7~10 days? Should we take train or taxi (will that be very expensive?) And I don't want to fly between places that are too far...

I've read some posts about staying high round the mountains etc, but I think we can finish that in less than one week?

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Do you have a guidebook or have you done any reading? Is it this coming May? If so, lock yourself in with a pile of books and do some concentrated research on hill stations, either in the area of the NE mountains (Darjeeling), OR the NW mountains (Shimla), OR in the south.

Where will you arrive? If Delhi, then the area around Shimla or Dharmsala would likely be your best bet. Means of transport depends on where you decide to go.

Head to the hill stations, those mountainous retreats where the British escaped to each summer - Kashmire, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand. Google "hill stations" and you should find many options.

Want to see India or the colonial remnants? Sure it might be hotter/more humid than perfect but it's only a week and a billion other folks are tolerating the same, why can't U? Get a hotel room with good A/C, take a shower and sleep well. Because, it seems best to go to the places in India you always dreamed about and 'to hell with the weather'. IMO.

Its easy to say to hell with the weather. Mike Tyson said they all have a plan until they get hit. My wife is from India and we have been there seven times but never in the summer. Its just too hot to do anything except stay in. Even our relatives who live there complain about the heat and they are used to it so imagine that before you say we'll just tough it out. If its hard for the locals what will it be like for you? Indians I know who came to the US had a hard time adjusting to our frigid winters. It takes a while.

That being said if you must go then do as others here have said, head for the hills. I honestly think it will be too hot to do must touring and the Taj Mahal which I think is a must see is in a brutally hot area but its up to you. Does it have to be India in May? If so try to book train travel ahead of time and be sure to get an AC car. Not all cars on Indian trains have AC.

Good luck. Larry

Just to clarify you can experience temps 110-115F during May-June

You can have a great trip in May and June, but you really need to think about the locations. I'd recommend you choose one place that you really want to see...Delhi, Agra, etc..and one hill station. You can bear the heat for a while, and sometimes you get lucky with the weather.

Shimla is actually kind of fun in the early summer, as the town has lots of activities planned for the tourists. We were there in late May, and drove from there to Dharamshala. Daramshala was okay, temp wise, but the skies are quite hazy because they burn the crops down below the mountain.

I was also in Goa at the beginning of June a few years ago. It was pretty hot, but had a lot of cloud cover and afternoon rains. We weren't out much though as we were there for a multi day wedding with most of the activities in the hotel. It was nice that there were almost no tourists around town; everyone told us that you can hardly walk through the crowds in winter.

I'd recommend you to choose Northern part of India or North -Eastern part but if you are arriving in other city than Delhi then go for Bangalore,Ooty,Kodaikanal. You can take a package and explore these places .Enroute you can have wildlife santuary Bandipur & Madumalai.These cities have pleasant weather all the year around.If you are interested in packages do let me knw . You can hire a cab from bangalore or buses to these places .

Number One Son and I are going mid-June - Jaipur to see friends, then Amritsar, McLeodGanj, O/N at Simla, Haridwar , Ranikhet, then depart from Delhi. Some will be hot. Some will be cool. We plan morning excursions, siesta in the heat of the day.