Hi, I am travelling with two friends to India mid June, staying for 3 weeks. We fly into Mumbai. Originally we thought about going south, but then have been put off by monsoon horror stories, but obviously there is the extreme heat in the north. Any ideas on a good three week itinerary? We are students to limited budget, could maybe do one internal flight? Thanks, looking forward to any ideas...

You can do Himachal Pradesh and Laddakh for 3 weeks and come back Leh / Del by flight tp connect International Flight

monsoonlivs, what "monsoon horror stories"? Some of us who grew up in India love the monsoons, and a few people go there specially to experience them. While it is true that it is not the season for tourists there isn't any "horror" associated with it (freak occasions like last year's torrential downpour in Mumbai notwithstanding).

thanks agtoau, i have also heard some amazing monsoon stories, but with so many places to visit its hard to know where to choose, and maybe the weather should guide us. what are your thoughts on goa and the south around the middle to end of june? i do also like the thought of himachal pradesh, and am interested in leh...

Goa is fabulos in the rain - it adds another element to see the vegetation so lush and green. I second leh - it is doable only 4 months in the year, May-Sept and if you are there at this time do go. Leh will however use up the only flight you can budget - so what i would suggest is travel Mumbai-Goa by overnight train, then Goa-Delhi by train, Delhi-HP by train, then fly to Leh, Leh back to Delhi by air, then Delhi Bombay by train.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Kerala is at its most beautiful during the monsoons. Be there or be square!

monsoonlivs,

As a rule, June-August are not good months in India for the general tourist. Goa is gorgeous in the monsoons, yes, but if you are a tourist who desires mobility, sun and shine, you will be disappointed. The beauty of the monsoon derives from things not usually on the tourist's menu: watching the rains come down, gazing at a storm-swept sea, walking around town and coming back with water splashed all over, the verdancy of the countryside and so on. If 'fun' and 'party' are what you seek, then don't go. But for the surprise-seeker and aesthete, there's plenty to see and feel.