India in June...need planning help
 

Hello all.
I am going to Bangalore on May 31st and have about 10 or 12 days on the ground.

While I must fly into Bangalore, I can return from any other city served by British Airways.

Any suggestions on which direction to head at this time of year? I was wanting to go to Ooty and possibly to Goa, but I understand the rains will be in full force and may spoil the trip to some degree.

Going north is of interest too...will the weather be less wet up north than south in June?

i'm wide open as to places to visit.

My son (age 22) and I and will be travelling together.

Thanks in advance for your input.

June is when the monsoon rains hit coastal parts of southwest India starting in Kerala and sweeping up to Mumbai...so if you don't enjoy being wet, the north maybe a better/hotter/drier choice.

The monsoons are fun too, though less crowded and less touristy in Goa. Given that most of North India..Delhi/Agra/ Rajasthan will be very dry and hot.

Other options could include the sub-himalayan belt of Garwhal/Kumaon which are close to Delhi, Sikkim and parts of Darjeeling in the Northeast and Ladakh.

Thank you.

I'm meeting my son in Bangalore, so we must start from there.

Would the mountain area of Ooty also get hit by the monsoons? Pardon the ignorance, but i'm wondering since it's at 6000' elevation.

Here's my first attempt at an itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Bangalore (sleep)
Day 2: See Bangalore
Day 3: travel to Ooty
Day 4: Tour Ooty
Day 5: tour Ooty
Day 6: Fly from Coimbatore to Agra
Day 7: visit Taj Mahal
Day 8: Taj Mahal and Agra area
Day 9: Travel (somehow) to Delhi
Day 10: Tour Delhi
Day 11: Tour Delhi
Day 12: Fly home

If Ooty's going to be wet, then we'll do it another time and head north instead.

thanks for any suggestions.

Hi MrFun,

Just a few comments.

I think 3 nights in Ooty is too much. You might want to consider Mysore also, and see if you want to incorporate it into your itinerary.

There are no direct flights from Coimbatore to Agra. You will have to fly to Delhi and train to Agra.

Also, I think 3 nights in Agra is too much. You might want to add Fatehpur Sikri/Jaipur into this part of the itinerary before getting back to Delhi for the final 3/4 nights.

MrFun,

Is this a first time to India?

Ooty will get rains but not as much as the coastal parts....rain is not as bad an experience as you'd think.

Besides Ooty, Conoor is a nearby hillstation that's worth a day's visit...there may still be a small, scenic train ride into it from Ooty.

Agree with Sharon1306, combine Agra/Sikri into not more than 1-2 days worth...they are now well connected by rail and road to delhi...between 3-4hrs travel time

So you may need to add other parts of rajasthan ...jaipur being close to delhi and well accessed.

another option would be to get to amritsar from delhi by a fast train or flight/car and see the Golden Temple...

yes, this is my first time. My son will have been in Bangalore for 5 months when i join him and he is on his way to Ooty in the next few weeks where he'll spend about a week before returning to Bangalore.

It looks like heading north will be the plan then.

Thoughts on taking a train from Bangalore to the Agra area? Or should i fly (via Delhi)?

thanks.

fly from bangalore to delhi, then drive/rail to agra...its quicker than rail from bangalore to agra/delhi....book online and you can get some cheap air tickets..

train journeys in themselves are an experience in india and require time/inclination, sometimes endurance too....if you wish to cover more places then flying would be better esp. a distance like bangalore-delhi which can take 30-40hr by rail.

God no don't take a train! Its way to far and if you are not used to India could be hell. Any bout of illness (Delhi belly) would render a trip like that a nightmare. Internal flights are easy and plentiful in India. I would advise though if you fly get an early morning flight as things can get delayed later in the day and you could be stuck ages in an airport. I hate most of the regional airports.

First take a look at weatherbase.com and other websites to get an idea of the weather you can expect. As you know, the monsoon will be breaking in parts of India, and other parts will be very very very hot (like Delhi and Agra). Traveling will be tougher, IMO, so don’t try to do too much (it does not appear that you are trying too much). The monsoon usually does not break in north Indian until late June or early July, and the heat has been building across the subcontinent for months. It will be on 30 C most days and easily around 40 F. Bangalore is fairly temperate because of its elevation, but will be warm. Bangalore is one of my favourite cities in India, certainly probably the most livable one, so I would not give it short shrift. While there is not a lot for the tourist really, after 5 months your son should know some interesting bits. It has some good restaurants and a very lively pub and bar scene. Ooty should be quite pleasant

Secondly, I assume this itin was chosen in consultation with your son, who would have some great ideas of where to go after 5 months. I am surprised that you are not going to Mysore, which IMO is one of the most interesting sights in South India, and is only 3-4 hours by car or train from Bangalore. You may be able to work this into your schedule, as you can go to Ooty from Mysore.

I would probably agree on skipping Goa, which gets 32 inches of rain on average in June, but, as the poster above points out, there is something to be said for watching the monsoon. Actually the State of Kerala and its beaches and lovely backwaters would be closer to Bangalore than Goa (and reachable from Mysore and Coimbatore as well), but again rainy. However, if you could actually be on a beach on the tip of south India for the break, that might be quite interesting. Read Alexander Frater’s book <i>Chasing the Monsoon</i>, and you may get a completely different idea for how and where to travel in India during the monsoon.

If you want nice beaches in June, go to the EAST coast of India, where the monsoon will not hit directly until later in the fall. Pondicherry and that area around and south of Chennai. A drive (or motorcycle trip for the truly adventurous) would be a great way to see this coast line, IMO there is a good road. Very interesting area, some good temples, not really touristed at all, esp compared to a place like Agra. You could train over from Coimbatore and then drive/bike up the coast to Chennai. You can then from Chennai to Delhi easily to do the Agra portion. (Also note that Kingfisher Airlines flies into Agra and it may be possible to coordinate a flight via Delhi into Agra from Chennai or elsewhere.)

Hi

The absolute best place to be at this time of the year is in Ladakh. The weather will be cool, it still will not have the summer crowds, and it is jaw droppingly beautiful. It will not 99% not rain.

Ooty as a destination is pointless. It's a nice drive up there and good scenery, but the hill station itself, like most hill stations leaves a lot to be desired. It depends on what you are looking for.

I think Kerala at this time of the year is also nice. Yes, it might rain, but that adds to the lushness of the place and it will not be raining non stop. If you head into the hills, it will be gorgeous.

Thank you for your replies.
I have firmed up a whirlwind tour, but i'm ok with it.

Days 1,2 tour Bangalore
Day 3 Fly to Delhi in morning.
Day 4 Early Express train to Agra to visit Taj and Agra Fort (long day!). Return to Delhi by Express Train.
Day 5 Tour Delhi (Lotus Temple??)
Day 6 Fly Delhi to Kathmandu
Day 7 Visit Everest base camp (?)
Day 8 Tour Kathmandu
Day 9 Tour Kathmandu, the late afternoon flight to Kolkata
Days 10,11 Kolkata
Day 12 late afernoon flight to Bangalore
Day 13 Fly home

I recognize this looks more like a cruise ship itinerary, however the flights are quite reasonable and we are looking to get a favour of different areas. We expect to go back for a longer stretch of time at a more relaxed pace.

Any comments on stuff to do in any of these locales would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Errrr... Everest Base Camp - as a day-trip from Kathmandu?

Please tell me the name of your travel agent - I need a man who can work miracles.

ok, ok...i suggested it out of pure ignorance! It didn't look that far on the map!

seriously, though, if somebody (like me, NEXT TIME) landed in Katmandu, how much time should one alot to visit the Base Camp? (and assume miracles are unavailable)

humbly...........

Ahhh MrFun - I like your style [or the complete lack of it - I'm not sure which...] For a glimpse of how I travel check out the thread 'Dogster gets drunk and books a trip to India' - so you see, humility is not required...

Your itinerary is so bizarre that I'm kinda looking forward to hearing about your trip. You sure are going a loooong way to avoid the monsoon. That it might well be raining in Nepal at the time is best left a secret.

You'll have tons to do in and around KTM. Should your son show signs of restlessness just turn him loose in Thamel with 500 rupees in his pocket. After that he'll be sufficiently err.. sedated to agree to anything.

As for Everest Base Camp - three days drive from KTM. You'd be advised to keep going and end up in Lhasa. [If the Chinese will let you in] 7 days. Google it. It's in Tibet. Millions of cheapola cowboy companies in KTM handle it. If I was you, I'd be going for the up-market ones - that way, when you succumb to Altitude Sickness someone MIGHT help you.

But hey, let's stay on track here.. I wanna see just what ELSE you end up with. Actually, it'd be easier if you just closed your eyes and threw darts at a map of India.

But then, I don't think you've actually LOOKED at a map of India yet, have you? It's a biiiiig, crazy place. [I'm smiling, not snarling, as I write this] More power to you, MrFun - you sound like a great guy. Just jump in and do it.

Dogster, my new Aussie friend. I believe we may be more alike than you think. I'm told Australians and Canadians have much in common, so I'll consider that a stronghold for a starting point.

As I mentioned, the trip is going to be a whirlwind and we are of the mind that we are skimming the surface in each touch point. My son has been in Bangalore for 5 months so i presume he is itching to go North for the different culture, etc. Hence the direction of the plans rather than monsoon avoidance (though i hope that's the case!).

I've arranged flights, averaging $150 USD per person between all points, with the exception of KTM-CCU being about $250 each.

I've taken your advice in other postings and have booked the Club Floor at the Hyatt in KTM. We'll be staying at the Oberoi Grand in Kolkata, and the Intercontinental in Delhi.

We'll be leaving Base Camp for next time. This trip is a bit of a scouting report for the next time when my wife is able to join me.

Finally, my toes are over the edge and i'm prepared to jump into the deep end. If plans end up that my son and I only are able to rest by the pool and catch up on the last 5 months, i would be fully content to have travelled half way across the world to do it.

stay tuned for a trip report mid-June...
Thanks to all for the help...much appreciated.

Hope this is not coming too late....am myself traveling now...so haven't checked fodors in a while...however lets hope u check this:(I am from India, Bangalore and have traveled my country extensively)
Days 1,2 tour Bangalore
if your interest is architecture, do see the Bangalore palace, Vidhan Soudha and Iskon Temple. You can simply take a guided tour on the open buses for a day. If not stay with cabs or autos, both of which run on meters, what you see on the meter is what you pay, no conversions. (People may try to cheat you)
Day 3 Fly to Delhi in morning.
Day 4 Early Express train to Agra to visit Taj and Agra Fort (long day!). Return to Delhi by Express Train.
This sounds way too hectic and Taj Mahalis most picturesque by evening- the train ticket is valid for a day, so why not stay over and take the train back the next day? check if the same is possible at the Delhi or Agra station...

Day 5 Tour Delhi (Lotus Temple??)
Take a day trip that shows you Qutub Minar, lotus temple and lets you shop at Delhi Haat. Also see the beautiful India Gate 7 parliament house in the evening
Day 6 Fly Delhi to Kathmandu
Have never been there to help you
Day 7 Visit Everest base camp (?)
Day 8 Tour Kathmandu
Day 9 Tour Kathmandu, the late afternoon flight to Kolkata
Days 10,11 Kolkata
The victoria memorial, the Howrah bridge are must see. also taste the Kolkatta sweets at Haldirams(a chain of sweet meat shops across the city)and taste the chat of Kolkatta too!
Day 12 late afernoon flight to Bangalore
Day 13 Fly home
Pls revert for any help in bangalore.

Ooty is horribly commercialised and is nolonger like a hill station, avoid the same if possible... I agree that Mysore is a definite must see!

Excellent. I'm kinda hoping you're travelling Kingfisher. Those young men in red T-shirts who'll meet your taxi at the airport make ALL the difference.

Delhi: dunno anything. It was 43 degrees [110 ish] when I was there a month ago - I just holed up in the Oberoi and had room service. But I'd been on the road for two months by then - I needed the break.
I'm the only guy who has never seen the Taj Mahal - but, yup, it's gonna be a loooooooong day.

KTM: That big thing you'll see out your window from the Hyatt is the Boudhanath Stupa. There's a back entrance to the property that leads you straight there. Think Tibetan Buddhism. Go there late afternoon for the best hit. Join the flow [you'll see what I mean]If you hear drums and trumpets and cymbals, follow your ears. If there are stairs, go up them. Take shoes off and go in - it's totally cool. Sit on the floor and suck it all up. Pictures are cool, no flash.

You'll pass the entrance to Pashupatinath between airport and Hyatt. It's about 150 Nepali rupees for a cab from the hotel - max. Think Hindu cremations. Again, late afternoon is the best, for the light and for Aarti [ceremony] that starts at sundown [6.30 p.m. ish]. Mmmm - the smell of burning fleshhhh...

Repeated visits to both will bring dividends. If you wanna get up close and way too personal, there's a viewing platform right above the cremations on the left hand side. Right side you can only watch from across the river. But I warn you, this is serious [and totally fascinating] stuff. This is right in your face. Much more so than Varanasi.

There's also a home for old people that's really worth a visit. Those nice men who want to show you around also want your rupees. Up to you, but make a bargain IN ADVANCE. The longer you stay, the more interesting it gets. Who knows what else will be going on. Explore, don't just wander along one side of the river, holding your nose, then leave.

Both places you don't really need a guide. There's so much going on, if you can see it - attempting to understand all the nuances of Tibetan Buddhism and Hindu cremations is an impossibility, anyway.

You'll doubtless go to Swayambhunath [monkey temple] - also interesting but smaller. Note that there's an upper car-park that mean you don't HAVE to climb the one million steps up to it. The smart move is to walk DOWN the steps and have your guy pick you up there.

Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Squares will also be on your list. I never really got off on these, but go and prove me wrong. I like LIVING spaces. But the Lonely Planet has details of a nifty walk from Thamel to KTM Durbar Square which is a buzz. You'll get lost - that's part of the fun.

Thamel is the backpacker area - 'nuff said. Don't buy anything from junkies on the street. Hold your fire. Trust your nose.

Don't get suckered into trips to Nagarkot or Dhulikel to see the fabulous mountain views - they won't be there.

Kolkata: fine choice of hotel. The Oberoi wins Dogster's award for maximum culture clash. You'll see what I mean. Head for the markets a block away. Say no, kindly, to all pestilential touts. Go, instead, further in to the fruit, vegetable, dead fish, disgusting meat and chicken section. For a first-timer to India that should make you squirm sufficiently to wanna RUSH back to the Oberoi.

Night markets outside the front door are just great. Wander the streets around the hotel. You'll find Sudder Street, the museum [which is so crappy it's worth a visit] and Park Street, all within a few blocks. Explore. Walk. Get lost.

Very good breakfast at the Oberoi - don't miss it. Good room service chicken curry. Remember, Oberoi is a non-tipping establishment. All the staff REALLY want is for you to remember their names and write them on the comment form at the end. I've also learnt that the slightest complaint will get you a change of room and an upgrade. I ended up in a suite last time with that technique.

I confess that, in my two visits to Kolkata, I never really got much further than the above places. There's a ton more - I found the street life within walking distance so AMAZING that I never got much further. Just look as if you know what you're doing and repel all boarders. Not easy, but fun, if you don't let it get to you. Remember, everyone has a right to make money. Everything is business. Respect that, pause, smile, clap them on the shoulder and say 'How's your business today?' Ignoring them will mark you as a target.

Little beggar children can be effectively stopped by a finger to the lips and a fatherly '..Shhhhhhhh'
Try it. It works for me..

When off wandering with Number One Son, take it in turns to be the leader. You'll both get lost anyway.
The slightest prevarication will invite attention. Just plough on. If you find a dank alleyway, go down it. Go behind the scenes. The more you do, the more you'll be truly amazed. Picture taking will mark you as a major target so be quick and stealthy. No huge lenses and faffing around. Snap and go.

Prepare yourself for the smell of urine....

Perfect the sideways head wobble.

Shake hands a lot.

Laugh.

Find a barber's shop and go have a shave with your son. And a neck, head and shoulder massage. Total cost, 50 rupees [look for price list on wall] Pay them 100, who cares. It's a quintessential Indian/Nepali experience. Addictive.

Then run back to the Oberoi and spend more on room service than these guys earn in a year.

Try and wrap your head around that, my friend.

That should kill your time in Kolkata fruitfully, I'd imagine. Kathmandu is not nearly as carnivorous.

Thanks for the info/insight.

Dogster: two things. One of the hotels quoted 2079 rupees for a transfer (one way i think) from airport to hotel (KTM-Hyatt, or CCU-Oberoi....?), i forget which. is this a ripoff in either case, or both? In other words, what's a fair cab charge in both KTM and CCU?

Two, your vivid description sounds like things are rather messy and one may in fact be somewhat emotionally wrecked, as it were! I can't wait to experience this beautiful mess we call life itself.

thanks mate.

Heya,
first thing to remember is that ALL hotel transfers are a rip off.

But, it's the most stressful time of all, arriving at a strange airport, with luggage, heading, God only knows where, to an unfamiliar hotel.

US$1 = 42 INDIAN rupees
US$1 = 66 NEPALI rupees

Your 2079 sounds like the Oberoi transfer in Kolkata. Yup, you can do it for a lot less. Yup, you can givce yourself massive grief trying to save #20. Remember, there's two of you. Just let the Oberoi do it - no stress at all, smooth - a nice man will find you before you've even got your bags. He'll carry them, and you, to the waiting limo, with cold towels and drinks. Yup, it's overpriced. Just do it.

KTM - don't do anything. Again, there's two of you. One can mind luggage while other goes and scouts. I've yet to book a transfer to the Hyatt - EACH time there was a man with a Hyatt sign and a bus. The transfer was free. It's a scrum, but stay calm - just go look. If things go pear-shaped it shouldn't cost you more than 200 rupees in a ratty cab. Not that that will stop them trying to charge you one million rupees. Insist that the meter is turned on. BUT I'm pretty sure you'll find your Hyatt guy. Time from airport to hotel - about 15 minutes.

Delhi: there's a pre-paid taxi booth in the terminal. That didn't stop my idiot taxi driver getting spectacularly lost. It should take about 40 mins from the DOMESTIC terminal - he took 2 HOURS. If you take the pre-paid taxi option do NOT get in anything other than a black and yellow taxi. If you choose the hotel transfer option in Delhi, [and, after my scary experience, I WOULD] the guys are all milling about with their signs OUTSIDE the airport doors. Again, it's a spectacular scrum.

Make life easy on the transfers. Make life difficult from then on.
Much more fun.

You must be just about to leave. Bon Voyage, my friend. I'm on a flight myself in 36 hours. Just two more sleeps and I'll be in my OWN bed for the first time in 3 months.