Would any of you on this board have suggestions about cities in India to visit during the month of May?

I will already be in SE Asia, and will have 1 week free time. I'd like to vist India to see one or perhaps two cities.

My concern is with weather. I don't mind heat and humidity, but I don't want to be anywhere that there are heavy rains or monsoons.

My interests are art, Hindu architecture and temples, culture, history, etc.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly.

Hi - I can only relay my experience. First trip to India was October-April. Second March-June.

After about mid April I spent the whole time in the north but that is because I had seen many of the more visited spots on the previous trip or in March/April.

I doubt you will get heavy rain anywhere but the far south in May - but in Delhi the heat will be building though still perfectly bearable. So a few days there. You say specifically, "Hindu" architecture which makes things a bit tricky as many of the cities and must sees in the north are of Islamic provenance - the most famous being the Taj. The best place to go for Hindu temple cities is the south - Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore - or there is Bhubaneswar in Orissa.

But for a first timer with a week - hey, go to Varanasi.

It is amazing - or there Are always the pilgrim sites of Hardiwar and Rishikesh on the upper Ganges.

Happy travels.

Hello easywalker -

I spent a month in India in May 2005.

We visited the following cities:

Delhi
Chennai
Kochi
Lucknow
Agra
Jaipur
Shimla

I HIGHLY recommend hopping on Jet Airways (they are a fantastic airline) and taking a flight to south India - even if only for 4 days. Jet Airways has an airpass program that is $395, but you get a number of flights in a short period of time, so you can see a great deal.

The highlights and best memories of the trip were in Chennai and Kochi. The weather was a bit more humid there, but there was also more breeze.

Delhi was HOT, dry, and virturally unbareable at 120 F. We stayed at a guesthouse ($20 / night) in South Ext. 1, it was called the Lexus Holiday House. Cheap, basic, clean, simple.

My favorite place to eat was a wonderful restaurant - upscale for Indian Budgets - called the Tri-Kitchens located above the McDonalds on the 3rd floor at South Ext. 2. The Indian restaurant's name was something to the affect of Mati Muhal or something similar. It was top notch food and service at very inexpecnsive by American standard prices.

Chennai we stayed at a Best Western ($55/ night) on 100 ft. road. The road is loud. The service was fine.

South of Chennai is a set of ruins. It is worth getting a driver for the day and visiting Mamallapuram. (sp?) Spencer Plaza is a shopping complex in Chennai that is very nice and air conditioned - food courts, seating , and great people watching and shopping.

Kochi is wonderful all the way around - the boat tours are great. Walking the spice markets are nice too. Lots of cheap places to stay less than $20 night that are more than adaquate.

Delhi - shop only at Dilly Haut or the INA market. Dilly Haut is far better.

Agra & Jaipur. Be prepared for lots of tourist marketing and pushy sales / tours / etc.

Shimla - up in the mtns. It was nicer weather here, but very crowded with Dehli and regional Indian tourists. OTher than the weather and the Naldera golf course, there wasn't much out here worth seeing.

I have a ton of pictures to share if you are interested - I have them on a snapfish account.

If you are interested, email me at [email protected].

Good luck!

Cathy

The sites at Hampi in Karnataka are magnificent.

Cathy, why don't you post the link to your photos?

Hey Easywalker,
1 week is very little time. I did the "Northern Triangle" in 2002.

Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Ranthambore, jaipur

I say land in
Delhi - 2 days (old and new Delhi, architecture, history, culture, its all here. 2 days is RUSHING it)
Agra - 1.5 days (Taj, Fatepuhr Sikri)
Varanasi - 2 days

If you could squeeze in a tiger safari in Ranthambore it would be perfect.

don't owrry abotu the heat, just suck it up

and skip the South, no time on this trip

Thank you all very much;
your suggestions are quite helpful!
I'm sorry I have only one week to
spend, but that is simply my time schedule.

Once again, thanks.

Hi Easywalker,

Whew, you sure have picked a sizzling month to travel to India.... In May - the temperatures in most of North and South India hover around 40 degree celsius and it is quite hot....except for the hilly areas up in the Himalayas...

But the good side of the summer months is that - the hotel Rates are at their lowest...which is really good since Hotel rates in India are really high in other months and you shall almost pay half of what you would pay in other seasonal months....

Most of the Latin American and Spanish speaking people from Europe come to India in May and the other summer months to avail of the off season discounts.....

So it is okay to Travel here in May - they key is to start your visits early in the morning and finish by Noon...take rest for a few hours - to escape the peak afternoon sun and than start again around 3 or 4 P.M till the evening for the second round of visits....

Since you are coming to India probably for the first time and also have a limitation of time - I would recommend that you only visit the Famous Golden Triangle of India - Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - which offers a Kaleidoscopic view of India ...

The wonders of the world like Taj Mahal - the Palaces and forts of the Pink city of Jaipur, the hustle & Bustle and the Vibrancy of Delhi shall surely leave you spell-bound and compell you to come back for more - I assure you of that.....

Here is what you shoudl do with your week...

Day 01
Arrive Delhi - by International Flight...Most of the flighs land in the evening - so you would not have any time for visits on this day..

Day 02
Visit Delhi - I would recommend you visit - Chandni Chowk - a rickshaw ride or walk through the colourful streets of old Delhi + Jama Masjid, Red Fort ..than visit New Delhi - Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar , Bhai Lotus Temple and the New Akshardham Temple...

visit Delhi Haat and Central Cottage Enporium for Shopping Handicrafts..

Day 03
Delhi / Agra - you can either take the Shatabadi express Train - 0600 / 0810 hours ..or drive to Agra - 203 kms / 4 hours drive in car..
Visit Sikandra, Itmas-udDaulah and ofcourse the Fmaous Taj Mahal (Taj mahal is best visited duting late afternoon or early morning...)

Day 04
Agra / Jaipur - Drive - 232 kms / 6 hours - enroute visit the fabulous deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri....
In Jaipur - afternoon visit the City Palace, The Observatory , Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)...

Day 05
Jaipur - Morning vsit Amber Fort - you can also take an Elephant Ride to the ramparts of the fort here..
Afternoon - must visit - the bustling, amazing , colourful local markets Jaipur - simple a delight for shoppers ..
Evening yo ucan visit Birla Tmeple to see the evening arti ceremony..

Day 06
Jaipur - spend the morning in Jaipur - exploring the city - (there is so much to explore and see here - Monkey Temple , Jaigarh fort etc etc)

Later Travel Jiapur / Delhi - surface - 258 kms / 5 hours drive...

Day 07
Departure Delhi - for onward destination...
------------

For this vsit - it is best and most economical to take a driver + car from Delhi and let it be at your disposal - this way you can visit the roadside villages , forts etc while going from one place to another and see & experience the real India...

Hotel choices depend on your budget....Let me know what your budget is and I shall be happy to suggest hotels as well...

Let me know if you need more help - if you need photos/ write ups etc of the places let me have your e-mail and I shall send them to you...

Cheers and all the best

Thanks again, to both of you: Perugian and ASHAMS! Your info is simply splendid, and informative for me.

May the monsoon should not ahve broekn in the nroth so suggest you focus on that. Also, if you have not seen the Taj I would highly reco that on a 1st india trip. Rantahmbore closes mid April so that's not an option. I'd suggest Delhi, Agra, Jaipur. If you want to set a bruising pace you can add Varanasi to this itinerary. Pl advise budget. A 1 week air pass may be effective if you add Varanasi tho prima facie most of these destinations are best done by a combo of train and road.

Well it cooled to 108 in Delhi today. It was 113 a few days ago. Of course if you are used to those temps its OK but it is sizzling. If you go to del. don't miss the Lotus temple, a Baha'i faith place of worship.