I have the option of a trip to Hyderabad, India in late April. Reading various related Forum questions and answers has created a great deal of hesitancy. Heat, illness and travel difficulties seem indigenous. Does eating in Taj or Oberoi hotels preclude getting sick? Is Hyderabad interesting? I've travelled extensively, but never to Asia.

What are your options? Go to Hyderabad or don't go anywhere? Where are you travelling from?

The trip would originate in NY, but I can make it into anything I please after 7-10 days of business in Hyderabad.

To answer some of your questions:

1. The only problem with April in India is that most of it will be very hot at that time. Places like Hyderabad, Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal) and Rajasthan will be in the upper 80s to low 90s ,and temps of and over 100 are not unusual. It is a dry heat, but the sun is fierce. If you are going in early April, temps will be a bit better than later in the year. However, overall it is not the optimal time to be traveling in India. I love India, but would not travel there on holiday in April. It is still possible to go to places, but the heat can really be debilitating and exhausting, esp. if you are by yourself, as you have to make all the arrangements yourself, and motivate yourself to get moving. Also, if you have never travelled in Aisa, India may not be the best introduction, as it is very hard travelling esp compared to places like Thailand, Bali and the main tourist cities in China. Hill stations like Shimla, Darjeeling or a place like Ladkh would be much cooler (like 50s F) and are worth considering, run a search here for suggestions.

As you are coming from New York, you could easily schedule flights to do 7-10 days in the following places other than India.

China (Hong Kong, Beijing, or other parts); avoid the first week in April in mainland China as it is a national holiday week (Hong Kong is OK)

Thailand (also hot but not to the level of India in April)

Bali or other parts of Indonesia; very good temps and low rainfall in April. You could do a few days in Hong Kong or Singapore and then go to Bali if you don't want 10 days in Bali.

Vietnam, warm but little rain in April

Bhutan, would have nice cool weather and is really interesting, and is reachable by air from Delhi. I believe you still have to be part of an organized tour to visit this country, but check their website at http://www.tourism.gov.bt/. You could easily find a tour to join I would think.

2. IMO the likelihood of getting ill in India is extremely overrated. You are better off eating in hotels, but there are many free-standing restaurants that are excellent and safe. If you take the same precautions you would take in any city in Asia other than maybe Singapore and Hong Kong, you will be fine. I have gotten really bad food poisoning and dysentery in Thailand, but never in India.

3. Hyderabad is actually a very interesting city. It was one of the richest principalities in India, and has several huge palaces. I think it is worth spending a day or two at the end of your business trip here before going onto other places in India or elsewhere.

Sorry, the week to avoid in China is the first week in May, not April. May 1-3 are public holidays and many people get or take the whole week off.

As u are in HYd on work anyway I would use the time to explore India rather than travel elsewhere. As C said Ladakh is def an option - but u need to confirm that it is open in Apr. Kerala is another option - as is Goa. Cooler options are Manali and other spots in Uttar and Himachal Pradesh. Go to www.heritagehotels.com and u will find a lot of info about the country and resort properties. Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan are all cool and near - Bhutan you may not be able to organize at short notice as they retsrict the number of tourists and u may not get a pass for April.