Just returned from 6 months travelling around India alone. This was my first real bit of travelling and was a bit daunting at first, especially arriving in Mumbai at 5am!!

But I soon got into it and managed to visit the majority of places I wanted to. I covered over 10000 miles overland (trains & buses - no internal flights). My favourite places would probably be as follows and in no particular order, Goa, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Kanyakamuri, Varkala, Ellora & Ajanta caves, Mandu, Delhi, Udaipur, Jodphur, Amritsar and Hampi.

I had one or two minor health grumbles - a mild fever, a leg infection after a camel trek and a serious bout of throwing up after a chocolate bar (quickly followed by nearly breaking my arm when I slipped over in the bathroom!!!) which I don't think is too bad considering I was there for 6 months. I didn't bother avoiding meat although it wouldn't have been hard as the veggie dishes are superb. I was on a serious budget as well - £10 per day and found it remarkably easy to stick to this.

Although I can't say I enjoyed every moment(if money is involved, the Indian people can really test your patience!!), the experience as a whole is something I will never forget I came back feeling completely regenerated and with a totally different outlook on life.

India seems to get a very negative response from some people (mostly those who haven't been) which is disappointing. My advice is to try it yourself, give it a chance and I'm sure you'll be rewarded.

One more thing, I kept a diary throughout my time in India and it is just as good a record as photos, perhaps better, and every time I pick it up and read a few pages it brings the memories flooding back.

Oh, I agree. India is a whole new world. Spent 6 mths there in 1983. returned for another 3 in 1999 to go north in the right season.

It's a wonderful place but only for folks who can handle 'abroad' or 'overseas' not being like "home".


If you want it to be just like home, best to stay at home, don't you think?

Absolutely Alice. It's not always an easy place to get by with, but if you persist you'll be rewadrded.

I certainly can't think of ever doing a package holiday ever again. Part of the fun was waking each morning not knowing where you'd be waking the next morning!

Very true. India is not for everyone. I take it you are rather young so you have that advantage. We have been to India 4 times over 25 yrs. Initially its all a great adventure. Later that wears off and the "differences" become more acute. We will be going again in the fall or winter and have decided to get a fresh look, i.e. to see something completely new so our plan, besides relatives in Delhi and Raj. is to see Goa or Kerala. BTW you were lucky IMHO as far as health goes. I got thyphoid once. Glad you liked it so much and that you will be able to draw upon this experience for perhaps the rest of your life.

Just for the record - and because I think 'hoofing it' is for all ages - there was a typo in my original post. My first, 6mth, trip was in 1993 and I was already amongst the ranks of the middle aged - ie over 40!!!!

My favourite places, in no particular order - Udaipur, Ajanta caves, Mt Abu, Varanasi, Darjeeling, Kerala (all of it), Tanjore, Bhuj (now, sadly, probably much changed after the earthquake), lily hheeup

Over and out.

Just for the record - and because I think 'hoofing it' is for all ages - there was a typo in my original post. My first, 6mth, trip was in 1993 and I was already amongst the ranks of the middle aged - ie over 40!!!!

My favourite places, in no particular order - Udaipur, Ajanta caves, Mt Abu, Varanasi, Darjeeling, Kerala (all of it), Tanjore, Bhuj (now, sadly, probably much changed after the earthquake), and glorious Himachal Pradesh.

Happy travels all.

Hoofing it is for all ages if you are so inclined IMHO. Its not for everyone though. Alice I am glad you are so active. I try to be as well. Its not the activity that gets to you in India though. Walking is fine. Its the accumulation of little hassles (and some big ones too!) that becomes a major pain if you know what I mean. As an example just to cash an AE travelers check in some places is a major project requiring far more that the normal. You have to use several forms, print just so, show a purchase record (not just a passport and other ID,s), have someone accuse you of falsifying your own signature!, and have about 4-5 people involved in the process and take 1 hr. to finally get your money.

Well, I'm 28 so it's up to you to judge if I'm still young

Yea, the hassles can get you down at times - my worst was being stuck in a place called Satna near Khajaraho. I had a mild fever and was stuck in a dive of a hotel with a window that wouldn't shut and sub zero conditions outside. Add to this the fact that I had just 25RP to my name and couldn't find a bank that would give me cash on credit card or change money and it was a pretty miserable situation. Luckily an employee at a bank took pity on me once I'd almost collapsed on his desk and stuck me on his moped to take me somewhere that would change money. Bizarrely he took me to an opticians!!! They changed the money and I was free to go back to bed. I can look back and laugh now but it was one hell of a stressfull and frustrating day.

28 is young to me! I Agree the hassles can be frustrating and the more peolpe hear of such stories the less inclined they are to consider India as a destination and that is most unfortunate as there is so much to experience. It takes getting used to I suppose. I am glad you got the ride you needed when you needed it most. Our next trip will include visiting areas we have not yet been to, most probably Kerala or Goa. It will be good to see something different for a change. Though we have discussed Goa mostly something about Kerala seems to jog my interest. Perhaps it is the climate ( I like tropics) and the fact that I have met dozens of native Keralans (my wifes orig. roomie when she emigrated was Keralan) and to me they have a certain identity and pride about themselves that is pretty cool. We'll see. Happy trails amigo! Larry

Goa and Kerala are both beautiful places. Goa is, of course, much more touristy with more and more package people coming from Europe, but it's still lovely.

One of my best memories from my whole trip was getting the slow train from Mangalore down to Varkala. I think it took about 14 hours and had 50 odd stops. Before and after every station I'd see smiling, kids waving as the train sped past.

You are certainly patient JJ. My favorite Indian train story is this, from my first visit there, our honeymoon. We were on a train from Delhi to Agra, the ride was bumpy and slow and dust was blowing in from the windows. All in all it was pretty rough. An Indian lady in her 60's, I think looked at me, saw the obvious discomfort I was in and with wisdom and serenity beyond her yrs. said "this is India. You just have to take it." So I did. I think I'll always remember her and that moment. No truer words could have been said.

JimmyJazz

I amamazed you went to Mangalore - not too many tourists there. I think that part of India is the most beautiful - lush green, pretty beaches - of course my place of birth, so I am partial.

Kerala is wonderful - much cleaner than other parts of India. Great inexpensive food.
Jacketwatch it will be a different India you see there I think. Have fun

Indie: Yes, I agree and that is what we are seeking. Thanks. Larry

Indie: One more thing please. Where in Kerala, perhaps Cochin?

Unfortunately Indie, I only spent a few hours in Mangalore waiting for a train down the coast, although that was long enough to experience Bhindi Masala for the first time, mmmm. When I go back (next March hopefully), maybe I'll stop off there for longer. Is there much to see and do?

Jacketwatch
I am not the best person to make recommendations - but I will say not Cochin, perhaps a houseboat trip through backwaters - maybe Allepey.

JimmyJazz - as far as visiting Managalore froma purely toruist perspective it sort of depends on what you are looking for.
There are several old temples, statue of boddhisatva dating back to the 1600s in venur. Old mossques - the St Aloycius church. Maravanthe beach - with the sea on one side and the river flowing the other side, Otinane, Murudeshwar temple on the shores against the backdrop of hilss. There's buffalo races, yakshgana performances, during Dusshera, there are the "car festivals"
Can you tell I'm partial
I used to go every year to my grandparents place - but now Mangalore's a quick stopover during short trips from the US.