Tips for India
 

Who has gone to India? What shots if any did you take---what medicines? What month is the best time? Clothes? and any other info would be appreciated.

Meds are not required but recommended. Call the CDC, check their web site or call a travel clinic or MD for what is suggested. Its usually malaria prophylaxis. Be very careful about what you eat. Avoid street food, drink bottled water or bottled beverages only (Indian beer is very good. :-)) and eat in better restaurants for hygenic reasons. If you are going to the north absolutely DON'T go in the summer. fall/winter is best for that region. Even now Delhi is in the mid 90's. As for clothing are you male or female? In any case wear loose, comfortable clothing. Modest dress for women is more acceptable in India though honestly I wonder about how that will change. If you look at some of the India videos of late, well things have changes. :S-

My wife and I have been to India five or six times and enjoyed it every time. For descriptions and photos of our last three trips see the "Eastern India", "Rajasthan" and "India from the Himalayas to the Sea" sections of Our Travel Journals website: www.evcal.org

We never took any special shots or medicines for India but generally wear slacks and long-sleeved shirts and try to eat freshly prepared food and peeled fruit, and drink only bottled water.

December / January is best.Cool up north and you need jumpers / jackets at night .Flat comfy shoes .Down south warm and it is beach weather .Take all the pills for gastric / stomach / bowel upsets. We spent 2 weeks there and had no illness and ate at a variety of places .

Take a good sense of humor and patience.... :)

TF,

What month is the best? Depends where you want to go. Dec/Jan has been mentioned.

A good choice. But not the only one. So don't fret if you can't manage either of those.

For example, I wouldn't want to be in Manali in January - much too cold. I'd be happy in Rajasthan Oct or Nov. And I've been to Agra in Nov and April and it was fine for me.

Clothes? Lightweight - recommend cotton or traveller stuff. I enjoyed wearing the local dress (salwar kameez) which I found to be absolutely spot on for the conditions and the climate.

Some of the more upmarket outfits you can buy are also seriously beautiful!

Happy travels.

Thanks everyone for your tips---all are helpful. Has anyone gone to Calcutta? I notice that some of the tours do not include it. Again all input is welcome! If anyone went with an organized tour group, which ones do you recommend or advise to stay away from?

Yes, I went to Kolkata - see trip report at www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2001. I traveled independently in India, with an Indrail card, plus a car and driver a few times. Several people here have arranged trips through travel agencies in India. If you want a fully organized tour, it would help to know your price range - I would likely go with Intrepid, but they're a budget outfit.

Well, what's wrong with a budget outfit? They go the same tourist circuit route as the more luxury outfits, -you can pay a whole lot more for the same route and get less, but you can also pay less, a LOT less, and get quite a bit more than those who go the luxe route, has been my experience-I prefer to pay less.

Girlspytravel - If you had read carefully, you would have noticed that I said that I would go with Intrepid, a budget outfit, if I were going to do a tour at all. But, some people who post here like to go the luxury route, and I did not want to mislead them.

Intrepid have a great reputation, though have to say I haven't travelled with them yet. May do one day.

I have, however, travelled all over India independently, booking train tix as I went, and using buses when buses were a better bet.

And yes, I have been to Kolkata (twice).
First time I arrived on the train from Varanasi: second time I flew in from London via Dubai.

First time when I left I headed north to Darjeeling and Sikkim. Second time, south to Orissa.

Kolkata is a fascinating place. But not the easiest city to find budget accommo in.

It is not hard to travel in India independently - harder than Australia for sure (now there's a surprise); a cinch compared to China (ditto).

But if it's going to be your first time in a "foreign land" then an organised trip is the way to go.

Sounds as if that is what you intend to do. So go for it, and enjoy - I am sure you will.

Cheers.

Fairlawn Hotel in Kolkata is full of character and atmosphere, and has been used py people such as Patrick Swayze, Sting, Julie Christie, and Felicity Kendell. It's a fun experience, and is about 200 years old. It's run by an eccentric old English woman whop must be well into her nineties. It's located in Sudder Street. Google for it. It's also listed in Alastair Sawday's book and website

Mitch-you're just full of good ideas! I'm going to do both tour and independent travel-once I get back from Nepal into Delhi. The Fairlawn sounds REALLY interesting-the kind of place I'd like. Perhaps I could train to Kolkata.

Just Contact Gurpreet for your travel to india & he will arrange everything for ypou

Web: http://www.hotelhotline.in

Email: [email protected]

Sudder St is the place - the Fairlawn is top of the range on that strip.