I am two weeks in India on business, 3/24-4/10. Then one week vacation. Being the start of the hot season, I plan to head north. My two choices are Corbett Park and Nainital, or Shimla and Kullu Valley. Pros and cons or alternative suggestions?

Been to them all. Impossible to say which would suit you best without some idea of what you are looking for and how you like to travel. Though in 7 days I guess you won't be travelling much.

Also unclear as to your travel dates. Last I knew there were only 12 months in a year.

I have not been to Himachal, but Corbett and Nainital ….I am very familiar with. Corbett will be wonderful and fun. You will catch Nainital just before all the summer rush starts and the hills have beautiful weather in the month of April. There is a lot to do in Naini …..go up to China Peak, visit the golf links/Government House, Dorothy Seat, go boating on the lake, then there are many places to visit nearby such as Mukteshwar (absolutely drop dead gorgeous views of the Himalayas), Ranikhet, Almora/Binsar, Kausani, Jageshwar…..depending on how much you want to move around. Mukteshwar and Kausani are really very beautiful.

We stayed at Wildflower Hall, which is about a 30 minute drive from Shimla, last October. It was a great place to just settle in. We went horseback riding, hiking, and even went on a whitewater rafting trip. Watching the sunrise and the stars at night was awesome. I've heard their busiest time in May and June.

The town of Shimla looked interesting, but it is really, really hilly and as we were really huffing and puffing at that altitude, we never got around to going into town to explore. Next time!

Afterall- The OP is going from March 24 to April 10 for business, then one week vacation afterwards.

Thanks, I decided on Corbett and Nainital. The dates are indeed 10-16 April.

NE, where did you stay in Nainital? Most hotel reviews I read on Nainital were disappointing (tripadvisor.com).

Lcuy - I am not an idiot - just being snide. This forum is not only for Americans and the rest of the world (the huge majority) use dd/mm/yy.

The poster has chosen the obvious option and will, I'm sure, enjoy as they are all wonderful destinations. Refreshing to see the Kullu Valley get a mention.

Gary - have a great trip. You must forgive me - I just loathe american format dates. And I do think it's time you folk got into line with the rest of the planet.

Don't you?

Well you can do it your way, afterall, but there was no need to make snide comments at an American poster using American style dates on an American company's web site.

Especially as he was clearly using the american system, I'm am sorry to have thought you an idiot, when you were just rude.

Dear "afterall", the American date system (or that we spell "centre" as "center", or whatever) is hardly worth a rant. Travel is about diversity, if you like uniformity, then several Middle Eastern countries would likely please you.

Your apologies accepted, I will be glad to give you a personal tour of San Diego if you come to California someday, just let me know your arrival time in mm/dd/yy format. When in Rome.....

Until then, do you wish to share any of your knowledge about Corbett and Nainital (or Kullu) with us?

Garybear, I'd be glad to share my experiences but won't unless you use dd/mm/yy.

Besides, you would prefer to hear from fellow mm/dd/yy users wouldn't you?

you know - the sort who have been to India for 2 weeks on an organised tour (Golden Triangle) and have never even heard of any of the places you have in mind.

Rhetorical question.

Or maybe he'd prefer to hear from people who have spent years backpacking around in their youth, and have also traveled independently at a somewhat more comfortable level now that they have the time and money to do so.

There are a lot of us here like that. The best part is those who have a bit of travel savvy and are willing to help others, rather than participate for the sole purpose of making idiotic comments yet never seem to actually give any advice that couldn't be lifted from a Let's Go! guidebook.

Really, Lcuy?

"Or maybe he'd prefer to hear from people who have spent years backpacking around in their youth"

Now, let's hear from you. Where exactly did you go backpacking around in your youth? Europe one assumes. Ever backpacked anywhere else, Lcuy?

No, probably not.

If you care to tell me that you have backpacked around Africa, Asia, Australia, then I would be happy to engage in a conversation.

As for "Let's Go" guidebooks - only idiot Americans buy them/read them.

Just before afterall gets the proverbial bucket-load of pooh dumped on him, let me say that I for one [and possibly the only one] enjoy his contributions - snide or otherwise. It's a relief.

I'm Australian - I have no troubles with afterall's sense of humour and irony. We might share a language with America [kinda] but deep in our hearts - we're different.

But, afterall, pick a better subject to get snitty about. Dates is a crap topic. There's way better stuff to argue about then that.

It's only my sense of self-preservation that prevents me listing some of the options. I'll leave that to you.

Remember tho' - never kick an injured dog - it'll bite you.

Well I did spend three summers bicycling Europe, and another backpacking with a rail pass. Then went on a one year RTW: hitchhiking thru europe, the mid-east,and southeast asia. Had a youth hostel card until three years ago. Have done lots and lots or independent travel- using public transport- with our kids in Mexico, Australia, Asia, India, USA and Canada.

I still still prefer trains to planes and make all my own plans. sometimes I stay in 5** sometimes in guest houses.

So I can converse about all levels of travel, and have done so with many similarly well travelled Fodorites. But I wouldn't want to converse with you. You're rude to strangers, make all kind of stupid assumptions, and yea, seem like the type who'd carry a Let's Go.

See? I told you you'd get a smack.

I personally carved out the Hippie Trail from London to Australia, flea-pit by flea pit, hashish den by ... well, you get the picture.

Now, if I only remember where it was I went....

Hi garybear-Himachal is a fab state and home for us in the summer months i.e. Apr-Sept. Far too cold in winter! Dalhousie is a glorious hill station, has some good hotels, cottages & restaurants, beautiful views, far prettier than Nainital. Hop an overnight train Delhi to Pathankot then a bus to Dalhousie (3 hrs). Hard to go wrong with Himachal Pradesh.

I just thought I'd pop by the Asia board since I heard there was some crazy stuff going on here. The rumours are true!

afterall, you really should hang out in the Lounge more.....seems more your style.....