Well, over this christmas and new year, i've gone 3 for 3 in 3 weeks: lost my job, lost my flat and my cheating girl ran off with her lover so i've made an executive decision and i'm going back to India... I've got 10 months to arrange it and im wondering if any of you guys on here can help me out with your experiences and ideas of where to go.
Namaste!!!
At this point a little history might be required:
I went to India with my ex a year ago, we visited:
Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Mcleod Ganj, Pathankot, Amritsar, Almost all of Rajasthan, Diu, Mumbai and Goa.
We were supposed to carry on down the west coast through Kerala, Karnataka down to the very tip then up into Tamil Nadu but we ran out of money and had to go home... ive always intended to go back to India and finish my journey but just going back for the few stops on my original itinerary is silly.
So... here we are...
What i'd like to know is where i can go thats not on the tourist map and what touristy 'must see's' i missed last time. We took lonely planet and rough guides with us and more or less did them to death on the original trip(in the area we covered at least). So...
1.) Where can i go thats off the beaten track?
2.) Where should i go that i never went last time? and
3.) What were your favourite places?
Any information you can give me would be fantastic.
Dhanyawad.
Alan.
Reply to this Problems come in threes they say, so you should be fine for a while - I hope.
Head south, Kerala and Tamil Nadu - some really wonderful places there and the food is the best in India (particularly Kerala). I really enjoyed Madurai and the Keralan Backwaters. If you've already journeyed the north, you'll find life more relaxed (relatively speaking) in the south.
If you love important religious sites (like I do) the largest pilgrimage site in the world is the Tirupati Temple of Lord Venkateswara. This is the most amazing religious site I've ever visited, but you'll need to buy your darshan tickets in advance. This is not for everyone though.
There are a couple of important places you missed near the north. The essential one is Khajuraho - home of the finest carvings I saw in India. The other to see if you are near-ish to Mumbai are the rock temples of Ajanta and Ellora - the latter includes the astonishing Kailasa Temple.
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In response to: Msg #151633
Thanks Mr. Camel 😊 when we went last time we stayed to the east(more her choice than mine) so this time im gonna still do some bits in the north but they're gonna be the bits i wanted to do last time: rishikesh, varanasi, bodhgaya etc etc. where is tirupati? ive not heard of that one... Ajanta and Ellora were places i wanted to visit last time too but im not sure we'll have time. i never got to see the Taj last time so that is definately a must see this time.
A couple of my boys want to come with me and they're as green as i was when i came last time so i think im gonna start off in places i know so i can help them with the culture shock and home sickness...
Hopefully ive had my 3 now so im looking up and out toward some sleeper buses, tuk tuks and train luggage racks(ahh the memories) 😊 Bring it on!!!
Reply to this Best to start in the south and head north for first timers to India - it is a better introduction in my opinion. If one lands and heads straight into a place like Agra, it is hassle central - try to leave that to the end of any itinerary. It was the worst place for hassle I experienced during my nearly three months in India.
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