Is India worth it if I only have two weeks?
Replies: 15 - Last Post: Jan 27, 2013 4:37 PM Last Post By: mandja
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Is India worth it if I only have two weeks?
Hi All,I'm just curious the thoughts of fellow travelers on the thought of going to India from New York for a mere two weeks, maybe two week and two days.
I have the chance to go with an aging uncle who is from India and has been back several times. He knows his way around and has somewhat of a support and contact network there. For his age, he is quite hale and hearty, but I'm thinking that this is his last chance to go and I think he knows that, too.
Prior to having kids 12 years ago I was a fairly active international traveller, having made several trips to South and Central America, and various trips to Africa, Europe, and Malaysia.
Of course, two weeks is never enough, but I see this as a unique oportunity and its all the time I can spare and I figure I should go for it. Better to make the trip than to not make the trip, I say. I think with that last sentence I answered my own question, but I'm still open to comments on the merits/demerits of such a short trip.
Thank you,
Traveling Slim
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It all depends on how independent your aging uncle is doesn't it? If it was just yourself I'd say, 'Go for it.' Travel light and travel often. But if you're tied, for all or part of the time, to what your uncle wants to do then you might be in for a fairly ho-hum time whilst he catches up with old friends. If your uncle hails from some god-forsaken spot in West Bengal such as Asansol or, heaven forbid, Muzaffapur in Bihar you could be in for a pretty ordinary two weeks. But if he's from a bigger city, or a city that is in proximity to places of interest your two weeks can be well spent. If you say where he hails from people will be able to advise you better.4
Now Paul, like a lot of Indians I've met over the years, you're not going to tell me that the place you hail from is 'the greatest place in India, you must go there', are you? I found this loyalty to place to be quite commonplace but it did lead to a few disappointments in my travels.As for Muzaffapor maybe I was a little harsh as I only passed through on my way south.I remember it being stiflingly hot. At the time it seemed like it was 'back of beyond on the road to nowhere' Do you think I should give it another look?
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" Now Paul, like a lot of Indians I've met over the years, you're not going to tell me that the place you hail from is 'the greatest place in India, you must go there', are you? "Haa haa Not Likely, it's way way down on my "must see" places in India, but I do hope to one day, as you did pass through, and sample some of the Lychees & Mangoes Muzaffapur is famous for.
And NO I don't think it's worth you making a detour for if ever you are in that region again.
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I'm just back from India and was there for 15 days. Clearly that is way too little to see India properly, so decided to pick a few highlights , taking into account the work commitments whilst there.I'm so glad that I did.For me, seeing parts of Mumbai, the Taj at Agra and the city of Jaipur wre all wonderful.
Suffice to say, I subscribe to the theory that 2 weeks is a good start and much better than not going..
Another way of looking at it is this. Can I see everything in the USA in 2 weeks, No. Would I want to try? No.
Is it worth going to the USA for "only" 2 weeks if I pick some "must sees"....yes !
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I think you already answered your question- which is the wrong one. You can't see all of India in 2 weeks, or 4 weeks, or 2 months. The question is: if i go to India for 2 weeks, will i have an interesting/enjoyable time? and the answer is, yes, of course.treat India like you would treat Europe- India's regions are as diverse as Europe's countries so with limited time, pick one or 2. I just spent 12 days in Tamil Nadu. Didn't venture more than 300km from Madras but saw many different places with lots of variety.
And if your uncle goes back to his ancestral village to talk to his buddies- that may be an interesting experience in itself. Lots of people always say they want to see 'the real X, not just the tourist sights' and that would fit the bill.
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Head Srilanka Instead, and do Justice :)13
Thanks all for your comments. It's all good advice and just to be clear I never meant to suggest I wanted to try to see all of India in two weeks. Based on recent experiences in Costa Rica with my young family where we tried to cover to much ground in too little time I concur with the wisdom of limiting the trip to a smaller area.Now all of that said, and recognizing that I wasn't as clear in my original post as I should have been, what I was actually more interested in was comments about the wisdom (or lack thereof) to going such a long distance (india from Rochester, NY) for that short of time, recognizing the physical and sleep adjustments required on both ends, not to mention going to a place where I hear it rumored to be pretty easy to get sick.
Something is holding me back from fully embracing this trip and I don't yet know what it is.
Thanks.
