How long for a trip starting early March?

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woldranger
woldranger

So, I'm due to head back to India and. I received my 12 month multiple entry visa yesterday, have money saved and no job to quit so it's time to go! My first concern is how long to book for my return flight. I'd like to be on the road within a week to 10 days. I've nothing to rush back to and money shouldn't be a constraint so my main issue is going to be the weather!

I understand that this is not the ideal time of year (far from it) to start an extended trip, but due to health issues, it's the earliest I could make it. So I'd like to try and get to see as much in the North as I can, with a trip/s over into Nepal. My last trip was Mumbai-Goa-Chennai-Tamil Nadu (temple spotting)-Kerala-Goa-Mumbai over 4 months. So what would you guys recommend as a rough route working around the weather? I can handle dry heat, it's the humidity and monsoon rains that are going to be the issue for me. What do you think is the latest that you'd recommend me sticking around to? From what I've read so far it seems that I'll be looking to head up into the Himalaya some time around may to avoid the rains.

So, to the specifics......

I'm a 40 year old bloke from the north of England who's spent more than half of the past 18 years on the road travelling solo and have twice been to India but I tend to just book my flight ticket and insurance, pack my rucksack and then sort things out in country. I'm not really looking for an itinerary, just a bit of general advice - I'll do some serious searching through suitable forum threads in the next few days.

I like to keep my budget low. Travel by trains where possible and buses when needed. Accommodation to me is just a place to lock my gear up and lay my head, so cheap and cheerful works for me. I prefer to avoid the touristy restaurants like the plague, aiming for any recommendations from locals or just wandering into places that look suitably popular with the local crowd.

Interests? Food! India has the best I've encountered over the years so if there's somewhere with standout cuisine, then I'm in! I missed out on a trip to Hyderabad last time when I was in the south, the main reason for going there was to pay homage to the mighty biryani! I'm a fan of hiking/trekking, though I hate having to do tours. I've just changed photography systems, so I'm hoping to get a lot of use out of my new set up! I'd love to get a bit of early beach time in this time round as I've not had the chance in 2 years, but I don't think that would be overly practical as I think I'm going to fly into Delhi with it being most likely that I'm going to be in the North at the end of the trip, but having looked on STA travels website, I've seen student multi city fares with flights from London to Goa and returning Delhi to London for £385 with Jet Airways! And yes, according to NUS Extra, I'm a card carrying student, with an ISIC card. If anyone in the UK is interested in how to legitimately get one of these, drop me a pm and I'll send you a link (don't worry, it's all above board!)

I had some great hints and tips from you guys last time round so here's hoping the trend continues! If you think I've missed things out or need to add more details then please let me know and I'll do my best! Like I said, it's less about an itinerary than a suggested time frame with a rough geographical route, though any highlights or must-see's are appreciated!

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lifesupport
lifesupport
In response to #0

So what would you guys recommend as a rough route working around the weather? I can handle dry heat, it's the humidity and monsoon rains that are going to be the issue for me. What do you think is the latest that you'd recommend me sticking around to?

I think that primarily depends on your 'humidity threshold' - but generally speaking, May will probably see you out.

head up into the Himalaya some time around may to avoid the rains.

You won't avoid the rain in the Himalaya; with the exception of Leh/Ladakh - and even that is not guaranteed.

So I'd like to try and get to see as much in the North as I can ... it's less about an itinerary than a suggested time frame with a rough geographical route, though any highlights or must-see's are appreciated!

March: Delhi - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur- Jaipur - Udaipur - Aurangabad -

April: Sanchi - Bhopal - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Sarnath - Bodhgaya - Kolkata -

May: Darjeeling - Gangtok - Namchi - Pelling - Yuksom - Goeche La - Tashiding - Gurwahati - Tawang - Ziro - Mon - Kohima - Mizoram - Kolkata

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woldranger
woldranger
In response to #1

That's great, thank you very much for taking the time to post all that :)

My next concern is getting into the country on a one way ticket - I've decided I'd rather pay a little more for 2 one way tickets than buy a cheap return and get hammered by the change fees. The Jet Airways multi-city flight I was looking at London - Goa, then Delhi to London was great at £375, but the change fee was £150, and then there's the extra cost for the new ticket which is always miraculously way more than the one you initially bought! It seems that Jet Airways are pretty keen on seeing proof of an onward flight, but I've not heard of any specifics regarding other carriers. I nearly booked a one way with Thomas Cook Airlines (Manchester to Goa for £199!!) but decided to call their customer service department. I'm glad I did as their company policy is to only let you board if you have a return ticket with them. How do they get away with selling one way tickets then?!

I'm contemplating just winging-it and if I get challenged, trying to pick up a cheap flight form Delhi to Kathmandu, which seem around £40-50 at the mo.

Wondering if I should maybe do another thread specifically for this?

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AzureSkyFollows
AzureSkyFollows
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In response to #0

From what I've read so far it seems that I'll be looking to head up into the Himalaya some time around may to avoid the rains.

Monsoon generally arrives in mainland India around early June and slowly works its way up. Himalayas are generally wet but not hot. However monsoon is the worst time to visit the Himalayas and in the recent years it saw several natural calamities during that time of the year. Rivers overflowing, cloudbursts, etc.

The rainshadow zone of the Himalayas consists of Ladakh and Spiti. It is not supposed to rain in these two places during the monsoon but thanks to climate change even that cannot be said with 100% guarantee.

Interests? Food!

Please spend considerable amount of time in Kolkata. Kolkata is my hometown and I am incredibly proud of it's food culture. I can PM you where to eat, what to eat details in Kolkata if you are interested.

India has the best I've encountered over the years so if there's somewhere with standout cuisine, then I'm in! I missed out on a trip to Hyderabad last time when I was in the south, the main reason for going there was to pay homage to the mighty biryani!

Now try the Biryani of Kolkata!

though any highlights or must-see's are appreciated!

While in Kolkata visit Rabindranath Tagore's home in Jorasanko. It would be awesome if you can read the book 'My Boyhood Days' before the visit. Trust me you would feel like you are time - travelling. For the local vibe in Kolkata visit the following:
1. 'Nandan movie theatre' (Families stroll, college students hang out, intellectuals roam, painters, singers, artists' hub)
2. New market area (Primarily shopping area with flea market and LOADS of street food counters)
3. College street (Primarily a book market but popular for being the hub of 'second hand books'- The price of second hand books sold here are maximum 40% of the MRP, dont pay anything more than that)

Kolkata is frequented neither by foreigners nor by domestic tourists so it is the best Indian metro city to feel the local vibe.

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Blog : https://azureskyfollows.com/ .FB, IG, Twitter: @azureskyfollows .
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