Traveling to Madhya Pradesh and north..recommendations?

I've got a trip planned with a friend that mixes business with pleasure. I will arrive in Mumbai this Saturday and we hope to get out of town as soon as possible. We want a destination nearby and we're thinkin Madhya Pradesh. We have about 6 days for the first leg of the trip and hope to get out of tourist spots and do some hiking, safari type activities. Any recommendations for this province?

Then we have a week in Mumbai shooting a documentary.

Then we have 2 weeks and hope to go to Rajasthan and make our way to Varanasi possibly stopping by Agra.

I'm hoping for recommendations for places that are very scenic and beautiful with good culture as well. We both enjoy the outdoors more than the big cities(and especially since we have to be in Mumbai for a week). We are on a semitight budget but are willing to splurge for something that is worth it. We're less interested in historical sights/religious sights and more on the landscape path. We are also wondering about the domestic flight costs. We would love to take trains but if time constraints don't allow us to, we may be forced to fly.

This trip came toether in the last week so it's very last minute. We have a lonely planet guide and a few friends with recommendations but it all seems very overwhelming! We are both well traveled people and very eco/socially conscious. Thanks for your tips!

Are you buying a guide book? I would recommend one. At the least, buy a copy of LP in india if you are low on funds. It will cost you about $10. cut out the half kilo of book you won't be needing and throw it away if you are frightened by the size of the thing.

We've got a guide book but are a little overwhelmed by our options. Like I said, we're looking for like minded people who love nature and eco friendly areas to give us recommendations.

Oh yes, i know what you mean by "overwhelming". While you are waiting for people to get back to you, try doing searches and reading the threads of the places that look appealing to you. Its a good way to get a wide variety of opinions and along the way you might spot someone who thinks like you do. I did just read about one of the reserves in Madhya pradesh after your post and think it sounds amazing in LP but it is quite a long way to MP from mumbai isn't it? But still, if you could find a fast way (a reasonably direct train route- i think its too far to go by bus) to get there, it might not be so bad.

I am afraid that i can't help you directly becuase i haven't been to these areas.

I have heard that the coastal stretch south along marasthtra is nice and scenic. could be good to do in a hire car, if you are brave enough for that. I read a good blog by a cyclist who did it. He seemed to like it. And sorry, i didn't read your last paragraph somehow.

Meanwhile, i can help you keep your thread at the top of hte list. I think it will be a bit quiet this weekend on here though being Easter and its possible that many of the regulars are away, but you never know your luck.

goodluck.

thanks a lot. we actually decided to hit up Kerala for the first segment of our trip due to complications with trains/time constraints. Any help sure is appreciated! We are looking into our Rajastan portion of the trip(post documentary) and hope that it isn't all work in Mumbai and we can connect with some travelers, search some forums, etc. Thanks for any help in advance!

kerala sounds like a good choice for you - although its a long way to travel by train when you only have 6 days. Although with all the cheap flights these days, that will probably be your best option. Kerala is very popular with the people on here. I am currently researching this place myself. On my south india thread of yesterday, people tell me their favourite hills stations. You would probably like the hill stations too, for the scenery. Munnar, Kumily, Kodaikanal etc but not Ooty - which gets a big thumbs down from everyone. To me it looks as if the town is not much but the scenery around is nice. I will probably have to go through Ooty anyway. I am just so cheesed off that i can't afford to stay on one of the plantationns - (nearly $200 per night!).