India Travel Forum

hello
anyone has information of where to go for a day and spend the time
with elephants, a ride around, a bath with elephants, a typical
village ....

i dont even know if such place exists, i am not looking for something
very tourist, any ideas?

thanks

Hi,

I am going to Kodaikanal this weekend from Bangalore by Train to Kodai Road.
Would be greatful if someone can help me with the following.
1. where should i get down (Kodai Road or DINDIGUL JN)to catch Bus/Taxi to Kodaikanal town. I can go for Taxi if its below 1000 Rs If really Bus servcie is not good.
2. Which hotel is better to stay for good view. I heard the "Villa retreat" is nice with some good valley view but can get the availabilty :(. Carlton is bit on some higher side. Any views for Valley View Inn/Sterling resort/Kodai Resort or any other good hotel/resort within 3000 Rs range (per night).
Please suggest since i have very less time.
3. Is it good enough 2 night 3 days stay in Kodai. Also would like to know places to visit there.

Thanks in Advance,
Ravindra

hello

i m caming to Kolkata july 23rd and i want to buy a sim card in airport, is it possible?

i also need to know if i can buy train tiket in the airport.

please help me

thanks very much
Grazia

I'm going to Mumbai next week and hope to do some serious shopping. Does anyone know some good addresses of bargains in women's designer export clothes? I know there are a few outlets on Colaba Causeway selling surplus designer clothes, that's the kind of shopping I'm after. Can anybody please give me some advice?

I wish to know the contact number of the Worli’s Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist temple and the pujari's name

Hi. I'm considering going to India this Sept/Oct for two weeks of travelling. I would like to book into a tour group with a full itenerary of activities and hopefully flights from Ireland/England included.
It's not a long time but i would like to see as much diversity as possible eg: markets, wildlife, architectural, beaches, cities.
Any suggestions, advise or alternative ideas would be a huge help please.
Clo.

We are planning to visit Chakrata & surroundings on our trip to Mussorrie ( around 9th to 13th Sept.). Could members guide us on the following :

1) Are two nights, 3 days stay sufficient (for Chakrata & surroundings)
2) Where are the Forest Rest Houses near Charata located, which is/are have the best facilites views.
3) We plan to hire a taxi from Mussorrie.
4) Any other tips guidance would be also be helpful

Hello everyone.I am a Bangladeshi and will be traveling to India.I will be visiting few cities in Karnataka,Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.Which mobile operator should i use?i will be making frequent calls to India and Bangladesh along with sms.I will also be using the gprs on mobile and laptop to stay connected uninterruptedly.Please post ur suggestions.Thanks

Hello,

Looking for the best way to see the following in December timeframe.

- family (4-6 member) would like to visit the 'golden triangle' (agra, jaipur, delhi)... is it better to hire a driver and have him take us around?

- single traveller - would like to go for a 2-3 week tour of central/southern India (starting from Delhi and travelling south)... Is it better to book have a family friend in India book a tour to get better prices? What are some reputable companies??

I'm visiting India for three weeks in September from London. I really need some advice about the Himalayan towns. I would love to visit Leh (from Delhi) and the surrounding area. Is it as hard to get to by road as the Lonely Planet guide suggests?I don't want to fly there because of the altitude.There will be two of us travelling. The alternative is to fly to Kolkata and go up to Darjeeling then on to Sikkim and the Tawang Valley. I can't decide which to do. I'm no stranger to uncomfortable road journeys but I'm more worried about time constraints as I don't want to be on the road for three weeks!I'd love to see some dramatic scenery, I have dreams of desolate places with prayer flags blowing in the wind! Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!

Anyone know the easiest/economical way to fly from KL to Chennai?


thanks

We are landing at mumbai international at 11.30 and have a train booked from
Mumbai CST (CSTM) for 8.20 the following morning. WHat is the easiest and most hassle free way of getting to the station.
Thanks Cathy

I am visiting Srinagar for just 3 days in october last week [ 22 - 25 ]. Can I cover Gulmarg, sonamarg, pahalgam and srinagar in 3 days ? Would skiing be ready in Gulmarg during this time ?

Hi,
where to change your money IE: At the airport or in Cavelossim beach?
Many thanks Steve.

Hi,

I plan to vist Sikkim on the first week of November. I plan to arrive at NJP on 6th of November 2009 from kolkata
Number of persons - 9 adults - 1 peson above 60 years and one kid.
I plan to visit - Gangtok, Yungthang valley and Pelling

I would request you to plan a itenary package for me from pickup and drop at NJP on 14th of November.
The hotels and itenary.

Look forward to your response.

Dear all,

I am travelling this summer to India, and we were considering Khajuraho. I have read somewhere about a new train service from Delhi, stopping in Agra, that stops just by KHAJURAHO, when it seems there used to be no station.

Does anybody know something raleted to this new station or train service from Agra to Khajuraho?

otherwise, is it easy to reach from Agra?

Thanks!

Hi
I will be in India for a week in 2nd week august and was wondering where I could go as I hear that it is monsoons in most places or places like rajasthan and the south would be very hot still.
Any suggestions please? What about Dharamsala?
Thank you, thank you.

First, thank you all for the HUGE, help organising my upcoming trip to India.
However I have another, more trivial question, but I think much more pleasent :)
In every country I visit, I buy something for the house.
In Tunisia I got big Berber kilim, in Turkey I have got proper Turkish rug, in Egypt I have got alabaster pots,in Germany Dresden china... You get the picture... :D
Well now as I am getting ready for India, I was wondering what I can buy. Something I can take home, and enjoy, but ultimatly I can pass down to family.
And more inportantly where & how much I espect to pay?
Any ideas?
Many thanks
MacedonianUK

Hey Gang,

I am flying into Amritsar on July 1st and flying out of Chennai late(11pm) the 6th of July.

I for sure want to visit Agra, because I have not been to the Taj Mahal before..............but other than that all is up in the air. The only thing I have seen in India is Varanassi and Calcutta.

Any tips? What should I see in the little amount of time? How should I travel? Should I use budget airlines? or simply hop on a train?

I am a fan of people and culture..........and not a huge fan of big cities and Western Glam,...............so anyways...........if you have any tips for me I would be very appreciate it if you could share them. Thanks so much for your time.
Trevor

Hi there.
My girl friend and I are going to stay at Cavelossim beach at place called Sao Domingo's for two weeks. We love to try the local food and experience the culture and scenary, any advise on this ie. Where to eat places to visit, would be much appreciated, many thanks Steve,Karen.

Hallo VTers,

I would like to ask you for a help. I plan to go to Leh in the 2nd half of August. I will arrive to Delhi and then I plan to continue to go through Manali to leh. In this respect I have the following questions:

i) Is it easy to book a bus from Delhi to Manali and from Manali to Leh once in India or is it better to book in advance? Do you have any links where I can check times/fares?
ii) Is it safe to take overnight buses?
iii) What is the safety situation in Jammu and Kashmir? Is it ok or is it somehow dangerous?
iv) Is easy to find a hotel/hostel once I arrive to Leh or is it recommendable to book it in advance?

Thanks a lot!!!

Cheers

Thanks for all the responses to my last question. It is great to get different opinions. We have put together a first itinerary and would be really interested in comments on it. So thanks in advance.

We are arriving in India in mid-December:

Delhi five nights, Jaipur two nights, Jaisalmer three nights (including one night at a desert camp), Jodphur three nights, Udaipur two nights, Ranthambore NP two nights, Kampur two nights, Varanasi two nights and Mumbair six nights.

We are thinking in terms of hiring a driver for quite a bit of the time and plan to fly from Varanasi to Mumbai. We are invited to the last big night of a wedding in Mumbai, but other than that.....free as birds.

So what do you think guys? What would you do differently? We are not high fliers with massive budgets but neither are we going to be squabbling over who takes the top bunk at the backpackers' hostel - if you get my drift. We want to have enough comfort to allow us to enjoy what will undoubtedly be a memorable trip.

Hi,

We are planning trip from to Vaishnodevi and then Himachal. Dharamashala,Palampur,Jogindernagar, Mandi,Kullu,Manali...then back to Mandi,Bilaspur,chandigarh.

1. Most sites says monsoon starts in July, so how will be weather in end of June? If rain then heavy or just shower in this season? Not aware of landsliding,but is it risky?

2. Apart from these well known tourist places other places which are not so known but where can be close to nature.

3. More info about route from Bilaspur to Chandigarh or Delhi.

Thanks

Sejnik

I will be on business trip to Mumbai from 29 Jun to 3 Jul 09 but would like to stay behind for 1-2 days and stay in reasonable price hotel. I have the following choices, hope you may give advice which is better. thanks.

1. Regent hotel
2. Sea Palace hotel
3. .....

My budget is about 3,500Rs. Or any recommendation from you?

Thanks.

I will be on business trip to Mumbai from 29 Jun to 3 Jul 09 but would like to stay behind for 1-2 days and stay in reasonable price hotel. I have the following choices, hope you may give advice which is better. thanks.

1. Regent hotel
2. Sea Palace hotel
3. .....

My budget is about 3,500Rs. Or any recommendation from you?

Thanks.

WE are three ladies (of a certain age)who are going to India in December and would love to hear recommendations for good, clean, 'authentic' guest houses or reasonably priced hotels in Delhi, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, Varanasi and other 'must see' locales. We are also very interested in hearing about good train trips and anything else more experienced travellers may be able to advise us on.

How is weather in Goa.. I hear its Mansoon there.. some one suggest.. not to go on beaches.. as they are dangerous.. its very common in goa peoples.. drawn in beaches with back waves.. is it true..
ajay

OK, I have another question for you, this time "tehnical"
For the trip to India I will purchise mobile SIM localy, as sugessted, will bring my old mobile, so if its get stolen, is no biggie.
But, what about convertor for recharging my camera & camcorder bateries??
What kind of plug convertor I have to buy?
Is it 3 prongs like in UK, or it is like in Europe 2 prongs?
BTW what is the voltage?
From electronic, I will have my photo camera, camcorder & mobile tepehone.
I was wondering it is vise idea to take my mini laptop with me??
I read that in the big cities/towns you can find lots of Internet caffes, to upload my photos, so taking laptop might be not good idea? to cumbersome to carry arround?!
Any vise advice for me?
many thanks
MacedonianUK

Hey all,
I am a real beginner at travelling in India and need some help with my route. I am arriving to Delhi mid july, thinking of going across to Darjeeling. Stopping by Agra, varanasi,darjeeling. Then flying to Mumbai, going up to Udaipur, possibly Jaipur and back to Delhi.

First, is this a realistic route to follow in approx. 21 days?
Second, to what extent will the monsoon affect/disturb my trip?
Finally, from Darjeeling, how and from where can I fly to Mumbai?

Appreciate all the advice I can get.

This is the final draft of the India internary.
I took all your vise advices on the forum & read lots of tips.
What is your take on the final outcome?
I apriciate your coments.

here is the list:

8/10 - flight from Dusseldorf to new Delhi via Istanbul

9/10 -Delhi

10/10 - Delhi

11/10 - Delhi

nite train to Amritsar

12/10 - Amritsar

13/10 - Amritsar

nite train/bus via Delhi & Jodhpur to Jaslaimer

14/10 - Jaslaimer

15/10 - Jaslaimer

16/10 - Jaslaimer

evening bus/taxi to Udaipur

17/10 - Udaipur

18/10 - Udaipur

evening bus/taxi to Jodpur

19/10 - Jodpur

20/10 - Jodpur

evening bus/taxi Jaipur

21/10 - Jaipur

22/10 - Jaipur

23/10 - Jaipur

nite train to Agra

24/10 - Agra

25/10 - Agra

nite train to Varanasi

26/10 - Varanasi

27/10 - Varanasi

28/10 - Varanasi

29/10 - Varanasi

nite train to Delhi

30/10 - Delhi

31/10 - morning flight back to Dusseldorf

Will have time to visit Desert National Park & Rathambore NP or Mandhav NP.

MacedonianUK