[rosie]

Hi,

I will be volunteer teaching in Sri Lanka (Kandy area) until mid December and so will be flying into India from Columbo mid December 2008 – I plan to end up in a place called Kalimpong, (nearest airport is Bagdora I think), in February 2009, where I will be volunteer teaching again...so I think I will get there from New Delhi…

Basically, between December 08 and Feb 09 (2 months), I hope to travel around India and am unsure which route will be best and where to fly into from Columbo... whether to start North or South and which cities to visit? There are so many places with so many names and so many options!! HELP!

I will be 24 years old, and want to be able to meet other travellers...and even (if possible), travel with people I meet - See both busy cities, temples and the rural areas (not too demanding am I??! I have a growing passion for Buddhism and want to explore this further...

The areas that I am really keen to see (I think) are... Mumbai, Goa, Bangolore, Puri, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Darjeeling, Ooty … Oh - Also, from reading this site - Varanasi sounds amazing – 'taste of the spiritual "center" of Hindu India' which I have read about… also Agra area for Taj Mahal.

But I am really open to suggestions, and am not sure about if I will be able to get it all in, in 2 months...?
Oh, also..Mudamulai – (I'm intrigued about the jungle)
Also, I have read that six miles south of Gaya is the great temple of Bodh Gaya, near the sacred Bodhi tree…anyone got any suggestions around this?

Any help that anyone can offer is massively appreciated – as you can see I have suffered information overload…I am very excited - but a little wary of the time I will be travelling - and want to take the right route...or at least start in the right place….also, as I am a female on my own, advise on how I could do these things with other like minded people, would be welcomed!

Edited by rosie, 27 May 2008 - 01:40 PM.

[noflylist]

Quick check - interest in temples, wildlife, ideal weather.

Very brief and quick suggestion.
This will be your soft introduction to India, South to North!
From Colombo, quickest way would be to fly to Chennai, or Bengaluru, do temple towns and or Kerala beaches. Next chill in Goa, Do Ajanta, Ellora caves and head to Rajasthan, Agra, Delhi, head further North up the mountains.

For info on South and Kerala, check some of John.sw comments, for Rajasthan Cyberhippie has some good suggestions.

Edited by !Noflylist, 28 May 2008 - 01:17 AM.

[priya]

Rosie, here's a link that should help you as far as travelling alone, in India.

Lone Female Travellers

A few of us here have done the same thing, so ask away if you have any other questions regarding your safety.

You'll be travelling the best time of the year too so, wherever you decide to go, India will be there, waiting to throw herself at you.  There is so much to see, and I understand you want to do as much as possible, but take things easy at first, as India can be overwhelming.  If you let us know what kind of budget you'll have, we'll be able to give you more suggestions.

[KABAARY]

Quote

The areas that I am really keen to see (I think) are... Mumbai, Goa, Bangolore, Puri, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Darjeeling, Ooty

So many exciting possibilities if I consider just the first three + Ooty....I'm getting confused at the thought so excuse me if I sound like I am rambling...

(i) If you fly into Chennai from Colombo, you can take a train from there to Coimbatore and onwards to Ooty (toy train from Mettupalayam).
(ii) From Ooty you could go to Bangalore through Kerala (I keep recommending Palakkad which is close to Coimbatore - and the drive is wonderful) but as that is a longer route (I do recommend Kerala though), you can do Ooty ->Mysore->Bangalore (total 250 odd kms)...in the process, you can do Conoor, Mudumalai, Wyanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur etc.
(iii) You can do Bangalore to Goa (about 600 kms) through Shimoga - Jog Falls - Gokarna - Karwar....
(iv) Goa to Mumbai is another 600 kms or so...very scenic route....along the way (with minor deviations) - Ganpatiphule, Raigad etc.

Sigh....its been many many years since I did some of the above.....

[jw46]

rosie, on May 27 2008, 01:10 AM, said:

Varanasi sounds amazing – 'taste of the spiritual "center" of Hindu India' which I have read about… also Agra area for Taj Mahal.

Loved Varanasi... could have spent days just wandering up and down the ghats.. Sarnath (Site of Buddha's first sermon) is very tranquil..at least when I visited there..

Agra.. Of all the polluted air I had encountered in India it was the worst there.. Supposedly a view of the Taj from balcony @ my hotel.. all I saw was an orangish blob in the distance..The Taj itself was magnificent...