[Niles]

Hi,

As you will see I am new to the forum and as the topic suggest I am going backpacking through India with my girlfriend. I have to confess that I have never been in India before. All I know is that i'll start my trip in New Delhi and from that, who knows? The only problem is that the vacation only lasts a month (August)  

So I have some questions;

What cities do I really have to see and what is there to see ( only planning on seeing 5 a 7 city's).
We are trying to avoid the really really touristic spots.
Maybe some really handy backpack tips? I have only backpacked through Europe.

I could really use some advice,

Thanks

[iwanttogoback]

a month is not long time, and the pace of travel in india can be very slow, so perhaps 4 to 5 places might be a more realistic goal if you want to really see anything. (there are some here who will tell you only one).

what are your interests? what types of places do you enjoy visiting? what type of weather do you prefer? and when are you arriving? answers to these questions will enable people to better tailor their answers for you.

and welcome to the tree.

[70s-80s overlander]

It really does come down to what you want to see and do. Why don't you first scan through a guide book on India to get some idea of what strikes your interest? If you're new at this, you might want to wander to a small-size or mid-size place first. Mandu and Konark, two of my favorites, are not not that easy to get to -- but that means each is not that crowded compared to some other places -- and both are fantastic -- and both would require some combination of trains and buses and mingling with the locals in order to get there. You might want to consult a monsoon map considering your chosen month for travel.

[jyotirmoy]

Do remember that August is monsoon time and weather will be hot & humid in most parts of India. It may rain heavily in coastal areas.
As iwanttogoback wrote if you let us know what interests you we may be in a better position to suggest an itinerary.

[cyberhippie]

Is August the only time you can make this trip, a bit later in the year would be better.