Does anyone here holiday in India much?

[Beemer-5]

Or has been there for a holiday, recently?

We've travelled pretty extensively, to more than 30 countries, but i now have the chance of a holiday to a place just south of Delhi, about 30 miles south, i believe.
Cheap accomodation and very good price flights.

Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Any other advice appreciated.

I am fascinated by the country, but just haven't been near it or know anyone who has.
Cheers.

[digger_R]

Beemer-5 said:

Or has been there for a holiday, recently?

We've travelled pretty extensively, to more than 30 countries, but i now have the chance of a holiday to a place just south of Delhi, about 30 miles south, i believe.
Cheap accomodation and very good price flights.

Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Any othere appreciated.

I am fascinated by the country, but just haven't been near it or know anyone who has.
Cheers.

I've been quite a few times, parents spnd six months a year there.


>Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
They are worse. On the 'new' motorway from Mumbai heading north in a 250 mile stretch, I saw a handful trucks, a few rickshaws, several cows and quite a few pedestrians travelling in the opposite direction of travel doen the carraigeway
Drink driving all over the place and a general disregard for the value of human life.
Get a driver and you should be fine, reasonably cheap too if you know someone over there.

>When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
My parents always go at the start of Jan for the same reason.

>Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Malaria tablets, typhoid/cholera optional

>Any other advice appreciated.
wrt food/drink. Do not drink ANY water that is not factory bottled or boiled.
For the same reason avoid salads/raw veg that may have been washed with untreated water. Other than that you should be fine. You will need to drink shedloads of water.
Oh yes, take your own toilet roll with you. A little unconverted sterling will go a long way in certain places too.

[mechsympathy]

Been a couple of times in December IIRC. The weather was fine. Don't drink the water and try to avoid food that's been sat about (ie buffets, the road side places tend to be fine)

I have driven there but got a driver the second time. TBH it would have been fine to drive once I'd refamiliarised myself with the "rules". As it was I only had to tell the driver off once for being a cock.

[nottyash]

Beemer-5 said:

Or has been there for a holiday, recently?

We've travelled pretty extensively, to more than 30 countries, but i now have the chance of a holiday to a place just south of Delhi, about 30 miles south, i believe.
Cheap accomodation and very good price flights.

Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Any other advice appreciated.

I am fascinated by the country, but just haven't been near it or know anyone who has.
Cheers.

I was in Chennai last year.
People are nice and food was brilliant. Very poor, there were people sleeping rough everywhere, but I wasnt in a touristy area.
Roads packed, but had some good tuk tuk races.
I have had all injections as travel frequently. It was hot and humid in June when i was there.
Hotels were well expensive. Its knowing where to go.
Give it a go.

[N Dentressangle]

Beemer-5 said:

Or has been there for a holiday, recently?

We've travelled pretty extensively, to more than 30 countries, but i now have the chance of a holiday to a place just south of Delhi, about 30 miles south, i believe.
Cheap accomodation and very good price flights.

Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Any other advice appreciated.

I am fascinated by the country, but just haven't been near it or know anyone who has.
Cheers.

Just got back from 2 weeks in the south.

This site: http://www.india-travel-agents.com/india-guide/pea...

seems to answer most of your questions.

The roads are mostly lousy, and fairly dangerous. Although speeds are pretty low (<40mph most of the time) you will almost certainly blink before the oncoming Indian driver does, and you might find letting someone else drive is a bit less stressful.

Having said this, we did fancy a go on bikes whilst we were there. I'd say the roads in Kerala are actually not that bad.

Check out my other thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Beemer-5]

Thanks for that, the other half has chosen Singapore and Malaysia instead now!
Oh well!

[carjac]

Beemer-5 said:

Or has been there for a holiday, recently?

We've travelled pretty extensively, to more than 30 countries, but i now have the chance of a holiday to a place just south of Delhi, about 30 miles south, i believe.
Cheap accomodation and very good price flights.

Are the roads as lousy as i have heard?
When would be the best months to visit, if i want to avoid both monsoon rains and unbearably hot temperatures?
Do you need to get loads of injections against illness for this part of the world?
Any other advice appreciated.

I am fascinated by the country, but just haven't been near it or know anyone who has.
Cheers.

Living in London, you have no idea how much your request for information made me laugh.