India in September

[RED-DOG]

I'm doing some preliminary research into Visiting India in September. Thinking of going for about 3 weeks to a month. (Might look at a 2/3 day stopover in Dubai)

Will be flying into Delhi with a a view to perhaps doing the golden triangle thing. Any advice welcome.

Specific info needed on the following.

Using my smartphone avoiding roaming charges while in India. Can I buy a sim here or is it better to buy one there?

Taking money / keeping it safe. Should I use travelers cheques etc?

Obtaining visas.   

[Marky147]

Have a mate who is working out in India at the moment, so I'll see if he has any pearls of wisdom.

[Marky147]

This is what he just sent me -


Visa is needed, a 6 month tourist visa is best, cost about £130.

Sim are not available to buy over the counter here, you need to be an Indian Citizen.

There are ATM but limited, Hotels will probably cash travellers cheques.

Depending on Hotel most of them have room safes.

Scotts travel service is a good company to get the visa from, if not in London or Liverpool.

Indian Visa centre is opposite my old place on  Wilton Road SW1V 1DW

It takes about a week to get a visa, and always advise a Multi Entry Visa.



He said you'll need to fill this in to apply for a Visa https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/

Scotts -  http://www.scottsvisas.co.uk

[lucky_scrote]

Hi Tom,

I know as a British citizen you need to apply for a visa and can stay for 6 months.

Most of that part of the world has it's wet season during Sept/Oct as the sea is warmer than the land and therefore air mass comes from the sea.

[Woodsey]

3 weeks is a lot of time for that circuit. The one place I'd recommend tagging on to it if interests you is Varanasi, it's probably the most religious/spiritual place in India on the banks of the Ganges and still real old India.

You can get the train down to there overnight from Delhi, then either hop back via a short budget flight, or if you still have time you could possibly push through to Kolkata and fly back to Delhi from there.

If you are using the trains overnight take a bike lock to lock your bags to something, stuff does get nicked.

Few other bits of info on here.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=61996.0

[Woodsey]

Also Ranthambore National Park to see tigers is on that circuit. I thought the place was in a pretty sad state of affairs with only a handful of tigers left when I went, no idea how many are left now. If I was doing the trip again I'd probably skip it as it was pretty depressing.

If you do go and want to be in a small group driving around the park in one of the jeeps, you need to stay at one of the upmarket hotels as they get first bite at using the jeeps that are allowed in the park each day. If you don't you will be with the masses in a big open top bus type thing, not ideal for a bit of peace and quiet to tour the countryside really.

[RED-DOG]

This is what he just sent me -


Visa is needed, a 6 month tourist visa is best, cost about £130.

Sim are not available to buy over the counter here, you need to be an Indian Citizen.

There are ATM but limited, Hotels will probably cash travellers cheques.

Depending on Hotel most of them have room safes.

Scotts travel service is a good company to get the visa from, if not in London or Liverpool.

Indian Visa centre is opposite my old place on  Wilton Road SW1V 1DW

It takes about a week to get a visa, and always advise a Multi Entry Visa.



He said you'll need to fill this in to apply for a Visa https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/

Scotts -  http://www.scottsvisas.co.uk

Just looking at visa form now. It's more complicated that the assembly instructions for a large hadron collider.

[RED-DOG]

Hi Tom,

I know as a British citizen you need to apply for a visa and can stay for 6 months.

Most of that part of the world has it's wet season during Sept/Oct as the sea is warmer than the land and therefore air mass comes from the sea.

Been looking at monsoon season info and it's a bit confusing. It seems to end in September for Delhi. Lots of guides say that September / October is a good time to go.

[RED-DOG]

3 weeks is a lot of time for that circuit. The one place I'd recommend tagging on to it if interests you is Varanasi, it's probably the most religious/spiritual place in India on the banks of the Ganges and still real old India.

You can get the train down to there overnight from Delhi, then either hop back via a short budget flight, or if you still have time you could possibly push through to Kolkata and fly back to Delhi from there.

If you are using the trains overnight take a bike lock to lock your bags to something, stuff does get nicked.

Few other bits of info on here.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=61996.0

How easy / difficult is it to book flights / train tickets as you go?

Is Delhi OK for strolling around during the day?

Will Indians understand a Yorkshire accent?

[RED-DOG]

Advice on eating needed too.

[RED-DOG]

Do many places have WiFi?

[Woodsey]

3 weeks is a lot of time for that circuit. The one place I'd recommend tagging on to it if interests you is Varanasi, it's probably the most religious/spiritual place in India on the banks of the Ganges and still real old India.

You can get the train down to there overnight from Delhi, then either hop back via a short budget flight, or if you still have time you could possibly push through to Kolkata and fly back to Delhi from there.

If you are using the trains overnight take a bike lock to lock your bags to something, stuff does get nicked.

Few other bits of info on here.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=61996.0

How easy / difficult is it to book flights / train tickets as you go?

Is Delhi OK for strolling around during the day?

Will Indians understand a Yorkshire accent?

Trains are really easy for the shorter journeys around golden triangle, you might need to book a day or two in advance for overnight sleepers just to be sure. To places where the train does not go it was pretty cheap to rent a car and driver for the day or even for 2 or three days. As with all budget airlines the prices go up nearer to your date, so try and book as far ahead as you reasonably can, not always possible if you are just winging it though. Bear in mind it's probably 6 or 7 years since I've been so you might want to double check my info.

Yep Delhi is safe enough and enough English spoken everywhere, English is the official language I think lol. You will get hassled to death by Tuk Tuk drivers and people selling stuff and beggars though. The only unpleasant thing that happened to us was my missus at the time got groped a couple of times in crowded areas and by a passenger on the back of a motorbike, I know others it's happened too also so it is a real threat.

This is the best resource I have found for train info to have a look at.

http://www.seat61.com/India.htm

[RED-DOG]

3 weeks is a lot of time for that circuit. The one place I'd recommend tagging on to it if interests you is Varanasi, it's probably the most religious/spiritual place in India on the banks of the Ganges and still real old India.

You can get the train down to there overnight from Delhi, then either hop back via a short budget flight, or if you still have time you could possibly push through to Kolkata and fly back to Delhi from there.

If you are using the trains overnight take a bike lock to lock your bags to something, stuff does get nicked.

Few other bits of info on here.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=61996.0

How easy / difficult is it to book flights / train tickets as you go?

Is Delhi OK for strolling around during the day?

Will Indians understand a Yorkshire accent?

Trains are really easy for the shorter journeys around golden triangle, you might need to book a day or two in advance for overnight sleepers just to be sure. To places where the train does not go it was pretty cheap to rent a car and driver for the day or even for 2 or three days. As with all budget airlines the prices go up nearer to your date, so try and book as far ahead as you reasonably can, not always possible if you are just winging it though. Bear in mind it's probably 6 or 7 years since I've been so you might want to double check my info.

Yep Delhi is safe enough and enough English spoken everywhere, English is the official language I think lol. You will get hassled to death by Tuk Tuk drivers and people selling stuff and beggars though. The only unpleasant thing that happened to us was my missus at the time got groped a couple of times in crowded areas and by a passenger on the back of a motorbike, I know others it's happened too also so it is a real threat.

This is the best resource I have found for train info to have a look at.

http://www.seat61.com/India.htm

That's really useful. Thank you.

[Woodsey]

Advice on eating needed too.

Go mostly veggie imo. Large numbers of the population are veggie, so veggie food has a higher turnover and will be fresher than eating meat for the most part and less chance of getting the shits. Don't eat the street food, India is no Thailand in that respect and you have a good chance of getting gut rot if you do. Also wash your hands before you eat, the money and in particular the small notes are very dirty so god knows where they have been.

Carry bog rolls/wet wipes at all times and mentally prepare yourself you have to use a squat bog just in case.  

Also after a couple of weeks of eating Indian food you will be craving for a cheese butty or the plainest thing you can find lol. No matter how much you like Indian food, Mark my words it will happen lol. Upmarket hotels are your best source when the cravings come 

[RED-DOG]

Advice on eating needed too.

Go veggie imo. Large numbers of the population are veggie, so veggie food has a higher turnover and will be fresher than eating meat for the most part and less chance of getting the shits. Don't eat the street food, India is no Thailand in that respect and you have a good chance of getting gut rot if you do. Also wash your hands before you eat, the money and in particular the small notes are very dirty so god knows where they have been.

Carry bog rolls/wet wipes at all times and mentally prepare yourself you have to use a squat bog just in case.  

So cafe's & hotel restaurants should be OK providing they look clean?