If you've ever fancied India then check out this amazing trip that sees you visit the Golden Triangle and also the Ganges. This trip is in March at the time of the Holi festival. There is a lot of cheap places to stay in India and you could certainly do this cheaper but I've picked good rated hotels, private bathrooms and train travel is first/second class but this gives you a good price and then you can adjust to cheaper according to budget. Also remember that visa is additional cost.
On 12th March you will leave Birmingham for Delhi with Turkish Airlines. You will arrive in Delhi on 13th March (Holi). You will then spend 2 nights in Delhi at the Check In Room Chuna Mandi. This has great reviews and is centrally located.
On 15th you will check out of your hotel and you have the full day in Delhi. You then leave Delhi later on for the overnight train to Varanasi, home to the Ganges. Arriving into Varanasi on 16th you will spend 2 nights at the Hotel Buddha and then you can do many activities such as taking a cruise on the ganges. On 18th you will leave Varanasi and and take the overnight train to Agra in the early hours of the morning of the 19th. In Agra you will spend 2 nights allowing you to see the Taj at sunset and sunrise.
Your final stop is to take the train again from Agra to Jaipur on 21st March. In Jaipur you will spend 2 nights at the Hotel Pearl which has great reviews and is centrally located.
On 23rd you'll take the train journey back to Delhi.
Breakdown
*Important note about train tickets. I've given here the trains that would be ideal and a good class of ticket. You will need to book these 120 days in advance on irctc.co.in however to do this you need to register on the website and then email a copy of your passport. The maninseat61 website has some useful information. The screen shots are estimated prices but you can replicate these for your stay in March and you will probably find the prices cheaper booking direct with the irctc website rather than ctrip which I've used to give you an idea of prices.
2 flights from Birmingham to Delhi £677.46 book at Travel Trolley
2 nights in Delhi at the Check in Room £56 book at booking.com
2 nights at Varanasi at the Hotel Buddha £67 book at booking.com
2 nights at the Hotel Taj in Agra £71.80 book at Expedia
2 nights in Jaipur at the Hotel Pearl £32 book at booking.com
1 night in Delhi (same hotel as above) £28 book at booking.com
Trains:
Delhi to Varanasi 5442/£62.92
Varanasi to Agra 2826/£32.62
Agra to Jaipur 1462/£16.90
Jaipur to Delhi 1625/£18.79
Total £1063.49/£531.74pp
*****Can comments be kept relevant to the deal please *****
Top comments
leewills8 to tempt
24 Sep 1620#6
"them to come over here" what's your name, Alf Garnett!
MrWanger to tempt
24 Sep 1617#8
Bell end.
rachelandgromit to samran123
24 Sep 1615#13
I could say that about some of the cities in the North West of England!
Don't pack those skirts. The official advice from India's tourism minister is not to wear skirts and offend their 'cultural' sensibilities. It's perfectly okay for them to come over here and wear their sarees, burqas and what not, but not the other way round!
"them to come over here" what's your name, Alf Garnett!
MrWanger to tempt
24 Sep 1617#8
Bell end.
adi0604 to tempt
24 Sep 1614#10
Stupid
mel1408 to tempt
24 Sep 161#17
Hear hear, my sentiments exactly...live and let live NOT.
esskay92 to tempt
24 Sep 163#28
Your point would be valid if the UK government banned "sarees, burqas and what not" but (as it stands) they have not - hence people here can wear whatever they want. That's what laws are for.
magrawal to tempt
24 Sep 16#30
you are very confused, did you ever work with confuse.com
royals to tempt
24 Sep 16#32
wow and they call uk people racist, wow, hypocrites
Bluemani8 to tempt
24 Sep 16#41
makes sense! good place for men to visit however, women have to be very careful because of the high rate of sexual and domestic crimes against females! I won't take that kind of serious risk just to get a cheap holiday!
Shayno to tempt
24 Sep 16#43
lol agreed! At last someone on here actually can see the real world!
Not very safe for woman to go in general overall really, unless your an old fart or a Jeremy Kyle case.
Would like to go India on my own and not on a certain package like this, as something is bound to go wrong and then that will balls everything else up.
Hot for effort though.
Mentos to tempt
24 Sep 167#44
Because the acceptability of ones clothing in a society is generally based on the rules of modesty that have evolved in that society. As such acceptability is almost always defined by a minimum level of coverage rather then the type of coverage.
The items of clothing you've mentioned meet our minimum acceptable levels of coverage. Indians on the other hand are not accustomed to women showing their legs in public, therefore skirts "may" draw some attention. Trousers on the other hand are unlikely too, yet as an item of clothing they are equally as alien as Sari's are too us.
Too illustrate the point about minimum coverage, we may accept Sari's but wouldn't be so accommodating of a bare chested Masai woman. Or worse still an African tribal man with his dong out :/
These things are always evolving of course and don't always make logical sense. For example in parts of India a woman bearing her midriff has been common for centuries. Conversely it wasn't so long ago that it was considered immodest in this country.
The Burqa is an interesting exception to the rule. While it meets our rules of modesty and adheres to the minimum coverage rules, in most non muslim societies covering ones face is synonymous with deceit. We're brought up to fear people who hide their identity. As such in my experience/opinion there is a level of intolerance to the Burqa. People are of course free to wear it, just as people are free to wear a skirt in India. But it will draw a level of negative attention just as a skirt will in India.
Above and beyond all this I also like to believe we are an enlightened, liberal and tolerant society. We may not be perfect, but in many of these areas we are much further along the "right path" ("right" IMO). Levels of misogyny and attitudes towards women (outside of ones family/acquaintances) are unfortunately several decades behind us in some parts of the world.
Hence I find the fact you consider the perceived disparity in acceptance/tolerance as a point of unfairness. Is it not in fact a positive endorsement of our society and country. It's akin to my child complaining she has a nicer house/toys/family after visiting her friends house. I would tell her thats something to be thankful and positive about. Rather then suggesting we should bring in some **** toys and behave badly when her friend visits.
NB: In the interests of full disclosure, I used we as I was born and raised here. However, my parents were not so you may consider me "them".
Spizzenergi
24 Sep 162#5
Have some HEAT OP, Lots of work has gone in to this and something I want to do with just me & the Mrs. Thanks
simont_space
24 Sep 161#7
'Them' as in Indians. Why the offence, and not very subtle accusation of racism.
Notice you didn't address the point he was making which is certainly much worse.
leewills8
24 Sep 168#9
I fully understand his comments but the 1960s racial prejudice is not needed.
adi0604
24 Sep 162#11
Well done OP for your efforts alone.,
Can confidently say one of the most friendly and helpful people you will ever come across in India. Absolutely safe for females as well.
samran123
24 Sep 16#12
Stay away ! high crime rate and other domestic issues in that city, wouldn't recommend.
rachelandgromit to samran123
24 Sep 1615#13
I could say that about some of the cities in the North West of England!
jigdimps to samran123
24 Sep 161#19
Same like London then?
magrawal to samran123
24 Sep 16#34
clarify which city??
tempt
24 Sep 16#14
Please stop misleading people to push a deal. A quick google search reveals how unsafe India is for women.
To quote BBC from a recent article:
Scrutiny of violence against women has increased since the 2012 gang rape of a student, but attacks continue
I'm not pushing people, either people want to go on holiday to India or they do not. Like anywhere in the world, I would always recommend people to review current travel advice guidance on the government website which can be found here and details on terrorism here
summerof76
24 Sep 16#16
Heat added for posting
LocoMoFo9999
24 Sep 16#18
Cheaper to go to Birmingham.
quagmireuk
24 Sep 161#20
From personal experience India is not a great place to visit as a tourist. I'd recommend seeing the sights and keeping yourself to yourself....
Definitely get a driver to drive you about, it is not a safe place so treat everything and everyone with suspicion!
And no this isn't sarcastic, I was very disappointed with the culture and atmosphere of the place.
pentaya to quagmireuk
24 Sep 162#22
Totally rubbish... We have been couple of times to India. We visited Goa, Delhi and Mumbai. We felt very safe though the people are a bit loud. We enjoyed every moment and a life time trip.
na197
24 Sep 16#21
do you know why this advise is given?
pentaya
24 Sep 161#23
I am up for it. Really yummy food and great noise in all the cities. It takes a bit for us to adjust for the culture and people. After a week, We felt like part of them. Many shop keepers noticed us as foreigners and helped us in giving directions. Roads are a bit dirty. Advise is to follow your guide.
quagmireuk
24 Sep 161#24
Each to their own but to call my experience and opinion rubbish is unjust. I'm not here slandering but just giving advice and opinion. If you disagree fine but don't resort to outright calling my opinion rubbish!
I'm well travelled and in my opinion India is not safe as it stands - Delhi was the only place I've been to where it's impossible to use the subway because of security issues... People attempted to mug me and my wife numerous times... Don't use your experience as rose tinted glasses as it's not the case in my opinion!
jaques_kalis
24 Sep 16#25
Super hot and super efforts...
quagmireuk
24 Sep 16#26
Oh yes but apart from all that this is a great deal!
ladiesman589
24 Sep 164#27
Just got back India and did the Golden Triangle.
absolutely amazing place. Beautiful forts and buildings and so much history.
Before we went we heard many horror stories. we took the Delhi Subway as well and didn't have no issues. Obviously, make sure you keep your valuables close and be alert at all times but that's just the same as any place in the UK.
loved the place, the people and the food. Be careful where you eat though as you can easily get the runs from Street food but I guess that's where the fun is!
It won't be everyone's cup of tea but if you like sightseeing, travelling and different cultures then you will love India.
heeljames to ladiesman589
24 Sep 16#40
Diarrhoea, the game of risk and reward. Think I'll stick to travel monopoly when on holiday myself!
mickgoodie to ladiesman589
29 Sep 16#65
its good to hear experiences like this......I went back to delhi last oct on a business trip (had not been back for over 10 years) and the city has that western feel to it now...the metro makes travelling around safe, cheap and a lot quicker than jumping into a tutt tutt.. went down to see the Taj at again, well worth the trip. we paid about £140 for a driver/car/local guide for the whole weekend which was cheap as chips (hotels extra)
Also been to Mumbai/Bangalore on other business trips with no safety issues as well...I can highly recommend india to everyone for a holiday.
Jazzcool
24 Sep 16#29
I will stay way, recent trend is not very encouraging.
Crime rate is at peak and lusty eyes follow you with malicious intentions.
another colleague of confused.com, you don't even know what you are talking about
magrawal
24 Sep 16#33
stupid is little mild, but OK for the time being
magrawal
24 Sep 16#35
another confused. com
magrawal
24 Sep 16#36
another confused. com
Gollywood
24 Sep 162#37
Stay in the UK. No murders of rapes here, ESP if you are foreign. UKers go out of their way to look after you...ESP on public transport.
royals
24 Sep 16#38
how am I confused. maybe you should learn to read
Gollywood
24 Sep 161#39
I know Rachel means well but I don't know why she posts deals for 'brown' or Muslim countries given the negative comments that are left by the usual suspects....
But respect to you!
rachelandgromit to Gollywood
24 Sep 165#42
Well I was going to post a deal for Petra in Jordan as I'm hopefully going there later next year but didn't think I'd bother as I'm sure people will comment on Syria, terrorism and how unsafe it is. Terrorism is everywhere and I've felt unsafe in lots of countries, including Europe and equally when I go to my head office at work nr Scotland Yard and my bag/person is searched and everywhere is on a 'heightened response'.
I'll keep posting the deals, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Mentos
24 Sep 161#45
Interesting, having read his/her post, I got the impression he/she stayed at home rather then saw the world :smiley:
Actually as a hangover from the Raj ,Westerners (including women) enjoy a high level of deference. My wife was quite surprised (we spent 6 weeks travelling through India on our honeymoon, her choice of destination) how well she was treated. They were almost scared of her in many circumstances.
Generally it's safe for female tourists. You're unlikely to be raped or killed doing the typical tourist things. However, there are exceptions as there are in most countries.
Whilst its not right or acceptable, where you should exercise more caution is interactions with men you don't know outside of mainstream areas. I wouldn't wonder off late in the night for a stroll in a secluded area with a strange man you don't know. Probably not advisable in any country, but particularly not in countries where attitudes towards women are more regressive then our own.
Travelling generally involves a greater degree of risk then staying in familiar surroundings. But IMO it is a risk worth taking. There are few things more fulfilling then exploring this weird and wonderful world of ours :smiley:
magrawal
24 Sep 16#46
just a thought ....education does not guarantee literacy.....
Besford
24 Sep 16#47
Don't know anyone who's been to India and not got food poisoning, in some cases quite seriously. I'd love to see the place but it seems to be too dirty for 'delicate' western constitutions.
DonkeyKonk to Besford
25 Sep 16#50
The Queen
Mentos to Besford
25 Sep 162#54
Depends where you eat/drink and just as importantly what you eat drink.
You're right, their levels of sanitation are significantly lower then ours. But that's an average measurement. There are eateries which will match or supersede the sanitation/cleanliness levels of establishments you frequent at home.
I know plenty of people that have visited without suffering food poisoning. Including my Wife who visited for the first time for 6 weeks (and we travelled extensively through the North and South).
When travelling abroad there are simple rules one should adhere to:
1) If you would avoid an establishment at home, its probably a good idea to avoid it abroad.
2) If in doubt stick to freshly cooked food, avoid uncooked/reheated/raw/etc food.
3) Drink bottled water and drinks unless you know its safe to drink from the tap/etc
4) Understand its not always about cleanliness, but also about tolerance. For example we are accustomed to heavily pasteurised dairy products. That helps us avoid nasty bugs in dairy. But it also means we can't tolerate bacteria that people brought up elsewhere are able too. Avoid food like dairy products where naturally occurring bacteria may lead to problems irrespective of cleanliness/sanitation. Cooked cheeses/boiled milk/etc are fine as they have effectively been pasteurised. But avoid yoghurts/cold milk (that hasn't been boiled recently)/creams/etc.
Hope that helps.
WaftyCranker
24 Sep 161#48
*****Can comments be kept relevant to the deal please *****
On HUKD ? You must be kidding
DonkeyKonk
25 Sep 161#49
I knew a lady from Birmingham who had a Golden Triangle and it only cost twenty quid to have a look.
yus786
25 Sep 161#51
Did the golden triangle in July, absolutely loved it.
We booked a driver who drove us between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur over a period of ~6 days but did get a 2nd class overnight train to Surat which was an experience. Driver cost us 19.5k RS (about £200)
Be prepared for all the people staring, I'm brown skinned and still had plenty of stares
If anyone has any questions don't be afraid to ask
diylenny
25 Sep 161#52
I have just booked a similar but more expansive trip. You have demonstrated that with a bit of time and effort you can construct a good itinerary at a much lower cost than a package deal.
Here are a few tips and comments.
Themaninseat61 is a superb source of useful info.
I agree use IRTC for booking trains. If you are a " pensioner" you get about 40 percent off. I booked Kolkata to Varanasi AC1 [ the best first class cabin which includes food ] for £15 each.
Sometimes flights can be cheaper than the train especially on journeys of 24 hours plus.
Hotel Alka in Varanasi is recommended by SEAT61
It is important to book trains between 90 and 120 days advance . Already December First Class are booked up.
Buy prepaid taxi vouchers whenever possible at Stations and Airports to save being scammed.
My trip is fly to Athens
!4 nights Celebrity Constellation cruise to Abu Dhabi including drinks and outside cabin.
3 nights Abu Dhabi for the Grand prix
7 nights Dubai
Fly to Delhi 2 nights day trip to Taj Mahal
Fly to Kolkata 2 nights
Train to Varanasi 2 nights
Fly to Mumbai 1 night
Mandovi Express to Goa . Day time , supposed to be spectacular and best food on Indian trains.
7 nights Goa in Azzure Spree hotel
Fly to London
£1650 pounds each for 38 days excuding spending.
Finally a comment regarding the Morons who post rubbish comments on this site. My mental profile is that they are losers who do not have a life. They are probably jealous of the fact that people like us can create something by using our intelligence and initiative . Most of the comments are not funny. If these people were genuinely witty they would not have the time to waste here.
I rest my case.
rachelandgromit to diylenny
25 Sep 161#53
That looks an amazing trip, lots of variety! I've not been to India yet and I don't think I'd survive. I don't eat Indian food, or even anything remotely spicy. I even struggle going into an Indian restaurant as I don't like the smell of the food either. I must be really sensitive to the different spices. I think I'd just live on boiled rice for a week! One day though...
Mentos
25 Sep 16#55
We also drove extensively and IMO it is a better option. The costs are relatively low (as you've highlighted) and it allows far greater flexibility.
In places like Jaipur you probably don't need a car as there are plenty of places within Rickshaw or local taxi range. Also if you pick a well located hotel you can wonder around in the vicinity of the hotel.
Agra on the other hand I would struggle to spend two days in without a car. Aside from the Taj Mahal and Agra fort there's not much else to see or do. Most people in India will tell you without the Taj it would be like any other small city in northern India. But the influx of mass tourism means its not that authentic Indian city either. Its like those crappy restaurants near famous monuments/sights. Neither exceptional, nor authentic, largely tourist traps taking advantage of the famous neighbour.
IMO if you want to see the Taj at both Sunrise and Sunset, you're better off timing it so you get it done over one night. Or plan a trip to Fatehpur Siri to fill the rest of one of the days.
Also you may want to check if they're doing the moonlight tours when you plan to visit.
NB: If you hire a car, pick something big. Will be more expensive, but roads are not renowned for safety, so you're better off in a big Jeep. Also ensure it has working Aircon, check the drivers details and send them to someone at home letting the driver know you have done this (do this anywhere, not just in India). And pick something relatively new and reliable, you don't want to be stranded somewhere :/
AceA
25 Sep 161#56
for all you media tweebs, the media always displays everything in a negative light, i'm not saying there is no crime no murder in india, there is. All i'm saying is the way media potrays what happens and what people are like in india is utter bs. I've been to india, yes some tourists get mugged but this is the same with every country there are bad people and good people. Avoiding a beautiful destination because of what the media says is pure stupidty. If you want to be that safe in india and want to visit forts and look a great view and want to visit a community which has good people in it you should go visit diu.
Helpful
25 Sep 16#57
This comment is not intended to put people off, but please note that the hotels on this itinerary are by no means at the luxury end of the hotel spectrum. That said, for their cost they are not bad either, and as the saying goes: you get what you pay for. So all, please check out the hotel reviews before booking, and please please try to weed out the obvious fake reviews that on the whole always say very positive things about the hotel. The review below, for the hotel in New Delhi, I believe is genuine and provides perhaps an accurate view of the type and quality of hotel accommodation.
A review for New Delhi Hotel
"If you want a decent spot in India, you have to spend $30 plus. in rupees, Thats a min 2000. This place was a bit more, I got the deluxe Double here. It's in a dirty, not-so-great area of Delhi, but there is a shopping street, Main Bazaar Rd, that will cover a lot of your souvenir needs. After traveling through India, this was my last stop for a few nights before leaving, so the shopping was useful"
Links for all hotels above, make sure you read reviews carefully and then make a decision whether they are OK and upgrade to different ones if budget allows. The Delhi one has a few odd reviews but I did check on other sites where they are verified stays and it seemed OK, but you could always change it.
patg2005
25 Sep 162#59
India a great country for a stimulating and challenging trip....unlike a lot of the moronic comments about the country a deal on here throws up....If you're have racist tendacies or are scared of different cultures just don't go...don't bore the ar** off the rest of us telling us about your problems.
Anosha123
25 Sep 16#60
[img][/img]
kryshno
25 Sep 16#61
Heat! This is an awesome deal and a good time to go as well, just before it becomes bloody hot. Often have to pay £500 pp for a return flight to Delhi so this is a bargain. India has its issues no doubt as with anywhere else but some of the comments are plain ignorant. Talk to your guides/locals about local do's and dont's.
Varanasi's not just another city though, is a different world and tough to take for some, so make sure you have the stomach. Train reservations are really best made atleast 3-4 months in advance, IRCTC can take some getting used to but is reliable enough.
Besford
25 Sep 16#62
Good advice without question but only reduces the risk from a high level to a somewhat lower one. A couple of (cautious) friends in particular were determined to see the sights then take a week in Goa so they booked a (very expensive) trip staying in good to excellent hotels. Were both very ill within days, spoiled the rest of the trip and took more than 3 months to get over it. Unfortunately I've heard too many stories like theirs so I'm not going. I've had a stomach bug in much better places than these and it can be really awful (even dangerous in some cases). One business conference to Morocco staying at a top hotel had well over half the group ill, some quarantined at Gatwick on their return and a couple hospitalised. The only ones who escaped were some very cautious Scots who took most of their food with them and drowned it in duty free Scotch (yes, I exaggerate a little but there is a lesson in there). I realise there is some risk in all travel (or even at home) but India just seems to offer a near guarantee of illness. Good luck to those who go though!
I did manage a three week trip to Cambodia and Vietnam: fabulous food there (French influence) and just one wobbly day after I was foolish enough to have a hamburger rather than local food!
rachelandgromit
25 Sep 16#63
Ooh you can give me some tips on food in Cambodia and Vietnam for my Christmas trip.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
On 12th March you will leave Birmingham for Delhi with Turkish Airlines. You will arrive in Delhi on 13th March (Holi). You will then spend 2 nights in Delhi at the Check In Room Chuna Mandi. This has great reviews and is centrally located.
On 15th you will check out of your hotel and you have the full day in Delhi. You then leave Delhi later on for the overnight train to Varanasi, home to the Ganges. Arriving into Varanasi on 16th you will spend 2 nights at the Hotel Buddha and then you can do many activities such as taking a cruise on the ganges. On 18th you will leave Varanasi and and take the overnight train to Agra in the early hours of the morning of the 19th. In Agra you will spend 2 nights allowing you to see the Taj at sunset and sunrise.
Your final stop is to take the train again from Agra to Jaipur on 21st March. In Jaipur you will spend 2 nights at the Hotel Pearl which has great reviews and is centrally located.
On 23rd you'll take the train journey back to Delhi.
Breakdown
*Important note about train tickets. I've given here the trains that would be ideal and a good class of ticket. You will need to book these 120 days in advance on irctc.co.in however to do this you need to register on the website and then email a copy of your passport. The maninseat61 website has some useful information. The screen shots are estimated prices but you can replicate these for your stay in March and you will probably find the prices cheaper booking direct with the irctc website rather than ctrip which I've used to give you an idea of prices.
2 flights from Birmingham to Delhi £677.46 book at Travel Trolley
2 nights in Delhi at the Check in Room £56 book at booking.com
2 nights at Varanasi at the Hotel Buddha £67 book at booking.com
2 nights at the Hotel Taj in Agra £71.80 book at Expedia
2 nights in Jaipur at the Hotel Pearl £32 book at booking.com
1 night in Delhi (same hotel as above) £28 book at booking.com
Trains:
Delhi to Varanasi 5442/£62.92
Varanasi to Agra 2826/£32.62
Agra to Jaipur 1462/£16.90
Jaipur to Delhi 1625/£18.79
Total £1063.49/£531.74pp
*****Can comments be kept relevant to the deal please *****
Top comments
All comments (66)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/29/india-female-tourists-skirts-safety-advice
Not very safe for woman to go in general overall really, unless your an old fart or a Jeremy Kyle case.
Would like to go India on my own and not on a certain package like this, as something is bound to go wrong and then that will balls everything else up.
Hot for effort though.
The items of clothing you've mentioned meet our minimum acceptable levels of coverage. Indians on the other hand are not accustomed to women showing their legs in public, therefore skirts "may" draw some attention. Trousers on the other hand are unlikely too, yet as an item of clothing they are equally as alien as Sari's are too us.
Too illustrate the point about minimum coverage, we may accept Sari's but wouldn't be so accommodating of a bare chested Masai woman. Or worse still an African tribal man with his dong out :/
These things are always evolving of course and don't always make logical sense. For example in parts of India a woman bearing her midriff has been common for centuries. Conversely it wasn't so long ago that it was considered immodest in this country.
The Burqa is an interesting exception to the rule. While it meets our rules of modesty and adheres to the minimum coverage rules, in most non muslim societies covering ones face is synonymous with deceit. We're brought up to fear people who hide their identity. As such in my experience/opinion there is a level of intolerance to the Burqa. People are of course free to wear it, just as people are free to wear a skirt in India. But it will draw a level of negative attention just as a skirt will in India.
Above and beyond all this I also like to believe we are an enlightened, liberal and tolerant society. We may not be perfect, but in many of these areas we are much further along the "right path" ("right" IMO). Levels of misogyny and attitudes towards women (outside of ones family/acquaintances) are unfortunately several decades behind us in some parts of the world.
Hence I find the fact you consider the perceived disparity in acceptance/tolerance as a point of unfairness. Is it not in fact a positive endorsement of our society and country. It's akin to my child complaining she has a nicer house/toys/family after visiting her friends house. I would tell her thats something to be thankful and positive about. Rather then suggesting we should bring in some **** toys and behave badly when her friend visits.
NB: In the interests of full disclosure, I used we as I was born and raised here. However, my parents were not so you may consider me "them".
Notice you didn't address the point he was making which is certainly much worse.
Can confidently say one of the most friendly and helpful people you will ever come across in India. Absolutely safe for females as well.
To quote BBC from a recent article:
Scrutiny of violence against women has increased since the 2012 gang rape of a student, but attacks continue
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37415843
Definitely get a driver to drive you about, it is not a safe place so treat everything and everyone with suspicion!
And no this isn't sarcastic, I was very disappointed with the culture and atmosphere of the place.
I'm well travelled and in my opinion India is not safe as it stands - Delhi was the only place I've been to where it's impossible to use the subway because of security issues... People attempted to mug me and my wife numerous times... Don't use your experience as rose tinted glasses as it's not the case in my opinion!
absolutely amazing place. Beautiful forts and buildings and so much history.
Before we went we heard many horror stories. we took the Delhi Subway as well and didn't have no issues. Obviously, make sure you keep your valuables close and be alert at all times but that's just the same as any place in the UK.
loved the place, the people and the food. Be careful where you eat though as you can easily get the runs from Street food but I guess that's where the fun is!
It won't be everyone's cup of tea but if you like sightseeing, travelling and different cultures then you will love India.
Also been to Mumbai/Bangalore on other business trips with no safety issues as well...I can highly recommend india to everyone for a holiday.
Crime rate is at peak and lusty eyes follow you with malicious intentions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37441118
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37450330
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/22/scarlett-keeling-murder-how-the-tragic-case-of-the-15-year-olds/
But respect to you!
I'll keep posting the deals, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Actually as a hangover from the Raj ,Westerners (including women) enjoy a high level of deference. My wife was quite surprised (we spent 6 weeks travelling through India on our honeymoon, her choice of destination) how well she was treated. They were almost scared of her in many circumstances.
Generally it's safe for female tourists. You're unlikely to be raped or killed doing the typical tourist things. However, there are exceptions as there are in most countries.
Whilst its not right or acceptable, where you should exercise more caution is interactions with men you don't know outside of mainstream areas. I wouldn't wonder off late in the night for a stroll in a secluded area with a strange man you don't know. Probably not advisable in any country, but particularly not in countries where attitudes towards women are more regressive then our own.
Travelling generally involves a greater degree of risk then staying in familiar surroundings. But IMO it is a risk worth taking. There are few things more fulfilling then exploring this weird and wonderful world of ours :smiley:
You're right, their levels of sanitation are significantly lower then ours. But that's an average measurement. There are eateries which will match or supersede the sanitation/cleanliness levels of establishments you frequent at home.
I know plenty of people that have visited without suffering food poisoning. Including my Wife who visited for the first time for 6 weeks (and we travelled extensively through the North and South).
When travelling abroad there are simple rules one should adhere to:
1) If you would avoid an establishment at home, its probably a good idea to avoid it abroad.
2) If in doubt stick to freshly cooked food, avoid uncooked/reheated/raw/etc food.
3) Drink bottled water and drinks unless you know its safe to drink from the tap/etc
4) Understand its not always about cleanliness, but also about tolerance. For example we are accustomed to heavily pasteurised dairy products. That helps us avoid nasty bugs in dairy. But it also means we can't tolerate bacteria that people brought up elsewhere are able too. Avoid food like dairy products where naturally occurring bacteria may lead to problems irrespective of cleanliness/sanitation. Cooked cheeses/boiled milk/etc are fine as they have effectively been pasteurised. But avoid yoghurts/cold milk (that hasn't been boiled recently)/creams/etc.
Hope that helps.
On HUKD ? You must be kidding
We booked a driver who drove us between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur over a period of ~6 days but did get a 2nd class overnight train to Surat which was an experience. Driver cost us 19.5k RS (about £200)
Be prepared for all the people staring, I'm brown skinned and still had plenty of stares
If anyone has any questions don't be afraid to ask
Here are a few tips and comments.
Themaninseat61 is a superb source of useful info.
I agree use IRTC for booking trains. If you are a " pensioner" you get about 40 percent off. I booked Kolkata to Varanasi AC1 [ the best first class cabin which includes food ] for £15 each.
Sometimes flights can be cheaper than the train especially on journeys of 24 hours plus.
Hotel Alka in Varanasi is recommended by SEAT61
It is important to book trains between 90 and 120 days advance . Already December First Class are booked up.
Buy prepaid taxi vouchers whenever possible at Stations and Airports to save being scammed.
My trip is fly to Athens
!4 nights Celebrity Constellation cruise to Abu Dhabi including drinks and outside cabin.
3 nights Abu Dhabi for the Grand prix
7 nights Dubai
Fly to Delhi 2 nights day trip to Taj Mahal
Fly to Kolkata 2 nights
Train to Varanasi 2 nights
Fly to Mumbai 1 night
Mandovi Express to Goa . Day time , supposed to be spectacular and best food on Indian trains.
7 nights Goa in Azzure Spree hotel
Fly to London
£1650 pounds each for 38 days excuding spending.
Finally a comment regarding the Morons who post rubbish comments on this site. My mental profile is that they are losers who do not have a life. They are probably jealous of the fact that people like us can create something by using our intelligence and initiative . Most of the comments are not funny. If these people were genuinely witty they would not have the time to waste here.
I rest my case.
In places like Jaipur you probably don't need a car as there are plenty of places within Rickshaw or local taxi range. Also if you pick a well located hotel you can wonder around in the vicinity of the hotel.
Agra on the other hand I would struggle to spend two days in without a car. Aside from the Taj Mahal and Agra fort there's not much else to see or do. Most people in India will tell you without the Taj it would be like any other small city in northern India. But the influx of mass tourism means its not that authentic Indian city either. Its like those crappy restaurants near famous monuments/sights. Neither exceptional, nor authentic, largely tourist traps taking advantage of the famous neighbour.
IMO if you want to see the Taj at both Sunrise and Sunset, you're better off timing it so you get it done over one night. Or plan a trip to Fatehpur Siri to fill the rest of one of the days.
Also you may want to check if they're doing the moonlight tours when you plan to visit.
NB: If you hire a car, pick something big. Will be more expensive, but roads are not renowned for safety, so you're better off in a big Jeep. Also ensure it has working Aircon, check the drivers details and send them to someone at home letting the driver know you have done this (do this anywhere, not just in India). And pick something relatively new and reliable, you don't want to be stranded somewhere :/
A review for New Delhi Hotel
"If you want a decent spot in India, you have to spend $30 plus. in rupees, Thats a min 2000. This place was a bit more, I got the deluxe Double here. It's in a dirty, not-so-great area of Delhi, but there is a shopping street, Main Bazaar Rd, that will cover a lot of your souvenir needs. After traveling through India, this was my last stop for a few nights before leaving, so the shopping was useful"
Varanasi Hotel Reviews
Agra Hotel Reviews
Jaipur Hotel Reviews
Links for all hotels above, make sure you read reviews carefully and then make a decision whether they are OK and upgrade to different ones if budget allows. The Delhi one has a few odd reviews but I did check on other sites where they are verified stays and it seemed OK, but you could always change it.
Varanasi's not just another city though, is a different world and tough to take for some, so make sure you have the stomach. Train reservations are really best made atleast 3-4 months in advance, IRCTC can take some getting used to but is reliable enough.
I did manage a three week trip to Cambodia and Vietnam: fabulous food there (French influence) and just one wobbly day after I was foolish enough to have a hamburger rather than local food!
Watch this in full !! Hope it helps understand India better...