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Originally Posted by LWJ
^^^I am frankly terrified of India. Only know one person who has been without being aggressively ill!
Tell me more. The visual splendor / cultural attraction of India is amazing. I am very drawn. Just scared.
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Be scared. India is terrifying. Just being there I am frequently feeling like I’m in a cave fighting a feeling of claustrophobia. Trying not to lose my composure. There are so many problems and so many people. But it’s also incredibly diverse and there are so many wonderful people, it’s amazing.
I’ve seen the tourist stuff long ago and am very very not into it. I’d never ‘go Agra for the day’ to see the Taj Mahal. I like places with nature and good air.
My last trip was 2 months and I spent less than $1k, and most of that was eating at literally the most expensive restaurants and staying at the imperial in Delhi (not the most expensive but it’s cool, I like it. Reading New Yorker on that ac verandah breakfast buffet…)
Trip was so cheap because I was mostly in the himalaya in places where there were no people.
For me the things to see: the food. The rising Indian middle class. The bjp (fascist Hindu nationalist party). Just talking and meeting people and hearing their perspective. Lots of people have great English and no job prospects so stories to share.
Delhi is hard to tolerate but I also spent a few days in a no ac travelers house in the suburbs, pool and lots of trees in a big garden, good food and conversation, and like $20/night.
Fly Calcutta, hang for few days, ac train to Delhi, then to Chandigarh, maybe up to arunichal Pradesh? Is cool and great air in the mountains. Huge country, history and cultures, follow your nose and take your time. Don’t try to plan precisely because there’s a lot that will go wrong. I’m thinking to go again, I really want to visit Kashmir for the food. (Kashmir: it’s never been safe my entire life, I can’t wait any longer and have got to just go.)
You’ll need a vacation afterwards.