Ongoing discussions · India

During the 60s and 70s, thousands of travelers hit the road to India. Some were backpackers or hippies, but not all. In this collective anthology featuring around twenty contributors (including GeorgesOz), you’ll also find truth-seekers, a couple who went on their honeymoon to get married in Bengal... and "crazy" folks who set off on VéloSolex bikes...

Worth noting: all contributors donated their royalties to support the Céline Hegron clinic in a poor neighborhood of Varanasi.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a Kerala/Tamil Nadu trip and can’t decide between these two spots. We’ll be coming from Madurai by taxi. Munnar seemed perfect for some hiking and great views. But I’ve heard about Idukki, which is less touristy...

So I’d love to hear your experiences to help me choose.

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m heading back to India after more than 15 years and I’d love to know what the cost of living is like these days. I’m planning a trip for just under a month—Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Kolkata—mostly by train and taking it slow. We’re traveling as a couple, so we’ll be splitting accommodation costs. Thanks in advance for your tips! Small travel note: trip planned for early 2027.

Hi there! 🙂

We’re heading to Sri Lanka for 23 days in January 2027—there are four of us—and we’ll wrap up the trip with 5 days in Mumbai. Our itinerary is coming together, but what do you think? (We can’t change the dates since our flights are already booked.)

We still have one night to slot in, and I’ve tentatively planned it in Tangalle, though it was a bit random. Would it make more sense to place it at a different stop? Or is there an intermediate stop I might be missing?

I’ve got accommodations sorted everywhere except Mumbai—it’s a nightmare (either way too expensive or really dodgy). By default, we’ve spotted the Residency Hotel Fort, but 70 € a night (with a discount) for a hotel that doesn’t offer anything special in India?!

Thanks so much for your help!

Namaste! Here I am live from Delhi, past midnight, at least 30 degrees.... I wanted to post the start of this France travel journal but couldn’t find the time, so here it is live! Off we go for a third trip, but this time for double the duration—6 weeks with the goal of discovering Ladakh and Spiti, starting with a detour to Varanasi to meet up with Babeli and her family.

Phir milenge for the rest of the adventures...

Hello! We're a family of 4—3 adults and a 14-year-old. We're seasoned travelers with a passion for science, culture, and history. In short, we love discovering and learning. We'll be in India for 3 weeks, from December 11, 2026 (in Goa) to January 3, 2027 (in Thiruvananthapuram). We're looking for one or more drivers to handle the journey and guides who speak clear, fluent English, French, or Spanish. We'd love guides who are knowledgeable, passionate about their region, and able to answer our countless questions while giving us in-depth insights into the places, rituals, culture, and more. Do you know of such guides or drivers, or have any tips on how to find people who can help us create unforgettable memories? Thank you so much in advance! Cat

hi I was almost done with my e-visa application, and when I selected the payment method, I chose Razorpay. It glitched, and I got a server error 500/404... No matter how many times I go back to "complete partially filled form," it doesn’t work... What should I do? Thanks for your help!

Hi fellow travelers, I need some info. Landing in Mumbai on the 16th at 11:55 PM, so immigration will be on the 17th. On the e-arrival card form, which date should I put—16th or 17th? Thanks for your answers.

Hello everyone! What a pleasure to be back on this forum after all these years… Goodness, we’re clearly far from the days of backpacking solo and carefree! Today, I’m well and truly "tied down," with two adorable little anchors—ages 3 and 5½—keeping me on my toes 😊 But here we are, finally mustering the courage to dive back into adventure, backpacks and all… this time as a family! We know traveling with young kids won’t be a walk in the park, but we’re ready to adapt. And for that, I’ll need your brilliant advice! Here’s our plan: We’ve got our tickets for Kochi, from December 28 to January 5, 2026. From my research, I’ve seen that this period is super lively in Kochi, with lots of festivities. I’ve also read that despite the crowds, it’s generally pretty "kids-friendly." Can any of you confirm this? I figure it’d be a shame to miss all the fun, especially if there are parades (with or without elephants… even if I’m not a fan of the concept, I know my kids would be amazed…). As for the itinerary, I’m still a bit unsure. Since New Year’s Eve falls right in the middle of our trip, it complicates the idea of doing a loop around Kerala. Here’s what I’m considering so far:

December 28: Arrival in Kochi, then we’d head straight to Marari Beach (or a similar beach) to settle in and let the kids get their bearings.

December 30: Houseboat cruise in Alleppey

December 31: Back to Kochi, to enjoy the New Year’s festivities

We’d stay in Kochi until January 1 or 2, then head to Munroe Island for a few more relaxing days before heading home

January 5: Flight back to France

My big question: Is spending New Year’s Eve in Kochi with kids a good idea? Or should we arrive, then leave the city quickly to avoid the crowds? Thanks in advance for your feedback, experiences, and tips. I’m all ears for any suggestions to make this first (real) family trip as smooth as possible 😊

For those planning a trip to Kerala, here’s a quick, practical summary. For the most part: the stunning landscapes, the natural kindness of the locals, their cuisine, and their culture—you’ll get to enjoy all of that once you’re there... Flight (arrival and departure to/from Cochin) Avoid Air India and opt for flights via the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, etc. Price: between 500 € and 600 € Accommodations Average price: 20 € per night for a couple (max: 40 €, min: 10 €, often including breakfast), via the usual booking sites. Homestays (staying in the owner’s house) are of a higher standard. Only 2 nights were spent in questionable cleanliness. The rest were good, even very good, or even *very* very good. Car with Driver All-inclusive daily price: tolls, fuel, driver’s lodging and meals... and of course, we often shared our meals with our driver too. Toyota sedan (e.g., Corolla) for 4 travelers (1 in front, 3 in the back): 50 € / day, Toyota SUV (e.g., Innova) for up to 6 travelers: 60 € / day DM me if you’d like more details.

Overall budget (excluding flights and shopping) Around 1500 € for 1 couple for the 3 weeks... in "2-couple mode"! (i.e., sharing the driver’s cost). Itinerary

Night 1: Arrival in Cochin in the morning, departure for Attirappily Beautiful waterfalls

Night 2: Thrissur Via Vallachira, not much tourist interest, a stop to ease into the trip and shorten the journey to Wayanad

Nights 3, 4, 5: Wayanad, staying in Sultan Battery Coffee and tea plantations, dam lake, URAVU (bamboo craft workshop), ...

Night 6: Ooty Botanical garden, then a really fun tourist train the next afternoon to Metupalaiyam

Night 7: Toward Coimbatore

Nights 8, 9, 10: Munnar City visit, stunning tea plantations

Nights 11, 12: Thekkady/Kumilly Amazing tea plantations, sightseeing, Jeep ride, not-so-interesting boat tour on Periyar Lake, trekking options

Night 13: Marari Beach (near Alleppey) 4-hour backwaters tour, then beach (swimming, dinner)

Nights 14, 15, 16: Munroe Island Super chill, walks around the island (small coir rope factory), sunrise by boat or canoe, sunset

Night 17: Varkala Gorgeous beaches, shopping

Night 18: Trivandrum City center visit, then train back to Cochin the next day in 3 hours.

Night 19: Cochin Fort Kochi is a lovely way to wrap up the trip

Have a great trip in this incredible region, so unique in India!

Hello, Planning a cruise on the Brahmaputra in January—should we worry about being bothered by those little critters? One of us has allergies. Thanks for your replies

Hi there, I’m planning a winter trip across India. Departing in early December and returning to France in mid-April. My main concern is finding an airline that offers this round-trip with the fewest hassles regarding cancellations or flight schedule changes. The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East isn’t making this search any easier—recent reviews online about airlines from Gulf states describe quite a few struggles over the past few months. The direct Paris-Delhi round-trip flights offered by Air France or Air India are probably the safest options, but not the cheapest! Given this uncertainty, I’m still holding off on finalizing my ticket purchase... Maybe some of you India lovers on VoyageForum have tips or experiences to share? Thanks, and happy travels to all.

Hi there, Our trip to India, starting at the end of October, is taking shape. I’d like to book a hotel in Delhi for our first three nights and another in Amritsar, where we’ll be staying during Diwali. I’ve realized it’s really hard to trust the reviews on Booking. Have any of you stayed at and can recommend mid-range hotels in these two cities? Your feedback could help us decide! Thanks in advance.

Hello, Does anyone know a good local French-speaking agency for a discovery/trekking trip in Maharashtra? For about 3 weeks, a custom trip, but not too expensive! Thanks in advance, Laura

Hi there, we're planning to go to Haridwar and Rishikesh in February, either from Delhi or from Amritsar where we'll be beforehand. What's the best way to get there? Driver, private car, train? Your tips would be much appreciated... thanks

Hi, I'm thinking of attending the Nagaur Fair in Rajasthan, which takes place from February 12 to 15, 2027. Has anyone been to this fair? Is it just a livestock market or a real festival with music and dancing? Since it’s quite a detour for me, I wanted to know if it’s worth it. Thanks!

Hi, Does anyone know if the Banbasa border crossing is open on weekends? Thanks

Arthur Neve (1859–1919), an English doctor and missionary, dedicated most of his life to his passion for Kashmir, a region he wrote several books about—including this guide (18 editions published between 1890 and 1945).

This copy (225 pages, 9th edition, 1913), published in Lahore, features dozens of detailed itineraries with maps, covering campsites, mountain pastures, river crossings, and more. Among them, you can trek from Srinagar to Khapalu and then to Baltistan, or "travel" from Leh to Yarkand (Xinjiang) via the Nubra Valley, along with other unexpected destinations. The guide also includes suggestions for shikara rides, houseboat rentals, and gear for hunting, camping, fishing, and photography. Plus, it lists various supplies like chocolate, Egyptian cigarettes, frames, and alcohol. Note that the Murree Brewery, relocated to Rawalpindi, is still operational—though, in theory, the predominantly Muslim population can’t access it. I found this book in a box of old books, and you can still find copies on Anglo-Saxon websites—though often at prohibitive prices.

Hi there,

I can’t seem to complete the payment for my trip on the IRCTC (Indian Railways) site. No matter which payment method I choose, my Visa card isn’t accepted. Has anyone here managed to do it, and if so, could you share the method you used? Thanks in advance! Charlie