Je suis en Inde pour 1 an.
Ca fait deja 4 mois que j'y suis et j'ai un gros coup de blues.
L'Inde qui me fascinait les premiers mois me rend desormais triste. Je ne sais pas ce qui a provoque ce changement soudain. Une grande tristesse, une melancolie soudaine. L'envie de pleurer et de rentrer en France.
Le bruit, la chaleur, la pollution, la vie en Inde, je ne supporte plus.
Je crois que c'est le mal du pays, non?
Malheureusement, je dois encore rester 8 mois pour terminer mon VIE.
Est ce que certains d'entre vous ont deja connu ce sentiment? Comment y remedier?
Tous vos conseils sont les bienvenus.
Ca m'est deja arrive lors de longs sejours...oui c'est un peu le mal du pays mais aussi le fait de toucher aux limites de la comprehension...
Normalement ca passe tout seul avec un peu de temps, disons que c'est peut etre le bon moment pour changer ses habitudes...prend peut etre le temps de te detendre en faisant un petit saut dans l'himalaya, faut dire que l'Inde est invivable en mai-juin, apres, avec la mousson la vie reprend le dessus et c'est tout le pays qui devient maasti-maasti !!!
Disons que j'ai l'impression d'etre etouffee par l'Inde et envahie par toute cette culture.
J'etouffe litteralement.
Limite au bord de la depression.
J'ai plus envie de bouger alors je me prostre chez moi.
Je ne comprends pas ce qui m'arrive.
Je sais de quoi tu parles ! Mais vu que tu n'as pas le choix, il faudrait plutôt voir les choses positivement. Je suis partie en Inde il y a deux ans déjà, et je devais rester un mois, je n'ai tenu que 15 jours. J'étais épuisée. Ce qui marchait pour moi, c'était le repos en campagne, je ne sais pas oùtu es, mais il y a quand même pleins de petits villages où tu pourras être tranquille, et pas un objet de curiosité, il est possible de rencontrer paisiblement des gens, et de se ressourcer. Mon message est nul, mais peut être t aidera t il . Mange, dors, écris, téléphone.... Fais toi plaisir !
ca me rassure de voir que je ne suis pas la seule.
En fait je suis dans une ville super polluee, bruyante et etouffante, ca aide pas.
pour l'instant je suis un peu a sec donc je ne peux me permettre de partir super loin.
A votre avis, est-ce une bonne idee de telephoner un max en France a mes proches ou au contraire est ce que ca ne va pas au final augmenter ma melancolie?
Bonjour coupdeblues,
voyager peut etre parfois stressant et fatiguant.
on dirait que tu as besoin de recuperer.je te conseille de decouvrir la medecine indienne, le yoga, la meditation, les massages de medecine indienne.....
et de te refugier dans une ville indienne sympa et reposante de ton choix.certains preferent une station balneaire a taille humaine, d autres plutot une montagne sacree, d autres encore un sejour en houseboat au kerala.....la notion de repos est differente pour chacun
bon courage
J'arrive en Inde vers le 15 Juin, peut etre meme avant...
Si tu arrive a avoir une petite semaine, je serai ravie de te presente mon pote anglais et de t'enmener avec nous quelque jours ds les hauteurs (Manali, Manikaran, etc.)
Ou si cela n'est pas possible, tu nous rejoind sur Delhi, on se rend ds une petite ville toute proche et on se trouve un hotel tranquille, on se fait des petits resto, on trouve des activités (parapente, grandes ballades, piscine, etc.).
Si tu n'est pas trop interessé, je te conseil de partir ds un endroit paumés quelques jours ds un hotel chic (25€ la nuit) et de manger européens. Essaye aussi de faire des activités comme celle que je t'ai proposé ci dessus.
Le sport est un bon moyen de se détendre et de se dépasser...pourtant je n'ai pas le corps d'un athlete!lol!😛
Pour finir, n'hésite pas a demande sur ce forum si il y a des personnes qui réside ds ta ville...fait des nouvelles rencontres et pense a autre choses...
salut,
je comprends ta situation, je pense qd meme que c'est juste une etape transitoire un peu inevitable;
moi je suis a chennai et pour gerer les moments difficils je continue de decouvrir, a l exterieur l autre Inde.
as tu essaye pondichery?par ex?
Moi non plus je ne sais pas ce que c'est qu'un VIE . Tu dis que tu dois à cause de cela rester encore 8 mois en Inde. Mais es tu obligée de rester au même endroit (et d'abord quel endroit ? ) . Ou bien peux tu te déplacer ? . Es tu astreinte à un travail fixe permanent, ou as tu les moyens de te libérer au moins quelque temps pour un "break "
Je dirais bien aussi comme les autres qu'il faut parler, rencontrer des gens, essayer si c'est possible de changer de lieu, de casser tes rythmes....... et si tu es vraiment au bord de la dépression tu peux peut être essayer AUSSI de voir un médecin (médecine occidentale ou tout autre ! ) Après tout ils sont là pour ça et dans une "grande ville " de l'Inde, même poussièreuse (!) tu dois pouvotr trouver des gens compétents !
Alors dejà excuses moi mais rien qu'avec le surnom que tu t'es choisi ca va pas arranger tes affaires !!!!!....
Bon je suis rentree il y a 5 jours de ce pays qui effectivement bouscule les neurones, et je suis rentree au bout de 2 mois pour problemes de sante alors que j'aurais du y rester 3 .
Mais malgré des coups de blues completement paniquants au debut, cqr c vrai que l'Inde est terriblement deboussolante et fatiguante. je suis rentree a regret.
Tu dois certainement etre physiquement fatiguee car les villes sont hyper stressantes et particulierement en été et c vrai que tu peux
1/consulter un medecin ayurvedique ( j'ai été soignée formidablement vite et bien par l'acupuncture pour des problemes d'inflammation des sinus et par la medecine ayurvedique pour des problemes d'angine)
2/ te mettre au vert quelques jours (je te conseille le Sikkim etat aux paysages merveilleux, ou l'ordre regne et ou la nature a vraiment des droits)
Aprés ca tu verras soies l'Inde t'interesse quelque part (il doit y avoir un peu de ça car tu ne dois pas y etre par hasard) et tu as la niaque alors tu depasseras ce coup de blues et tu trouveras ton compte dans cette expérience qui peut etre super enrichissante, soit tu rentres et le ciel ne te tomberas pas sur la tete.
moi aussi je te conseille les massages...mais doux hein !
peut etre que tu souffres du mank de (vrais)amis, de reperes sentimentaux (un ami de longue date on peut plus facilement lui faire confiance). ou peut etre est ce surtout physilogik ? (climat, nourriture, pollution, fatigue).
comme les autres je te conseille aussi dessayer de partir au calme ou au moins de tisoler (chambre, bibliotheque)
ça ne doit etre qu'une mauvaise passe passagere.
essaie de rencontrer des etrangers ou d'autres qui font aussi un VIE.peut etre que les lieux de culte, ça marche aussi.
je sais que l'inde c est loin d'être facile. comme les autres je te conseille d'aller de ressourcer dans un endroit serein et tranquille. tu es ou exactement? et qu'est-ce que tu fais exactement (un vie dans quelle entreprise)?
l'été drnie j'étais en stage a bombay et je sais que la vie n est pas facile. j etais dans une famille indienne asse européanisée et tout s'est tres bien passé. c est ce qui m'a permis de bien m'intégrer et de reussir mon sejour sur place. j etais deux mois a bombay puis j ai voyagé ensuite a travers l inde. il doit surement y avoir des VFistes sur place ou d autres francais expats ou stagiaires. j en avais renconré moi quand j avais envie de parler fr.
va sur le site www.franceinindia,
tu trouveras forcément à dialoguer avec des personnes dans la même situation que toi et peut-être à proximité de toi.
bonjour,
tu ne réponds pas beaucoup à toutes les questions que tu as suscitées, mais en voici une autre : ne prendrais tu pas par hasard un antipaludéen style Lariam ? cette saleté m'a gaché complètement un voyage, le Lariam peut provoquer des dépressions.
quoiqu'il en soit, je trouve ce forum formidable de solidarité ... tu y trouveras sûrement l'aide dont tu as besoin. bon courage, et tiens bon !!
Ca c'est une remarque intelligente, pas sur que notre ami coupdeblues en prenne mais c'est bon de le rappeler a ceux qui s'appretent a ingurgiter cette merde sur de longues periodes...
J’ai vécu la même chose pas en Inde mais en Arabie Saoudite où j’y suis restée 1 an comme toi.
Ta réaction est tout a fait humaine. L’Inde est un pays déroutant où ton éducation, tes amis, ta langue ne te servent a rien car très loin de ce que tu vis. Ils ont beau parler anglais en Inde, mais la dominante reste le hindi, leurs habitudes, leur religion, leurs mœurs sont à 100 lieux des nôtres et au quotidien, ça doit être dur à vivre !
Il n’y a pas de remède miracle, il est bien difficile de te donner des conseils car chaque être humain a des réactions différentes. On ne peut que te relater nos expériences.
Voici ce que j’ai fait quand j’étais dans ton état : Je me suis demandée si je voulais ou si ça valait vraiment la peine de rester à Dubaï, au risque de perdre mon boulot mais mon état physique et psychologique était plus important ! Tu fais quoi quand tu es devenue une carpette ?Ton boulot risque d’en prendre un coup de toute façon !
Si tu décides de reste en Inde, prends contact de toute urgence avec des ex pats comme toi. Tout le monde a traverse la même expérience et eux peuvent vraiment t’aider à te changer les idées. Leurs soirées même merdiques sont d’un grand secours au début. A la fin tu les trouveras « relou » et ce sera le signe que tu es guérie !
Tu as l’air d’être jeune, tu ne dois pas avoir de difficulté à rencontrer des foreigners à moins que tu ne vives dans un bled paumé !
Alors, fais le premier pas vers les gens, et tu verras que tout peut s’arranger !
appelle en france si cela te fait du bien mais pas trop car tu risques de les inquiéter et cela risuqe en effet de renforcer ton mal être. Je reconnais certains signes que tu décris. Essaie de voir un médecin francais à l'ambassade de france en inde ou attaché à un consul francais là où tu es. Tu es submergée par un mal océanique, très courant chez les jeunes expatriés. C'est sérieux. courage et réagis
je suis partie seule en Inde il y a maintenant plus d un mois et c est vrai que ce n est pas facile tous les jours.
j' ai eu de la chances, j ai fait de belles rencontres, ca aide
je suis en ce moment a cochin, et dans qq jours je vais me raffraichir du cote de munnar pour qq jours
je ne sais pas dans quel coin tu te trouves... sait on jamais on est peut etre a cote ! une journee ou 2 a parler francais un peu, et laisser son quotidien, ca peut faire du bien
tiens moi au courant si tu veux
mon mail : keeponsmiling@hotmail.fr
umm...Interressant....Moi, pour ma part, quand je commence a me sentir triste, seul, depressif, melancolique, irritable ou ....Aors, je sors de mon petit moi et essais de partager, de prendre soin de qqun....Exemple lautre soir, je me suis mis a prendre en photo les ptits mecs de 10 ans qui travaillent a l Hotel...Ca ne peut que me faire sentir bien que de faire sourire et rire...Essais de partager ce que tu as a offrir...Gardes pas tout pour toi ! Partages !Ma deuxieme theorie est que si tu fais ton truc de VIE pour une raison autre que le simple fait daider purement...Ex. mettre su ton c.v, paraitre bon, te valoriser, etre courageux, ou autre raison ( car il y en a plein qui peuvent pousser qqun a faire ca)...alors, il est normal que tu es ce genre de crise...La verite sort ! Pourquoi fais-tu ca ? Moi, je te dis....Aides, donnes, partages, medites....Restes pas seul....les indiens sont bien cool, jte dis....Appelles pas en France, la solution est la, tout pres...Tu tennuies pas de ta mere alors, trouves c quoi qui tarrive...Cest pour toi une superbe occasion de te connaitre, tu fais face a un symptome de ta personnalite et non une reaction de l Indes...Ilny a pas d effets secondaire connu pour lindes...Par contre, je crois que certains defauts de caractere ne supportes pas de se faire agacer comme ca...Pour ma part, la solution est : Action... Resaisis toi !!! Sors, parles, bouges, actives.....ecrits pourquoi es tu ici ? Pourquoi fais-tu ca: VIE....develloppes sur le sujet...personne vas le lire...Achetent toi des sacs de tabac a chiquer et offres le aux rickshaw driver...ils vont te faire mourir de rire...Si tes gener, degenes ! Affrontes tes peurs ! Dors pas le jour. Dors tot...Manges bien....Pas dlcool ni de tabac....ahah...Je suis entrain de delirer.....Mon psycologue de ruelle en moi se laisse aller un peu trop...Ce qui est sur, c qui a pas de probleme majeur a avoir les blues, ca passera si tu actives, actives veut dire changes pour moi....
et bien j'ai passé presque 6 mois l'année dernière en Inde avec une amie, moi j'ai adoré, je me sentais chez moi et ma copine, elle avait régulièrement des coups de blues, envie de rentrer. Elle en supportait plus la chaleur, les odeurs... mais elle a essayé de voir les choses positivement et aavec le temps ça lui est passé. Dis toi la chance que tu as de vivre une expérience comme celle ci. moi je suis rentrée en France en juin dernier et j'ai le blues de l'Inde, j'ai beaucoup de mal à me réadapter à la vie de chez nous.
Regarde autour de toi, nourris toi de tous ces sourires, ces paysages, la vie dans la rue...quand tu rentreras tout te paraitra tellement plus fade ici.
Positive et communique le plus possible avec tes proches, raconte leur ce que tu vis là bas et quand tu ne vas pas bien tu écris, ça fait du bien.
hello david
je vois ke tu arrive en inde le 15 juin tout comme moi. j'aimerai discuter avec toi si possible. je pars en routard style et je reste 3mois je voudrais des contact sur place et plein d'info.
apparemment, "coup de blues" ne donne plus de ses nouvelles sur le forum mais bavarde en msn et probablement en message privé, comment va t elle ? est ce qu'elle surmonte ce mauvais moment ?
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.
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!
I'm also considering a trip to Sri Lanka.
I'm surprised to find so few references to Jaffna in the comments.
Does that mean this destination isn't worth it?
Thanks for your thoughts!
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?!
I’m planning a short visit to Pokhara around mid-February 2027 (it’ll be my 4th time in Nepal 😊, over 40 years!). I’d like to book a room in advance rather than looking when I arrive. I’ve checked a bit on Bxxking.com and see lots of options. I’m used to scoping out the surroundings of places listed, just to avoid ending up in areas that are either unappealing or far from everything.
So, I see quite a few offers around the lake (Lakeside?), but every time I check what it looks like, the streets seem really uninviting. It’s kind of like a construction site with buildings everywhere… Nothing like Bhaktapur (for example) or even Thamel, where the streets seem way more pleasant.
Could anyone give me some advice?
Also, I don’t really get the impression that Pokhara is worth a visit of several days. The lake, sure, but once you’ve seen it—what else is there?
I’m interested in the 10-day/8-night "Discover Nepal" tour offered by Capitales Tours, among others.
For Day 4, it lists Kathmandu-Mugling-Pokhara as 200 km and 8/9 hours of travel.
Is this duration due to the road conditions? I assume the stop in Mugling for lunch is included in the travel time.
For Pokhara-Chitwan, only the distance is mentioned: 160 km. Should I expect a long bus ride there as well?
The proposed flights would be with AIR-INDIA via DELHI. We had issues with AIR-INDIA before—they denied us boarding for Paris even though we arrived at the airport more than 3 hours early. There was no specific counter for PARIS; the counters were for all destinations, and we waited in line for over 2.5 hours only to be told "too late"...
Thanks for your advice: Mum49
Is it still like this?
Yeah, VF, which used to be so responsive, still doesn’t even have a thread about this devastating mudslide that’s ravaged a region of Nepal where hundreds have died and hundreds more are missing (provisional toll). But from the images, we know the number of victims is going to be terrifying.
Thoughts to everyone affected, including, according to early reports, many travelers..
Hello,
We’ve already traveled to India twice before, but only for two-week stretches (2013, a loop from Mumbai including Hampi, and in 2019, Tamil Nadu). This time, we’re leaving at the end of October for nearly three months of travel—something completely new for us! We’ll arrive in Delhi and depart from Bangalore. Our goal is to explore Northern India and then head down to Kerala, taking a maximum of one flight and prioritizing trains.
Traveling for this long should let us plan longer stops to slow down the pace and fully enjoy our trip...
What are the places you’ve loved with this in mind?
I’ve already thought of Gokarna... Do you have any other suggestions, especially in Northern India?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Bangladesh for tourism during All Saints' Day 25. The government website is pretty discouraging! I’d love to hear from people living there or who’ve been recently before I buy my tickets.
How’s the security level and feasibility of a circuit (boat, train, bus around the country)? We’re used to basic conditions :)
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Cécile
I’ll be landing in Srinagar on October 23rd. I’ve decided to visit this region of India that I haven’t explored yet to discover new landscapes and, especially, their crafts.
I don’t have anything planned so far. I’ll be staying for about two weeks before heading back to Pushkar.
I’d love any tips you can share—small towns or villages to visit, ideas for affordable and authentic accommodations, workshops to check out, and so on. I’m open to all your suggestions!
I might head toward Jammu, where a host has offered to put me up for a few days.
Thanks in advance, and take care!
Hello,
We are two couples of friends aged between 65 and 70. Do you have a local agency or a local French-speaking driver-guide to recommend for a trip around Sri Lanka between February 14 and March 14, 2027? We’re open to any tips for our trip. The reviews and advice for agencies found on the forum are several years old. Thanks for your help.
Hi,
I’m looking for an organized tour in Northern India that goes through Agra (of course!) over about twenty days, prioritizing 2-day stops given the long distances or flights.
So far, my search has led me to these tours:
Intimate Rajasthan + Ganges Valley
Intimate Rajasthan and Goa
Confidential Rajasthan + Goa circuit
The number of kilometers is still pretty overwhelming and a bit scary.
Thanks for your feedback!
bcricri14
Practical tips from my 105 days of erratic wandering in India
Day 1 (10/10/2006): arrived in Mumbai around noon. Bus No. 338 5 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) 20' to Andheri station. Train 6 Rs to Dadar. Train 41 Rs to Lonavla 2h30 Hotel Chandralok 500 Rs **
Day 2: bike rental 7 Rs/h (too expensive, normal price 2-3 Rs/h) visit to the caves of Bhaja and Karla.
Day 3: train 28 Rs to Pune 1h20 Hotel National 416 Rs *
Day 4: train 141 Rs (with reservation) to Satara 2h45 Hotel Sagar 364 Rs **
Day 5: bus 110 Rs to Pandharpur 4h Hotel Aishwarya 450 Rs ***
Day 6: bike rental 2 Rs/h
Day 7: bus 125 Rs to Ahmadnagar 4h20 Hotel Parijat 250 Rs *
Day 8: train 151 Rs (!ticket for a mini 600 km trip!) to Jalgaon 5h30 Hotel Plaza 200 Rs **
Day 9: round-trip bus 38 Rs to Ajanta 1h30 + shuttle 6 Rs 5' Site entrance 250 Rs
Day 10: train 47 Rs to Khandwa 3h + bus 40 Rs to Omkareshwar 2h Ganesh G.H. 150 Rs *
Day 11 to 13: Omkareshwar
Day 14: bus 35 Rs to Maheshwar 2h45 Akashdeep Rest House 200 Rs **
Day 15: bus 8 Rs to Dhamnod 20' bus 20 Rs to crossroads 14 km from Mandu 1h40 bus 9 Rs to Mandu 20' Ram Mandir Dharamshala 100 Rs + 5 Rs for hot water *
Day 16: bike rental 3 Rs/h
Day 17: bus 50 Rs to Indore 4h Hotel Neelam 209 Rs
Day 18 to 20: Indore + round-trip bus 30 Rs to Ujjain 1h45
Day 21: train 82 Rs to Bhopal 5h30 Hotel Ranjeet 358 Rs *
Day 22: train 10 Rs to Sanchi 1h20 Jaiswal Lodge 200 Rs + 15 Rs for hot water! *
Day 23 and 24: visit to Sanchi + bike rental to visit the caves of Udayagiri
Day 25: train 69 Rs to Jhansi 5h + tempo 5 Rs to bus station + tempo 10 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) to Orccha 25' Sri Mahant G.H. 200 Rs **
Day 26 and 27: bike rental + train 20 Rs to Datia 30' + bemo 6 Rs to city center. Return bus 15 Rs 1h15
Day 28: bus 100 Rs to Khajuraho 4h Yogi Lodge 150 Rs **
Day 29: bike rental 30 Rs/day to visit the temples
Day 30: bus 70 Rs to Satna 4h + train 56 Rs to Jabalpur 3h Hotel Banjara 350 Rs **
Day 31: bike rental 2 Rs/h and visit to the Marble Rocks (50 km round trip)
Day 32: bus 50 Rs to Mandla 3h Hotel Satyam 250 Rs ** Round-trip bus 15 Rs to Ramnagar 1h15
Day 33: bus 60 Rs to Dindori 4h + bus 45 Rs to Amarkantak 3h (hellish road) Sarvodya Lodge 250 Rs °
Day 34: Amarkantak
Day 35: bus 25 Rs to Pendra Road 1h30 + train 120 Rs + 109 Rs (reservation) to Nagpur 8h Hotel Grand 257 Rs **
Day 36 and 37: bike rental + round-trip 25 Rs to Ramtek 1h40
Day 38: train 141 Rs + 125 Rs to Hyderabad 10h Hotel 3 Castles 200 Rs ° + Hotel Suhail 200 Rs °
Day 39 to 41: stay in Hyderabad
Day 42: train 48 Rs to Warangal 3h30 Hotel Surya 410 Rs **
Day 43: 60 Rs to Vijayawada 4h15 Hotel Sindhuri 275 Rs **
Day 44: round-trip bus 21 Rs to Amaravati 2h
Day 45: train 98 Rs to Visakhapatnam 7h30! (normally 6h) Hotel Sri Sampath Residency 250 Rs **
Day 46: train 111 Rs + 95 Rs to Puri 11h30 Travellers Inn 100 Rs ° + Hotel Z 300 Rs ***
Day 47 to 52: Puri + round-trip to Konarak
Day 53: train 38 Rs to Bhubaneshwar 1h15 Hotel Upasana 275 Rs *
Day 54: train 70 Rs to Balasore 4h bus 26 Rs to Baripada 1h40 Hotel Ambika 225 Rs °
Day 55: bus 25 Rs to Balasore 1h40 train 66 Rs + 68 Rs to Calcutta 6h30 Hotel Paragon 270 Rs * Hotel Crystal 350 Rs **
Day 56 to 62: Calcutta
Day 63: 60 Rs to Bishnupur 5h Hotel Monalisa 200 Rs *
Day 64: stay in Bishnupur no bike rental!
Day 65: bus 20 Rs to Bankura 1h30 bus 20 Rs to Durgapur 1h15 bus 28 Rs to Bolpur 2h15 Hotel Nisa 150 Rs *
Day 66 and 67: visit to Bolpur/Shantiniketan. Refused bike rental at ... 100 Rs/day!!! (Communist state of Bengal!!!)
Day 68: bus 20 Rs to Sainthia bus 35 Rs to Baharampur 4h30 bus 7 Rs to Murshidabad 40' Hotel Manjusha 350 Rs **
Day 69: bike lent by the friendly hotel owner and visit to Murshidabad
Day 70: bus 8 Rs to Baharampur 35' bus 60 Rs to Malda 6h (hellish road) Hotel Pratapaditya 231 Rs **
Day 71: train 66 Rs + 70 Rs to New Jalpaiguri 4h Hotel Holydon 250 Rs °
Day 72: train 52 Rs to Darjeeling 9h30! (normally 7h) Hotel Pineridge 500 Rs **
Day 73 to 75: Darjeeling
Day 76: train to New Jalpaiguri 9h30 + overnight train 271 Rs
Day 77: Patna Hotel President 482 Rs **
Day 78: stay in Patna
Day 79: train 18 Rs to Gaya 3h10 tempo 10 Rs to Bodhgaya 30' Deep G.H. 400 Rs!! °°
Day 80: return to Patna
Day 81: round-trip train 36 Rs to Rajgir 4h! (normally 3h)
Day 82: train 75 Rs to Varanasi 5h! (normally 4h) Yogi Lodge 150 Rs *
Day 83 to 87: Varanasi
Day 88: overnight train 310 Rs to Jaipur Evergreen G.H. 250 Rs **
Day 89: bike rental 30 Rs/day round-trip to Amber
Day 90: bus 59 Rs to Sikar 2h30 bus 23 Rs to Fatehpur 1h30 Rajshri Rest House 300 Rs *
Day 91: round-trip bus 12 Rs to Mandawa 30'
Day 92: round-trip bus 17 Rs to Churu 1h30
Day 93: bus 80 Rs to Jaipur 3h30 Evergreen G.H.
Day 94: bus 105 Rs to Bundi 5h30 Shivam G.H. 200 Rs **
Day 95: bike rental 3 Rs/h
Day 96: auto-rickshaw to station 45 Rs 25' train 44 Rs + 50 Rs to Chittorgarh train 21 Rs to Udaipur (total trip 8h) Badi Haveli 330 Rs **
Day 97 to 99: Udaipur + round-trip bus 45 Rs to Ranakpur 3h30
Day 100: bus 143 Rs to Ahmedabad 5h30 Hotel Manila 300 Rs **
Day 101: Ahmedabad
Day 102: bus 99 Rs to Bhavnagar 4h30 Hotel Vrindavan 200 Rs *
Day 103: round-trip bus 22 Rs to Palitana 1h10
Day 104: bus 85 Rs! to Ahmedabad 5h30 + overnight train ? Rs (feels like the end of the trip!)
Day 105 (January 22, 2007): train 6 Rs from Dadar to Andheri 20' + bus 5 Rs + 5 Rs (bag) to International Airport 20'
More figures
British Airways flight price Brussels-London-Mumbai-London-Brussels 576 €
Exchange rate from 55 Rs to 58.6 Rs per euro
Average room price 272 Rs/night
Daily budget 11 €
Chai from 1 Rs (Calcutta-Bengal) to 6/7 Rs (Rajasthan)
Bottle of water from 6 Rs (Udaipur), 8 Rs (Varanasi) to 12/13 Rs
Internet from 8 Rs (Warangal), 10 Rs (Calcutta, Indore, Hyderabad), 20 Rs (often) to 40/60 Rs!! (Rajasthan)
Beer in a restaurant from 85/100 Rs (often) to 150/165 Rs (Varanasi/Udaipur)
More details on request
Hello everyone,
we got back from our trip to Kashmir and Ladakh three weeks ago.
We spent 4 weeks there, including one in Kashmir.
We’re really happy with our stay in Srinagar and Sonamarg. The Kashmiris gave us a very warm welcome and seemed pleased to see tourists who weren’t Indian. In fact, over the 4 days we spent in Srinagar, we only saw 4 people who looked European... Srinagar is stunning with its lakes and the lively Mughal gardens. No trouble getting around, whether by shikara, rickshaw, taxi, or on foot. The houseboats are gorgeous, unfortunately controlled by consortiums. We took a taxi to Sonamarg (20 €).
Sonamarg (two nights) and its glacier are easy to explore, either on horseback or on foot, but it’s becoming a leisure spot for Indians.
To get to Ladakh afterward, we opted for a private taxi (quite expensive at 100 €, but the road is long). Since we’re a couple, it allowed us to stop whenever we wanted... and the route is beautiful all the way to Lamayuru, with our first snow-covered pass under snow when we crossed around May 21st. Then we stopped in Mulbek and Kargil before arriving in Lamayuru (three nights). We took another taxi to Alchi (26 €), spent one night there, and took the local bus at around 8 AM to Leh (3 €, a comfortable one-hour ride). We arrived in Leh around 9:30 AM, and Gyatsel from Tsarap Guesthouse came to pick us up with our backpacks. His guesthouse is located 500 meters from the market square in Leh, in a quiet little alley with no traffic. We highly recommend it because Gyatsel is invaluable for arranging taxis and organizing off-agency circuits...
His accommodation is super comfortable, and he cooks with vegetables from his garden. His wife also helps out... It’s Gyatsel’s mother who tends the garden. Through him, we arranged permits for the Nubra Valley up to Turtuk, then the Pangong and Tso Moriri lakes (we didn’t do the latter due to snow overnight!). We also crossed the Changtang (magnificent) to reach Thiksey, Stakna, Hemis, and returned to Leh. Six days in a private taxi (400 €). Since the roads were clear, we headed to Zanskar for 5 days in a shared taxi (28 € round trip for both of us). The route from Leh to Zangla follows the Zanskar gorges (impressive!).
We discovered Padum, Pibiting, Karsha, and Puktal, which you can reach via a small 7 km road and a 45-minute walk to finish, plus the sacred summit on the way to Manali.
Back in Leh, we extended our permit to visit the Aryan Valley by taxi (round trip, two days, 90 €).
We spent our last two days resting in Leh—the altitude is really tiring...
I’m sharing these taxi prices as a guide for a couple.
Accommodation ranged from 12 € in Leh to 30 € at Pangong Lake (the most expensive), but averaged around 15-17 € per night.
We’re not trekkers, but we love walks, discovery, and meeting people along the way. It was an amazing trip, and we even discovered a very old monastery a few kilometers before Lamayuru, where a monk took us—timeless...
I’m sharing these details because it’s hard to find precise information about Kashmir.
I’m heading to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks in July with my two 11-year-old kids, and I’m wondering about how to organize the trip. We’re used to traveling on the go, staying 1 to 2 or 3 nights per place depending on how we feel.
Do you recommend planning the itinerary and booking accommodations in advance to save time once we’re there?
Or is it pretty easy to organize everything as we go without any issues?
Same question for activities: Should we book safaris and tours ahead of time, or can we arrange them easily on the spot? Is there a risk of not getting a spot, for example, to visit a park since we’ll be there in July?
We’ll be using local transport (train, VTC via PickMe, tuk-tuk) to get from one place to another.
In short: Are there any must-book things we should reserve now?
So far, I only have the flight tickets!
Hi there, I think you're on the right track—you plan the itinerary and book the rooms in advance, and that’s it.
Not only do you save time, but you also know where you’ll be staying each night. Choosing well on Booking (or elsewhere) is actually a pleasure!
For safaris, given the number of jeeps with drivers available, it’s unlikely you’ll be turned away... the real issue is more about the concentration of jeeps around the animals.
I travel like you do—train, bus, tuk-tuk, and sometimes taxi. Ride-hailing apps like PickMe and other VTCs are mostly in big cities.
For the mountain train, due to severe flooding, service was interrupted on the line between Kandy and Ella. Check ahead, because reservations for this train are very complicated, if not impossible.
For the Colombo/Kandy train, you reserve your seats by buying the ticket before boarding. In the south, no need to book in advance for trains.
In Sri Lanka, there’s always a solution for getting around—just ask your hosts. They have trusted contacts at their fingertips. But still, compare prices—😏 smart move!
I stick to booking my nights and keep pre-planned activities to a minimum.
For reservations you can’t skip, it’s the beach stays you’ll want to secure.
I’m trying to find out if it’s still possible to travel from Mumbai to Goa by ferry or any other sea route. My search results aren’t very clear, and if it *is* possible, I can’t figure out where to book...
If anyone has any info, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!
It seems there’s a ferry from Nagapattinam to Jaffna in India. Has anyone here taken this ferry before? My main question is how to get to Nagapattinam—by train, bus? And from which town further south, of course.
Thanks, friends!
Hi there.
We’re spending a month in Sri Lanka in March, and we’ll have one week left after leaving Polonnaruwa.
We’re torn between spending it in the Jaffna region or on the east coast between Batticaloa and Trincomalee.
We’re divers, so the east coast appeals to us for snorkeling, beaches, and lagoons—but it seems like late March might not be the best time for that coast. What do you think?
As for Jaffna, the culture of the region, its more authentic feel since it’s less touristy, and the offshore islands all appeal to us too—but it seems far from the rest of the country and harder to access.
We have to choose because we won’t be able to visit both sides, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks, Marie
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to Sri Lanka as a couple, and while planning the trip, we found plenty of info on the itinerary, places to see, and transportation, but much fewer clear reports on the actual budget to expect once there. Yet, that was an important point for us because we like to plan ahead a little before traveling.
So, we took the time to break down our complete budget after the trip. In our case, we spent around **930 € per person** for 2 weeks, being careful without depriving ourselves, mixing guesthouses, more comfortable hotels, quite a few activities, and even a private driver for part of the stay.
What we found interesting when crunching the numbers is that in Sri Lanka, it’s not necessarily meals or short trips that blow the budget, but rather flights, certain accommodations, cultural activities, and all those little expenses we sometimes forget, like tips.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea, we’ve put everything together on our blog with our experience, a detailed breakdown of expenses, and practical info on money while there, withdrawals, and tipping:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-sri-lanka-pour-un-voyage-de-2-semaines/
We’re a group of 5 heading to the Everest Base Camp trek in early April. We won’t have a porter or guide—we’re used to hiking independently and have already done the Langtang trek and the Annapurna Circuit (back in 2003!).
I’d love to know if it’s necessary to book lodges in advance or if we’ll easily find availability during this busy season. Also, will we find lodges all along the route between the main stopover villages, or only in those villages? I remember there were plenty everywhere on the Annapurna Circuit. We want to stay as flexible as possible.
We’re heading to India in March 2026 and had planned to visit the parts of the Meenakshi Temple that are open to non-Hindus. However, the temple is currently undergoing major renovations—with all the towers covered in scaffolding—which might really take away from the experience and our stop in Madurai.
After some frustrating and vague online searches, and before we reshuffle our itinerary, I’d love to know—if possible—the most accurate expected completion date for the renovation work.
We’re planning a trip to Nepal and would love to do a helicopter tour to Everest with Namche Heli Service.
Has anyone here used this agency? I can’t seem to find any reviews online.
Thanks in advance!
I’m spending two weeks studying Hindi in the mornings in Delhi, in the Hauz Khas neighborhood.
What spots should I check out in this area? Any cafés to chill at?
How do I get to other parts of Delhi? By rickshaw? Is it easy to negotiate the price upfront?
Hi,
I’m leaving this Saturday for Northern India from 15/02 to 27/02. I’m planning to visit New Delhi, Agra, Chand Baori, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Bundi, Udaipur, and Jodhpur.
What’s the best way to get around?
I was thinking of doing everything by train.
Maybe taking the bus for some stretches?
As for renting a car with a driver, it seems expensive, so I’ve pretty much ruled that out. Unless someone’s got space for the same dates?
We’re heading out in March for this trek. We’re used to hiking and long-distance treks, but this’ll be our first time in Nepal.
QUESTION: People from Nepal are telling us it’s MANDATORY to have guides! Is this true, or is it just agencies trying to get work for their staff?
The Lonely Planet says: "In April 2023, the government announced that every trekker would need to hire the services of a porter or a licensed guide to obtain the TIMS permit. The law isn’t enforced, and by 2025, there were no longer any obligations for teahouse treks."
What do you think? What’s your experience? Thanks for your feedback.
Hi,
I’d like to arrive in India at New Delhi Airport with some cash. I was wondering if the exchange rates at the airport are any good or if it’s best to avoid them (and exchange in the city instead?).
