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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 25, 2014 - 01:09pm PT
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Never been, but I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip for next year. It won't be a climbing specific trip, but I'd like to at least bring my shoes. Hampi springs to mind in that regard.
Any places/regions that you feel should be included?
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Mar 25, 2014 - 01:24pm PT
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I spent 6 months in India on 2 different trips back in the 80's.
Hampi is one of the most amazing places I have been to anywhere. Great scenery, beautiful rock carvings and temples. I think Badami has a developed climbing scene as well.
Rajastan is another highlight.
I would stick to south India if you only have a month. More friendly vibe than the north. Look upon India as more of a cultural than a climbing trip and be sure to visit some temples or go to some festivals.
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Mar 25, 2014 - 02:16pm PT
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I was in southern india for 6 weeks the beginning of 2011. Hampi is incredible for many reason (just never take a government bus anywhere!).
Just remember it takes a long time to get from point A to point B. Always opt for the first class train ticket (ten bucks instead of five) and never take the government bus anywhere [there's an echo in here]
take a little baggie of chalk as you won't find any there (though you can rent a pad and shoes in Hampi)
If for some reason you head to Mysore let me know as I can connect you with someone there that will help you out.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Mar 25, 2014 - 02:23pm PT
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I liked 2nd class trains because of the interaction with the locals.
This statement is of course negated on very popular main lines.
Buses are a lottery, some are OK but can be horrible.
I have met many people who have spent years travelling around the world. When asked their favorite countries the reply is usually "Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion then India"
India is like many different worlds (in space and time) coexisting at once.
One Brit even bought an elephant then spent a year travelling from village to village!
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 25, 2014 - 05:05pm PT
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Thanks for the info, bump.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Mar 25, 2014 - 05:24pm PT
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I was there for only about 3 weeks in 1992 and all that time was spent in the north. I would definitely like to go back and visit the south though. Kerala looks awesome. Having said that, the place is so heavy with cultural and architectural significance that's it's hard to focus on just one place. If I had to do it again though, I'd stick with Rajastan: Varanasi, the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Udaipur, Jaipur. Just lots of terrific stuff. Khajarajo (sp?) looks cool too, though hard to get to. Didn't make it to Goa, but everyone I know either loved it or was kind of meh about it.
Part of it depends on what's important to you; what's on your short list and what time of year you'll be traveling. Sounds like you've got lots of time to research and get ideas. I'd totally disagree about a "favorite" place destination though. Totally rewarding and amazing, yes. Easy to travel there, absolutely not. It's hot, crowded; you may get sick,very sick possibly. People may be aggressive (financially) toward you since you're a westerner. It will challenge your world vision and sense of equity. Everyone I met who stayed there any length of time seemed a little touched. I met one guy who spent six months in a town and could only tell where to get a good lassi; another girl told me about a conversation she had with a horse just by looking into its eyes. Most people, myself included, were actually kind of relieved to be leaving. I'd love to go back, but it's certainly a kind of roll up your sleeves and roll with the punches kind of destination.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Mar 25, 2014 - 05:46pm PT
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I like the South better but everyone has their own perspective on India. Some folks hate it and bail. I think it is easy to travel around due to the large number of hotels, trains, buses, much easier than Africa. Comfort travelling is another story sometimes but the difficult times have some of the most enduring memories.
You think the touts are aggressive? Try Havana where everyone is desperate to get convertible pesos.
You will never be bored in India.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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Mar 25, 2014 - 05:56pm PT
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BITD, I got stuck in Korea and my roomate had been in India for 2 years. He'd left with $600 and still had 200.
I'd left also with $600 but had only done 3 months in other Asian places and I only had 40 left.
In 2009, I went climbing in the Indian Himalaya. I have an article on Summitpost.
India is the craziest country there is. But amazing. Be ready for anything.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Mar 25, 2014 - 07:57pm PT
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I'd like it if you could get a picture of the back of the Taj Mahal.
We've all seen a million pictures of the front of the place, but I'd like to see what the other side looks like. Back where they keep the dumpsters, and where the employees park.
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John Duffield
Mountain climber
New York
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Mar 25, 2014 - 07:59pm PT
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That's the Gardner at the Taj Mahal, in my photo.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Mar 25, 2014 - 08:19pm PT
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Easy enough to walk around behind the Taj Mahal and well worth the quiet time.
You're looking across the river plain. Looking at a different world. We saw a loaded camel train crossing the river. And no dumpsters, at least not in '82. Not a bad back door view of the Taj either.
Yeah, the Taj is spectacularly beautiful. I found the Agra Fort, down the road a bit, more interesting. Great views of the Taj and the river beyond.
As in most faraway lands, walking through the places where the ordinary people live is more interesting to me than the 1000 photos a minute tourist sights.
One of the things that amazed me in India is the antiquity of some of the buildings. Fort built upon temple upon temple ruins, going back 2000 years or more. Alexander the Great was a latecomer. What we call India/Pakistan/Afghanistan had immense and well organized civilizations while my European ancestors were still wearing bearskins and living in wood and mud huts. They've rebuilt entire cities atop the skeletons of previous ones.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 25, 2014 - 09:56pm PT
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You could get lost in this place.
Be careful...be very careful.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:00pm PT
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Well that probably wasn't very helpful.
Might I suggest the Italian alps instead? No? Okay.
9 years and counting ( I know crazy eh?) I have a few ideas if you want to hear them.
Send me a note when you're ready and I'll share a few.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:04pm PT
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Delhi Dog!
9 years!!..Dang, miss you guys living here full time...Snow tonight in Truckee..Snowed most of the day in Lassen.
Rain, thunder and lightning right now...yowza..i should shut down the computer...
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JMC
climber
the land of milk and honey
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:44pm PT
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Mr. Dog, where do you live?
I'm on the east side of the Yamuna, in Mayur Vihar.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:50pm PT
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1.3 billion people, 1,700 tigers....nuff said.
edit:
Population of India in 1900 (275,000,000), tigers in 1900 (40,000).
trending badly
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Sanskara
climber
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:54pm PT
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I want to know more about the getting lost part.
What exactly would you be referring to?
I am sure climbing yoga and religion will bring me to India sooner or later. It really is just a matter of time really. All three are very very important to me and kinda ll encompassing evn in the states.
I tend to get lost though or rather hyper focused ;)
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 25, 2014 - 10:57pm PT
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Donini's right, not enough tigers!
JMC...south Delhi sort of...Anand Niketan (New Delhi area) a couples blocks from the Indian Mountaineering federation. Look me up sometime, maybe do a little climbing on the IMF wall.
Count down Nita!
We're getting close, and it's so nice to hear that at least some parcipitation is happening there.
Miss you and andy a lot.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Mar 25, 2014 - 11:26pm PT
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Look out for bad drivers, when you use public transport. If the driver seems incompetent, get off at the next stop.
We hadn't thought much about this last part, until the "super-deluxe" bus we were on fishtailed, from going too fast and then braking on a corner, left the highway and smashed apart a small brick building. This was traveling between Agra and Udaipur. The guy across the aisle from me was killed, as was the woman sitting in front of me. My girlfriend ended up with a fractured C5, though it wasn't diagnosed properly until we had to get back to Canada, 3 weeks later. I'll spare the Taco my nightmare Indian hospital stories.
I know this could happen anywhere, but its more likely in places without good driving standards. As mentioned already, be careful.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Mar 25, 2014 - 11:56pm PT
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^ word.
India has the worst (I know we had a thread all about that at one point but I still maintain that...and I've driven in many many countries).
Bummer about that experience KS.
and
...my hospital stories suck too
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