Backpacking in India?

Question

My cousin and i are planning on backpacking in india from Feb'09 to June'09.we want to see the WHOLE country. i'm not even sure if that is possible in our time frame!

We want to start in the south and go all the way north and see everything in between. we don't want to go to very touristy places. however i dont even know where to begin to start an itenerary. I need help!! any suggestions?!

Answer 1

Here's a link to a terrific writeup from Forbes magazine about backpacking in that country. Also, there are travel agencies in India that specialize in backpacking - links below.

My sister has been to India several times and trekked in the Himalayas (the foothills), but her biggest beef, no pun intended, was the food. She lost a ton of weight because so little seemed palatable to her. Something to think about in advance and plan for - have care packages sent to you periodically at pre-designated locations, perhaps?

Have a great time! I meant to backpack in India years ago and never got around to it.

Oh - get yourself a good guidebook, too, to figure out the high spots and where you want to go. Where a travel agency can help (even if you don't sign up with them) is the time of year you want to be in specific places - so you're not near the Ganges when it floods, for example.