I was in Dhaka about 10 years ago. At that time it was way more crowded than Calcutta. People I was staying with in Dhaka, would go on vacation to Calcutta to get some peace. If you do go to Bangladesh definitely check out Chittagong and the ship breakers.

India is an amazing place, but is also a really terrible value relative to Southeast Asia or South America.

Low and mid range hotels in India are nasty and nitty beyond belief. I've stayed at places where the front desk guy screws in the lightbulb in your room on arrival and removes it when you check out. For the same price range you can have an amazing place in Thailand or Vietnam or Indonesia or wherever. High end hotels in India are fantastic but are really expensive relative to the cost of living.

Awesome place to visit but dont go in thinking it is comparable in value for the money to SE Asia or decent parts of South America.

If you cant get used to grinding slum life in india then just dont bother coming. If your really want to enjoy india, you have to grind these slummy mid range hotels imo or stay at hostels under worse habitable conditions or even ashrams. If your in a major city, and plan to stay their long term then look for "Paying Guest" posters that are basically rooms to rent in shared houses but lol at sharing with natives. that could become a problem for you given the vague info/outlook in your post.

The value of india is walking down the road, enjoying the extravagance (in whatever form) to your right whilst dodging the cow having a **** to your immediate left and avoiding the con men trying to stiff you as a mark. Poverty is unfortunately a part of Indian culture due to significant historic events. I'm sorry if this comes across harsh, but seriously, if your going to come to one of the biggest poverty stricken overpopulated countries in the world and moan about first world problems, please just **** off back to the second world.

Seriously, have some perspective. Just visit a few construction building sites in major cities... and watch how hard the women have it in blazing heat and some even turn up to work with 2 or 3 kids under 5 years old...and the women work harder than the men for like $3 a day, whilst their 4 year old looks after a 1year old and 2 year old on the building site. And education for these poor kids, or simple things like soap.. clean water.. a toilet.. a bedroom... just do not exist for these kids. Sorry for the rant but if you want to come to india and do not want to witness or suffer from garbage... seriously... your may want to work on your decision making skills.

I think everyone understands all that but in many other developing countries you deal with the grime etc but still get value for your money. That is not the case in India.

Is this real life?

You can't get value for money in India?

Whahttttt?!!!!!!!

this was more my perspective - apologies myself if I am coming off harsh and judgemental to a place that could be lightyears ahead of the rest of the world spiritually as well as in other areas of life/outlooks. I went to gradschool with a ****load of indians (well, obv), and the ones I keep in touch with are so much more informed about chakras, eastern philosophies, and all those goodies...a main reason I am considering going back.

So I can't get laid. Fine I'll deal. I can't even really go out to party and expect women to be around. ok, whatever. I can't stay somewhere in the cities for under $50 without expecting some form of bedbugs, cockroaches, stained sheets, no hot water.... ok I'm starting to lose interest, but still a month or two there is so 'good for the soul' and whatnot as everyone says. Who wants to 'grind slum life' though for any extended period of time if you make like...over $1000 a month. The world is filled with beautiful places with people going through the same struggles you speak of and are awed by for a fraction of the price, friendlier locals, they actually respect the opposite sex, better weather, etc etc etc etc.

Many countries have mountains and I can't wrap my head around what makes the himalayas so special either. I just feel like I'm missing something. cheap hash? whatever. I'm just not convinced on India and feel kinda bad about that as the place is transformational and magical to alot of people...as I'm really not as prissy as I may be coming off WRT 1st world needs, but i'm not yet sold on the whole idea of India for a couple months over other places. Really good places to meditate and get zen...ok, but that's the only argument so far I see

I think your view on India is pretty skewed, and offcenter, your a poker player right? Do some factual research or get firsthand opinions and then calculate a decision on whether to visit India or not. I would suggest you start some threads on tourist forums to get the information you need to make a decent decision based on your objectives for two months. I also apologize if I came across as a ********** in my reaction post. I'm just saying what I honestly think in that post. Is what it is. In India your gonna get stung and your gonna have to step in some **** and encounter redic poverty unless your prepared to pay a lot of money to avoid that stuff.

Its very very basic deduction imo.

Seems like you've done very little research and not actually sure what you want, other than to stay somewhere cheap with decent facilities+get pussy.

The problem is, India is a big bastard of a country. And facility requirements/prices differ drastically depending on where/what you want to see/do. And its unclear what you want so difficult to make suggestions.

IMO (not experience as I am very happily married and have been for sometime) getting tourist pussy should not be a problem from what I hear from single friends who have been to Goa, which seems like an ideal starting point for you, plenty of tourists to nail and party with and ask where is worth going. And in places like Bombay, and the biggest cities in India... things have changed a lot over the last five years.... it wont be difficult to find a good spot to party if your prepared to spend some cash -- which is pretty much the same anywhere in the world.

I hope this is useful and helps you get to the best decision for your requirements.

As a poker player goa is the best place for you anyways. I used to see a bunch of swedish and easter european kids there last time i went, grinding the live ash games. Those games were soft as hell too, it's probably changed now sine it's been a couple of years since I was there.

Accomodation in goa isn't really that expensive, and there are a ton of foreigners from US and europe who live there so it's different from the rest of india from that perspective.

I own a hotel in north india, I don't know what your definition of a cheap accomodation is, but for $30 a night you can get a clean airconditioned room in pretty much any city in india. Here's a hotel in delhi for example.
It doesn't get any cheaper because real estate in india is ridiculously expensive compared to everything else, if anything hotels are getting more competitive by the day and prices are coming down due to increased new competition in a stagnating industry.

However there are other options opening up that tourists on a budget should look into. There's zostel.com which is a hostel site similar to ones you find in europe, airbnb has options in various cities. If you're staying longer you should just look at paying guest options and serviced apartments that sell by the month.

Nice post and politely informative. Unlike my brash abrasive racist approach. Well played sir. Note to self, its okay to be polite over the internet.

Got any stories RE live non street cash in Goa? Been a few times but could never bring myself to play live... I imagine the table etiquette is errr phenomenal.

I'm interested in moving to India or Nepal around late Feb/early March. I have posted in the "looking for house" thread if you want to know more. Message me if interested :-)

Why would anyone voluntarily live in this dump of a country? Every Indian is dreaming of the day they can get out

Haven't read through this thread yet, but I'm planning a trip to India in Feb-Apr 2017. I plan to watch some cricket (Pune, Dharamsala) and volunteer at an animal rescue (Udaipur).

Plan is probably Mumbai - Pune - Udaipur - Dharamsala - New Delhi.

Anything in particular I should include in my trip that is in western India? What should I see and do?

Ranthambore is a shortish train journey from Delhi. I did six drives there, saw a tiger on each of the first three drives and bugger all on the next three drives. You can book drives pretty cheaply online through the park office. It costs considerably more if you buy them through your hotel.

you need to look deeper and find what really makes you happy

Hey Kerr, I have to say, as always, you must visit Goa. It's a beautiful drive from Pune and you will find true love here. in everything

also I forgot to mention Hampi, which is not too far from goa, if you like places wih high spiritual energies

If you are interested in sunny beaches and natural sightings, I think you should opt for Goa. It is also a cheap place so you can have your holiday without much cost with lots of fun.

Flying to Mumbai this weekend. Had thought about going a few days earlier and heading to Goa but will have to check it out next time.

I'll be at the cricket in Pune next week.

any poker community / players at Goa ?