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Assam is a beautiful state with many tribes and natural beauty. National parks with rich biodiversity and wildlife are major attractions for tourists. Exploring Majuli Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra river is an extraordinary episode if you are interested to meet the Mising tribe who are indigenous to the land and Brahmaputra. Satras hold a value of Assamese presence in the land. Don’t miss the weaving villages of Assam and bamboo crafts.

Sualkuchi village is not very far from Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. Sualkuchi is popular for silk handlooms. You may walk into any home to see a small-scale weaving factory in the backyard. In fact, each village home in Assam has a weaving machine and centuries of history in weaving.

6 days itinerary to explore Assam

To travel around Assam you may choose the cost-effective transport service with Aaradhya Travels at +91-7896505118.

Facts to notice

• Sunrise and sunset are too early for the IST timezone in North East and hence in Assam. Be prepared to wake up early and sleep early if you want to explore more places.
• India’s largest shaktipeeth Kamakya temple is located in the capital city of Assam.
• Majuli is the world’s oldest and largest inhabited river island. Majuli in missing tribal language is Centre/Middle.
• Sualkuchi is the world’s biggest weaving village.
• The one-horned rhinos are the world’s highest population in Kaziranga National park.
• Tea gardens are built in the British era. Assam is the world’s largest tea-growing state. Jorhat is India’s tea capital.
• Assamese food is tasty, but they don’t make curd. Be prepared to eat local food without having curd.
• They weave beautiful handlooms and make bamboo crafts. Make sure to explore the local shops.

How to reach Karnataka

If you are an international traveler and traveling by air, Bangalore International airport is the best port of entry. If you are already in India and traveling from a different state and choose to travel by road, you may check the following websites.

Make My Trip – For booking flight/train/buses, hotel booking and many more

Indian Railway – Travel by train anywhere in India.

Red Bus – Travel by bus from neighboring states.

The Green route

Green Route is one of the best train routes in monsoon season. The train ‘Ypr Karwar Express’ runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from Bangalore to Karwar. Journey gets scenic after Sakaleshpur as the train passes beautiful mountains and 57 tunnels across the Western Ghat.

1st Stop – Hassan

One can plan in a way to reach Hassan by bus as the scenic route starts after Hassan. There are historic monuments and natural beauty around Hassan. Hence it is worth spending at least 2 days in Hassan unless you want to hike the mountains around.

On the way to Hassan from Bangalore, you may spend a day in Shravanabelagola. 60 km from Hassan, this is a popular Jain pilgrimage and named among one of the Best heritage sites from UNI. The world-famous Gommateshwara statue is on top of the Vindyagiri Hill. This is probably the best barefoot hike on steps early in the morning as footwears are not allowed.

There are two UNESCO heritage historic temples built by the Hoysala dynasty.

• Belur – 38 km from Hassan provides easy reach by bus. There are frequent buses from Hassan to Belur every half an hour.
• Halebidu – 32 km from Hassan provides easy reach by bus. There are frequent buses from Hassan to Halebidu every half an hour.

There are frequent buses from Belur to Halebidu and visa versa.

2nd Stop – Sakleshpur

There are sightseeing and hiking places around Sakaleshpur. It is worth to spend a day in Sakleshpur or make a commute from Hassan to Sakleshpur for a day trip. The 2 best sightseeings are Kadamade tea estate and Manjarabad fort. There are limited buses to Kadamane estate. Hence one should plan according to the bus timings unless you hire a taxi. Kadamane estate provides a nice tour to the tea factory.

3rd Stop – Mangalore

It is one of the best train journeys on the Green route from Sakleshpur to Kukke Subramanya in monsoon. From Sakaleshpur, the train travels across Western Ghat and crosses 57 tunnels. Thrumming rain with green foggy mountains around makes the journey contented. One could spend a day in Kukke Subramanya if you are interested to visit the temple.

Otherwise, there are beautiful beaches around Mangalore. Tannirbhavi beach and Panambur beach are pretty close. There are many pilgrimages including Dharmasthala which are easy to commute from Mangalore.

Konkan Railway

The beauty of Coastal Karnataka starts from Mangalore. Konkan railway connects Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. The Green route connects the Konkan Railway from Mangalore. Konkan railway goes across the Arabian sea. There are multiple trains everyday runs in this route.

Coastal Karnataka is famous for unique food and cultural affairs. Dance forms like Yakshagana, Huli Kunita (Dance in tiger costume), Bhuta Kola, etc. are some of the unique cultural performances in special seasonal events. Kambala (buffalo race on wet paddy fields) in monsoon before farming is the yearly event demonstrated by farmers.

4th Stop – Udupi

Udupi is famous for the ancient Krishna temple. However, the place is also near to Malpe beach where you could get a ferry to visit St Mary ‘s Island. There are other small Islands where few cultural events take place near Kundapur. Shringeri, Agumbe are day trips from Udupi.

5th Stop – Murudeshwar

A beautiful beach, temples and a huge Shiva statue is what Murudeshwar is famous for. It is on the way to Gokarna, hence worth stopping to check if you would like to visit pilgrimage. Half a day must be sufficient on the way to Gokarna.

6th Stop – Kumta

Kumta and Honnavar have two beautiful rivers Sharavathi and Aghanashini. A mix of western ghat and Arabian ocean and a combination of various cultures makes Kumta an obvious beauty. There is a tribe called Haalakki that resides around the area follows the unique lifestyle. Kumta has a beautiful riverfront along with mountains in the background as well as peaceful beaches.

7th Stop – Gokarna

Om beach and half-moon beach in Gokarna is famous for recreation. Many international tourists visit every year to do yoga and relax on the beachside. There are yoga schools and good resorts as well as temples in Gokarna.

8th Stop – Karwar

There are beautiful clean beaches to watch the sunset and do several activities in Karwar. Karwar is also famous for seafood. Since it is boarder to Karnataka and Goa, it attracts tourists and conducts many events on the seashore. Kali river garden in Karwar offers many outdoor activities including water sports and camping. Karwar is easy to commute to Goa by road on Konkan railways or by bus.

You might be interested in other articles How to solo travel India and 7 obvious reasons to travel across India.

Experience of CouchSurfing varies depending on the country and region. I was glad to experience the best out of it during my travel to Jaipur, India.

How to be a good CouchSurfing guest

1. Join the CouchSurfing community and create your profile. Make sure to upload your “real” photo and write as many details as possible in all the sections.
2. While building your profile, clearly mention your interests, what you can offer as a guest. If you are traveling with a mission, clearly mention it and provide the link for your website/channel/social network.
3. Be a verified member for better chances to find a host.
4. It would be great if you already have some references, else attend local CouchSurfing events, meet people and get as many references as possible.
5. India has people of varied mindset. As I observed, few use CouchSurfing just like any dating app. When I posted a public trip to Haridwar, many men from several parts of India offered to host me. Later on, I realized, there are users who don’t understand the motto of CouchSurfing. I started being picky and read each profile before sending a request to the host. That way I got wonderful hosts who made my stay comfortable and memorable. Hence I would suggest, be careful while choosing your host in India. Read the host profile thoroughly and send a request if you are convinced that the profile is genuine.
6. Choose the host who has genuine references. Read the references before you place a request. If needed ask for professional/social network details and website details.
7. It is important the way you write requests. Choose an accurate “From” and “To” date. If you are not sure about the exact date, choose a tentative date and mention in your message that your dates might move a bit according to your plan and arrival.
8. It is a must to write a message in detail which is convincing enough for the host. Mention what do you find interesting in the host’s profile and why do you want to choose them. By hosting you, what kind of experience you offer them.
9. If you are traveling with a pet/Kids, mention in advance. Some hosts may not be pet-friendly or kids-friendly. If you are a smoker, make sure to ask whether they are comfortable hosting a smoker. Same with meat, many Indians are religious and they may not encourage you to cook or eat a non-vegetarian meal while staying with them.
10. Before the move-in date, be communicative and discuss your plans. Inform them what time you are going to arrive etc..
11. Be mindful of the property and surroundings. If they offer food, taste it. Indians consider guests as gods. If you are going to stay with a family, you may meet generous people who would love to feed you, they may offer food and force you to have it. Be generous and understand they are not being pushy or rude. It is their custom, that’s how they grew up.
12. CouchSurfing is the best way to know local places that normal tourists do not visit. Apart from tourist attractions, your host may suggest you some beautiful local sites, eat in some good restaurants or accompany you. Make sure to ask for suggestions and involve them in your plans.
13. Try to understand their culture, background, interest, etc.. and share yours. If you are a good cook and they are open to taste your meal, then cook them a meal or offer a dine out and pay for it. It is not mandatory, but a nice way to be thankful for their help.

How to find travel-mates using CouchSurfing

Traveling is not always cheap. In some areas you may have to book an expensive taxi or simply having a partner may give you perks. If you are traveling solo, meeting a fellow traveler excites you. CouchSurfing is the best way to find a travel mate. You may post a public trip mentioning you are looking for a travel mate based on your reason. Else simply search for travelers in the current location. CouchSurfing shows you travelers who are visiting the place at the same time as yours. Based on your requirements, you may opt for a traveler or group of travelers for a meet-up.

Does CouchSurfing helps to simply hang out with locals or travelers

CouchSurfing offers “Hangouts” functionality in the app. You may find people who are ready to hangout. Add yourself as available to hang out and people may find you and approach you.

If you are still figuring out reasons to visit India, my article 7 obvious reasons to travel across India may help you. You may be interested to read the Workaway experiences of a solo traveler.

Women I met from different parts of the world told me, “I love to travel across India, but I am scared to do so as I am women”. However, I was dumb to answer until I tried to travel solo myself. I was unsure how far I can push my limits on the road when I decided to travel alone in India.

Why Travel Solo is necessary?

There is a saying in my mother tongue Kannada “ದೇಶ ಸುತ್ತು, ಕೋಶ ಓದು”. Which means “one should rigorously travel and read various books to gain knowledge and experience”. When one travels solo, a form of experience is different and intense than traveling with the group.

• You can plan the trip at your own pace.
• You can understand your strength, learn to push limits and think about new possibilities to overcome difficulties.
• Getting out of the comfort zone and traveling solo helps to “overcome insecurity” and “increases your level of confidence”.
• When you are planning for a trip and visiting the places alone, you often face situations to make instant and disparate decisions. Which “improves decision-making skills”.
• Often we are bound for the lessons we learned since childhood. The society we lived influences a lot in our outlook. We lead a life with an obstinate mindset unless we decide to change it willfully. Solo travel opens the new world, introduces a new point of view, establishes new connections, presents new ideas and helps to develop a variety of skills and brings changes in your perception.
• Travel solo is a journey within. You will learn Who you are, what you can/can’t do, how you can effectively approach different circumstances etc.

How to plan a solo trip to India

India is diverse in each and every manner. The culture, lifestyle, slang in language, food everything varies when you travel about 50 miles in diameter. To my knowledge, it is not easy to understand India. A variety of landscapes, rich in ancient history and architecture makes you feel overwhelmed if you don’t know what to expect.

• To overcome culture shock, research thoroughly what you focus on and what not during your visit. Based on your interest, chose the destinations.
• Figure out what kind of traveler you are? If you want to visit a set of destinations, list out and book your stay and transport in advance. If you are open to experiences, be open to new destinations after discussing with locals. I would personally prefer to be open to new plans on the go.
• India has good public transport facilities. Major cities like Dehli, Mumbai, etc, have good Metro connectivity. Even smaller towns and villages have government/private buses running at a certain time. Uber and Ola cabs facilitate at popular destinations at a reasonable price.
• The best way to book online is to MakeMyTrip for both bus trains, hotels, etc. RedBus provides more options for buses. You may book through IRCTC for trains.
• If you are a foreigner and boking a train under foreigner quota, you must be present in person at the counter with a passport and valid visa. I have seen many foreigners booking tickets without any hassles a few minutes before the train departure.
• There is 5 star, 3star hotels all-around major tourist destinations. Apart from that traveler’s hostels, Airbnb, etc provides comfortable stays at a reasonable price. In some major cities and touristy spots, CouchSurfing is popular if you are up for the cultural exchange and stay for free. I stayed in a hostel in Pushker and Udaypur which was hygienic, walkable to major sightseeing and costs less than $5 per bed.
• The food in the restaurant is not very expensive. Within $10 you would be enjoying a full meal for the whole day in a very good restaurant. If you would like to sit in Non-AC local restaurants you would get a meal within $2.

Can I Travel across India alone as a woman?

Absolutely! In my experience, India is safe to travel alone. If you have the right attitude and mindset to get out of your comfort zone and appreciate things as it is, you will have a wonderful experience. I would like to mention my recent experiences.

I was traveling from Rishikesh to Jaipur in Sleeper coach by train. I booked online, my ticket status was not yet confirmed. I suppose to share a lower birth with an unknown man. The ticket collector on the train was surprised to know I am alone. He came back in a while and told me, he pushed to confirm my ticket so that I could travel comfortably. He kept on checking once in a while whether I am comfortable or not until I reached Jaipur.

I landed Volvo in Jaipur to go to Amer. There were a bunch of men sitting in Ladies’ seat. Pregnant women struggling to stand by holding a rope in a crowded moving bus. I stood next to the conductor and told calmly: “All needy women are sitting in the reserved ladies seat and a brave man with a baby in the belly is standing firmly. We should fight against 33% reservation for women in the country han…”😊😊. He laughed and told me “most of the time you need to raise voice and make noise for your own rights”. I responded with a smile: “Right now I am ok with equality rather reservation”.

The conversation went on.. he gave me some suggestions to hike around for sunset and gave tips to deal with auto drivers around. He delightfully shared his contact number and asked me to contact him in case if I am late reaching down from the fort. So that he can make his last trip wait for me until I land the bus safely.

Do’s & Don’t on the Road

There is a saying in Sanskrit which means “treat guests like God”. Most people I observed in India are easy to communicate, are generous and cross their limits to help the guest. There are some you may have to be careful about.

Do’s

• Be communicative and ask for help if you need it. It is usually safe to approach the nearest shop, or a woman on the road to seek help.
• Hire a local guide for visiting historic places and difficult hikes. You may book good hikes to using Indiahikes, TrekmatesIndia, etc.
• Drink purified water from the filter.
• Book your stay in the safest areas. Contact someone local through CouchSurfing who has good references to get details about the area before traveling.
• If you are hiking alone, make friends with another solo traveler or any group who is hiking at the same time.
• Taste local food. India has a variety of tastes in each region. Attend cultural events and festivals, visit historic monuments, roam around the markets.
• Better install apps developed to make sure the safety of women. Shake2Safety, Himmat (Used by Dehli Police), etc.

Don’t

• Don’t land local private buses alone in the night. If you are traveling in the night, book for the transport in advance rather than going to find instantly.
• In popular tourist spots, there are pick-pocketers who specifically target foreigners and tourists outside of the state. Be careful with your belongings and don’t carry expensive items and huge cash to such places.
• I have seen in some places like Jaipur, Agra, etc, small business and auto drivers are pushy. They just see money in a tourist. Be firm to say NO if your ignorance was not respected.
• Before purchasing expensive items, visit as many shops as possible and try to know the actual price. If you can, catch hold of a local who can negotiate for you.
• Don’t opt for unauthentic tour guides. There are licensed guides for most of the monuments who committed to provide authentic information. In some places, men approached me to help to guide me for free. After a background check, I realized few cultivated hobbies to flirt with foreigners and marry them for money. Don’t put yourself into any difficult situations by involving with shady guys who come forward to help you.

Traveling solo is easy in India. Even easier when you cultivate the mindset to get out of your comfort zone and blissfully appreciate each moment as it is. Imagine meeting a bunch of people in the hostel, great company to hike together, climb a mountain and watch a beautiful sunset, sitting and chit-chatting on a roadside restaurant, share a local meal and exchange culture.

I had toothsome local dishes, landed public transport, met spirited folks across the globe, walked on mountains, markets and historic monuments freely without any hassles. I would like to encourage more and more women to travel solo to build a safe and healthy community. My article 12 best ways to travel using CouchSurfing in India may help you how to make use of CouchSurfing during your solo travel.

Rishikesh, India has been an international Yoga hub for several decades. Learning yoga is increasing tread to keep body and mind healthy with stressful lifestyles in this era. Many tourists around the world visit Rishikesh to learn Yoga and Meditation. Learning Yoga in its birthplace gives immense pleasure to the seeker. Let me explain some tips and tricks to make easy and cheap travel to Rishikesh.

However, during my visit to Rishikesh, I met few international travelers who repented to squander funds for the journey. Many tourists save years of hard-earned money to travel to such destinations to behold the intrinsic nature of spiritualism. They often shocked to experience the trickery and carry disappointment. I met a Portuguese couple who poured thousands of Euros to a travel agency in Dehli to plan for a decent trip and book transportation within India. Many took overpriced taxi services from Dehli without knowing the way to reach Rishikesh using public transport. Commute usually costs very less if one knows the trick and tips to travel cheap.

How to make my trip easy and cheap to Rishikesh?

There is plenty of public transportation to make the commute easy and comfortable to Rishikesh.

Arriving from abroad

If one traveling from abroad, It is better to book a flight to Dehli. There are several ways to travel from Dehli to Rishikesh. A taxi directly from Dehli airport to Rishikesh costs around Rs 4000. Which is almost 6 hours of commute. Other options are:

Dehli to Dehradun by Flight

If you pick off-season to visit, you may find cheaper deals to fly to Dehradun from Dehli. From Dehradun airport, Rishikesh is hardly 20km by road. You will find taxi rides for Rs. 1200. You may install Uber and Ola apps which provide cab services in the area.

Dehli to Rishikesh by Road

There are many options if you prefer to travel by road. Different buses that start from various locations in Dehli and reach Rishikesh within 6 to 8 hrs duration. The cost would be vary based on the facilities you chose from Rs 500 to Rs 3500.

Various trains that run from Dehli to Haridwar would be the best and cheapest option. Haridwar to Rishikesh is easy to commute as the bus station in Haridwar located just outside the Railway station. Every 5 minutes there is a bus from Haridwar to Rishikesh. The total commute would be within Rs 300 if you prefer to travel in sleeper coaches.

The best way to book online is MakeMyTrip for both bus and Train. RedBus provides more options for buses. You may book through IRCTC for trains.

Arriving from anywhere else in India

Haridwar has good connectivity from neighboring states Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, etc. Plenty of trains runs every day from different parts of India. There are buses directly from places like Jaipur, Dharamshala and many more. Reach of public transport from major tourist destinations makes your travel to Rishikesh easy and cheap.

Is Stay Cheap and Safe?

Absolutely! Rishikesh is overwhelmed by diverse tourists. Uttarakhand is one of the best places for adventurous activities in India. Rishikesh being center for many adventurous places around, you will find bikers, hikers, rafters in the peak season. Obviously, this is one of the sacred places for Hindus. You may find many devotees arrive from various parts of India. Rooms in travelers’ hostels vary from Rs 500 to Rs 1000. The crowd would be less in monsoon hence you may find good hostels and hotels at a cheaper price if you prefer to visit off-season.

Please refer to my article How to travel solo in India as a woman for more details regarding booking your stay and transport.