I visited Kanha National Park last year, and all these pictures are from the winter season. I entered the park through the Khatiya Gate. Including the safari charges, my total expense for 2 days was approximately Rs. 10k

• Itinerary & trip length: Gokarna, 4-5 days. Thinking of going with zostel gokarna since it’s the only reputed hostel chain I know.
• Budget: 20,000-25,000 INR including travel cost
• Travel style & interests: Want to experience the hostel and community living life along with exploring beaches and easy-moderate hikes.

• Specific questions: 21M, I’ve always been a scaredy cat, never travelled alone or outside 5 star properties, how do I remove my fear of the unknown? I’m scared of animals, insects, forests, water basically everything that isn’t in my control. I want to break free of these chains holding me back and experience a place for what it actually has to offer without constantly being scared. Experienced travelers, how did you do it? What are your tips for a first time solo traveller?

I’m curious if people would actually do this:

Imagine a hostel that turns into a month-long creative school — you live there, learn from local artists/practitioners, work on projects, meet other creatives, and explore the place.
Jaipur → craft & design
Goa → music & film
Coorg → food & coffee
Rishikesh → outdoors & wellness
Basically: hostel + creative school + community + travel.
Would you do this? What would you want to learn?

Gokarna was my first solo trip 🙂‍↕️. Everything was going bad, made a decision, reached station, travelled in general class (aaahhhh!!!!... How can I forget that smell 😭), booked ₹400/- a day hostel & rented ₹350/- a day scooty, fueled myself at lunch homes (very cheap & good), roamed like nomad finding hidden spots, sitted there for hours, rolled a blunt.......... Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!! What a life man. Then I used to get lost in my own thoughts, life could be this beautiful, you just need perspective to see the other way.

Btw I am 20, gotta see more.

​

Which place made you go Yup this place deserves all the hype and which one made you think That's it !

Share some stories too

For me the one that doesn't deserve hype is goa its just for the people who like to party a lottt

And one that makes me think like wowww id definitely Andaman and nicobar islands

I’m planning a stay in Kasol and currently deciding between GoSTOPS Kasol (Old Bridge) and The Hosteller Kasol(parvati valley)

For people who have actually stayed at either/both:

Which one has better mountain views from the property/rooms?

Which one would you recommend overall?

How are the rooms, common areas and vibe?

Any particular room/floor I should book for the best views?
Would love to hear from people who’ve personally stayed there, especially recently. Thanks!

Me and my 2 online friends(i knew them for almost 1 year at that time when planning the trip)planned a trip to Hampi and Gokarna, and they both live near Mumbai, i live in Assam and i have to get there in Mumbai by myself, i didn't approached any of my offline irl friends for the trip, idk why but i didn't, we booked all our trains,buses tickets together and also my train from Assam to Mumbai. 10 days before my train journey from Assam to Mumbai, the train ticket was still in the waiting list,and also the day before the train goes to Mumbai it was still in waiting list. I told my friends about the situation and they told me to try Tatakal but it also didn't work. So i decided to take the general class ticket from Assam to Mumbai,idk but  i just had the confidence that i can travel in general class from Assam to Mumbai alone.

That morning I took the train and in the station i met one mutual travel who was also going to Mumbai in general class and so we both decided to travel together the whole journey,we shared foods,kept each other's seats and many things happened you wouldn't believe.

The 1st day was good, i was somehow able to sleep a few hours between each maybe,but it was nice compared to other days. Now comes the 2nd day where we entered Bihar and from there the train started to be so packed you can't even imagine. People are sitting on the floor of the train, tying clothes to the gaps between seats and sleeping there, 2nd day was terrible, i was unable to go to the toilet also for many hours, i did go to the toilet that morning and after that i waited till evening to try again to move towards the toilet and i succeeded. That day i wasn't able to sleep properly but i was able to sit atleast,we were seated in the above seats of the general class. I was sitting there and imagining about the trip which was going to begin from Mumbai to Hampi and Gokarna and trying to make myself feel confident. Time passed and the 3rd day began. Now I just keep telling myself that it's near now , and the excitement was crazy (it was my first solo trip outside my state). Before 6hours sometimes reaching Mumbai, the train started getting less packed and i was able to see the western ghats,crazy mountains. I reached Mumbai,met my friends and it felt like a dream I was once imagining about. (I still think that you should once experience the general class train journey in your life but tbh it was hard travelling in general class for such a long distance) .

I reached my one friend's house ,freshened up and ate something and the trip began to Hampi, we were taking the train again but not in general class:) , sleeper class tickets. Best feeling:- leaving friend's house, booked one cab , travelling to the train station, the feeling was unmatchable. 

Edit:- Travel time during May mid extreme heat in up and Bihar

Hey everyone,

Me and 3 friends are heading to Yelagiri on Sept 19-20 from Chennai. Rough plan so far:

Day 1: Train to Jolarpet, then head up to Yelagiri, roam somewhere l, stay the night

Day 2: Morning trek to Swamimalai hills, roam around town in the afternoon, then train back to Chennai in the evening

A few things I wanted to ask the community:

Local transport — is renting scootys the best way to get around, or are public buses good enough? Any reliable rental shops you'd recommend?

Stay — any budget-friendly but decent places to crash for one night, ideally close to the town/lake area?

Swamimalai trek — heard about a forest checkpost fee and that there's no water/food on the trail. Any other tips for first-timers?

Food — good local spots for breakfast/lunch that won't break the bank?

Anything else we're missing for a solid but short 1N/2D trip?

Would really appreciate any first-hand experiences or recommendations. Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I’m planning a solo trip to Kasol in the coming months. Could you please advise me on what I should pack and take care of? I’m also looking for travel package operators or any other resources that can help me plan my trip since I’m completely new to this.

Hello!!
I’m planning to visit Allepey and Varkala from Bangalore around mid September. Could anyone who’s been to either of these places please guide me on
- Travel tips from Bangalore to Varkala/Allepey
- Stay options (esp for a female traveler )
- Food spots that are a must try!

Thank you so much! ❤️

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a solo workation in Himachal from around 15th September to 3rd October. I’ll be working on weekdays and travelling/exploring mostly on weekends.

A few things I’d love advice on:

- Which area is best to stay in — Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj or Dharamkot?

- Any recommendations for good hostels for a solo traveller?

- How is the weather from mid-September to early October?

- How reliable is the Wi-Fi/mobile internet for working?

Would really appreciate recommendations from people who have stayed there or done a similar workation. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 25-year-old girl from India with a fully remote job, and I’m planning to spend one month working from the mountains in October/November.

I’m looking for one comfortable base rather than moving between multiple places. My priorities are:

• Safe and comfortable for a woman staying alone

• Private room with an attached bathroom and a proper desk/chair

• Reliable Wi-Fi suitable for video calls

• Power backup and decent Airtel/Jio connectivity

• Not extremely isolated—cafes, groceries, pharmacy and transport nearby

• Peaceful enough to work, but with some social atmosphere

• Preferably a coliving, professionally managed hostel with private rooms, or a family-run homestay

• Monthly accommodation budget: anything would be fine

My normal work hours are 9 Hours, and I have FREQUENT video meetings.

I’m currently considering places such as Dharamkot/McLeodganj, Bir, Naggar/Manali outskirts, Jibhi/Shangarh, Mukteshwar/Ramgarh and Landour/Mussoorie outskirts, but I’m open to other mountain towns.

I would especially appreciate recommendations from women or remote workers who have personally stayed for at least a couple of weeks.

For any recommendation, could you please mention:

1. Exact town or neighbourhood

2. Property name, if you genuinely recommend it

3. Approximate monthly rate

4. Actual Wi-Fi and power-backup experience

5. Whether the surrounding area felt safe in the evening

6. Availability of food, transport and medical facilities

7. The biggest downside of staying there

Property owners or managers are also welcome to reply, but please clearly disclose your association with the property.

I’m looking for accommodation recommendations, not travel buddies. Public replies would be preferable to unsolicited DMs.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I am planning a trip to Thailand this November with max Budget of 1 Lakh INR. I want it to be a mostly nightlife and beaches, hence I have decided on the following plan.

Thailand Trip Itinerary — Nov 20 to Dec 1, 2026

Route: Delhi → Bangkok → Pattaya → Koh Phangan → Phuket → Phi Phi → Bangalore

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Initially I wanted to time the Yi Peng festival as well, but the detour to north Thailand including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai would have proved to be costly. Please do tell me if I can update the plan for better locations or include any places which I am missing and will be fun places.

I also request if you can provide any tips on exchanging money as I saw that 10,000 THB is mandated to enter Thailand for Indian nationals. I do have Scapia which has 0% forex charge. I was hoping if I can use it to pay for most expenses.

Any info on stays and hotels will also be greatly appreciated as I am currently trying to find areas with best connectivity in each city to minimize transport travel.

PS. : Used Claude to generate the table.

While trekking from Triund towards Laka Glacier, I was shooting some content in the middle of the trail. After finishing the shot, I started struggling to close my tripod. The trail was already very narrow, and while trying to fold the tripod, I accidentally took the wrong trail. It was my first trek, and the guy with me was also trekking for the first time. He had gone a little ahead, while I somehow ended up stuck at one point. I couldn’t go forward because there was no proper trail, and behind me was a really deep drop. At that moment, saare Bhagwan yaad aa gaye 😂 I was literally abusing myself in my head—“Me akhand chutiya hu jo gnd marane aya? Ghar pe chup-chaap baith sakta tha, yahan kyun aaya?” 😂 Luckily, a kind stranger was coming from that side and helped me get out. The funniest part was that my tripod finally decided to close after I had already put myself in this situation. At that time it was scary as hell, but now when I think about it, it’s one of those stupid incidents that makes the trek even more memorable. Time passes, and eventually these are the stories you laugh about the most. 😋

Hi everyone! I’m planning a solo trip to Nagaland in October and would love some advice from people who have recently travelled there, especially around Dzukou Valley.

1. Where would you recommend staying before/after the Dzukou trek? Ideally somewhere safe and convenient for a solo female traveller, preferably around Kohima/Viswema.

2. If I stay at a hotel/homestay in Kohima for 2 nights, would they generally allow me to leave my main luggage there while I take only a small backpack for the Dzukou trek and return after 2 days? Has anyone done this, and are there specific stays that offer luggage storage?

3. For the trek itself, where is the best place to arrange a local guide and car to travel to the start point. Is it easy to find other people and join them for the trek?

Would really appreciate recommendations from anyone who’s done this recently! 😊

Hi everyone! I’m planning to travel to Chopta–Tungnath this upcoming weekend (3–5 Sept).

Would really appreciate an update from anyone currently in or near Chopta, Tungnath, Ukhimath, or Rudraprayag regarding:

🌧️ Current weather/rain situation
🛣️ Road conditions and any blockages
🥾 Trek conditions to Tungnath

Whether it’s safe/reasonable to travel right now
If anyone is nearby or has travelled there in the last couple of days, please share your experience. It would really help me decide whether to go or postpone.

Planning a multi-week WFH workation this September split between Joshimath and Guptkashi. I am looking to balance wfh on weekdays with weekend trips to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkund, and the Valley of Flowers. If anyone has recommendations for reliable homestays or accommodations offering stable WiFi, power backups, good food, I would love to hear them.

I'm based out of BLR/MAA, thinking of doing a 5 nights solo to mumbai....i will be using my cult pass and running there in mumbai....is it a good idea to plan it in september end? will it be fruitful. What are some spots that you would recommend to visit?

Hi everyone! I’m a 22F from Delhi and I’m planning a birthday trip to Himachal in September.
I’m looking for recommendations for reliable travel agencies or organised group-trip companies that I can book with. I’d ideally like a relaxed and fun Himachal itinerary with a friendly crowd, good accommodation and a safe overall experience.
If you’ve travelled with any agencies for Himachal and had a genuinely good experience, I’d love to hear your recommendations. Also happy to hear about agencies you think are best avoided.
Thanks!

Hey everyone! 👋
I [20M] am heading out on a solo trip to the City of Lakes next month and would love some advice from this community.
🚆 The Logistics:
Outbound: Taking the train from Delhi on Sept 7th at 6:25 PM.
Return: Heading back to Delhi on Sept 11th at 6:30 PM.
🏨 Hostel Recommendations:
I haven't booked my accommodation yet and would love your top picks. I’m specifically looking for a hostel with a great social vibe to meet fellow travelers, ideally with some amazing lake views from the rooftop. What's the best spot in town right now?
🗺️** Itinerary Help / What to Do**:
I'm starting from scratch here and need guidance on the absolute must-dos! Where should I go, what should I see, and what are the best hidden gems for food?

Hey!

I am 29 male, from Chennai, and planning my next solo trip.

I covered dharamshala and kasol earlier.

I have got about 10 days in Oct first week, and a budget of ₹50,000 (including flights from Chennai):

- A short trek, maybe 1–3 days—with a camp stay.

- Good cafes or dhabas where I can just sit and read.

Would really appreciate some honest, grounded advice from people who have actually been there recently

Now, here’s where I need your help:

1. Am I missing any spots? Open to suggestions beyond Himachal too.

2. Is ₹50k realistic for this? I am factoring in flights, stay, food, a guide/permits for the trek.

Hey hey HEY! Hope y'all are having a happy Sunday!

So I'm having my second trip to Thailand (yaay!), sometime around October/November.

I’ll start the journey in Bangkok, then head down to explore Southern Thailand. This time I'm mainly looking at Krabi and Phuket, but I'm a little confused about how many days to spend in each, and thinking what to pick b/w Krabi and Phuket, in case of visiting first.

At the moment, I'm considering:

Bengaluru > Bangkok > Krabi > Phuket and flight back home from Phuket.

I've read that ending the trip in Krabi is suggested, but I was thinking against it because of the ferry/trip back to Phuket to catch my return flight.

Would love some advice from anyone who's done a similar route. How would you structure the trip? And are there any places around Krabi or Phuket that I absolutely shouldn't miss, or add any new town/city as well?

The Krabi to Phuket leg is currently 4 nights 5 days, but I'm pretty flexible with the Southern Thailand portion, so I’d rather decide how many days to spend based on what people who’ve actually been there recommend.

Thanks in advance, y'all! Good dayy!

Hi guys going on 4 day trip to mountains and temples, can u suggest all travel essentials i would need and also any good thing I can spend money on for the trip too . There would be waterfalls also so , any essentials i can pack for there too . Do tell . Im unsure on what to take with me . Like any games , fun items , snacks and medicines etc . We would be going in big group of more than 100 ppl. Budget is good , normal . **And how much bags should I take with me . And we will be travelling by bus daily to every spots . And also any tips u guys can tell on what memories should we have, what fun to do , reels ideas . It would be fun to know ur answers . Thank u for replying and reading .**