Looking for travel partner to Vrindavan -

Hare Krishna.

I am planning on going to Vrindavan next year for part of Kartik. I am looking for travel partner or partners because I am scared to go alone. I have never been to India before. If anyone knows of someone that is planning to go please let me know. I would prefer someone in the group to be male or if it is a female or all female group, someone has to be experienced in travelling there.

Thank you!

My e-mail is krsnagrrl@earthlink.net

This means in Kartika 2006? Well you certainly are at it in good time.

Are you with ISKCON, or would you like to see the Gaudiya landscape beyond that? Let's open with that. These two can provide dramatically different experiences. If you are looking for the ISKCON experience in a different environment, you can stay at MVT or Krishna Balaram Mandir at Raman Reti, attend lectures by Western Swamis and have loads of foreign people around you. You might not even need anyone to help you out all that much for that, I would really be mainly concerned with traveling safe until you are there. Of course ladies shouldn't be going around at dark alone, that's just common sense in India.

On the other hand, if you're looking for the more traditional Gaudiya experience, a deeper plunge into the ocean of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and a whole lot more of a cultural experience, then indeed you'll need someone to accompany you, to show you around and to explain things. Having a male person in the group, and preferably someone who knows his way around, will help much in finding your way around and making acquaintances in the various temples and ashrams around Vrindavan.

Where are you, in the US? How long do you anticipate to stay in Vrindavan?

Radhe RAdhe to all devotees!

Actually, it's a good thing that this thread has started... if you don't mind me jumping in a little - I'm hoping - finally! - to be able to travel to Vraja at the start of next year sometime in January (2006) for about 3 weeks, can anyone help me with travel details and planning and is there anyone from this forum who is planning ot be there around that time?

I know it's a little weird, but it's the only time I have that's substantial enough for travel (it's the school holidays!) anyone who can help, please do! Looking forward to hearing back from you soon,

YS
Sudevi dasi

Bring woolen socks and good sweaters, it's going to be a bit chilly.

I'm flying in on Oct 5th, out on Nov 19th, so we won't unfortunately be there at that time.

Dear Madhavaji,

RAdhe RAdhe! Yeah, I think i've already factored in the winter considerations into my planning! So you're leaving fairly soon in October, that's awesome! Are you going to be starting up Vrajajournal again while you're there, or maybe not? It was really cool last time to read it!

Anyway, I was wondering who I should write to if I wanted to get in touch with any devotees near Babaji Maharaja, and if Baba is going to be there in January or will he be travelling to Calcutta etc? Please advise Madhavaji!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

YS
Sudevi dasi

Dear Seekers,

Sri Maharaj ji has cordially invited us to come
before November 16, 2005, as there will be an
inaguration ceremony of 'Bhakti Mandir' planned for
that special day. at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, U.P.

All his devotees do believe that the exravagantly
created devotional masterpiece, the 'Bhakti Mandir',
will be soon on the world map as an acclaimed
magnificient monument of Divine Love, attracting all
seekers of God worldwide and as a cherished, Divine
pilgrimage spot.

Many devotees of Kripaluji Maharaj ji from abroad will
be attending this auspicious event.
Also see the slides and learn about this Bhakti
Mandir at http://jkp.org/home/home.html
by clicking on Bhakti Mandir link.

So interested pilgrims please check with the devotees
at JKP international centers:
http://jkp.org/intl_programs/index.html
for assistance in travel to Bhakti Dham and Braj
during Kartik.

Learn more at:

http://www.jkp.org/jkp_ashrams/bhakti_dham_mangarh.html

Regards

Leela

Thanks for the responses. I have been slow to check back.

Travel is really my main concern. I was thinking Kartik '06 but now I am thinking maybe sometime this spring. I am part of ISKCON but I do want to explore everything Vrindavan has to offer. I live on the east coast of the US and would be travelling from NY. I know women who have made the journey alone but they are experiencd travellers. I would expect to stay 10-14 days.

It's hard for me to plan because I don't have a solid travel partner. I also want to be there when my guru is there.

All the flights from the east coast get to Delhi very late in the evening. I don't want to be there alone.

QUOTE(Madhava @ Sep 19 2005, 01:24 AM)

Bring woolen socks and good sweaters, it's going to be a bit chilly.

I'm flying in on Oct 5th, out on Nov 19th, so we won't unfortunately be there at that time.

Please let me know how to contact you once in Vraja. I would like just to meet face to face. I will be arriving in Vrndavan on October 20 or 21. For a week before heading to Sri Rangam (South India).

Keshava

I dropped you a PM, Keshava. Yes, it'd be great to meet.

Please you seasoned veteran travellers, i have not been since the late 70's and then was provided the ticket by TP., does anyone have any kind of good cheap connection for the Airfare? About how much $ from East Coast USA? Thanks for the help and for the thread Krsnagrrl

QUOTE(SriKrsnadas @ Oct 2 2005, 06:15 PM)

I have seen $1100 from NYC on various sites like Travelzoo.com which searches many websites. I think that is the cheapest you can find right now. I know someone who is leaving from Orlando and also got tickets for that amount (it's acually nine something but with taxes and fees it is $1100-ish.)

Still on the search...

makemytrip.com is always worth checking. As they are Indian-based, they often have very decent fares. You often find fares there for under $1000 from NYC but I personally wouldn't fly Aeroflot, Aerosvit, Uzbek, Kuwait and the like. You can get reviews for the different airlines at Airline Quality.com (A-Z) . They also have passenger opinions too, even going so far as to mention the best seats to get (or avoid) on different planes.