Namaste
I noticed something about hotels and $1000 dollars for boarding for one month, all I have to say to that is it could be an "if'y" situation.
I've stayed in hotels in India (and Nepal.. and ...) that have ranged from bugs crawling north to south and south to north in straight lines on the wall behind where the bed board leans and one bulb hanging from a wire from the roof (no lamp shade) and bathroom flooded, stinking and with some black grease on everything, to $300 dollar a night rooms and it really comes down to WHERE you are sleeping that night and WHAT is available depending are where you are going.
Once me and a friend had to stay in a little airlines office where the hotel we wanted to stay in (this was Delhi) was full after we got into town late, they rolled little cots into the booking room of some Africa on the fly airline booking agency, not kidding.
Bring a "money belt". I am an expert on carrying cash strapped with rubber bands here and there, ps your passport is your life. If you can, pack "bug juice" in your luggage.
Belleve it or not, but don't assume that just because there are a gajillion hotels that there will be rooms available, sometimes no way. I once stayed in a room, the only one available, where in the morning I found out from a rickshaw that it was the same room that Gandhi's assassin stayed in, so that's why it was luckily available.
I have the advantage of relatives in India to stay with, but depends on where you are going so if you really want to take advantage of being in India you will be where there are no relatives. You know, there are some "not that bad" religious tours you can book in those little tourist agencies in India. They can be nice if you want to be with others who come from other areas of India and are also not familiar with the area and of course there will be some Westerners, too. Some of the most amazing conversations and meeting of others happens on those long bus drives at night back to the "city".
Yes, as some say, first time might be a culture shock, so first time make it an adventure with another like minded friend or relative.
You are going to get sick. Bring diarrhea meds so you can take that before getting on a bus, or taxi or whatever. You will lose weight. As for 1000 dollars, yes things are cheap but not as cheap as they used to be. Actually, depending on where you are going, it can be expensive. You are going to want to buy some things, too.
I noted the water, not common but sometimes a water bottle sold was originally empty and refilled with tap water.
Watch out for those little refrigerators in some expensive hotels. You put an uncovered paper plate with rice, subgee and chapatti, then some of that water in the walling of the fridge or top ice box drips in the food and the next thing you know is an entire day is wasted while you moan in bed and have hallucinations.
Yes, I am telling the worse case examples, no doubt some Indians now hate me. Yes, it isn't like it sounds. You can do it. You will go back again. Bring more money than you think.
Om Namah Sivaya
