Since I am so gung-ho about travel, it came as a surprise (to me) that I do not know of any travel magazine in India apart from Outlook Traveller. And that too, I only go to their website. Well, the magazine comes in my college library, but the glossy cover and its outlandish destinations and super price tags, completely put me off. It seems like an insult to a budget traveler like me!
Now on the global scene, I know at least two good websites that devote attention to the budget travel, GoNOMAD.com and Transitions Abroad.
With GoNOMAD.com I had some luck and as many of my regular visitors know, my two stories have seen the light of the day. One is about trekking in Goa with YHAI and the other about how to reach Ladakh without breaking my (OK, husband’s) bank balance. Both of the stories are as budget travel as possible. And we are a double income no kid (but two nephews) household.
My feeling is that a lot of people do budget travel in India and around the globe. Can you point me out a good Indian website or magazine that devotes itself (at least acknowledges) budget traveling? If not, anyone is willing to launch such a magazine?
i read FE Business Traveller. Its from indian express grouphttp://www.businesstravellerindia.com/
I come here to read about budget traqvel in India…
Thanks Prakash for your input. Teri, the link is not formed in the comment, I would love it if you could give it again.
Prakash, on second thoughts, FE Business Traveller is again full of stories about Jetsetting corporate employees and living The Porsche Life! I most certainly do not fall in any of the above categories but I love to travel and I am looking for a humble budget travel magazine.
Mridula : It was was my first visit to this blog ( via desipundit) . after spending some time to find what TTFA ( sucha longggg name..:D)is all about, i understand, FE traveller doesnt fall in the category. It’s mainly for business travellers, giving tips hotel discounts, airfares, cock & mocktails. I dont know of any other magazine.I think teri refers to ‘THIS’ blog, TTFA
Prakash, thanks a lot for your second comment but now what is TTFA? Or do you want me to spend all that time again that you took in finding it. Please, please, give me a link.
oops.. it had to be TTFI, which means traveltalesfromindia. What i meant was, i read your previous posts.
I thought once, if the reference is to my own blog but could not figure out with the A! Hmm, thanks a lot for all your comments and interaction. I do know of a good India travel message board India Mike though that covers many aspects.
yes, traveltalesfromindia.blogspot.com could be used as good budget travel magazine 🙂 . by the way have you tried “travel plus” magazine. it is not budget travel but it covers good places and spots there to visit.
Yeah, you people are turning it into some kind of a joke 🙂 Telling me to read my own blog for the places I have yet to visit? Cry.
I don’t know of anybut yeah you could write a guide for travelling withthe information from this blog
I understand this sentiment and in the U.S. many publications are geared towards luxury travel, which leaves ordinary people with the impression that only the rich can afford to travel. One magazine that I LOVE is Budget Travel! They appeal to independent travelors and those of us that love exploring the world but on a budget. The website has great information too!http://www.budgettravelonline.com/
all newspapers have column for tourism …but there is a magazine …nature (indian)…there is one for female travellers also…uma
not indian but some good indian travel tips. http://www.bootsnall.com/Maybe u can start one for India!
mridula – I meant I read your blog for all my travel in india tips…
Mridula,I am a travel bug as I see you are, and I have done backpacking type stuff in various parts of the globe — but like you, I’m yearning for a good budget Indian travel magazine. I do travel a lot around India, and by now have a good idea of how to do it and how to look for where to stay and so forth, but a good magazine would be a great help. What about checking to see what it takes to start one? Are you from IITK yourself? Spent a week over Diwali there this year, my bro-in-law teaches CS there. We always love going.I also wanted to say, when you argue with guys like someone you have been arguing with of late, they will promptly resort to stock phrases like “straw man” and “non-sequitur” and “evasion” and “caricature”. As you have found out. It’s because they have no answers, and are not interested in debate.
Dilip, I love travelling, I will be off in the last week of December again, yippee! I have seen very few other places in the world, four to be precise and that too because of attending conferences. Once we pay off the house loan (some 20 years later) we think of going to Russia :)I am kind of getting settled in my academic job but if I could do it, I would definitely try coming up with a travel magazine. I did my Ph.D. from IITK so I am an IITK P.G., which is different than being IITK U.G. And I have spent more years than I should have at the campus completing that Ph.D.Dilip like the author of that thread, we had that debate on emails too, so I know the method by now. Still, no harm in having a good debate out in public. Thanks a lot for your words on the issue.
May be you already ‘ve been here but this forum has good advice on travel within India :http://www.indiamike.com/india/index.phpSimilarly…i read up http://www.indiatravelog.com/ from time to time..Hope that helps ;-)Raj
I wish to launch a travel magazine – had made an attempt earlier with ezine Indianhospitality.com but contributions were not coming forth from travel writers. But I am personally a great tourism freak and have undergone a Masters in Tourism & Travel specialisation to attempt improve tourism information in the country.
Hi Mridula,
Your concern is so right, just yesterday I was tweeting about the same issue, there is no information available for budget travel, weekend backpacking. You search for something travel related and all you get is websites selling expensive package tours. In 2005 I had started a small Delhi based group, Lets Go but sadly after few years, I got busy with life and now it is dormant.
I would love to join hands in starting a budget travel magazine, and until we get that going it would be great if we could use the Lets Go platform to share our own travel story. Its similar to what you have started here.
Do take a look, let’s do something together.
http://letsgowanderers.wordpress.com
Sanjukta
Hi Mridula,
Just stumbled upon this post. Given that you asked this question way back in 2005, i am curious to know what is your view about travel magazines available in India now.