John Rambow: Hi Sara,

Kerala is beautiful, and its lushness would be a good complement to Rajasthan's dusty desert. It might be that after three weeks of palaces, forts, and camels up north, you'll want to schedule a few days of lying by the sea or a pool. If you do head to Kerala, I'd firm up hotel plans soon -- the place is very popular, and many of the nicest hotels (whether luxury or cheaper) are small.

I don't think there are any major festivals going on at that time, but certainly you should keep an eye open for any local celebrations that might be occurring...

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Los Angeles, Calif.: I am going to Delhi to work for a few weeks. What are a few places close by that I should not miss?

John Rambow: Not sure if you'll have more than the weekends to play with, but you'll obviously want to plan at least a couple days in and around Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, and other sites. I'd also make sure to not neglect Delhi itself: the Red Fort and Old Delhi have more than enough for another weekend, and so does South Delhi, the location of a 12th century mosque with the impressive Qutub Minar (a huge minaret). A good day trip would be to the Swaminarayan Akshardham, a monumental modern Hindu temple in the eastern suburbs. It's full of awesome. And if you're a shopper, Delhi has lots of great options.

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Napavine, Wash.: My husband and I are on a tour with Friendly Planet leaving New York Sept. 23 to New Delhi, India. We visit two other cities and then return Sept. 30th. In light of the recent bombings, do you have any advice for us?

John Rambow: The Delhi bomb blasts on 13 September emphasized the unfortunate fact that modern India has and has always had a problem with terrorism -- most of it homegrown and directed at her own citizens rather than tourists. Although such violence is rare given the large population of India, it's wrong to ignore it, and people planning a visit should pay attention to the current situation of the areas they're heading to.

Good sources? I'd recommend reading local editions of English-language newspapers online, including the Hindu and the Times of India as well as the U.S. State Department's page on India, which has links to updated notices from the local embassy.

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Sacramento, Calif.: I'm traveling to India end of October. And I just found out that I need a Visa to get in and out of India. Do you know how long it takes to get a Visa? Also, is it safe for a single female to travel in India?

John Rambow: You have time to get a visa, but apply ASAP. The Indian Government now outsources its visa process to an outside company. It's possible to get a visa in person in a day, but the nearest location is San Francisco. Getting one via mail takes about 5 business days, but I'd allow lots more time just in case.

It is safe for a single female to travel in India, and lots of my friends have done just that. You will want to read up a bit on what to expect and common-sense precautions you can take: one common piece of advice is to consider wearing a wedding ring to fend off questions about why you're not married, when you think you'll be married, do you like Indian men etc. etc.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi John, My dream is to visit India, and I plan to do so within the next few years. How plausible is it to try to hit up Mumbai, Calcutta, and New Delhi (along with a few must-see cities in each corresponding region) in a span of 3 to 4 weeks? Thanks! Jill