Hey all, just wanted to do a quick report back on our trip - it was amazing! DD had a whale of a time, and the only sickness was one very bad day of sinusitus, and one rather spectacular projectile vomit at a restaurant, both of which were sorted by a dose of calpol and a 10 hour sleep. Dh and I also remained more or less sickness free.
It was an absolute joy being surrounded by people for whom a toddler at the cultural site/restaurant/train/bus was a source of happiness, rather than a curse, and DD loved the attention (although we did get, literally, mobbed at times for photographs of and cuddles with her - which, despite being quite shy, she coped with magnificently!).
People were unbelievably generous with their time and attention with dd, and us, especially when we'd arrive tired and disorientated late at night in a strange city.
A friend (just returned from 3 months in India) said, that the world is an incredibly safe place, and it's true, though I am hugely thankful for all the vaccinations we had before we left, the boba sling, and for the fact that we had chosen to travel air-conditioned (albeit 3-tier most of the time) class in the trains.
Two fabulous hotel stays in our marathon of travelling helped my blood pressure, and a day spent in a pool, eating pasta and watching curious george dvds helped break up a very long journey for all of us.
I doubt that she'll remember much of the trip, but I am so so pleased we did it - I hope that she keeps some sense that the world is wide and exciting and interesting and that people are so immensely kind. We intend to do more of this with her.
I would honestly say that if you have any desire to travel to India with toddlers then do it, because, aside from all the benefits travel has for littlies, it made our trip so much richer than it would've been without her - obviously it was quite different from the travels I had before her, but completely wonderful in a new way.
Thanks again for all of the advice and support before we went - it really was so appreciated!