India
Travel and Visit Beautiful India Today!


Welcome to India!   

Capital: Delhi

Climate: Tropical in southern India, mixed in the North, and temperate in the desert and the Himalayas. Best time to go would be during October- March (except those going to the Southeast) and April-September for the southeast and those planning a trek up the Himalayas.

Background

For most people visiting Asia, India stands as the epitome of the Asian experience. Strange rituals, a variety of characters, dramatic landscapes, and attractions that are as spicy as the curries they serve, India is a place where your senses are assailed and tourists go home not knowing what hit them.

With a wealth of seven major faiths and over fifteen regional languages, not to mention the many influences left by different colonial occupancies, it would be difficult to generalize a description where India is concerned.

Majestic forts and grand palaces built by the Moguls from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century are just few of the attractions India has to offer. An extensive railway network, Westernized education, and the establishing of English as the official state language were in turn, set up by the British colonial government.
                                                           

                                                                                        Indian Snake Charmer

A journey from northern to southern India leaves a feeling of having crossed many different countries. Distances are phenomenal and the transport is notoriously tardy. A ready itinerary for specific places to visit would come in handy. Religious tension between the major faiths can sometimes render some areas unsafe for traveling. It is advisable to check with Foreign Office web sites and travel forums. The local government continually warns visitors against traveling to violence-prone Jammu and Kashmir.
 

Must-See Sights

1. Delhi
Delhi may seem to be overwhelming for most visitors with the continuous jostling of people and constant activity in the streets. Tourists who manage to maintain patience and their sense of humor however, are rewarded with many reasons to feel upbeat during their stay in the city.

Attractions of Delhi: Mogul Palaces inside the Red Fort, the magnificent mosque Jami Masjid, the busy bazaars, the Bhai’i Temple which most tourists compare to the Sydney Opera House, and various pubs and night clubs for a little bit of fun at night.

 The Red Fort

2. The Taj Mahal

Built by the emperor Shah Jahan for the body of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the magnificent mausoleum and monument to their love stands of the banks of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra just a couple of hours’ train ride from Delhi. Photographers the world over has rhapsodized over the play of light on the Taj’s marble walls and domed roofs. Being a popular tourist spot, it is advisable that visitors to the Taj come prepared with rebuff against hawkers and street vendors.

                                                                                   Taj Mahal   

3. Rajasthan

For camel safaris and visits to some of the country’s most magnificent forts, India’s desert state, Rajasthan is the place to go. The most popular state in the country, Rajastahan is home to glorious forts at Jaipur and Jodhpur, magnificent maharajah’s palaces, graceful waterside temples, and the beautiful City Palace Women of Rajastahan                                    at lakeside Udaipur. Visitors  may also want to visit the desert town of Jaisalmer which is made entirely of sandstone and is one of the starting points for overnight camel safaris. There are also the state’s two famous national parks: the Keoladeo National Park which supports the breeding colonies of cranes, storks, flamingos and ibis; and the Ranthambore National Park, one of the haunts of the Indian wild tiger.

4. Goa

The Beach State, Goa is comprised of a 100-km long strip of beaches, each with its own distinct character. More popular beaches include Vagator, Chapora, and Anjuna, with the last being a top attraction for European clubbers over Christmas and the New Year.

5. Kerala

Less crazy and intense from the other states, Kerala has its own distinctive flavor of culture and laid back tourism. Famous for its beach resort at Kovalam and the low-key traveler’s enclave at Verkala, visitors to Kerala often find the serenity of the area soothing and conducive to cultural exploration. The old port city of Kochi is just full of historic churches built by European and Chinese merchants. Tourists may take in one of the regularly staged dance exhibitions at Kochi where traditional, elaborate Kathakali dances are performed.

                                             Kathakali dances

6. Ladakh

A high-altitude outpost of Tibetan culture, Ladakh is known to be one of the best trekking areas where tourists may take in the startling beauty of the Zanskar Region. Other highlights of the area are the temples Alchi, Tikse and Hemis.

7. Dharamsala

With one famous resident and as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government in exile, has become world famous. Thanks to the large Tibetan population and the religious influence in the area, Dharamsala is a great place for meditation, shopping for Tibetan trinkets, seeing Tibetan folk opera, and if you’re lucky, shake hands with the Dalai Lama himself.

Things to Try in India:

1. Watch the sun rise and set over the River Ganges in Varanasi
2. Sip tea from Darjeeling while taking in the view at Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
3. Observe the rituals at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
4. Browse the bookshops at Kolkata (Calcutta)
5. Visit the erotic sculptures detailing the Kamasutra at the Khajuraho Temples
6. Go snorkeling and diving at the Andaman Islands
7. Go on the 17-km trek to the Gangotri Glacier, frozen source of the River Ganges
8. Play an “extra” at India’s film industry known as “Bollywood.”