India Travel Guide
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Official name: Republic of India
- Capital: Nueva Delhi
- Language:
Hindi, English (Central Govt.)
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gondi, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Maithili, Meitei, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
- Religion: is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion plays a central and definitive role in the life of the country and most of its people.
The faith of more than 80.4% of the people is Hinduism, considered the world's oldest religious and philosophical system. Islam is practiced by around 13.4% of all Indians.
Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are Indian-born religious systems that are strong and influential not only in India but across the world. Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bahá'í Faith are also influential but their numbers are smaller (except for Christianity).
Despite the strong role of religion in Indian life, atheism and agnostics are also visible influences.
India Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE :
Taj Mahal
Located at Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, this remarkable monument is one of the wonders of the modern world and it’s easy to see why. Constructed entirely from white marble, the Taj Mahal is now visited by over two million tourists every year making it a must see attraction during your stay in the country. Most people spend a day there as the grounds surrounding the Taj are equally as impressive so do allow yourself plenty of time. It is worth nothing that the monument is closed all day Friday but opens from 6.00am until 7.00pm all other days. There are also no official guides on site but these are usually provided by your accommodation and always accompany organised tours.
Delhi
Currently the capital of India, Delhi offers a unique blend of the old and the new and while it may well seem a little off putting to the first time visitor, it is certainly worth your while spending some time there. With forts, mosques and temples at every turnit also serves as the gateway to Northern India. Add to this the natural culture which exudes from the city and its people, the vast and varied nightlife and the beautiful parks and gardens on offer and you will soon be glad you decided to give it a chance.
Mumbaii
Formerly known as Bombay and located in the south west of the country, Mumbaii, like Delhi is a city of contrasts. Over forty per cent of its population live in slums and yet despite this, it boasts some of the most spectacular natural beauty that you will see in the region. As well as this it is awash with a vast range of different architecture including the most impressive collection of Victorian buildings on the entire Asian continent. And, of course no mention of Mumbaii would be complete without a reference to Bollywood – the centre of the Indian film industry where even a lowly backpacker can become a star.
Goa
The perfect destination for the beach bums among you, mile long stretches of golden sand, crystal blue water, and tropical weather conditions are synonymous with this getaway on the west coast of the country. As well as the beaches, however, you can enjoy the wonderful shopping, the warmth and friendliness of the locals, the beauty of the churches and temples. Need we go on? The best time to visit is between October and February although it is worth a visit at any time. The perfect contrast to the bigger cities which we have already mentioned.
McLeod Ganj
Our final pick couldn’t be more different from any of the above. That’s the thing with India, it really does have something for everyone no matter how extreme you are. McLeod Ganj is located in the north of the country and is home to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Home to hosts of Tibetan monks as well as the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile and located at the foot of the Himalayas, this place will really leave you spellbound. Visitors to McLeod Ganj avail of things like philosophy courses, Tibetan cookery courses, intense yoga courses and the like so you can imagine just what a different destination this is.
India Entertainment
EVENTS
Holi, Northern India
Taking place in late February or early March depending on the pattern of the moon (you’ll get used to this during your stay), this is also known as the festival of colour – and not without reason. While its origins are strongly religious, today Holi sees revellers stocking up on a concoction of water and coloured powder which is thrown on anything that moves. As well as this element of madness, however, this is India’s biggest spring festival and consists of at least four days of partying. Offering a unique look at traditional Indian customs and tradition, it is certainly worth including in your trip if you are looking at visiting the country around this time.
Divali, Throughout India
Divali aka the Festival of Lights also depends on the moon and takes place during the last two days of the dark half of Kartik – don’t ask. Basically all you need to know is that this is usually at the end of October or the beginning of November. Depending on which part of the country you happen to be in at the time, different traditions are the norm. In the south the natives take a special oil bath while in the south it is the homes rather than the residents which get a big spring clean. Regardless of what part of the country you are in, however, the fireworks and lights displays throughout are mesmerizing but the best are in Mumbai and Amristar where the famous Golden Temple in the latter is lit each evening of Divali with thousands of lamps resulting in a sight you will never forget.
Summer Festival, Rajasthan
Taking place amid the steep rocks and beautiful lakes at the foot of Mount Abu, this is a celebration of summer and all that comes with it. Celebrated in June every year, the three day event offers a host of entertainment, the most important of which is the vast selection of folk and classical music on offer. Those of you who feel that you might tire of the old Indian ballad after a while, however, can enjoy the numerous sporting events on offer including a spectacular boat race on the Nakki Lake. And, to finish the festival there’s a huge fireworks display which should appeal to even the most particular among you.
Carnival, Goa
Throughout the world Carnival takes place in the week preceding Easter and the western city of Goa is no exception. A non stop three day event full of parades and open air events transform the streets of the city into a one stop party spot where the sights, sounds and smells (in a good way) of India are represented. Colour also plays a large role in the activities with all the locals dressed in traditional costume complete with masks and extensive street decorations. There is also a rather fetching transparent polythene garment which is worn by many and smeared with different colour paint – might seem weird to some but it is certainly worth getting involved in if you’re up for a laugh.
Baisakhi, Delhi
Celebrated throughout the country, the biggest festivities for this event take place in Northern India and in Delhi in particular. Also known as Vaisakhi, this festival takes place on April 13th every year and celebrates the start of the harvest as well as the Hindu New Year. And, like any other in India, this too is a unique combination of music and dance and food and drink – the perfect recipe for a good time so why not take example from the locals and kick back for the day, and the night.
India Transports
Getting Around
India has an excellent domestic air service with over seventy airports in sixty destinations. The majority of flights are operated by Indian Airlines and its subsidiary – Alliance Air. While air travel is more expensive than the other alternatives, there are special fares available for visitors to the country. These reduced fares can be purchased from outside or inside the country but must be paid for in either local currency, US Dollars or Sterling.
The two most popular forms of discounts available are Discover India and Youth Fare India. The former has two types: a 21-day pass and a 15-day pass. These passes offer unlimited travel on all domestic flights but you may visit each stop only once unless you are transferring. The Youth Fare is valid for three months and offers a 25% discount on normal fares. This offer is available for those aged between 12 and 30.
Those of you on a shoestring, however, will probably be more interested in travel by rail or by bus and the good news is that both will get you around the country – eventually. The Indian rail system is the largest on the continent and the second largest in the world carrying over fifteen million passengers daily. Covering most of the country through its 7,000 stations the bus service operates connections with the trains to take passengers to the more remote parts of India which are not served by India Railways. Rail passes are not extremely expensive when you consider that they allow you to travel in first class but if you wish to travel in an air conditioned first class carriage, the cost can reach twice as much.
Finally, travel by bus is the best way to get to every corner of the country. As already mentioned, it serves the areas not reached by train, particularly in the more mountainous regions of the country. The main disadvantage with this form of transport, however, is that local services in particular can become quite crowded and air conditioning is limited.
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