India

About country:

 

India lying in south Asia is a true kaleidoscope of colors, customs, attires and cuisines. India embraces diversity like no other country on earth. Home to a widely varied population of over one billion people India is a land of astonishing contrasts as sublime as it is squalid with plains as flat and featureless as with spectacular Himalayas and blazing sand dunes of the Thar desert. For the traveler, India presents a bewildering and remarkable mix of things to see and do. The romance of history is reflected around almost every corner from crumbling vestiges of the British Raj to mighty battle scared forts and also in the timelessness of the river Ganga at Varanasi. Sun washed beaches to the vibrant modern day city life, the fascination that is India never ceases to allure. Touring various places of India offers an invigorating assault on all senses with a completely unforgettable experience.

 

 

New Delhi is the capital city of India. Other major cities are Agra, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram. Delhi, the historical capital of India offers a multitude of interesting places of tourist attraction. Some notable destinations include Akshardham Temple, Birla Temple, Chandni Chowk, Qutab Minar, Taj Mahal(Agra), Connaught Place, Mughal Gardens, Jama Masjid etc. Mumbai the capital city of Maharastra flaunts tantalizig tourist attractions like Gateway of India, Mani Bhawan, Prince Of Wales Museum, Marine Dive, Juhu and Hanging Garden.

Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu is an exotic state famous for its cutworks in the temples, coconut fringes, silk saris and numerous tourist sites. The Marina beach, where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands, or the forts and palaces, remind one of the bygone eras. Bangalore the garden city of India and Mysore the imperial city of palaces, is blessed with beautiful locales with an amalgamation of various rich cultures, crafts, heritage centres et al. Kerala the southernmost resort is a tranquil place of granite rock walkways, rubber tree footbridges, sloping red-tiled roofs and chocolate brown villas. Zoological Garden, Indian Museum, Birla Planetorioum, Howrah Bridge and Botanical Gardens are some fascinating tourist sites of Kolkata.

Those who favor to view the serene ambience of the snow-capped mountains with lush green valleys breathing salubrious air can travel to the innumerable hill stations dotting India. Darjeeling, Gangtok, Ravangla, Kalimpong, Kashmir, Kullu-Manali, Mussourie, Nainital, Ooty is a few among them. Others opting for seaside sojourns amidst the golden sunshine, salty seawater and soft sands replete with colorful range of seashells may take a tour to Ghatsila, Puri, Digha, Andaman, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, Madras and Kerala. Darjeeling is one of the most fascinating tourists haven, where a walk usually means a trip through the cloud. Lush greenery, quaint paths, gurgling rivers, Mt Kanchanjangha and Mt Everest framed in ethereal majesty against the skyline and a toy train chugging around a Ghoom or the Batasia loop are indeed a fairytale setting. Kurseong and Kalimpong a few kilometres away from popular Darjeeling, are picturesque with valleys of wild flowers, orchids, gladioli, poppies and rhododendrons. The fabled 'Silver Valley' of Kullu lay by the banks of shining river of Beas in Himachal Pradesh.

 

Kashmir with its scenic hallmarks like Gulamarg, Sonmarg, Mughal Gardens, and Dal Lake is the moon desert of Ladakh. Its cobbled streets, austere 'gompas' and pure air will simply make you dizzy. Nestled in the Nilgiri Hills and enveloped in blue mist, the lovely laidback hill station of Ooty exudes its own special charm. Hill slopes veiled in a profusion of wild flowers, cardamom, and eucalyptus forests take over the landscape. Puri and Digha is the darling seaside resort of West Bengal. Chandaneshwar, Shankarpur, Junput and New Digha are the worth seeing in Digha while Konark Temple, Jagannath Temple and Chilka Lake are prime tourist attractions of Puri. Goa another sea resort situated near Mumbai is a sun kissed land dotted with coconut trees and rice fields, old Portuguese churches and the prettiest of beaches is a place where everyday is an occasion for celebration. Rajasthan is the land of many a splendid beauties. Its exotic forts and palaces, temples and sand dunes have many a tale to tell, lending it a romantic aura. The pink city of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Bikaner are splendid. In addition to these India boasts of a rich wildlife with 54 national parks and 370 sanctuaries.

 

 

India is accessible by air virtually from every continent. Most international flights arrive in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Alliance Air, Sahara, British Airways operates regular flights to various airports of India from countries around the world, making traveling to India easier and faster. Via is required for international tourists. The Indian Railways system is deservedly legendary and a very popular mode for touring to various places inside India. Government buses, express buses are very popular for visiting local spots. Private buses tend to be faster, more expensive and more comfortable and can make a lot of sense on longer jaunts. Cars are usually rented on a daily basis and come with a limited number of kilometers per day. Other local transport includes taxis, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and horse-drawn carriages.

 

 

Many tourist destinations of India become flooded during the monsoon season like Orissa, Kashmir and Rajasthan. Travellers should collect proper information from the local tour operator or travel agency prior travel to that desired place. Several Indian regions are also prone to drastic terrorist activities like Jammu and Kashmir. Travelers should seek consular advice before entering any area bordering Pakistan in Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat.Similar advice should also be sought before traveling to Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur in northeast India.

Taj Mahal of Agra was recently elected as the top wonder of the world through online voting

 

 

India has 4 main airports: Bombay (Mumbai), Delhi, Chennai (Madras) and Calcutta (Kolkata) are handling the major flights. For international flights, Delhi and Bombay are the 2 main hubs. Almost every major carrier in the world has flights to India for the start of your holiday.

Air India is the national flag carrier of India, which is serving an international and domestic network as well. Air India also has a very extensive flight network with around 20 neighbouring countries, serving your holiday or business trip.
However, many people are also entering India via overland. You can cross the border via Pakistan (Lahore and Amristar), Nepal (Biranj and Raxau/Sunauli and Gorakhpurand/Kakarbhitta and Siliguri) and Sri Lanka (Tiruchirappalli and Colombo). In 1999 a new border crossing opened between Calcutta and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
All crossings can be made by road. For the border crossing between Lahore and Amristar you also have the option to take the train/Indian railway.

Airtravel is a very good way of moving around within India. Airfares in India are relative cheap compared to western standards. A lot of domestic flights are available to more than 60 destinations in India. Lots of cheap flights are available for domestic routes.

 

The Indian aircraft industry is lately experiencing a growing trend, due to the growing economy and the increasing wealthiness of Indian citizens. The lowcost flight segment is starting to take a share in this travel industry and will grow exponential every year.

 

The domestic airtickets must be paid in local currency, US Dollars or Sterling.
Another way to get around in India is by rail. The Indian railway system is the second largest in the world and transporting more than 15 million people a day. This network is connected through whole India with 7,000 trainstations. Bus services are available at the stations to bring you to the more remote locations within India. Travel by rail is not an expensive way to get around in India. You can buy passes for a first class carriage which is equipped with air conditioning. This will costs around twice as much as the normal class.

 

To reach the more extreme remote parts in India, the bus is the most perfect way of transportation. You are able to get in the mountains by bus, which is not possible by train and the ride through the Indian scenery is an experience to never forget. Lots of visitors like to take the bus to take the chance of photographing the pure nature of India.

 

There are some disadvantages with travelling by bus, like overcrowded busses at local services and the possibillity of a missing air conditioning. However, this can not put you on hold to decide to take the bus to explore and travel through India.