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India


Like China, India is a dauntingly huge country, home to around 17% of the world’s population and a rich history that spans centuries. India’s history can be traced back to around 2500BC, with the first settlement along the Indus River. Later, India came under the rule first of the Moghuls from central Asia, and then at the end of the 18th Century, the British took their turn, right up until 1947 when the independent states of India and Pakistan emerged, following Mahatma Ghandi’s policy of non-co-operation with the British administration. India’s fascinating history has left behind a treasure trove of cultural sights to explore – palaces, temples and monuments are dotted all over the country, the most famous of which are in India’s Golden Triangle of the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, which are the main tourist destinations for the visitor to India. Agra boasts the biggest draw of them all, the magnificent Taj Mahal, a marble construction believed to have been built on the instruction of Moghul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1630. Less popular with tourists but still worth a visit are the great cities of Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta), both of which are bustling colourful cities. And of course, India is about more than just cities – head to Kerala, Goa or Trivandrum for great beaches, and to the towering Himalayas for a mountain experience never to be matched.       


Cities and places within India
Fast Facts
Capital City: Delhi
Population: 1.1 billion of which around 13.8 million live in Delhi.
Area: 1,222,582 sq miles
Geography: India borders with Pakistan to the north west, with China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and with Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. To its west coast is the Arabian Sea, to its east the Bay of Bengal and to its south, the Indian Ocean. The island of Sri Lanka lies off the south east coast of Indian, and the Maldives off the south west coast. In the far north east, the states are pretty much cut off from the rest of the country by Bangladesh. The Himalayas lie to the north, and the rivers Indus (in the west) and Ganges (in the east) form a divide between India and the rest of Asia. India is commonly divided into five geographical regions – Central, Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern (including Kashmir and Rajasthan)
Climate: India’s climate is generally hot and tropical, but this varies enormously from region to region. It is coolest between December and February, and the hottest weather is between March and May. The monsoon season is between June and September in most regions. Seek further information before travelling as the regional variations can be huge.
Language: Hindi is the main language spoken, but this is still only spoken by around 30% of the population. English is also widely spoken, a hangover from Colonial days. There are around regional 17 languages that have been officially recognised, including Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi (widely spoken in the North), and Tamil and Telegu (spoken in the south). The Muslim population of India (12%) generally speak Urdu.
Currency: Indian Rupee Current rate £1 = Rp80.84
Time: GMT+5.5 hours
Visa Requirements: UK passport holders need to be in possession of a valid visa to enter India. Apply via the Indian High Commission in London. Tourist visas are valid for multiple entry during a six month period.
Getting To India
By Air
India’s national airline is Air India. 
Numerous other airlines operate flights from the UK to Delhi: direct flights to Delhi are available on Air India, Virgin Atlantic, and Jet Airways, and indirect flights on the following carriers: Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Gulf Air, Finnair, Kuwait Airways, Turkish Airlines, Eurofly, Etihad Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates, Alitatlia, Royal Jordanian, Air France, China Eastern Airlines, Thai Airways, Air Mauritius, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. Journey time from London to Delhi is around 8 hours, and New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is 14 miles south of the city, a journey that takes around 45 minutes by bus, coach or taxi.
 
Flights are also available to Mumbai as follows: direct flights on Air India, Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways, and non direct flights on the following airlines: Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Gulf Air, Finnair, Kuwait Airways, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways, Yemenia Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Emirates, Alitatlia, Royal Jordanian, Air France, Thai Airways, Air Mauritius, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways. Journey time from London to Mumbai is around 8 hours and 30 minutes and Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 22 miles north of the city, a journey that takes around an hour by taxi or bus.
 
Flights are also available to Kolkata (Calcutta) as follows: direct flights are only available on Air India, and non direct flights on the following airlines: Emirates, Jet Airways, Alitalia, and Thai Airways.. Journey time from London to Kolkata is around 9 hours and 45 minutes and Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is 13 miles north east of the city, a journey that takes around an hour by taxi or coach.
 
Flights are also available to Chennai (Madras) as follows: there are no direct flights from the UK to Chennai (Madras), but non direct flights are available on the following airlines: Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Jet Airways, Emirates, Alitalia, Air France, Thai Airways, Air Mauritius, and Singapore Airlines. Journey time from London to Chennai is around 11 hours, and Chennai’s Madras International Airport is around 9 miles south west of the city, a journey that takes around 20 minute by bus, train or taxi.
 
By Boat
There are several main ports in India, including Calicut, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Panaji (in Goa), and Rameswaram (usually the major departure port for ferries to Sri Lanka, but these are not currently operating). Several cruise liners also use Indian ports, but there are no regular passenger services operating to between India and South East Asia.
 
By Rail
There are rail connections between India and Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, though most international journeys will involve some road travel as well as train. The only place you can cross between India and Pakistan is at the international border point at Wagah. Attempting to cross at any other point could be dangerous. Travelling to Nepal by train is popular, taking the train to Raxaul and then on by bus to Kathmandu. There are no land borders between Indian and Myanmar or China.
 
By Road
It is possible to travel overland from Europe to India, with the most popular border crossings being at Sunauli (for travel to Delhi and north west parts of India), Kakarbhitta (for Darjeeling) or Birgani (for Calcutta and eastern parts of India). There is also a bus service operating between Lahore in Pakistan and New Delhi, which takes around 10 hours.
 
Getting Around India
By Air
The domestic airline Indian Airlines operates an extensive network throughout India which links over 70 of the country’s cities. Alliance Air, Jet Airways and Air Sahara also operate domestic flights. As a visitor to India, it is possible to buy air passes which are good value for money – choose from 7, 15 or 21 day passes which offer unlimited travel in economy class on Indian Airlines (restrictions apply). Other passes may be available – ask your travel agent for details.
 
By Boat
Ships depart from Kolkata and Chennai on the crossing to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. And there are also ferry services from Calicul and Kochi (Kerala) to the Lakshadweep Islands. A catamaran services operates between Mumbai and Goa.
 
By Train
The state run Indian Railways has six different classes of travel ranging from first to third class. There are numerous services, including the Palace on Wheels, an Edwardian style luxury steam train running between Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Rantahmbaie, Chittaugarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra; the Royal Orient Express which travels through Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the Fairy Queen, the oldest steam train in the world, which does a two day round trip from Delhi to Alwar. There is also the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. There are also super-fast express trains linking the major cities. Rail passes are available.
 
By Road
Other than in the major cities, roads are generally congested and not very well maintained. Self drive cars are not generally available, and self drive is not really recommended. You can hire a chauffeur driven car however. There is a good bus network linking most major towns and cities, and this is useful when travelling in mountainous regions that have no rail network
 
Getting Around Cities and Towns
Taxis and auto rickshaws are widely available in all major centres.
Top Ten Things to Do and See in India
  1. DELHI
There are two sides to Delhi, Old and New, both of which have numerous attractions for the visitor. New Delhi is a modern city with plenty going on, and in amongst the more modern constructions, boasts Lutyens architecture. On the other side is Old Delhi, home to narrow winding alleys and streets, colourful bazaars and plentiful temples. Must see sights include the Red Fort, and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in all India, as well as the splendid tower of Outab Minar.
 
  1. THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
The so called Golden Triangle is the area formed if you draw a line between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, all of which feature famous Indian landmarks. At the south east tip of the triangle is Agra, most famous for the Taj Mahal. At the south west corner is Jaipur, in Rajasthan, home to the Amber Palace and the Palace of the Winds. Also visit the famous friezes at Khajuraho to the east of the triangle.
 
  1. BEACHES
India is home to some fantastic beaches, and a beach break is the ideal combination with touring the cities and mountains. The most famous beach destination in India is Goa, though it is not quite the hippy haven it was in the 1960s. Renowned for its full moon parties at Anjuna, it is a wonderfully relaxing destination, with the excellent resorts, world class hotels, and fantastic dining opportunities. There are also excellent beaches to be found further south in Kerala (Kovalam) and Trivandrum amongst other places. The Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal are also a great place for a relaxing holiday – this is an archipelago of lush forested islands, and the coral and tropical fish off the shores make it a great place for diving or snorkelling. There are also city beaches – Mumbai’s most popular beaches are Chopatti and Juhu and Chennai’s Marina Beach is the second biggest beach in the world!
 
  1. MOUNTAINEERING
India is of course home to some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the world, and if you are a trekking enthusiast, then you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a destination. Try Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh, Kumaon in Uttar Pradesh, or Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. For spectacular views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, take the Toy Trail from Kolkata to Darjeeling. As well as being home to the Indian Mountaineering Institute, it was also home to Sherpa Tenzing.
 
  1. CITY LIFE
India’s cities are thrilling, and each of the major ones boasts its own attractions. Kolkata is the largest city in India and is the capital of the state of West Bengal. Although often perceived in the west as being a derelict and deprived city, Kolkata is nonetheless a major commercial centre in the region, and boasts numerous markets, bazaars as well as relics of its colonial past in its buildings in Chowringhee. The Maidan central parkland is also worth a visit. Mumbai (Bombay) is the commercial capital of India, boasting ultra modern skyscrapers alongside its more traditional streets and markets. Capital of the state of Maharashtra, it is also an important port, and has also gained notice recently in the west as the home of Bollywood. Chennai (Madras) is capital of Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest city in India. The city boasts many Christian churches as well as the famous Chennai Lighthouse. Less commercial than its counterparts elsewhere, Chennai retains a nice market town atmosphere.
 
  1. NATIONAL PARKS
India is blessed with more than its fair share of national parks – there are over 70 of them, and that doesn’t include the 24 tiger reserves and 400 wildlife sanctuaries that are scattered across the country! Most regions still thankfully are home to the Indian Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant. The most famous nature reserves include Rajasthan’s Bharatpur National Park and West Bengal’s Sundarban National Park.
 
  1. DESERT OF RAJHASTHAN
The north west of India is dominated by the Thar, or Great Indian Desert, which covers an area 500 miles long by 250 miles wide. Rajasthan’s desert cities are quite simply stunning – visit Jaisalmer for the Desert Festival (January/February), or Pushkar for the Camel Fair (November). But other than these, the cities boast forts, palaces and temples of historical and architectural importance. No visit to Rajasthan is complete without a stay in Udaipur, the state’s most romantic city, nicknamed the Venice of the East. The city is built around Lake Pichola, and the Lake Palace is the place to stay when you are here!
 
  1. SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
India is of course a profoundly religious nation, and it is possible to visit some of the most holy sites of a number of different religions. Hindu is the major religion of India, and one of the oldest religions in the world. The Hindu caste system plays a crucial role in Indian life and society, and some of the most important Hindu sites include: Varanasi, the religious centre of the Hindu world, which welcomes thousands of pilgrims each year; and Puri, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, is one of India’s biggest pilgrimage centres, and is most famous for its Jagannath Temple. There are also sites pertaining to Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity throughout India.
 
  1. ACTION AND ADVENTURE
There are many more places in the world more readily associated with adventure sports, but you should not overlook India’s numerous attractions for those looking for an action and adrenalin packed holiday. India’s landscape includes snow-clad mountains with ski slopes, roaring rivers and waterfalls, long coastlines and thick forests, so it is not surprising that watersports, trekking, rockclimbing, skiing, car rallying and caving (amongst others!) are all increasingly popular in India. You can even play golf at Gulmarg, home to the highest golf course in the world, which becomes a ski resort in winter!
 
10     HEALTH AND WELLBEING
India has long been known for its traditional approaches to health and healing, and now it is possible for visitors to India to experience this first hand. Spas are becoming increasingly popular and you can find spa hotels all round India, from Kerala to the Himalayas. Visit the Ananda, a wellness sanctuary located within a palace in the foothills of the Himalayas, which offers traditional Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation, alongside the most up to date European treatments. Kerala is the home of Ayurveda, Indian’s ancient art of medicine and there are numerous spas and health resorts to choose from here. Alternatively, visit a traditional ashram and learn the art of yoga from the true masters.


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