- How do I get
there?
- Getting Around
- Tourist
Offices
- When to Go
- Where do I
Stay?
- What to bring
- Things to do
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How do I get
there?
By Air
The major international airports in India, which serve
traffic from all over the world, are in Delhi, Mumbai
(Bombay), Calcutta and Chennai (Madras). Airports tend
to be on the outskirts of cities. Pre-paid taxi services
and auto-rickshaws are stationed outside the terminus to
get you into the city.
By Rail
Railways do not cut across international borders in this
part of the world except the Samjhauta (i.e.
"understanding"!) Express that runs between Amritsar
(India) and Lahore (Pakistan). However, in many cases it
is possible to travel till the border by train.
By Road
Except the Lahore-Delhi bus (4 times a week), there are
no cross border coach services. It is possible to drive
into India with the requisite paperwork in order. Even
driving in from Nepal now requires a permit. Permits may
be arranged through the Indian embassy in your country.
By Sea
Several international cruise lines include stopovers at
Indian ports. The popular destinations are Goa, Mumbai,
Kochi, Kozhikode, Calcutta and Chennai. There are no
regular passenger services; the service between
Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka has been
indefinitely suspended.
Getting Around
India is a vast country but luckily for
the traveller, it is extensively linked by public
transport. All major towns and cities have airports.
Even very small towns are connected by rail with Indian
Railways maintaining the biggest network in Asia. ‘Toy
trains’ are quaint, neat and narrow gauge; pretty like
the hillsides they chug up. The roads and highways may
not be state-of-the art multi-lane expressways but if
it’s basically about getting to places, they serve the
purpose well! The bus network, privately run and state
operated is extensive.
Traffic drives on the left hand side and
it is possible to hire cars, but more easily chauffeur
driven ones. Self drive cars are hard to come by as the
government does not issue licenses for these. That’s
fine, believe us, because you will appreciate your
driver here! Roads are reasonably good in parts,
specially the major highways. Near towns and villages
they deteriorate and depending on the season, crumble
into tracks in some areas. Valid documentation is an
International Driver’s License. Taxis and three wheeler
auto rickshaws are ubiquitous in the Indian urban and
even semi rural landscape. Most small towns have
motorcycle rentals.
Travel by water is not popular but there
are ships to the Andamans from Calcutta, Chennai and
Vishakhapatnam. Backwater cruises in converted rice
boats called Kettuvalams are a delight in the lazy
lagoons of Kerala.
Indrail passes are a good way of
exploring the country for non-resident Indians and
foreigners. They can be purchased at major railway
stations in India and through travel agents.
Advance
reservations are necessary because this is a first come
first serve service.
Tourist Offices
Government of India Tourist Office (GITO),
88 Janpath,
New Delhi 110001.
Tel: (11) 23320342, (11) 23320005, (11) 23320008, and
(11) 23320266. Fax: (11) 23320109.
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC),
SCOPE Complex, Core 8, 6th Floor,
7 Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003
Tel: (11) 2436 0303. Fax: (11) 2436 0233
States have their own individual tourism boards that
promote and organise travel within the state.
When to Go
The best time to visit India is
between October and March. The summer heat has abated by
then in the northern plains and in Rajasthan’s arid
landscape. The wet Northeast becomes somewhat drier, the
south becomes a breathtaking scene of swaying coconut
palms and rain showers spray Tamil Nadu.
Most of India’s colourful festivals are
in this period. Dussehra, which is celebrated like Guy
Fawkes Day but with dramatis personae from the epic
drama of Ramayana, is followed 20 days later by the
festival of light, firecrackers and joyous pyrotechnics,
Diwali. Come March, come Holi: coloured powder, water
fights and sweetmeats!
Besides these that are universal
favourites across the country, there are regional
festivals. Harvest festivals, car festivals, dance
festivals and numerous temple celebrations pepper south
India’s calendar in December-January. Pretty Pushkar in
Rajasthan holds Asia’s largest camel fair in November;
Mardi Gras in Goa and the muezzin’s call heralding Id.
The winter is also ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.
The major deterrent to visiting during
any other time is the heat. However, the months from
March-May and September-November are prime trekking time
in the Himalayas, and if you plan to concentrate on
hilly areas then this is a better period in which to
visit.
Where do I Stay?
There’s enough variety in tourist accommodation in India
for the visitor to always find comfort; degrees of
luxury though will be directly proportionate to the
degree of the depth of your pocket.
Hotels are graded on the star system:
5-star being fully air conditioned, with a coffee shop,
multiple speciality restaurants, pool, sauna, Jacuzzi,
health centre, in-house shopping and all the razzmatazz.
Down to hostels, ashrams, and Public Works’ guesthouses
at the other end of the spectrum: dormitory style living
with rationed hot water (just about enough for a decent
shave!), no-smoking no-drinking restrictions and curfew!
There are numerous other options and
you’ll never be stuck in a heap because there isn’t a
choice.
Even the smallest tourist destination
has mid-rung establishments. Some have common bathrooms
but there usually will be the option of renting a room
with an attached bathroom. Some mid-rung establishments
are better than others. There are many that have cosy
atmosphere and make up in character what they lack in
frills.
In many wildlife sanctuaries, there is
accommodation in the park’s buffer zone. Forest
guesthouses are very basic accommodation, and some
require you to bring your own provisions, but their
privileged location more than compensates.
Heritage hotels and palace hotels are
probably an Indian peculiarity. Some old rajahs,
especially in Rajasthan, have converted part of their
palaces into hotels. These give the visitor a great shot
at savouring famed Indian hospitality at its quaint and
genteel best. The government is promoting Home Stays
where some pre-approved families provide paying guest
accommodation and this has taken off in a big way in
Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
There are beach resorts that give you
access to exclusive sand so you may sun and surf in
style. Houseboats in Kashmir, hardy little huts along
trekking trails and numerous camping sites only widen
the range that the traveller can choose from.
What to bring
Carry a combination plug that will feed into a round-pin
socket: across the subcontinent plug point sockets are
round rather than flat. Winters in the north are cold
but days in the plains are sometimes sunny. Carry a
combination of heavy woollens and light jumpers. It’s
coldest from mid-December to mid-January. Get yourself
an umbrella or raincoat. It’s always raining some region
or another. In the summer be armed with sun protection:
sunglasses, cap/hat, cream with a minimum SPF of 20.
Bring water purification tablets, prescription medicines
and an extra pair of spectacles/contact lenses (though
opticians abound in cities). A sleeping bag and a bed
sheet are a must for budget travellers.
Things to Do
-
Dining & Entertainment
- Shopping
-
Activities
-
Special Events
Dining &
Entertainment
The call of "Chai-garam" proclaims the
availability of hot tea on obscure railway platforms,
and if you are tempted you’ll singe your tongue to one
of the truest Indian experiences with food and drink.
From the steel ‘thali’ fodder that is railway dining
to the gourmet meals on dull silver that is fine
dining, it’s all available in India.
In the cities the most popular
international cuisines are Chinese, Italian,
‘Continental’/European and Thai. Lasagna, pasta, chop
suey and red curries abound on menus. The most widely
available Indian foods are definitely Mughlai and
south Indian. Harking back to the days of the Mughals,
Mughlai cuisine relies on aromatic spices, and
succulent meats either curried or roasted in a tandoor
and it can be very heavy. South Indian food is
predominantly vegetarian, light and tangy.
Frothy coffee that sizzles out of a
bright machine, chicken burger served up in a jiffy
and with a smile; fast food has come into its own in
India. Many worldwide chains have set up shop in
India’s cities and from Pune to Delhi, the American
get-and-go eating experience is yours for the asking.
Originally the truckers’ meal deal,
‘dhabas’ have proliferated along the highways and
cater to all wayfarers. These shack establishments
serve some great food at hard to beat prices, but
since plates are not cleaned in the clearest of waters
this dining experience may not be too safe.
Theatre and the arts are feted in the
urban centres of Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Pune
and Bangalore. Hollywood fare also reaches the big
screens here within a month of their American release.
The Hindi movie, that quintessentially Indian
phenomenon, is a must-see. Slake your thirst for
nightlife and twinkle any tingling toes at the pubs,
nightclubs and discos. There is little by way of
entertainment in the smaller towns and cities except
the cinema halls and maybe the odd locally produced
cultural show.
Shopping
All over India makeshift markets line
streets. Paan-sellers dot market corners, villages
have busy market-days, deserted mountain trails boast
lone tea-stalls that count as a whole settlement, and
city roads all lead to snazzy malls! While shopping
has always been big for Indians, as current trends go,
‘Indian’ is now big in shopping.
Ethnic chic, glitz and kitsch, whether
it’s clothes, carpets or clutter, if it’s Indian, it’s
in! To name a little that could fill your bags:
Kashmiri carpets that rival Persian rugs or rugged
durries of natural fibre in vibrant colours and rural
motifs. Perfumes extracted from the sweetest of
flowers, opulent silks and block-printed cotton. Beads
and trinkets, silver and gold, mirror-work
Rajasthani skirts, tie-and-dye, inexpensive
leather ware, and statues in metal or stone.
Look out for the bright red, yellow,
green and blue handloom from the ‘seven sisters’ in
the Northeast; Karnataka Bidriware
(silver inlay on blackened white metal);
Kanjeevaram and Benaras saris with gold
woven into multihued silks; beads, bangles and other
ornaments everywhere; shell craft, pretty sandals,
kurta and pyjamas at Delhi’s designer shops, brass
from UP, bronze in the south; Darjeeling tea,
and Coorg coffee.
Activities
For the thrill seeking traveller India
is an all-in-one deal. The Indian Himalayas and the
many hill formations present the trekker with
innumerable hiking and trekking options. The
wildlife sanctuaries, whether in the ‘sholas’ of
southern India or the thick teak forests of the east,
whether in the ‘sal’ and ‘shisham’ jungles of the
north or the scrub of the west, are for the nature
enthusiast. White water rafting in the
rapids of the Himalayan rivers, ‘kettuvalam’
cruises in the Keralan backwaters, snorkelling,
diving, water-skiing, beach bumming along India’s
extensive coastline, there’s enough to make a water
lover happy. There are many centres for adventure
sports like parasailing and paragliding.
Skiing in the Alps it is not, but for beginners
the slopes in Auli and the more difficult ones in
Spiti would provide some thrill. Some hotels and clubs
allow non-guests/members pay-and-play use of swimming
pools and golf links.
Cricket is special in India. It’s
as much about twenty-two guys and a ball as about the
beat of drums and blasts from trumpets, painted faces
and flag-waving, and cheering (and jeering)
enthusiasm. Try and catch the buzz at least once.
Special Events
India’s calendar is full of very
special events: festivals of religion, harvests and
culture are celebrated with aplomb. India has three
national holidays when all establishments across the
country are compulsorily closed: 15th
August-Independence Day, 2nd
October-Gandhi’s birthday and 26th
January-Republic Day, which is an extravaganza of a
parade.
Festivals and holidays differ in
different regions and some are universally appreciated
across the country. The winter festival of lights,
Diwali, is celebrated in cities, towns and dusty
villages with twinkling lamps and fireworks. Spring
brings myriad hues to the world around and also the
festival of Holi - a happily messy rite of water and
colour. The harvest brings joy and festivities of
another order and is celebrated as Pongal in the
south, and Bihu in the east and Baisakhi in the north.
Christmas in Goa is still the most special but the
cheer spreads everywhere. The month of Ramadan and
feasting is important to Muslims. Other important
religious events include Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, the
Prophet’s birthday, Good Friday, Dussehra, Buddha
Purnima (Buddha’s birthday) and Guru Nanak’s birthday.
Besides these, dance festivals in
southern temple towns in December and car festivals of
Puri and Madurai when the temple chariots are wheeled
around the city, and the Nehru Cup boat race in the
Kerala's backwaters (second Saturday of August) bring
more occasions to celebrate.
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