India
From Travel Information and Popular Attractions: TravelName.com
India is located in the southern part of Asia and a very popular tourism destination. It is the second most populous country in the world with China being the most populous. It is the world's largest democracy with over one billion people and more than one hundred distinct languages. The Indian economy is one of largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power. It consists of 28 states each having its own State Government. People come here for business, India travel, spirituality, yoga, some just to see the Taj Mahal ( one of the seven wonders of the world), Rajasthan (the city of royal palaces), the capital New Delhi and historical sites of India tourism.
Brief History:
India's history and culture is ancient and dynamic, spanning back to the beginning of human civilization. It's extraordinary history is intimately tied to its geography. A meeting ground between the East and the West, it has always been an invader's paradise. India regained independence in 1947, after being partitioned into the Republic of India and Pakistan.
Location:
The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it is bordered by the world's highest mountain chain "The Himalayas". India travel is very popular among the tourists who visit South Asia.
Weather:
Weather plays a key factor in deciding when you should go for India travel. Climatic conditions in the far north are distinctly different to those of the extreme south. During October and November it's generally not too hot and not too cool and this is when India sees most tourists. April to September is hot in most parts of the country. February and March are also very good months for India travel.
Contents |
Popular Cities And Tourist Attractions
New DelhiKhajuraho
Agra- Taj Mahal
Rajasthan- Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Lake Pichola, Palace On Wheels
Dalhousie
Dharamshala
Shimla
Varanasi
Nainital
Gwalior
Jain Temples
Kochi
Orchha
Srinagar
Shopping:
India is a shopper's paradise, a statement that has not been told without a reason. Be it Leather or Fabric, handicrafts or herbs, paintings or antiques, traditional garments or modern fashion statements, India has everything to offer. The whole country is a shopping mall, with sellers offering some of the most exotic products one can find anywhere. The bustling bazaars of the country can make even the most unwilling person a prospective client. Some of the good shopping places of India are Rajasthan and Delhi.
India Travel Tips
1. Medications: Always consult your doctor regarding immunizations that should be taken like Hepatitis A and Polio. Additional vaccinations that your doctor may recommend are Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Rabies and Hepatitis B. Also carry medications for malaria, diarrhea, anti-allergy, Typhoid etc. Keep a copy of those prescriptions with you in case the local authorities like the Customs question you. Things like keeping an extra pair of glasses can be helpful. Carrying general medications for headache, nausea, sunscreen, few band-aids and mosquito repellent is also suggested. Although you get everything in India but its just better to have them beforehand.
2. Tourist Visa: Citizens of most countries including United States require a tourist visa on their passport. You should consult an Indian Embassy close to your location. Following Indian embassy sites are helpful: www.indianembassy.org, www.indiacgny.org, www.cgihouston.org, www.cgisf.org, chicago.indianconsulate.com .
3. Make copies of all your important travel documents (like ID, passport and visa) and leave it with a friend or family in case you lose the originals. Fill in the emergency information page of your passport. If you know the hotel phone number you will stay, leave that also with them. Country code (phone) of India is "91"
4. Keep the phone number of all the four U.S. embassies in India i.e. Delhi (North India), Chennai (South), Mumbai (West) and Kolkata (East), visit these websites newdelhi.usembassy.gov/, chennai.usconsulate.gov, mumbai.usconsulate.gov/, kolkata.usconsulate.gov/ .
5. Register yourself in the USA State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov/ so that they can use to assist you in case of an emergency. Also read public Announcements or Travel Warnings on the travel.state.gov website.
6. Do not wear expensive jewellery and money, do not put all your cash in one location. Get some US Dollars converted to Indian Currency (Rupees) before you go. Carrying some travelers' cheques is also a good idea. If you need money in India only exchange it with authorized agents or banks. Inform your credit card company and Bank that you will be traveling to India on which dates so that your card is not blocked for suspicious activity.
7. Always drink bottled water and make sure that its sealed. Always eat well cooked food. In India, do buy fruits cookies and crackers with you, Local brands like Parle and international brands like Britannia and Nestle are safe to eat.
8. If traveling in the monsoon, carry a raincoat and umbrella. Carry flashlight and an extra set of lock and keys. If you need directions prefer shopkeepers over pedestrians. Its a good idea to re-verify with someone else also. Winters (December to February) can be chilly, especially in North India. Carry sweaters and jackets.
9. Be safe: Follow local laws and keep patience, Do not leave your luggage unattended in public places, beware of pick pockets and do not accept packages from strangers. Women travelers should be extra safe.
10. Tipping: Tips are not common in India as in USA. If you want to tip try to tip not more than 10-20 Indian rupees.
11. Beggars: You will find them quite often. Although some are genuine but at times people are forced into it. You you want to donate, its better to donate to a nonprofit organizations.
12. You can expect to bargain/negotiate price of the item in most of the shops (expect for government-run). You can even start with half price. Leave if you are not satisfied.
13. Try to learn some local words. In north India Hindi is the primary language, Southern India has a separate language for each State. Lot of people in India speak English, specially in popular tourist spots.
14. Not a lot of people follow the traffic rules, so prefer not to drive yourself. India has a lot of budget airlines, consider flying when traveling long distance. Trains are also a good option. Try to travel in 1st or 2nd class compartment instead of general class.
15. Cell (Mobile) phone coverage is quite good in India, and cheap too. Do consider getting one if you are staying for more than 1 month. Most plans have free incoming calls and cheap outgoing calls. If you want to buy a Sim card and unlocked international phone consider prior to your visit check a good site telestial.com.
Visit travel.state.gov for additional and additional safety guidelines.
Additional Information
Time Zone:
+ 5.5 hrs GMT
Currency:
INDIAN RUPEE - INR ( 1 USD = 40 INR apx as of year 2007)
You can use yahoo finance for latest conversion rate
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=INR
Tourist Visa:
All foreign nationals who travel here, require an entry visa prior to leaving their home country.
http://www.indianembassy.org
Another good site for India visa information is www.india-visa.com
Embassy In India:
Just three are listed here, most nations have their embassy in India.
The United States Embassy in New Delhi
(Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6889033). Please verify latest information on this.
The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi
(7/8 Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6876500). Please verify latest information on this.
The British High Commission in New Delhi
(Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6872161) . Please verify latest information on this.
Language:
India is the home of many languages. It's is a vast country with lot of cultural and geographical differences. There are a number of languages spoken in India. Today there are 18 officially spoken recognized languages. The Constitution has accepted Hindi as India's national tongue, however, English is the additional official language of India. English is easily understood and spoken in almost all the tourism places.
