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India
is an eye opener for most first time visitors. All pre-conceived notions that a
tourist may have before they come here are more often than not cast aside as
she opens her warm arms to you. Those who still believe in the cliché of
elephants and snakes dominating the cultural scene are pleasantly surprised to
see the technological advancements of Modern India. On the other hand, people
who think India has become too commercialized often find themselves
wonder-struck by the color and beauty of Indian traditions.
Visiting
beautiful palaces, fragrant temples, listening to peaceful chanting, running
your hands over thousand year old sculptures and eating authentically delicious
food will make you amazed. And then there is the reality of the crowded
airports, smelly restrooms, loud traffic, dusty streets and if you're not
careful, the water that can make you sick. Still you will enjoy it.
About
INDIA:
India is set apart from the
rest of Asia by the Himalayas, The subcontinent as it is rightly called,
touches three large water bodies and is immediately recognizable which has over 1.2 billion people(approximately), and makes it the seventh largest
and also most populous democratic country
in the world .
India holds virtually every
kind of landscape imaginable. An abundance of mountain ranges and national
parks provide ample opportunity for eco-tourism and trekking, and its sheer
size promises something for everyone. From north to south India extends a good
2000 miles (3200 km), where the island nation of Sri Lanka seems to be squeezed
out of India like a great tear, the synapse forming the Gulf of Mannar.
Getting there:
Most international flights
land at Delhi or Mumbai. But you can also fly into any of the other major
metropolitan cities of Kolkatta and Chennai or Bengaluru.
Visa:
All visiting foreign
nationals require visas. Valid for 6 months from date of issue and allow for
multiple entry. Check online for costs, application procedures, process times
etc.
Currency:
In India “Rupee” is the
currency .You can exchange your currency in any of the centralized banks or
Exchanges.
Language:
18 languages are officially recognized in India of which
Sanskrit and Tamil share a long history of more than 5,000 and 3,000 years
respectively. The population of people speaking each language varies
drastically, however English is spoken widely by all in the tourist
industry and educated classes.
Major Places to look for:
The highly visited part of
India is undoubtedly the "Golden Triangle". This comprises of Delhi
(the nation's capital), Jaipur and Agra. The city like other major metropolitan
cities around the world is polluted, crowded and noisy. Delhi is rich in
history and has several impressive monuments including the Mughal Red Fort, the
solid stone tower of Qutub Minar and the India gate (built to honor the 90,000
Indian soldiers who died during World War 1). There are many temples and
mosques including the Birla Mandir, the Bahai Temple and the Jama Masjid
Mosque.
Delhi prides itself in the
beautiful gardens in the city such as famous Lodi Gardens and the Mughal
Gardens located in the Presidential Residence. Delhi is centrally located for
travel to Agra and Jaipur.
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The Taj Mahal is in Agra
and the center of attraction for the visitors. A three hour train journey or a
30 minute flight will bring you to the great Moghul monument that took over
twenty years to build. Emperor Shah Jahan built this magnificent monument to
immortalize the love for his wife who died during childbirth. The Taj Mahal is
made entirely of pure white marble and its pure white walls are decorated with
exquisite "pietra dure" (stone inlay work).Agra fort made out of red
sandstone, the fort was home to several great Mughal Kings and even comprised
the largest state treasury and mint. Within its walls lies the grand enclosure
for harem festivities and included pools and fountains. While a neighboring
structure housed the King's wives and mistresses. This reflects the bygone era
of luxurious royal living.
The final corner of the
"Golden Triangle" is Jaipur which is popular as the "Pink
City" for its imitation pink stucco buildings and walls. The most famous
palace is the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). The breeze that circulates through
the 953 small windows facing the street gives the palace its name. Another
interesting monument is the "Jantar Mantar" which is a collection of
architectural astronomical instruments built in 1727. Some other tourist
attractions in Jaipur include the Jal Mahal or "Water Palace
For those who do not wish
to be too adventurous on their first trip to India, a relaxing beach vacation
in Goa maybe a great alternative. With its beautiful beaches and large Roman
Catholic presence the city lends a much more western feel unlike any place in
India. One of the main tourist attractions is the Christian religious site the Basilica
of Bom Jesus (that holds the mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier).
The southern state of
Kerala presents several five star luxurious hotels such as the Kumarakom Lake
Resort that provide travelers with ayurvedic massages, dance performances,
along with boat rides as well as delicious food. Tourist attractions include a
bird sanctuary and the largest backwater Vembanad Lake.
The warmth of
Indian hospitality is best felt in the smaller towns in
the interiors of the country. If your itinerary allows, do not restrict
yourself to bigger towns but do explore the heart of India in cities like
Jaisalmer, Aurangabad, and Lucknow etc.
Dress sense:
Though India is
modern in many ways, Indians still dress more conservatively as
compared to people in many western countries. Though, it is a common sight to
see foreigners in halter tops and shorts, one should avoid extremes so as not
to attract unwarranted attention. Big cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore
are less conservative than others. While roaming Indian streets, it is best to
be dressed in jeans/ pants/ skirts (knee length and below) with a half sleeve
top for women and a t-shirt with pants/ jeans/ shorts (knee length) for men.
Temple traditions:
Most religious
places in India like temples and gurudwaras should be entered
barefoot. There is a provision for you to remove your footwear before you
enter. Please make sure your head is covered with a scarf before entering
gurudwaras.
One of the richest traditions of temple building that India
has produced took shape in the 7th century A.D., centered in what is now the
state of Karnataka, and lasted until the 13th. This was one of the two
main branches of Dravida or 'Southern' temple architecture, giving rise to such
famous temples as the Virupaksa, Pattadakal, the Kailasa, Ellora and the
Hoysalesvara, Halebid.
Few Famous temples in southern india are Tirupathi – Andhra Pradesh, Isckon Temple ,
Chamundeeshwari temple – Karnataka,Meenakshi
Temple
North India : Goden
Temple – Amristar,Vishwanath tempe – Kashi, Kailash
Temple
Each Temple has certain restrictions for visitors, Better to
check out the rules before in hand to avoid mess up.
Avoid being
scantily dressed as that may hurt people’s religious sentiments
Climate & Time to
Visit:
Climate in India can be extreme
for some visitors. Do some researches before your travel date on the
temperature and climate in the cities that you will be visiting. Summers in
North India can be very hot at 45 degrees Celsius on summer days. The best time
to visit most of India is Feb/ March or Sept/ Oct/ Nov.
Try to schedule
your visit such that you experience the wonder of an Indian
festival. Indians celebrate most festivals like Holi, Diwali,
Eid, Navratri etc. with great gusto and these are the best times to see the
people shed their inhibitions and have fun without a care.
Food habits:
Food
in India is wide ranging in variety, taste and flavour. Being so diverse
geographically, each region has its own cuisine and style of preparation.
Indian cuisine, renowned for its exotic gravies seems complicated for any
newcomer. Though
most visitors avoid eating on the streets due to
fear of infection, they are missing one of the best experiences of true Indian
food. The Mughlai cuisine of North differs sharply from the
preparations of the south. The Wazwan style of Kashmir is luxurious but the
same can be said about Bengal's Macher Jhol, Rajasthan's Dal Bati, Uttar
Pradesh's Kebabs and Punjab's Sarson Ka Saag and Makki di Roti.If you are
experimental in nature, there are options in most cities where you can enjoy
this in hygienic conditions. For example, the famous gol-gappas of Delhi
Drink water only from sealed distilled water
bottles to prevent the popular malady "Delhi belly".
Transport System:
Public transport in India, though reliable,
comes with a disclaimer. Depending on the city you are in, the best form of
transport will differ. For example, Mumbai trains are convenient but difficult
to use and thus the best way to travel there is by cab, which is quite
economical. Cities like Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, etc. are best traversed in
auto-rickshaws. Private taxis are too expensive and should be used only during
odd hours.
Shopping :
While shopping
on the streets, bargain your heart out. The fun of shopping in
Indian streets is that the shopkeepers expect you to bargain and enjoy the game
of negotiation with a chuckle. Most things will be quoted as double of what
they should actually cost. This however cannot be done at shops and malls.
Be aware:
As with travel
anywhere beware of scam artists and pick pockets. Avoid
dark streets alone at night. Like any other country, this could
land you in a bad situation. If you are followed or pestered by touts
or beggars, the best way to deal with them is ignore them,
smile, shake your head and keep walking on.
VISA Issues:
Obtaining an Indian tourist visa and making multiple trips to India, or
staying there for extended periods of time, has recently become more difficult
after recent regulations.
You can get the details from Indian Embassy.
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Travel And Vacations