Absurd in its chaos and astonishing in its glory, India is a place which will make you forget the routines of your everyday life. Get surrounded by the marvels of India's ancient civilizations and affordable shopping opportunities. Dive into the striking poverty, the incredible wealth and the interesting color-stream of people and animals wandering in the streets. Take your breath away admiring places like Agra's Taj Mahal mausoleum, or exploring India's nature wonders from the Himalayan Mountains to jungles and beaches. India has much more to offer than most of us can take at one time.
Cultural heritage. The religious nature of Indian people is also seen in the fact that in India religious practices are an essential part of everyday life and in many cases also a popular tourist sight.India is very rich with history. A home of ancient civilizations developed in Indus and Ganges valleys thousands of years BC, India has since then experienced Arab, Turkish and Mongol invasions and years of British control. India’s population has diverse ethnic roots, which is seen also in the amount of languages spoken in India. Although English is spoken as an official language in India, and is with Hindi one of the two most commonly spoken languages, India has also hundreds of other languages using several different alphabets.
The capital of India, Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world. This colorful city is a must see for all hose who want to experience the chaotic everyday Indian life. Delhi is also full of interesting historical, architectural and religious sites, and offers marvelous possibilities also for those who want to dive into the exciting world of bazaar shopping in India.
More bustling Indian cities, Mumbai and Kolkata are also unforgettable experiences, and the famous Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur offers a great variety of historic attractions and shopping opportunities. One of the main cities of the northern India, Varanasi is a sacred city of the Hindus.
Beach resorts. Although it might not be the first association of India, also a traditional beach holiday is an option here. The most famous Indian beach holiday resort, Goa is popular especially among young people looking for enjoyable beach surroundings with well-maintained tourism services. The southern Indian state of Kerala has also become popular as a varied destination with beaches, mountains and historical attractions. The southern city of Chennai also has beaches, as well as many temples and colorful festivals. The beautiful coral atolls of Lakshadweep (Laccadives) and the remote Andaman Islands are great choices for diving and jungle trekking.
Religious attractions. India is rich is religious attractions and historical sights connected to religion. You can visit the ancient kingdoms of Sikkim or Ladakh, or travel to Uttarakhand for trekking in the Himalayas. The old summer capital of India, Shimla is a colonial resort city, offering trekking and skiing in the scenic Himalayas. Finally, there is also Dharamsala, which attracts tourists with its community built around the spiritual leader of the world's Tibetan Buddhists, Dalai Lama.
India - a vast country with astonishing cultural and architectural attractions
India is a land of great ancient civilizations and home of many nature wonders. In addition to this, India is also famous for its rich religious heritage. There are hundreds of interesting religious monuments and pilgrimage sites, including Dharamsala, the home of the spiritual leader of World's Tibetan Buddhists, Dalai Lama.Cultural heritage. The religious nature of Indian people is also seen in the fact that in India religious practices are an essential part of everyday life and in many cases also a popular tourist sight.India is very rich with history. A home of ancient civilizations developed in Indus and Ganges valleys thousands of years BC, India has since then experienced Arab, Turkish and Mongol invasions and years of British control. India’s population has diverse ethnic roots, which is seen also in the amount of languages spoken in India. Although English is spoken as an official language in India, and is with Hindi one of the two most commonly spoken languages, India has also hundreds of other languages using several different alphabets.
The capital of India, Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world. This colorful city is a must see for all hose who want to experience the chaotic everyday Indian life. Delhi is also full of interesting historical, architectural and religious sites, and offers marvelous possibilities also for those who want to dive into the exciting world of bazaar shopping in India.
More bustling Indian cities, Mumbai and Kolkata are also unforgettable experiences, and the famous Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur offers a great variety of historic attractions and shopping opportunities. One of the main cities of the northern India, Varanasi is a sacred city of the Hindus.
Beach resorts. Although it might not be the first association of India, also a traditional beach holiday is an option here. The most famous Indian beach holiday resort, Goa is popular especially among young people looking for enjoyable beach surroundings with well-maintained tourism services. The southern Indian state of Kerala has also become popular as a varied destination with beaches, mountains and historical attractions. The southern city of Chennai also has beaches, as well as many temples and colorful festivals. The beautiful coral atolls of Lakshadweep (Laccadives) and the remote Andaman Islands are great choices for diving and jungle trekking.
Religious attractions. India is rich is religious attractions and historical sights connected to religion. You can visit the ancient kingdoms of Sikkim or Ladakh, or travel to Uttarakhand for trekking in the Himalayas. The old summer capital of India, Shimla is a colonial resort city, offering trekking and skiing in the scenic Himalayas. Finally, there is also Dharamsala, which attracts tourists with its community built around the spiritual leader of the world's Tibetan Buddhists, Dalai Lama.
Practical information for your trip to India
Climate in India varies from hot tropical monsoon climate in the south to temperate mountain climate in the north. Average monthly high temperatures in New Delhi, for instance, vary between 21 and 38 degrees of Celsius.
Photo: Babasteve, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Weather in the Himalayan region is remarkably cooler than in other regions of India, and has big differences in temperatures between day and night.
Safety. In spite of its overwhelming chaos, India is a quite safe destination with few violent attacks and serious crimes against tourists. However, with India there are other things concerning your personal well-being you should pay attention to. First of all the different hygiene level than at home is likely to cause stomach problems for visitors in India, and if hygiene is seriously neglected, even more serious diseases are possible. Malaria is common in India, which is why vaccinations should be taken care of. Another thing causing health problems is pollution.
Shopping and prices. When it comes to shopping, India has interesting things to offer. Pricing in India is only valid until you make a better suggestion, which is why shopping in the streets in India can be an unforgettable experience. Most of the biggest department stores, however, have fixed prices. Most popular shopping items in India are wood carvings, colorful clothing, paintings and jewelry.
Cuisine. India is famous also for its national kitchen, offering a wide variety of interesting culinary experiences. Indian cuisine is famous for being hot and spicy. The food culture differs greatly between different regions of India, and also between different religious groups. As almost one third of the population does not eat meat due to religious reasons, most Indian restaurants offer numerous interesting recipes also for vegetarians, not to mention the tasty fruits enjoyed as dessert.
Traveling to India is easy through the international airports of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. Domistic flights in India are easy to find to many popular destinations. Public transport in the bumpy roads and crowded but effective railroads of India is an experience you will have to be prepared with the right attitude. Driving a car in the chaotic Indian left-side traffic calls for a lot of patience, so car rental in India without a local driver is for the truly experienced only.
Tours in India
Due to India's big size, chaotic infrastructure, and abundance of interesting travel destinations, it might be a good idea to visit India by an arranged tour. India is a popular touring destination, and there are many tour operators who are prepared to make it easy for you, and organize your trip from the time you step out of the airplane until the moment of your return flight.Most famous tour offered by most tour operators in India is connected with the so-called Golden Triangle, which means combination of locations like Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, a true metropolis and capital of India, Delhi, and the home of bazaar shopping, Jaipur. You can of course also be independent and go touring on your own, which might be an adventure of your lifetime.
