India - The Facts

Following the south east Asian tsunami in December '04 the Foreign Office is constantly updating its advice to travellers to India. Click here for their information.

Size: 1,269,218 square miles (3,287,259sq km)
Capital: New Delhi
Language: India has 14 official languages and over 800 different dialects. Hindi, the national language is spoken by around 30% of the population. Other major languages include Bengali, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati and Kashmiri. English is widely understood and used for national, political and commercial communication.
Currency: Indian rupee
Weather: Hot and tropical with variations from region to region. Coolest periods are from November to mid-March, with hot, dry, dusty weather between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions between June and September.

India - Attractions

There's masses to see and experience in India that it can be tempting to cram in as much as possible and turn your trip into an endurance test. Include time for relaxation in your plans and if the destinations you want to visit are a long way apart, look at getting an air pass. There are some areas where it is not safe to travel, particularly Kashmir. See Further Info for more details.

Delhi

India's capital city can be an overwhelming place and does take time to get used to. Many visitors move on as soon as they can, but there is plenty to see and do for those who choose to stay. The new part of the city is home to government offices, businesses and affluent residential areas. The old town is a walled city of crowded winding streets, temples, mosques and bazaars. Famous landmarks include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and India's largest mosque, the tall Qutab Minar tower. Summers in Delhi are unbearably hot and best avoided The city is a good base for visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra. The world's most famous monument to love was built by Shah Jahan after his wife, Mumtaz died giving birth to their 14th child.
Varanasi

East of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges is India's holiest Hindu city. It's full of temples, shrines and ghats on the sacred river which attract pilgrims and holy men. Manikarnika Ghat is the most auspicious place to be cremated, but there are around a hundred others, some of which are used for bathing, some for burning.
Shimla

When the cities of India became too hot for the resident Brits in the days of the Raj, they headed for the hill stations. The most popular was Shimla, just under 200 miles north of Delhi. These high, cool places still offer scenic escapes and Shimla has now become a favourite honeymoon destination. At nearly 7,000 feet, it's pleasantly cool in the summer.

Mumbai (Bombay)

The biggest town in Western India is a busy industrial port and a place of huge contrasts. It has become famous for its film industry, glamorous nightlife, numerous bazaars and beaches as well as its pollution, squalor and poverty.

Goa

The coastline of Goa with its beautiful beaches has become a busy holiday destination. It was ruled by Portugal until the 1960s, which has given it a distinctive character. Catholics are still the majority here and the lifestyle is more Portuguese than Indian. The tradition of a lent carnival has survived as a spectacular three day party. South of Goa the state of Kerala has some excellent beaches too.. The Kerala Backwaters, a network of lakes, rivers and canals dotted with settlements, are a delight to explore. Boat trips are available.

Kolkata (Calcutta)

The largest city in India, has a strong colonial heritage and one of the best museums in the country. It's a busy commercial centre with excellent bazaars and several city gardens. The best known is the Maidan where there's a racecourse, cricket and football pitches. The cemetery on South Park Street provides a poignant insight into the realities of Raj life.

Darjeeling

This hill station close to the border with Tibet was always a favourite with the British. A place of tea plantations, monasteries, bazaars, cool weather, it has views of Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.

Kashmir

The far north of India with its spectacular mountains was once a major tourist area but is now considered unsafe for travellers.

India - Activities

Trekking and hiking

Several regions which offer excellent hiking and spectacular views. However one of the most popular regions Jammu & Kashmir is the north is currently best avoided due to heightened tension between India and Pakistan. There are masses of alternatives. Himachal Pradesh has wild valleys, hill stations and snowy mountains. The Kangra Valley is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. The Garhwal Himalayas are the source for many of northern India's rivers. The hill station of Mussoorie is a good base for exploring this area. Darjeeling and Sikkim in the Eastern Himalayas have gentler hills with beautiful forests and lakes. The Western Ghats are densely forested hills, more picturesque than awesome with coffee and spice plantations and a huge variety of wildlife. The Nilgiris in southern India offer easy walking through orange groves and along peaceful lakes.
Skiing

There are a number of small resorts in the Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttar Pradesh particularly at Auli and at Solang Nullah in Himachal Pradesh. For the experienced and adventurous there are a number of companies offering spectacular ski touring trips. Manali is a good base for most ski and other adventure holidays in Himachal Pradesh.

Wildlife watching

The huge diversity of wildlife includes the Bengal tiger and the Asiatic elephant, unfortunately their populations are shrinking fast. The best places for wildlife viewing are in one of the 200 sanctuaries and parks where animals are protected. Some of the best are Corbett and Dudhwa National Parks in Uttar Pradesh, home to tigers, elephants, bears, panthers and leopards; Sariska and Bharatpur National Parks in Rajasthan; Kaziranga National Park; Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam and the Dandeli National Park which can be reached easily from Goa.

Camel riding

This is very popular around Jaisalmer and Pushkar in Rajasthan where trips from a few hours to a few days can be arranged.
Canoeing and rafting

There are an increasing number of operators offering white water rafting and canoeing trips on some of the wild rivers in Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Paragliding

This is a relatively new sport in India, but gaining popularity fast. It's available in Goa and from Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Operators should be chosen with care as there are no regulatory bodies and safety standards vary.

Meditiation, yoga and spiritual pursuits

Spiritual retreats with classes in all forms of meditation and yoga are widely available with many centres also running courses for those who wish to teach yoga. Ashrams, spiritual communities where people study and live together, are open to visitors. Opportunities to study with Tibetan monks are available at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, home of the exiled Dalai Lama.

India - Entertainment

Western style nightlife is available in the cities but it's expensive. Mumbai has some of the best, with a huge range of bars and clubs, although many operate a couples-only policy and charge an entrance fee. English style pubs are particularly popular.

Most of the bars and discos in Delhi are in the city's most exclusive hotels. Other venues are centred around Connaught Place. Kite Festivals are held in Gujarat during January.

Many of the cities have sound and light shows that provide an insight into their history and culture. The most popular venue for most Indians looking for a night out is the cinema. The Times of India provides a comprehensive set of city guides.

The Holi festival in February / March is all to do with colour and Krishna. It involves throwing coloured water and gulal powder over people. As no one is exempt it's a time to wear old clothes!

Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan in the north has an Elephant Festival in March, with parades of the best turned out elephants ever.

The Festival of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, is celebrated in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in September.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights in early November, is the most important Hindu festival and symbolises light beating darkness and good triumphing over evil. Lamps and lanterns are lit and many cities have firework displays.