Handy Information for India Holidays
Year after year thousands of travellers buy air tickets to India for exploring the country’s numerous wonders. Here is some information related to different aspects of travel to India like weather, tourist places, travel tips, and preferred airlines. Date : Monday, December 20, 2010
Innumerable charming holiday destinations are to be found across the length and breadth of India. Gastronomic delights, magnificent historical monuments, heart thudding adventure sports, churches, mosques, and temples, jungles teeming with exotic flora and fauna, and beach and mountain resorts India offers all this and much more. Almost each and every part of the country has its own unique claim or rather claims to fame. If Lucknow is famed for tantalising Mughal cuisines and stunning architectural feats, the hill state of Uttarakhand is known across the world for white water rafting and shrines such as Kedarnath and Badrinath amongst numerous other attractions. In fact, it would fill volumes to even touch upon all the hotspots of the country.
Here are just four of the highlights to be kept in mind while booking air tickets to India.
The Golden Triangle Tour
The Golden Triangle Tour of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur offers one of the most generous slices of India's glorious past. While Delhi floors with awesome monuments such as the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and charming colonial structures, Agra remains unsurpassed with the knock out Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Similarly, the Pink City of Jaipur has to be seen to be believed with its crowd magnets like Hawa Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Dera Amer Elephant Safari, Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden, and Amber Fort and Palace.
Kerala
Kerala is like some master artist's canvas - endless tranquil backwaters, virginal beaches, and lush captivating hill stations and jungles all justify its claim to the title of 'God's Own Country'. Kerala even won the 'Best in Travel poll 2010' in a poll conducted by Smart Travel Asia, an online travel magazine. According to this extensive poll, Kerala is the most popular travel destination of Asia ahead of other places like the Maldives, Bali, and Phuket.
More than three centuries of Portuguese rule and a powerful hippy influence have made Goa into one of the most westernised places in India. Delectable cuisines, especially seafood, tremendous water sporting action, limitless beach fun, cheap booze, and frequent electrifying parties make Goa an irresistible destination for planning one's India holidays. Goa's stunning natural beauty also makes it a major draw for honeymooning couples.
Best Time to Visit India
Climate is a major factor to consider for visiting India. Usually, the best time to visit India is the winter season of November to February. The time is ideal for checking out South India as well as plain areas of North India such as Delhi and Rajasthan. During winters, one can also experience the Indian snow in mountain destinations like Auli and Gulmarg. Besides climate, there are quite a few other factors to consider as well. For instance, visiting during the monsoons substantially bring down travel costs, while a trip during the different colourful festivals gives one the perfect chance to witness India's cultural extravaganza.
Getting There and Around
A slew of Airlines offer direct as well as indirect flights to India. Some of the most preferred airlines for flying from London to India are Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, British Airways, Etihad, and Emirates. Travelling within India is pretty simple as well. The country has an extensive rail network and there is also no dearth of domestic airlines. Some of the domestic airlines in India are GoAir, Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Red, Jagson Airlines, and IndiGo Airlines. Buses are another popular way to travel in India.
Travel Tips
Obtaining a visa before travelling to India is mandatory. Foreign nationals with long term multiple entry visas need to register with their nearest Foreigners Regional Registration within two weeks of arrival.
For transiting through India, one needs a transit visa. From the date of issue, this visa is valid for 15 days for single or double journey. Travellers holding a transit visa can not stay for more than 3 days.
Passports should be valid for at least six months from the date of one's visa application as well as six months from the date of the passport holder's arrival in the country.
Agra and Jaipur amongst other areas are notorious for scam artists who offer big money for delivering jewellery abroad in lieu of an initial deposit. Usually, the jewellery turns out to be worthless junk.
Carry belongings carefully as snatching incidents are pretty common. Essential documents such as visas, flight tickets, and passports should be photocopied and kept separately.
Some Historical Titbits
Historical evidence points towards the existence of human life in India right since the Stone Age. This was followed by the Indus Valley Civilisation and Vedic Age. Two of the major dynasties to rule different parts of India after the Vedic Age were the Mauryas and the Guptas. Later on, most of Northern India came under the control of Muslim invaders. Finally, India came under British colonial rule and attained independence in 1947.
