India is a classic travel destination, with many unique places to discover and explore. The country is home to majestic palaces and ancient cities, fantastical animals, and culinary delights.
India is a vibrant country with a wide range of landscapes and cultures, from the opulence of New Delhi’s boulevards to the tranquility of Kerala’s backwaters, from tiger-spotting in Ranthambore to Mumbai, the pulsating metropolis of Bollywood dreams.
Few places provide as much variety as Egypt, which packs 4,000 years of history into a typical two-week visit. Yoga in Goa, royal splendor in Rajasthan, and trekking in the flower-covered Himalayas are just a few of the activities available to tourists in this region.
Existing entrance procedures and restrictions
For those who have received a Covid-19 vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization, proof of vaccination and a health self-declaration required; for those who have not received a Covid-19 vaccine or have received only a partial vaccination, a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours of departure is required.
While COVID-19 has resulted in varying regulations from state to state and the continued use of face masks in many indoor situations, recent months have seen a general relaxation of these restrictions. To get a feel for the atmosphere of a place, it can helpful to carry some cash or a stockpile along.
The Season to Visit Most Attractively
The months following the monsoon, from October to March, are the most pleasant period to travel throughout most of India, as this is when the temperature and humidity are at their lowest. Beginning in the southwestern United States around the month of May, the monsoons move northward across the country over the following weeks. After that, most places experience months of heat and humidity before the rains arrive in early October.
However, during the hot summer months of April–early June, the high-altitude hill stations of the Himalayas and Western Ghats are comfortable. The spring festival of color, Holi, is a lot of fun, and the fall festival of lights, Diwali, can cause hotel prices to skyrocket as Indians visit friends and relatives from far and wide.
Most Notable Areas & Metropolitan Areas
Delhi
Delhi is the administrative capital of India, but it has the feel of multiple cities due to its size and diversity. Further, there are the wide boulevards of New Delhi (the Edwin-Lutyens-designed heart of the British Raj), the scented medieval bazaars of the Chandni Chowk spice market, and a twin chrome and glass city within a city to the south called Gurgaon, which is bursting with air-conditioned hotels and upscale housing estates. Don’t miss the stunning vista of the city from the minaret of Jama Masjid, the city’s tallest mosque, and the sunset at India Gate, where you may promenade among citizens carrying ice cream and boating on the man-made lake. Also, if you need a break from the loud auto-rickshaws in the middle of the city, head to Lodi gardens, the city’s verdant heart peppered with Mughal structures.
Rajasthan
The desert state of Rajasthan is one of India’s most culturally significant areas, thanks to its many beautiful palaces and cities. Many visitors stop here on their way to or from the rest of the “golden triangle” (Delhi, Agra to see the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan), but they should plan to spend some time here. Moreover, see the fantasy fort of Jaisalmer, which rises out of the otherwise featureless desert, and the megalithic Meherangarh, a fort from the 15th century that clings picturesquely to a sheer escarpment.
Mumbai, Goa, and Kerala.
In the South, between Mumbai and Goa, and Kerala, you’ll find the most relaxed side of India. You should definitely take a detour to India’s fashion and movie capital, Mumbai, to experience the city’s fantastic cuisines, vibrant nightlife, and opulent accommodations. There are resorts for everyone, from hippies (Arambol) to fans of the high life, and getting there by overnight train is an experience in itself in India (Cansaulim). You can take another sleeper train to get to Fort Kochi, a charming historic trading port and the starting point for unforgettable backwater cruises on Kerala’s signature reed houseboats.
Khajuraho
Who wouldn’t want to witness the Kama Sutra, the famed 7th-century treatise on erotica, come to life? (Rather than flesh, they are carved in stone.) Twenty elaborate temples from the Chandella dynasty (900s CE) can be found in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. These temples feature a spectacular parade of sensual sculptures, from dancing apsaras (celestial singers) to Vishnu as a pig.
Madurai
Known as the “fish-eyed goddess,” Madurai is a pilgrimage spot for Hindus who wish to pay homage to her. Ten thousand or so pilgrims visit every day to partake in theertham (spiritual dunking), while others come to see the beautiful temples (including the Temple of Meenakshi, thus the name) and experience spiritual India at its wackiest.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry, or Pondy as the locals refer to it, is a former French colonial town in Tamil Nadu that is brimming with exquisite French architecture (the southern part of town packed with stucco villas with vibrant bougainvillea-filled gardens) and Indo-Galic cuisine (excellent crispy French bread, ratatouille, and even French style wines from the subcontinent’s rising viticulture industry). Be sure to see the recently renovated Pondicherry Park, where an 18th-century statue of Napoleon stands in the middle of flower gardens and cooling ponds.
Ooty (or Udhagamandalam) is an even sleepier treat, with a fine lake, Victorian botanical gardens, coffee and tea plantations, and scented eucalyptus forests. Shimla (see below) is the most famous of the British-era hill stations, green, high-altitude spots where the apparatchiks of the Raj came to escape the spring-summer heat of the Indian plains. Those looking for relief from the heat of Chennai’s downtown streets can find it here (another south India must-see).
Ideal Courses of Action
Vacation on the back of a camel
Camel safaris departing from Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer offer a glimpse into the remote depths of India’s deserts and the chance to see desert animals like eagles and the Indian gazelle. The average camel ride is four hours long and includes a stop for lunch and the company of your camel driver, who rides his own camel.
Spotting a Tiger
Ranthambore, formerly the Maharaja of Jaipur’s private reserve, now regarded as one of the greatest tiger reserves in the world and a well-liked tourist destination. A rise in the population of this large, beautiful cat has also been brought about by conservation initiatives, which has led some local hotels to install water cannons to ward off prospective tiger attacks. The park, which spans a mountain range from the Aravallis to the Vindhya, is only reachable by open bus or jeep, and visitors are picked up right from their hotels. Daily sightings of the tiger are possible; like most animals, it is most active in the morning and rests during the day.
It connects Kalka and Shimla by train
Take the slow train to Shimla, which is located along a ridge in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Once the summer capital of the British, Shimla is brimming with charming examples of vernacular architecture from the time of the Raj, with a particular emphasis on faux-Tudor styles. Kalka-Shimla railway, a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway that travels the mountainous route, through plunging valleys and picturesque villages over seven winding hours, is one of its primary beauties. Sustaining yourself with endless tea and a hearty lunch.
A Method of Transportation
India boasts a fantastic system of sleeper and intercity trains, making it the ideal mode of transportation for exploring the country. Select trains labeled “Express” when booking on makemytrip.com, as non-express trains with lower fares take a back seat to the more expensive express trains. Low-cost and dependable domestic flights are available from carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet.
The quality of your state’s roads will determine how pleasant or terrifying your road trips will be. Take any of the three major north-south National Highways from Delhi to Bengaluru via Mumbai in the west, Delhi to Bengaluru via Hyderabad in the center, and from Kolkata to Chennai in the east, and you should be OK.
Getting There
Flights to India often land in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata and cost £600 or more for a round trip. Google Flights sorts all of your flight options in order of their estimated carbon emissions, with the ones producing the most emissions shown first.
The massive sailing ships that brought Britons over the Atlantic for decades on the “Passage to India” are long gone, but Viking Cruises currently sails a comparable route, this time from Athens to Mumbai. Following the ancient east-west trade route across the Red Sea, the journey lasts for 21 days and costs £5,900 per person.
Hints for reducing expenses
Hotels in the middle range and up often have hidden fees for using the internet, so it’s best to look for places where you can get online for free. You may either pick up an inexpensive 4G pay as you go SIM card at the airport upon arrival, or you can head to Café Coffee Day, a national coffee chain with free and fast wifi and chai that will make your hair stand on end.
Finally, the Travel Secrets to India are Unveiled
What kind of money do I require?
The local currency is the Indian rupee, and one pound may purchase for a very convenient one hundred rupees.
Where does one find out what time it is?
India Standard Time (IST) has been in use since 1947; it is five hours and thirty minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.