India: Ancient Traditions, New Technology
India is one of the world’s most ancient and diverse countries. With its colonial background and location between Asia and the Middle East, India has long served as a cultural crossroad: a place where East meets West and ancient tradition meets modern innovation. All aspects of the country are complex: religion, race, and even the landscape. It can be both alluring and daunting, even for seasoned travelers. We point you to Web sites that help you explore the India that suits you.
Expand All Guide SectionsIndia Travel Basics
Between the frozen peaks of the Himalayas in the north and the beaches of India’s southern coastline, the subcontinent’s variety of natural offerings is equal only to the diversity of its people. The reasons for going to India are as varied as the languages spoken there. The awe-inspiring Himalayas, celebrated in Hindu mythology as the “abode of the Gods,” offer world-renowned trekking and mountaineering. The pace of metropolitan centers like Delhi and Mumbai can be dizzying, but the country’s pervasive spirituality offers countless sites for respite in the form of temples and shrines. Whether it’s mountain climbing, meditating, or metropolitan living you’re after, the following sites can help you plan a tailor-made Indian vacation.
Dulcinea's Insight
- You could spend a year in India and still not experience everything it has to offer. That’s why you’re better off keeping your itinerary simple. Decide early what kind of travel experience you want to have—rural, outdoorsy, spiritual, metropolitan—and stick to it. You’ll have a much more enjoyable experience if you give more attention to fewer sites.
- Outdoor adventure sports are very popular in India and can provide an experience beyond that of your average vacation. The Garhwal Himalayas in northwestern India are home to some of the world’s premier mountaineering sites. A number of state-run institutes have been established to assist novices and experts alike. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering both offer quality instruction. However, if you decide to set up an expedition, it’s important to first clear it with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
- The intensity of life in India’s metropolitan centers, like Delhi and Mumbai, isn’t for everyone. But as overwhelming as it can be, the exhilaration of weaving through the streets in the back of an auto rickshaw can be downright addictive. However, if you’re weary of thronging crowds, aggressive salesmen, or chaotic traffic jams, consider planning day trips to the major city centers rather than longer stays.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview of what to do in India …
Incredible India
, the official site of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, is a good place to start brainstorming for your trip. Its “Trip Planner” feature is especially helpful if you’re not yet sure where to go, as it lists the main tourist attractions for each of the country’s states.
Rough Guides
provides another handy general guide for traveling in India. It features short articles on culture, history, and politics, which are important aspects to explore if you want to fully understand the country. The site’s “42 things not to miss” link is another insightful way to preview your travel options.
National Geographic Traveler
highlights some of the country’s most beautiful and intriguing areas in its feature “Passages Through India.” This guide focuses on six trips recommended by seasoned traveler and Lonely Planet India guidebook writer Sarina Singh. Even if you’re not interested in its recommendations, the stunning pictures and travel tips make the article worth browsing.
Traveler’s India
is a quarterly travel/lifestyle magazine devoted solely to the country. With features that focus on Indian culture and travel destinations, the site’s “Archives” section is a tremendous resource for anyone who wants to learn about the subcontinent from an insider’s perspective.
India Profile
is perfect if you want to experience a small slice of Indian life. Sure, this site’s got the usual fare of hotel, car, and tour listings, but what sets it apart is its “Theme Travel in India” section. Themed tours include wedding, fishing, cooking, tea, and other off-beat tours.
India Wildlife Tours
brings travelers to some of the country’s most beautiful wilderness areas, providing transportation, guides, and lodges. The site also features adventure and culture tour packages, which are worth checking out even if you’re not interested in signing up for a tour; they may help you decide which places to visit.
For specific sights and attractions …
The Independent of London
has put together a comprehensive guide to traveling India’s “Golden Triangle.” The Triangle is composed of Delhi, the nation’s capital; Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, home to the country’s best bazaars. This guide offers advice on the best modes of travel, which sites to see in each city, and hotel and restaurant reviews.
Condé Nast Traveler
provides insight into the best spots in glamorous and cosmopolitan Mumbai, home of the prolific film industry, Bollywood. The site offers restaurant reviews, shopping locations, and a guide to the country’s most vibrant nightlife.
Frommer’s
guide to Kolkata (Calcutta) is perfect for getting to know the “once … proud capital of the British Raj.” Although Kolkata doesn’t have the glitz of Mumbai, the Kalighat Kali Temple is worth a day trip. Read about the temple in the “Kolkata Attractions” section of the site.
Incredible India
offers a brief description of a must-see for travelers, the caves of Ellora. Located near the small mountain village of Verul in Maharashtra, the caves consist of ancient temples and monasteries carved from the side of a mountain more than a millennium ago. There are a total of 34 caves, and each is adorned with stunning Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain iconography. Ellora is also the home of the world’s largest monolithic structure, the Kailasa Temple.
The New York Times
Travel section spotlights Pondicherry, a French-infludenced Indian city on the southeast coast with a population of just one million people. Learn about Pondy's French colonial past and newly emerging cultural scene featuring eclectic culinary and shopping opportunities. A photo slide presents the city's colorful streets, meditation sessions around huge Bodhi trees, vivid flower market and street vendors.
Travel Requirements for India
Beyond the normal rigmarole associated with any trip abroad—such as passports and ... read more »
Getting to India
A combination of factors makes overland travel to India difficult, if not impossible. The ... read more »
India Hotels
From the bare bones to the extravagant, India caters to the needs of every kind of traveler. There ... read more »
Getting Around in India
There are a number of ways to get around India. Low-cost domestic airlines are booming on the ... read more »
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