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 ... read more »
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 subcontinent, with service to hundreds of destinations. India also boasts the largest railway system in the world. The trains go just about everywhere, are efficient, and offer an unfiltered experience of the land and its people. If air and rail don’t appeal to you, there’s also a growing army of private bus companies willing to take you where you want to go. This section can help you plan your route and buy a ticket for whichever mode you prefer.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Traveling to different areas of India takes time. Flights and trains are often delayed, and driving through the country’s chaotic streets can be less than speedy. The best idea is to plan for the wait. Things are paced differently in India, and you’ll cope better if you learn to adjust to it rather than fight it.
- India has several low-cost airlines offering affordable flights to airports big and small all over the subcontinent. If you’ve got a lot of ground to cover and only a short time to do it, these airlines are the best way to travel. However, these flights are “low cost” for a reason: the airlines are absolutely no-frills and not known for punctuality.
- The train stations in India’s larger cities are notorious for counterfeit ticket scams. To avoid a rip-off, make sure to buy your tickets only from the stations’ official ticket counters.
- Trains can fill up quickly, so booking your tickets as early as possible is a smart way to avoid unnecessary frustration. Trains are popular and crowded, so be prepared.
- Behind trains, buses are the second-most popular form of transportation in India. Each state has its own public bus service that mostly runs intrastate routes with limited service between neighboring states. Like trains, there are a number of classes of bus. “Service” buses are the cheapest and most crowded, while “luxury” or “express” buses are nicer, have assured seating, and make fewer stops. Private buses can vary just as much as public ones, so be aware of what you’re paying for.
- When taking a taxi, it’s a good idea to make sure the driver uses his meter/conversion chart. If you don’t, you can expect to be charged up to four times the normal rate.
- For travel around the city, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as riding a motorized rickshaw. Weaving in and out of traffic, narrowly missing buses and cars—it’s an adventure unto itself and a cheap way to get around the city.
Dulcinea's Picks
For general information …
Yatra
is one of Asia’s leading travel agencies, and it can help you plan nearly every detail of your Indian getaway. Their Web site is easy to use and offers deals on international travel to and from India, as well as domestic flights all around the subcontinent. Yatra’s site also allows you to book hotels, rent cars, and buy bus tickets.
For low-cost domestic flights …
Zoomtra
lists 11 of India’s top domestic carriers, allowing you to search each one for the best fares for your trip. Get these tickets as early as possible, as domestic flights are becoming increasingly popular and flights fill up quickly.
Yatra
, mentioned above for general information, is an all-encompassing travel site that specializes in booking flights in and around India. The site is very user-friendly and lets you book hotels at the same time as your flight.
For trains …
IndiaMike.com’s India Travel Forum
may not look like the most professional site, but the information it contains on India’s confusing travel classes makes it a must-read. Indian trains have eight classes of travel, ranging from unreserved benches to air-conditioned berths. Each class has its own code, and knowing what these codes entail can help you have the best trip possible. This site offers photographic examples of each class.
Indian Railways
’ official Web site offers schedules, maps, fares, and service advisories for all of India’s many train lines.
Indian Railways
helps riders choose their trains with searchable timetables and station lists.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
's official Web site is where to go to purchase tickets online up to two months in advance. Some restrictions apply.
For buses …
IndiaTransit.com
is a privately run online venture aimed at providing information about Indian transportation options. The site looks and reads like a blog, but its search tools for finding both inter- and intrastate bus lines are useful nonetheless.
Raj National Express
is the Greyhound of India. Raj Express offers modern, comfortable buses to hundreds of locations around India. Its Web site is clear and easy to use, and it lets you book tickets and check in online.
KPN Travels India Limited
is another popular private bus company serving much of southern India. This site also allows you to book tickets online, although you have to go through a free registration before you can make any reservations.
RedBus
is another smaller, newer bus company serving a number of routes. You can book tickets online on their site.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
