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 visas—a number of unique considerations need to be made when traveling to India. In this section, we’ll show you where to find information on local customs, safety, and health to make your trip as worry-free as possible.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Indian customs are very different from those in the West. For instance, it’s considered rude to wave to, point at, eat with, or touch someone with your left hand. This left-sided social stigma stems from the fact that much of rural India goes without the luxury of toilet paper. Instead, a combination of the left hand and water is used to clean up, hence the reason for repulsion.
- Cows are considered sacred in India, and they are never harassed, killed, or eaten by Hindus. If you encounter a cow-inspired traffic jam at some point along your journey (chances are you will), just remember to go with the flow and wait for the sacred animal to amble on its way.
- One of the most important things you can do before traveling is get the necessary immunizations and prescriptions. It can be expensive, but if you’ve ever had “Delhi belly,” you know it’s worth doing your best to avoid this digestive ailment.
- Travelers should know that polluted water is a part of life in many areas of India. Unless you drink only bottled water or treat all the tap water you drink, and avoid ice cubes, you’re bound to catch a gastrointestinal bug at some point during your journey.
- As mentioned above, getting sick is expected when traveling in India. However, there are a couple of ways to prepare yourself: purchase many pills for giardia once you get there and keep them on you; eat curd, pomegranates, bananas, and papayas to help flush any bugs from your system and speed the recovery process; and avoid uncooked fruits and vegetables, as well as those with thin skins (cooking food keeps bacteria at bay, and thick rinds catch bacteria so that the fruit inside remains pure).
- Toilet paper is a luxury not found in many mid- to low-range hotels. If you must have it, bring it with you or be prepared to buy it yourself.
- India’s climate has three seasons: winter, summer, and monsoon. The winter months are November to February and are characterized by relatively mild temperatures, making them the most popular months to travel. Summer lasts from April to June, and temperatures can range from hot to scorching hot. The monsoon lasts from about July to October, and features torrential downpours that make traveling very difficult.
- Diwali, or Deepavali, is one of the biggest and most eagerly anticipated festivals in all of India. Called the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It’s celebrated for five fireworks-filled days and nights, usually in October or November, and coincides with the beginning of the tourist season. Airline tickets are especially expensive right before this festival, but if you can manage the expense, Diwali is a truly memorable experience.
Dulcinea's Picks
For information on travel requirements, safety information, and embassies …
The U.S. Department of State
provides Consular Information Sheets for every country, containing all of the safety and entry/exit information you need. The site’s security advisories, updates on areas of the country deemed unstable by the United States, health and medical information, and warnings about crime are must-reads.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi
is a great place to find the latest security information. The U.S. Department of State recommends that you regularly check this site for security advisory updates leading up to your trip. The embassy Web site also has valuable contact information for Americans in India.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web site supplies all the information a traveler needs when it comes to health risks abroad. The site features recent travel notices, immunization requirements, and advice on what health supplies to bring with you on your trip.
For history and basic facts …
The CIA World Factbook
is the authoritative source for general statistics and facts about India’s geography, population, government, and economy.
The BBC
has a concise profile of the world’s largest democracy and second-most populous country. Highlighting major points in India’s history, the BBC provides succinct biographies of its historic leaders and links to India’s major media outlets.
To learn about local customs, cuisine, and current events …
The MANAS
project, from the University of California at Los Angeles, is a terrifically comprehensive guide to Indian history, religion, culture, and politics. Created and written by UCLA Associate Professor of History Vinay Lal, the site tackles the complexity of Indian society in a way that is wholly fascinating. Take the time to wander through the site’s various sections, and you won’t regret it.
Indianhospitality.com
is a travel site that offers interesting information on Indian heritage and culture. The most useful part of the site is its food section, where the ingredients, techniques, and varieties of India’s eclectic culinary palette are explained in detail.
The Times of India
is the subcontinent’s national daily newspaper. Its Web site is an important tool for keeping up to date on current political and social issues and staying abreast of any developments that may affect your trip. Visiting this site may help you avoid making unwitting social blunders during your stay, as well.
For currency conversion …
OANDA
’s currency converter has the latest exchange rates for currencies from around the globe. Use the fast, easy “Quick Converter” tool to convert your country’s currency to rupees; 164 currencies are included in the conversion tool.
Getting to India
A combination of factors makes overland travel to India difficult, if not impossible. The subcontinent is hemmed in by the world’s highest mountain range to the northwest and water to the southeast and the west. In addition, many of India’s borders are either blocked or persistently trouble-prone, making safe and consistent overland travel essentially impossible. Flying is really your only option, and depending on when you go, it can get pretty expensive. This section has all the resources you need for finding the most affordable ticket available.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Flights from North America, New Zealand, and Australia will always have at least one change of plane, so plan ahead. You can get a direct flight from the United Kingdom to New Delhi or Mumbai, but the flight takes more than eight hours.
- Airfares worldwide always depend on the season, with the most popular (high season) being roughly November to March, when the weather in India is best. Fares drop during the shoulder seasons (April to May and August to early October) and you’ll get the best prices during the low season, June and July. The most expensive fares of all are those coinciding with Diwali in November, when demand peaks as Indian emigrants travel home for holidays with their families. If you’re planning to make it for Diwali, you should consider going a few weeks early.
- See the findingDulcinea Travel Guide for terrific information on how to find the most affordable plane tickets for your trip to India or anywhere else.
Dulcinea's Picks
For a travel search engine …
Kayak
consolidates flight information and fares from hundreds of individual airlines and online travel agents (like CheapTickets and Orbitz). Enter your departure and destination locations and dates of travel, and the site lists the results. To learn exactly which airlines and agents this site covers, visit the “About” section.
SideStep
’s prices show the importance of including low-cost airlines like Southwest and JetBlue in the search results. Although the layout isn’t as clean and intuitive as the design on Kayak, SideStep has great deals and should be one of your top airfare-finding resources.
Mobissimo
directly searches through more than 100 Web sites, including those of travel agents and hotel chains, to find the lowest hotel prices in the cities of your choice. Results present hotel names, ratings, prices, and providers in an extremely user-friendly format.
For commercial airlines in India …
The National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL)
now owns both Air India and Indian Airlines. This site offers schedules, flight status, and online flight booking for both airlines.
Jet Airways
is another India-based international airline that offers online booking. The airline provides more than 340 daily flights and serves 44 destinations within India.
India Hotels
From the bare bones to the extravagant, India caters to the needs of every kind of traveler. There are hostels for the backpacker, mid-range hotels and lodges for the penny pincher, five-star city hotels for those who crave creature comforts, and a variety of options in between. This section shows you how to use the Internet to research and book the room that fits your travel style.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Although India offers a wide array of choices when it comes to overnight dwellings, these choices can vary widely depending on your location. Big cities like Delhi and Mumbai have everything from cheap traveler hotels, where you can get a room for less than $10 a night, to luxury rooms that cost more than $300 a night. In more rural areas, small rooms with few comforts are the norm.
- Before you check in, be sure to ask about any luxury taxes on the rack rate of your room. Some jurisdictions, including Delhi and Bangalore, will heavily tax you, and the charge won’t show up until checkout time.
- The findingDulcinea Travel Guide is a helpful resource for getting the best prices on hotel rooms all over the world.
Dulcinea's Picks
For hotels …
SideStep
uses the results from more than 200 other travel sites to help you find the best hotel deals throughout India. Enter a location, and the site provides accommodation ratings and overviews of the comforts offered there.
The Accommodation Search Engine
is an easy way to search for places to stay throughout India. Organized by town, ASE presents lodging options without quoting prices or pushing special deals.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism
has listed all of the government-approved bed and breakfasts in New Delhi. Listings on this PDF file include the number of rooms available, government rating, and contact information for each establishment.
For hostels …
Allhostel.com
provides an extensive listing of hostels available in most of the major Indian cities. The site’s reviews, recommendations, pictures, and directions make it a smart place to begin looking for hostel possibilities.
The Youth Hostels Association of India
is part of the Hostelling International organization and requires free registration before you use the site. Once you register, you can search for hostels by state, then book them for up to seven nights online. The site also has information on a number of discounts available to Hostelling International members.
The Backpackers’ Ultimate Guide
, BUG, also has extensive hostel listings with reviews for locations all over India. Not all hostels listed are reviewed, however.
For information on camping …
Indian Adventure
tells you what you need to know about camping in India. From tour packages to popular sites to the equipment you’ll need, this site contains helpful general insight. For more specific information, you’ll need to make a request through the Web site.
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.
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
