What time of the year is best to visit India?
India has been called the Land of All Seasons. The country experiences five seasons – summer, the monsoons or rainy season, autumn, winter and spring. For purposes of convenience, we divide the Indian seasons into three: Hot, Wet and Cool.
The summer months (April–June) are hot in most parts of India. This is the time to move to hill resorts as most affluent Indians do. The coolest weather lasts from October to March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days.
Where is India located on the global map?
India is located in South Asia, bordered by Indian Ocean in the south, Arabian Sea in the west, Bay of Bengal in the east, and Himalayan Range in the north. Countries whose borders India shares are Nepal and China in the north, Pakistan in the west, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east. India has a total area of 3,287,263 square kms and falls into three major geological regions. The great arc of the Himalaya encloses the North. Along their Southern flank lie the alluvial plains of the Ganges and to the South again is the peninsula.
Which are the major tourist destinations of India?
It is difficult to say, which tourist destination is most popular in India. Every important tourist destination in India gives the tourists something different to look for. Still there are some destinations in India that are undoubtedly more popular than the others. We are providing you with the TEN most popular tourist destinations in India, but there are many more that may be equally popular among certain segments of tourists.
How can I reach India?
Entry to India by Air India is well connected to almost all the countries in the world through air network. Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay) Kochi (Cochin) Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) are major international gateways for India. Delhi and Mumbai airports are the most preferred airports as they are most accessible to the famous tourist destinations like Agra, Jaipur and other destinations in Rajasthan. Mumbai airport is the nearest international airport to get to Goa. In order to visit Kerala, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airport are the most preferred.
Which are the Major Airlines operating to India
European Carriers
Lufthansa, Swiss Air, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Al Italia, KLM/North West, Austrian Airlines, Finn Air, Scandanavian Airlines
American Carriers
American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines,
AsianCarriers
Emirates, Ethihad Airways, Gulf air, Singapore Airlines, Cathey Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qathar Airways, Oman Air, Srilankan Airlines.
I hear Indians are a more conservative lot especially compared to people in Western countries. What kind of clothes would be acceptable here?
Shorts, minis and tank tops are unadvisable unless you’re on a beach. In small towns and cities especially, people may tend to stare if you expose too much skin. Safe clothing would be trousers, peddle pushers, capris, skirts, tops and shirts. India has some good cottons which are trendy and affordable. Buy yourself some. Women could try wearing a salwar kameez which is very cool and comfortable and could even improve the attitude of people towards them.If you are traveling to India, carry minimal clothing. We will suggest you to carry light luggage. The reason is that both clothing as well as laundry is quite cheap in India. Indian summers are too hot. So, if you are planning to come in the period of March to June, carry light clothes. Men can wear loose cotton shirts or T-shirts and baggy Pants. In the big cities and Metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore, Pune, etc you can wear shorts also. However, women should dress conservatively. Short tops, short skirts / shorts, etc should be avoided. You can wear cotton shirts or T-shirts, with cotton trousers or ankle length skirts. Make sure that the clothes are not too tight or body revealing. These clothes can be easily purchased from the Indian markets at a reasonable price. If you want to try Indian clothing, then, men can wear “kurta pyjama” and women can try “salwar-kameez”.
Winters (October to February) in India are quite cold, especially North India. So, pack some woolen clothes with you. Also, pack some warm innerwear, especially if you are planning to roam around too much. During Monsoon (July to August), there is a high level of humidity in India. So don’t wear synthetic stuff. In this case also, cotton clothing is the best.Last but not the least, while visiting places of worship (temples, gurudwara or mausoleum), you should be fully clothed. Also, don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering any religious place.
What is the best thing to do if pestered by beggars and street urchins?
Well, you can start by ignoring them completely and if they get too persistent give them a stern look. If you must give them something, let it not be more than 2 to 5 rupees only.
Can I hire a mobile phone in India?
You can pick up a mobile phone connection from most departmental stores and often even at small roadside stores. The service provided by these private companies is on par with the best in the world.
How safe is drinking water in India?
If you are from a foreign country, you may not be used to drinking the water here. Hence we advise that you pick up a bottle of mineral water which is cheap and widely available and usually provided in flasks in hotel rooms. Order the same when you are at a restaurant. As far as possible, avoid drinking any kind of water or juices from roadside carts and vendors.
How should I tip waiters at restaurants / hotels?
In tourist restaurants or hotels a 10% service charge is often added to bills, in which case there is no need to tip. In smaller places, where tipping is optional, you need only tip a few rupees, not a percentage of your bill. It is customary to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers.
How safe is it to eat non-vegetarian food in India?
India, being a primarily Hindu country, beef is rarely served. Pork is also not easily available. Eat non-vegetarian food only in good restaurants. What you get in smaller places is generally of dubious quality though tastes quite yummy, thanks to concoctions of Indian spices and masalas.
What about the climate of India?
When can I visit India? India has a tropical climate. Summers, April to July, are quite hot in the northern India. Monsoon, last week of June to August, brings with it a lot of rain mainly in most parts of the country. Winters, third week of September to end of February is quite cold in entire Northern India, but mild in the Southern Peninsula. There are large climatic variations in India due to its size and difference in the altitude and nearness to sea of the places. While some parts of Himalayas are quite enjoyable during the summers, North India reels under the blazing sun. In fact, India is a destination for every season. Himalayan ranges in the summers, North India in the winter, and Southern Peninsula throughout the year.
