India Travel Guide

Cities to add to your itinerary:

• Delhi is a huge city to explore, from modern shops to ancient forts this city will leave to captivated
• Jaipur in Rajasthan is a good place to visit, you will see pink buildings which make Jaipur often refered to as the Pink City
• Mumbai (Bombay) home to Bollywood, celebrities and culture
• Varanasi is situated on the banks of the Gangees and is a great place to see and understand Hindu culture
• Kolkata is one of the biggest cities in India, we highly recommend hiring a tuk tuk to see more of this area

Best Places to Visit in India

If you are planning on going travelling or backpacking in India do not leave visiting these incredible places...

Agra: The Land of Taj:
Agra is renowned for its palaces with plethora of fascinating architecture. It is the ideal spot for a tourists where you can see a wonderful fort and intriguing tombs and mausoleums. Agra sits on a huge curvature in the sacred Yamuna River. The Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, just 2km apart, overlook Yamuna on different divisions of the curvature.

The Taj Mahal located here is counted among the wonders of the world and symbolizes the love. It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. The incredible architecture of Taj and Agra Fort elates the mind of every tourist. There is a great fun to be had in the lively chowks and marketplaces. You could also plan a vist to magnificent and ancient city Fatehpur Sikri and a great Hindu Pilgrimage site Mathura. 

Kerala:
Kerala, also known as the “Gods Own Country”, is counted among the prominent tourist destinations of India. This astounding state of South India is an ideal place for vacations. It is not only famous for natural beauty but for its amazing beaches, backwaters, and scrumptious food as well.

The backwaters of Kerala are the wonderful complex of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. These backwaters are the significant fraction of tourism in Kerala. The expedition through whirling and winding backwaters is an utter experience of nature’s exquisiteness. Beaches of Kerala are again something that you can’t afford to miss. It is also a great place to enjoy the adventures like trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, wildlife tour, wind surfing, etc. 

Madurai:
Madurai is among the oldest settled cities of India which exemplifyies fascinating architecture of prehistoric era. It is situated on the banks of Vaigai River. Madurai is counted among the most significant places for pilgrimage in South India. The renowned and splendid Meenakshi Temple is located in Madurai.

This ancient temple dates back to the era 2000 years back and is one of the most remarkable displays of Dravidian style of architecture. Gandhi Memorial Museum is another site you should not miss on your trip. The names by which this city is famous among the tourists are Athens of the East, Malligai Maanager, Sleepless City, and City of Jasmine.

India Travel Tips

Safety:
Crime can be an issue in India, local people are very friendly but female travelers have faced notable issues, there have been some well documented problems recently so always check travel advice before departing

Language:
If you want to mix with local people and fully immerse yourself in the culture you might want to join a local language course to pick up some basic phrases. 

Culture:
India is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for travellers but there are a number of basic cultural differences that it is important to be aware of. Of course, the most obvious culture difference for travellers in India to be aware of is that of religion. Hinduism and Buddhism are the most commonly practised religion in the country. 

Budget for Travelling in India:
This is one of the best value destinations in the world your money will go a long way here compared to other countries.

Transport:
India is a large country and there are lots of options for getting around including buses, trains and flying.

Food:
India is largely vegetarian, and sometimes it is a good idea to avoid eating meat, but make sure you keep up your protein intake by eating plenty lentils and nuts. There are lots of Western food available throughout the country too

What to Read Before Departing:
Travel writer William Dalrymple has written several fascinating and often very funny books on India, including "The Age of Kali", "The White Moguls", and "City of Djinns: a year in Delhi" which you might buy.

Responsible Tourism:
One of the main attractions in India is the opportunity to ride one of the elephants, for as little as seven hundred rupees, you are allowed a ten minute ride but please avoid these experiences.

The elephants are usually treated terribly and forced into giving rides to tourists which has a negative on their health and well being. There are lots of projects where you can actually help elephants and wildlife, if you sign up you can help with tasks like washing elephants in rivers, collecting food or generally assisting.

Health & Safey:
India gets millions of visitors every year and is a safe country to travel and explore although there have been issues.

Respect all local customs and do not get into arguments with local people, Indian people are very friendly by nature and you shouldn't have any problems with them but still aim to be a responsible tourist.

Always get official taxi's, this is to avoid any dangerous situations or getting ripped off. Avoid flashing expensive goods like ipads, phone and laptops in public be discrete.

Tips for Female Travelers:
Don't be put off by some horror stories involving female travellers in India, although there have been some very high profile news stories this country is safe to visit and it is very rare bad things happen. Always try to be respectful of local customs, it is not a good idea for women to walk around in bikinis unless you want to attract unwanted attention.

Try to dress conservatively and cover yourself up unless at the beach. One thing you might not have thought about is a fake ring, when men see this it might act as a deter-ant and ward off advances from local men. Indian men can be quite forward and overly friendly, when this happens you can always flash your ring and then try to beat a retreat.

Also if you are travelling with another guy you could always pretend he is your husband.