TRAVEL AND PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS IN INDIA

North India Travel Guide :-

2007-06-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

India is the seventh largest country of this world {geographical area vise},and only second to China as far as population is concerned. India can be divided into four major parts for the purpose of tourism.
1} EAST
2}WEST
3}NORTH
4}SOUTH

NORTH INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE :-

Agra Tourism:-

Agra was once the capital of the Mughal Empire and even today it seems to linger in the past. Not surprising, for the Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city with some of the finest structures in the world.

Delhi Tourism:-
Delhi's history goes much further back in time than the 13th century. In 1955, excavations at the Purana Qila revealed that the site was inhabited 3000 years ago. Ware pottery known as Painted Gray Ware and dated to 1000 BC confirmed this as being yet another site associated with the epic Mahabharata.

Bharatpur Tourism
Today Bharatpur is better known for the Keoladeo Natinal Park, a unique bird place, delight of ornithologists. A paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the British empire.

Pushkar Tourism
Today Bharatpur is better known for the Keoladeo Natinal Park, a unique bird place, delight of ornithologists. A paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the British empire.

Jaipur Tourism
Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the most chosen tourism golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It a bustling capital city and a business centre with all the trapping of modern metropolis but yet flavoured strongly with an age-old charm that never fails to surprise a traveller.

Jaisalmer Tourism
The name Jaisalmer induces a dramatic picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain not with standing the warmth and colour of people is simply over whelming. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort. The beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of the desert city.

Jodhpur Tourism
A valiant sentinel in the desert, on the eastern fringe of the Thar desert has the distinction of neither being a part of the Thar desert nor out of it. At best it is a doorway to the wonderland of sand dunes and shrubs, rocky terrain and thorny trees. The home of the Rathroes - the awesome princely state of Rajasthan.

Sariska Tourism
The picturesque Siliserh Lake lies along the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve and a charming hunting lodge overlooking it, is a marvelous place for visitors to stay. The dry Deciduous forests of the ancient Aravalli range, are excellent tiger country and Sariska, was once the royal reserve of the rulers of Alwa''.

Udaipur Tourism
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the city of lakes.The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Pichola Lakes is the finest example of its architectural and cultural explosion. The grand City Palace on the banks of the lake compliments the palace along with the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above.

Varanasi Tourism
Varanasi, the land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education. Some of the world- renowned exponents India has produced in these fields were schooled in the Varanasi tradition and origins.

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism
Legend has it that he suddenly came upon a clearing where he saw a sight that left him speechless. A tiger and a goat stood side by side drinking water from the same place in the Tawi river.

Khajuraho Tourism
The world renowned temple town of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site for its archaeological and historical monuments. The Khajuraho temples were built in the short span of a hundred years, from 950-1050AD in a truly inspired burst of creativity

Himchal Pradesh tourism:-

Land of mountains, natural beauty and daleilama. The beauty of himachal is as good as it gets. Shimla is the capital of himchal Pradesh. And it is so beautiful that even in older times the English have made it their summer capital during the time of their ruling.

Link

Do’s & Dont's :-

2007-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

Remember the following things while traveling India -----

->India is a country with around 70% Hindus, 20% Muslims, 10% Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, etc. You will find people of this evolve in friendly discussions most of the times. You can join them too but make sure you don’t involve in any kind of religion discussions.

->Though India is one of the most rapid developing country but still people of this country believe in their tradition and culture. The better way of greeting people here is “NAMASTE”, two hands together like “A”.

->It is not appropriate for a male so to do hand shake with a lady. So try to refrain yourself from handshake with a lady unless she offer you first. Rule of thumb is if she offer you hand shake first then you proceed else use “NAMESTE”

->If you have a lady companion with you try not to walk alone and specially in the dark.

->Never trust anybody with your money and documents, specially the strangers. However you can trust your hotel people but better options would be you carry your money and documents with you all the time.

->You can enjoy night life in metros but if you are a single lady try to have a companion with you, it will be better for your own safty, as people of this country don’t attracted towards the couple here.

->Try not to wear cloths that might attract the unwanted attentions. Best option would be try to wear the tradition clothing that is suit-salwar or even saree.

Precautions for India

2007-03-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

Health Precautions for India

The quality of health services is amongst the best in India in New Delhi which has plenty of good hospitals, 24-hour chemists, highly competent doctors and top of the line medical services. Medicines are fairly cheap in India and chemist shops in Delhi are well stocked but it is always a good idea to take along prescription drugs.

Here are some health precautions for India you should follow if traveling to this country:

Don’t drink water from tap or roadside vends. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Also, buy water from respectable and decent looking outlets. Check the seal before buying the water to make sure that it is intact.
Never eat cut fruits sold by the roadside vendors. Always eat fruits you can peel. Wash the fruits properly with water well before eating them.
It is advisable to keep a mosquito repellent ointment with you always.
Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need. Especially medicines for upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc. Also, keep some band-aids, antiseptic ointments, etc with you.
Avoid fountain drinks and ice cubes.
Avoid eating food from the roadside vends. If, by chance, you are forced to eat from there, make sure that the food is well cooked and is served hot.
Try to avoid spicy dishes, especially in the initial stages of your travel.
For the first few days it might be advisable to clean your teeth in bottled water.
Avoid eating salads, especially at small restaurants and small hotels.
If you are visiting India in summer time, drink lots of water, cover your head with scarves or caps or hats, wear sunglasses and use sunscreen lotion. Try to stay indoors in the afternoon.
If you fall very sick, it is better to visit a doctor. However, ask the hotel authorities or the people at whose house you are staying to refer a good doctor to you.
Always carry sunscreen with minimum SPF 20 to escape sunburn.

Food Precautions for India

The food you eat, how it's cooked, stored and served is very important. Make it a rule to stick to freshly cooked food, made in clean and hygienic place. Here are some food precautions for India that need to be taken by you:

The safest thing to eat is freshly cooked food. Food left sitting may attract flies and cause major health hazards.
Always drink only bottled water.
Salads and cut fresh fruits should be strictly avoided. Eat only unpeeled fruits.
Avoid fresh fruit juice. If you want to have juice, go in for branded ones being sold in tetra packs.
If you are a non-vegetarian, buy from decent shops. It is better not to eat from lower end restaurants or station platforms.
Beef is not served in many parts of India. Pork is also not easily available.
Never ever eat anything from the roadside vendors. There are high chances of the food being contaminated.

Diseases and Vaccinations for India’s Travelers:-

2007-02-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

Vaccinations for Indian Travel:
Malaria: For Malaria, vaccination is recommended for all areas, except for areas at altitudes more than 2,000 m (6,561 ft).
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India.
Typhoid: All travelers are recommended to take Typhoid vaccination.

Polio: In case of Polio, one-time booster is recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination for yellow fever is required only for travelers arriving from or transiting through any yellow-fever-infected area like Africa.
Japanese Encephalitis: This vaccine is recommended for travelers staying for more than 1 month and traveling to rural areas or travelers engaging in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk.
Hepatitis B: Travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents should take this vaccination, especially if their period of stay is more than 6 months.
Rabies: Any traveler who may have direct contact with animals should take this vaccination.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): If any person born after 1956 has not previously taken this vaccination, he/she should take two doses of the same.
Tetanus-Diphtheria: You need to take this revaccination every 10 years.

Plan your trip:

2007-02-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

What to plan:

If you want your Indian trip to be a memorable one, always make your plan in advance. Did I say in advance? I should have said way in advance. Never come to India without a proper plan or you might end up your journey spending almost double of what could have been a cheaper and good one.

Check list –
-How many days do you have in your hand for traveling in India?
-List of the places you are willing to see.
-Always book your hotel in advances in advance.
-Always carry your documents {passport, visa etc.} with you and never left them in your hotel room.
-Always carry local currency with you and if possible change as well.
-Always carry proper basic medicines with you in case you end yourself in an emergency.
-Always book your journeys in advance with some agencies, in this way you will not only travel and see India but also save a good amount.
-Always carry your embassy and local emergency phone no. with you.
-You can use the local available cell phone connections instead of using your own costlier international roaming connection.
-Always take care of your drinking water if you want to save yourself from bacterial deceases.
-Never walk alone during night and lonely places.
-If possible learn a few words of local language that is Hindi in case of India.
{ You can always contact me in case you need my help in this :-) }

{In next few posts I will explain you some good places to visit in India.}

Indian Visa Guidelines:

2007-02-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

To get a visa for India, you need to submit a number of documents. Following is a list of important documents for Indian visa:

- Visa application form.
-Passport, having a minimum validity of six months on the date of application.
-Two identical passport sized photographs, black and white or colored.
-Supporting documents, depending upon the type of visa.
-Visa fee.

There are a number of Indian visa types, suitable for different purposes of travel. Given below are the different types of Indian visas:

-Tourist Visa: If you are coming to India on a holiday to explore the country, then, tourist visa is for you.
-Business Visa: For a business related trip, you need to apply for the business visa.
-Student Visa: For study purpose in India is the student visa.
-Transit Visa: It is meant for transit passengers only, to enable them to travel through India to reach the ultimate destination.
-Missionaries Visa: This visa is for people coming to India to act as missionaries.
-Employment Visa: Meant for skilled professionals or those people who have been appointed by Indian companies, organizations, firms, etc.
-Journalist Visa: Professional journalists and photographers visiting India should apply for the Journalist visa.
-Conference Visa: It is issued for attending conferences/seminars/meetings in India.
-Research Visa: For research purposes, a research visa is issued.
-Entry Visa: It is given only to persons of Indian origin or the family members of a person employed in India.

OVERVIEW:

2007-02-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION :

India is a grand country. It is the seventh largest country in the world and the second most populated country in the world. Many see India as a sub-continent rather than a country. There exist in different parts of India, different cultures, languages, manners as well as different historical backgrounds and influences of the same historical events.India is the second most populous and the seventh largest country in the world in area.

Side by side with the country's staggering topographical variations is its cultural diversity, the result of the coexistence of a number of religions as well as local tradition. Thus, the towering temples of south India, easily identifiable by their ornately sculptured surface, are associated with a great many crafts and performing arts of the region.

In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, a scattering of villages pit themselves against the awesome forces of nature, resulting in Spartan lifestyles made vibrant by a profusion of jewelry and ornamental embroidery used to adorn apparel and household linen. In the extreme north is the high altitude desert of Ladakh. Local culture is visibly shaped by the faith - Buddhism -as well as by the harsh terrain. Yet another facet of Indian culture is observed in the colorful tribal lifestyles of the north eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with their folk culture.

In the central Indian states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh tribal village life has resulted in a variety of artistically executed handicrafts.

India's mountains provide heli skiing, river running, mountaineering and trekking. Its beaches provide lazy sun-bathing as well as wind surfing and snorkeling, and its jungles provide shooting wildlife -with a camera.

Modern India is home alike to the tribal with his anachronistic lifestyle and to the sophisticated urban jetsetter. It is a land where temple elephants exist amicably with the microchip. Its ancient monuments are the backdrop for the world's largest democracy where atomic energy is generated and industrial development has brought the country within the world's top ten nations. Today, fishermen along the country's coastline fashion simple fishing boats in a centuries old tradition while, a few miles away. motor vehicles glide off conveyor belts in state-of-the-art factories