A kaleidascope of culture, history, religion and people, this intoxicating country is crazy and chaotic at times, scratch away the surface however and it will inspire, amaze and stir emotions on every level. There is so much to explore in this amazing country from its frantic, brash and brilliant cities, soaring Himalayan peaks, holy rivers, tropical forests and beautiful gardens and beaches.

India is officially the Republic of India and is situated in South East Asia, it’s the seventh largest country in the world and the second most populous with a population exceeding 1.2 billion people. The country is located on the north side of the equator and is surrounded by China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

India is a huge region with diverse weather patterns, it also has a monsoon season which starts in Kerala towards the end of May, moving north-east across the country over a period of around six weeks.

India’s climate is largely tropical and stays warm year round with hot summers, this is partly due to the Himalaya mountains as they stop cold winds from reaching large parts of the country.

On a whole the best time to visit India would be from October to March, this is classed as the cool/dry season and temperatures will still be warm but with little or no rain.

This is the best time to visit each region:

Agra and Delhi – October to March

Calkutta – October to January

Rajastan and central region – October to March

Mumbai – October to May

Goa – October to May

Kerala – September to March

Transport in India can be a little intimidating at times and it’s probably not the most convenient or comfortable but it is usually cheap.

Rickshaws

Auto rickshaws are three-wheeled vehicles with no doors or seatbelts, they are generally green or yellow in colour with seating for three people. There are also electric rickshaws which are a new popular means of transport. When getting a rickshaw it’s best to go by the meter or agree a price upfront and remember to barter on the price.

Cycle rickshaws

These rickshaws are a pedal cycle with two rear wheels supporting a bench for passengers, most have a canopy which can protect from rain and provide space for luggage. Fares vary and must be agreed in advance.

Buses

Buses are the cheapest means of transport with most major cities having a well-developed bus network, however this probably isn’t the best means of transport for tourists as there’s no firm schedule and most are generally overcrowded. There are also tourist buses that can take you between some of the major cities where you are guaranteed a seat.

Taxis

Taxis are a more expensive means of transport but they can be hired per day in most cities for as little as 600 INR for 8 hours with a maximum of 50 miles (80 km), this makes them a good choice for sightseeing. When catching a taxi make sure the driver goes by the meter for normal trips.

Flights

There are many cheap internal flights across India, a growing number of airlines has resulted in more competitive pricing. Tourists can purchase a pass called Visit India Pass which could work out cheaper if you’re planning on visiting a few different areas during your trip.

Trains

Trains are widespread, easy to book, comfortable and affordable, they are a fast and efficient way to get around India.

Most trains are split into classes:

2S – Second seating class, these are the cheapest seats, they don’t offer assigned seating, have no air conditioning and are generally cramped.

SL – Sleeper class, these also have no air conditioning but have assigned beds and are more comfortable than second seating class.

3A, AC – These trains are cleaner, quieter and more comfortable than Sl class, they also have three levels of beds and air conditioning.

2A, AC – These trains offer a good balance of comfort and cost with 2 levels of beds offering more headroom when seated and are air-conditioned.

1A, AC – First class trains are more expensive and most will provide you with an air conditioned booth.

Tip – An easy way to book trains is through a travel agent, usually for a small fee but will save you the hassle and confusion when booking at the train station. Alternatively you can book online at the IRCTC website, but it can be very glitchy.

Two train companies that are good for tourists are The Rajdhani Trains and Shatabdi Trains — these are both fast with air conditioning, allotted seats and have attendants, although a reservation is required. Both also have full sleepers with blanket, sheet and pillow provided and if your trip is a night journey a meal is also included.

The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), it has a market determined exchange rate but also trades in the USD/INR currency market. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 2000.

You are not allowed to take Rupees in or out of the country so you will have to deal with exchanges once you arrive and before you leave. You may also need to provide ID at some exchange windows. ATM’s are widespread unless in the more remote areas but it’s always best to carry some cash both in larger and smaller denominations. Most large hotels, shops and restaurants accept international credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa and American Express although some may require a minimum spend of 250 Rs.

Average costs (in Indian Rupees)

• Mid range hotel (3–4 star) 600–8000
• Budget accommodation from 500
• Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant 450–1000
• Meal at a cheaper restaurant 100–250
• Street food meal around 20
• Pint of local beer 100–150
• Imported beer 120 –280
• Regular coffee 50 –100
• Bottle of water 16
• Daily transport costs in a city: bus and train 300–500. Taxi/rickshaw 400–1500.

In a country as vast and ancient as India there is no end to the array of fascinating things to see, with the popular attractions being doted all around the different cities and states. Below are just some of the top things to do in India.

Taj Mahal

One of the world’s most famous buildings is on most people’s lists when visiting India, it is situated on the Yamuna River in Agra and can be easily reached from the city of Delhi. This magnificent masterpiece took thousands of people years to construct and it was commissioned in 1932 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his dearest wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth in 1931. It’s open every day apart from Fridays, from sunrise to sunset and the entrance fee is Rs 1000 for foreign adults.

Amber Fort

A 16th Century fort, compromising an extensive palace complex is situated just outside of Jaipur. It was built from white marble and sandstone and is a great example of ancient Indian architecture.  There are exquisite carvings on some of the walls and ceilings and beautifully styled state rooms. The fort is open from 8:00 am till 6:00 pm during the day and the entrance fee is Rs 500 for foreigners. The fort is also open at night and there is a fantastic sound and light show reviving the history and traditions of Amber. There is a separate fee for this and each night there is a show in English and one in Hindi. The times vary depending on the time of year, with the earliest English show starting at 6:30 pm and the earliest Hindi show starting at 7:30 pm.

The Red Fort

This huge, historic, red sandstone fort is located in Old Delhi and was built in the 17th century. The walls stand at 33 metres (110 ft) high in some parts and they enclose a complex of buildings, some with intricate carvings and floral decorations. Open from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm everyday except Monday when it is closed and the entrance fee is Rs 500 for foreigners. There is a sound and light show each evening for an extra fee, with a show in both English and Hindi. The times vary throughout the year with the earliest English show being at 7:30 pm and earliest Hindi show at 6:00 pm.

Golden Temple

Also known as the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple is located in Amritsar, in Northern India. It is one of the most revered shrine’s of Sikhism in the world. It was built in the 16th century and the temple’s impressive dome is gilded with pure gold. The temple sits in the middle of a pool of water known as the ‘Pool of Nectar’ and is connected to the land by a marble walkway. There are four entrances from all four directions to signify people from all walks of life are welcome. It is open everyday from around 3:00/4:00 am until 10:00/11:00 pm depending on the time of year and there is no entrance fee.

Beaches In Goa

Goa’s beautiful western coastline of more than 60 miles (96 km), overlooks the Arabian Sea and is one of the most visited spots in all of India. The beaches in North Goa tend to be more lively with beach parties and are ideal for water activities such as paragliding and kayaking, the most popular beaches include Vagator Beach, Calangute Beach, Anjuna Beach and Baga Beach. The beaches in South Goa are more scenic, laid-back and peaceful and the most popular beaches include Palolem Beach, Colva Beach, Butterfly Beach and Benaulim Beach.

Hire A Houseboat On Kerala’s Backwaters

A popular attraction when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle is to enjoy the peaceful backwaters of Kerala. The houseboats are traditional rice boats converted into floating hotels (although day trips are also available) and the majority are hired from Alleppey, the gateway to the backwaters. There are many different options in terms of boat quality, length of the hire and the route you take so the prices also vary considerably. The backwaters are made up of lagoons and lakes lying parallel with the Arabian Sea and taking in the scenery while slowly travelling on a houseboat is a great way to slow down the pace and recharge your batteries.

This guide details below some of the most popular areas to visit in India, but there are also simply hundreds of other places to be explored in this captivating country. 

Delhi

The buzzing, highly populated capital of India is a sprawling city full of historical sites, markets, parks, restaurants and bustling streets. There are three main areas — Old Delhi, New Delhi and South Delhi. Old Delhi is hectic, crumbling, historic and has some incredible architecture, including the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. New Delhi is modern, commercial and well-planned, with towering buildings and a great infrastructure. South Delhi is laid-back, green and more peaceful than the other areas, but is still well connected to the main points of interest.  You can do a day trip to the Taj Mahal from Delhi and the fastest trains take around 1 hour 45 minutes each way.

Jaipur

The capital and largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. This colourful, ‘pink city’ is a popular destination and is one of the cities on the Golden Triangle route (the others being Delhi and Agra). In Jaipur you will find fascinating monuments, excellent shopping, buzzing bazaaar’s and charming gardens. To visit five of the major monuments in Jaipur a combined ticket can be purchased for Rs 1000 for foreigners, allowing access to all five venues and lasts for two days. The five monuments are: Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and Albert Hall Museum. The City Palace and Jaigarh Fort are also major attractions in Jaipur.

Udaipur

Situated in the south west of the state of Rajasthan, Udaipur is often referred to as the ‘City of Lakes’. It is a beautiful, charming city at the base of the Aravalli mountain range, with a backdrop of high-reaching hills and huge, alluring lakes. There are monuments, palaces, temples and gardens here, with The City Palace, that starting being constructed in 1559, being one of the most popular attractions in Udaipur. It is situated on the banks of the Pichola Lake, has superb architecture and is one of the largest palace complexes in Rajasthan.

Jodhpur

The second largest city in the state of Rajasthan is situated on the edge of the Thar Desert and is also known as ‘Sun City’ due to its bright and sunny weather all year round. Jodphur’s most popular attraction is the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort that towers over the beautiful Blue City, named that way due to the huge cluster of houses painted blue. The Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India and stands, imposing and magnificently, 125 metres (410 ft) above the city. Umaid Bhawan Palace and Jaswant Thada are other must-see buildings in Jodphur and the streets of the Blue City are a wonder to explore.

Jaisalmer

Located deep within the Thar Desert in the state of Rajasthan is Jaisalmer, also referred to as the Golden City, due to the yellow sandstone its buildings are made out of. Jaisalmer Fort is huge and the only living fort in Rajasthan, it is home to over 3000 people, with houses, homestays, cafes and temples contained within it. It was built in 1156 and reinforced by subsequent leaders. Other noteworthy attractions are Fort Palace, Jain Temples, Patwa Ki Haveli, Bada Bagh, Vyas Chhatri and Gadisar Temple. Due to its location in the desert, camel safaris are also a popular activity and there are various operators in the city offering safaris of varying lengths. The closet big city to Jaisalmer is Jodphur which is nearly 180 miles (280 km) away by road and the two cities are also linked via a train that takes either 5½ or 6½ hours depending on which train you get.

Mumbai

Situated on the west coast of India, in the Maharashtra state, sits the huge, sprawling, packed city of Mumbai, previously known as Bombay until 1995. This hectic and fast-paced city has unique bazaars, beautiful temples, fascinating colonial buildings and easily accessible beaches to be explored and it is also known for being the heart of the Bollywood film industry. The Gateway of India is a popular monument to see in Mumbai, it was built in the 20th century to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The city is also famous for its array of street food and the buzzing nightlife, with bars and nightclubs all around the city. Another popular attraction, an hours boat ride from the east of Mumbai are the Elephanta Caves on Elephanta Island.

Goa

The smallest state, but one of the most popular tourists destinations in India, is known for its long stretch of beaches. The beaches are worthy of their popular reputation, with North Goa being the livelier, party place and South Goa being more relaxed and laid-back and there are a huge number of beaches to choose from no matter which part you choose to stay in. If you head inland you will find some of the beautiful churches of Old Goa, such as Basilica De Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral and the Church of St Francis of Assisi. Panaji is the capital of Goa and it is a charming, walkable city with colonial, Portuguese architecture and the gleaming, white Catholic Church, The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Another popular attraction further inland is to visit a spice plantation to see the natural environment of some of spices and herbs India is so famous for.

Kerala

This beautiful, laid-back state in South India, on the tropical Malabar Coast, has mountain ranges, serene backwaters and golden beaches. Hiring a houseboat to lazily explore the glimmering backwaters of Kerala is hugely popular and is the perfect way to unwind, but there is also plenty more to see in this alluring state. Some of the most popular beaches are Kovalam Beach, Marari Beach, Cherai Beach and Varkala Beach, that lies at the bottom of a long stretch of cliff. Visiting the lush hill stations, such as Munnar and Thekkady, is also popular to explore their scenic beauty, trekking trails and waterfalls. A popular destination to visit is Fort Kochi in the city of Kochi (formally Cochin) where you can see the famous Chinese fishing nets that have become an iconic image of this region.

• It is traditional to wear white, not black for a funeral in India and widows will often wear white.
• There is only one time zone in India.
• India is the largest producer of milk in the world.
• India has one of the lowest meat consumption’s per person in the world, currently only Bangladesh eats slightly less.
• The largest gathering of humans in the world is at the Kumbh Mela Festival in India.
• In one of the states in India police officers are paid slightly more for having a moustache.
• India has more mobile phones than toilets.
• The Golden Temple in India feeds a free vegetarian meal to over 100,000 people a day.