Introducing India
Travel Alert: There are multiple current warnings for travel to India- check out Smartraveller for more information.
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Bamboozling. There’s simply no other word that convincingly captures the enigma that is India. With its in-your-face diversity, from snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, lantern-lit villages to software-supremo cities, it’s hardly surprising that this country has been dubbed the world’s most multidimensional. Love it or loathe it, and most visitors see-saw between the two, India promises to jostle your entire being, and no matter where you go or what you do, it’s a place you’ll never forget.
Home to more than one billion people, the subcontinent bristles with an eclectic melange of ethnic groups, which translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveller. For those seeking spiritual sustenance, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites and stirring philosophical epics, while history buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere – from grand vestiges of the British Raj serenely peering over swarming spice bazaars, to crumbling fortresses looming high above plunging ravines. Meanwhile, aficionados of the great outdoors can paddle in the shimmering waters of one of many balmy beaches, scout for big jungle cats on a blood-pumping wildlife safari, or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk. And then there’s the food! From squidgy South Indian idlis (fermented rice cakes) to zesty north Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savouring a seductive smorgasbord of specialities.
Once you touch down on subcontinental soil, you’ll quickly discover that cricket – India’s sporting obsession – is one of the most spirited topics of conversation, along with the latest shenanigans in the razzle-dazzle world of Bollywood. However, it is politics – whether at the national, state or village level – that consistently dominates news headlines, with middle- and upper-class India also keenly keeping its finger on the pulse of international events. On the home front, economic matters feature high on the national political agenda. With one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India has certainly made giant strides over the past decade. However, despite averaging an annual growth rate of around 9% in recent years, vast sections of the country’s billion-plus population have seen little benefit from the economic boom. Indeed, the government’s ongoing challenge is to spread both the burden and bounty of India’s fiscal prosperity. Not an easy task given that the gap between the haves and the have-nots is far from shrinking, and poverty is set to spiral upwards if India’s population rate continues to gallop beyond that of its economic growth.
Travel Alert: Jammu and Kashmir (with the exception of Ladakh) are subject to political violence: travellers should seek consular advice before entering any area bordering Pakistan. Similar advice should also be sought before travelling to Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur in northeast India. There is a high security risk in Bihar and Jharkhand. Several Indian cities suffered violent attacks during 2008-2009 including Bangalore, Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Mumbai. Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for advice from other travellers.
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- Discover the highlights of India in 15 days
- Cycle through Southern India in 15 days
Last updated: Jan 12, 2012
Tips & articles
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How to eat like a local
19 January 2012
A huge part of the travel experience is getting to know local traditions, history and culture. Happily, you can get in...
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How to avoid Delhi belly
19 January 2012
Tucking into street food is one of the joys of travelling in India – here are some tips to help...
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Master the art of cooking like a local
19 January 2012
One of the best souvenirs you can bring back from a trip is some tasty dishes to share with your...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: 5 weeks in India
by Yarra 15 September 2011
Happyhano You are going to find it tough to find a group to join at that time of year. It will be hot season and most tour companies don’t…
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RE: chennai hotel
by isherwood 15 September 2011
Here is an excellent web site for hotels in India that I found on my own: http://www.agoda.de/
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South to North or North to South?
by happyhannaho 15 September 2011
I posted yesterday about going on a tour around India, and most feedback was to try it on my own... so I want to put it out there- South…
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India
Things to do
- All things to do (3,584)
- Activities (452)
- Entertainment (289)
- Restaurants (1,168)
- Shopping (470)
- Sights (1,125)
- Tours (80)
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Our Top Picks For India
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1 Darjeeling
Wrap your chilly hands around a hot cuppa in this quintessential Indian hill station
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2 Varanasi
Take a soul-soothing dawn boat ride along the ghat-lined Ganges River in this sacred city
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3 Khajuraho
Blush at the erotic sculptures embellishing these exquisitely carved temples, a Kama Sutra in stone
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4 Agra
Imbibe the legendary beauty of the milky white Taj Mahal, the ultimate monument to love
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5 Leh
Get lost in the old town's alleyways, nuzzled amid the soaring moonscape of the Himalaya
Fast Facts about India
- Literacy rate
53.7% (women) and 75.3% (men)
- Wrong way!
Columbus was actually searching for black pepper from Kerala’s Malabar Coast when he stumbled upon America.
- Cuppa tea? Legend says that Buddha, after falling asleep during meditation, decided to cut his eyelids off in an act of penance. The lids grew into the tea plant, which, when brewed, banished sleep.
- Varieties of mangoes in India
over 500!
- Ushas, Vedic and Hindu deity Represented by a beautiful woman riding a golden chariot across the sky, Ushas is a welcoming deity, teaching to embrace truth and truth's beauty.
- Population growth rate
1.4%
Our favourite India Blogs (beta)
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Holi Festival In India – The Festival Of Colours and Elephant Beauty Contests
Blog: The Travel Tart - Offbeat Tales From A Travel Addict - 3 February 2012
Holi Festival In India Today, I’ve got an unusual travel photo from Wanderers Travel India about the Holi Festival which is celebrated in India and in many other countries of...
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Trip Planning: tapping into the Diaspora
Blog: Solo Traveler - 25 January 2012
Tapping the local community who are from your destination country is an incredible way to research a trip. Here's how I do it.
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25 Most Scenic Train Routes in India
Blog: Arnab Maity Travel and Photography - 20 January 2012
Not too many countries on earth have a state budget made separately for the Railways, neither have they inspired authors and filmmakers for ages. The Indian Railways, carrying 30 million passengers and joining 65,000 km of India, isn’t unique only for these numbers, but for the diversity it carries along. It joins the length and breadth of India and touches her heart like no one else does. Probably the best way to see India is by taking a train ride, sneaking into her undiscovered cultures, gazing into her unexplored landscapes and soaking in her invigorating air.
