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Introducing India
With its mind-bending diversity - from snowcapped mountains to sun-washed beaches, crusty old bazaars to chichi designer boutiques, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, ramshackle rural villages to techno-savvy urban hubs - it’s hardly surprising that India has been dubbed the planet’s most multidimensional country.
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The subcontinent is home to more than a billion people, and its eclectic melange of ethnic groups translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveller. For those on a spiritual quest, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites and stirring philosophies, while history buffs will discover gems from the past almost everywhere - from grand vestiges of the British Raj peering over frenetic city streets, to battle-scarred forts rising from forlorn country fields. Meanwhile, lovers of the great outdoors can paddle in the shimmering waters of the palm-fringed beaches of Goa, scout for tigers on an adrenaline-pumping wildlife safari in Kanha National Park, or simply breathe the fresh air on a rejuvenating trek in Himachal Pradesh. And then there’s the food! From squidgy south Indian idlis (rice dumplings) to zesty north Indian curries, travellers are treated to a positively seductive smorgasbord of subcontinental specialities.
Demystifying India is a perpetual work-in-progress and for many travellers that’s precisely what makes her so deeply addictive. Ultimately, it’s all about surrendering yourself to the unknown: this is the India that nothing can quite prepare you for because its very essence - its elusive soul - lies in its mystery. Love it or loathe it - and most visitors seesaw between the two - India will jostle your entire being and no matter where you go or what you do, it’s a place you’ll never forget.
Make it happen
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- take a classic trip to Rajasthan
- discover Southern India
- journey from Deli to Kathmandu
- see the real deal with a North India unplugged tour
Want more? We can recommend more India trips
our latest India guide is out, and you can get 20% off Just enter the promo code: INDIA20 and shop here
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.
Last updated: Oct 29, 2009
Tips & articles
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Cities you really hate
9 October 2009
A couple of weeks ago, we published a list of your ‘least favourite’ destinations. Reaction...
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India’s Festival of the Lights
24 September 2009
Divali, the Festival of the Lights, is one of the happiest, brightest spots on the Indian calendar, full...
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World’s worst sleepless nights
8 September 2009
Travellers learn to grab forty winks in some pretty taxing situations: overnight bus trips, hostel rooms...
India
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)
- India’s percentage of world population
16.7%
- Inflation
5.2%
- Unemployment rate
8.6%
- GDP growth rate
8.5% (2006)
- Population
1.027 billion (2001 census)
- Population growth rate
1.4%
- Life expectancy
65.6 years (women) and 63.9 years (men)
- Proportion of females to males
933:1000 (2001 census)
- Families living in one-room homes
41%
Related Groups
Our favourite India Blogs (beta)
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All good things must come to an end
Blog: round the world - the other way - 13 November 2009
In August 2009 after eleven months on the road we returned to the UK, ending our round the world trip. In that time we visited three continents and eleven countries, from the tiny Cook Islands to the vast provinces of Canada. In the individual countries we visited, we covered a lot of ground seeing both coasts [...]
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Friday Flashback – McLeod Ganj in Northern India
Blog: GoBackpacking - 13 November 2009
I explored, I trekked, I learned, I meditated, I shopped, I reunited with friends from Nepal.Buy travel insurance from Worldnomads.com (Lonely Planet's preferred carrier)
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A tricky trip from Rishikesh, India to Pokhara, Nepal
Blog: 99 + 1 countries - 12 November 2009
Folks, the one road in Eastern Terai is fine. Other than that, travelling from Rishikesh India to Pokhara Nepal is hellish. Here's a short version of what happened during the 40 hour killer trip.1. I took a vikram (a shared ricksha) from High Bank, Rishikesh to Rishikesh proper. (20 rupees.)
