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Bookmark & shareWhirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.
Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.
Travel Warning: Areas of Conflict
Several Indian regions are prone to occasional conflict; Jammu and Kashmir (as distinct from Ladakh) are subject to political violence and travellers should seek consular advice before entering any area bordering Pakistan.
Similar advice should also be sought before travel to Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur in northeast India. There are militant groups operating sporadically in some rural areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa.
Travellers should remain alert wherever they travel in India, particularly in big cities and when attending large public gatherings. Deadly bomb attacks have occurred in Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad over the past couple of years, with a series of bombings killing 13 in Uttar Pradesh in November 2007. Political and sectarian tensions occasionally boil over into street violence.
Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for some good advice from travellers.
severity: High-level alert
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Republic of India
Population
1,000,000,000
Currency
Name: Indian Rupee
Code: INR
Symbol: Rs
Electrical Plugs
230-240V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu
Essential: English
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +5.5
Country Dialing Code
+91
Weights & Measures
Metric
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
