INDIA

Agra, The City of Love:
Agra's climate is tropical and prone to extremes, reaching as high as 45ºC (113ºF) during the summer and as low as 4ºC (40ºF) in the winter. The city is dirty and polluted. There are crowds everywhere and the exhaust fumes threaten to choke you. The rainy season is between June and September and the city receives annual rainfall of 660 millimeters (26 inches). But one look at the Taj Mahal and you forget everything else. I stood in a queue for half an hour and was frisked before entering the complex but did not mind the waiting at all once I set my eyes at mausoleum. It’s is beyond beautiful and no pictures can do justice to its perfect symmetry. It towers above all, and the marble changes colour with the passage of the day. I roamed the lawns and the fountains and took pictures from what seemed thousands vantage points.

Kerala, The Land of Trees:

Kerala is a green strip of land, in the South West corner of Indian peninsula. It has only 1.1 8 per cent of the total area of the country but houses 3.43% of the the country's population. Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters.

There are a thousand things that you can do like embark on an enchanting journey on the speckled backwaters on a kettuvallom, a fully furnished traditional rice boat, venture in to the very heart of the paddy fields, on narrow dykes with water passage running through the muddy path, cross water bodies with extremely narrow bridges or watch the natives do so. You can even drift across cheerful and colourful banks in a country raft or tread a treadmill used for irrigation even today.

Rajasthan, The Desert Fortress:

Rajasthan is a vibrant, exotic state where tradition and royal glory meet in a riot of colors against the vast backdrop of sand and desert. It has an unusual diversity in its entire forms- people, customs, culture, costumes, music, manners, dialects, cuisine and physiography. The land is endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palace havelis, rich culture and heritage, beauty and natural resources. It is a land rich in music, Dance, Art & Craft and Adventure, a land that never ceases to intrigue & enchant. 

In the west, Rajasthan is relatively dry and infertile; this area includes some of the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert. In the southwestern part of the state, the land is wetter, hilly, and more fertile. The climate varies throughout Rajasthan. On average winter temperatures range from 8° to 28° C (46° to 82° F) and summer temperatures range from 25° to 46° C (77° to 115° F).

Rajasthan is also proud of its rich and varied folk culture espoused from villages. The fascinating & mesmerizing culture is a proliferation of the Rajput lifestyle followed since ages.

Jim Corbett National Park:

Corbett, the first national park and tiger reserve in India, is located in the valley of the Ramganga River near the foothills of the Himalayas. Its proximity to Delhi and its wildlife make it a must visit destination for residents and guests tempted to go beyond the capital of India. While visiting Corbett you would be able to stay right within it at Dhikala and other forest rest house.
For birdwatchers, there are over 580 species to view; moreover you can also view reptiles such as turtles and gharial. All of which make Corbett one of the most complete wildlife experiences, besides being close enough to them without any hesitation.
Tourists are only allowed restricted entry by permit into about 100km of the tiger reserve area. You can enter them through Dhikala from the Dhangarhi gate, Bijrani from the Amdanda gate and Jhirna from the Dhela gate. Permission to enter the park are issued at the Tourist Reception Centre or the park’s entrance gate at Dhangarhi for Dhikala which is also the main center of activity in the park.
Visitors must move around in the park by car or jeep, accompanied by a licensed guide and most important walking is strictly prohibited and if found you will be arrested. There are few private resorts spread out and the forest department also provides few rest houses in the reserve area. Entry fee for Indians is Rs 30; foreigners Rs. 350, for elephant ride Indians Rs. 100, foreigners Rs 200 and a licensed guide Rs. 75 per trip.

Darjeeling:

If you are setting out to see Darjeeling, make sure that the hotel you have chosen does not have a water shortage. Surely, when you are on holiday you need to have some basic amenities. Here again, the tourist traffic is so much that you may feel the need to take a break from your holiday break. Quite often, instead of seeing the sunrise on Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, all you get see is a traffic jam, as everyone is headed in the same direction as you are. Visual pollution is on the rise in this hill station.

Goa:

Located on the western coast of India, Goa is famous globally as an ideal beach holiday destination by holidaymakers from around the world. Goa is now known as a popular family vacation destination and also as an evergreen honeymoon destination in India. Goa is best known for its beautiful beaches. A sunbathers paradise, Goa's combination of sun, sand and sea is unforgettable. The beaches here to be visited are Calangute Beach, Anjuna Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Benaulim, Colva Beaches and much more. Panaji, the capital of Goa is also a perfect tourist destination.

Manali:

An important hill station of India famous for its adventure sports like skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, etc.A ‘Heaven on Earth’ or ‘Valley of Gods’, no words can perfectly explain the immense beauty of the hill resort of Manali. Nature is at its best in Manali and the snow-capped peaks, winding River Beas, thick forests, and fruit orchards, all manifests the beauty of this wonderland. Manali has derived its name from Manavalaya, meaning the home of Saint Manu. Manali is a favourite destination of all adventure zealots as one can indulge in a number of adventurous activities like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Ooty,Queen Of Nilgiris:

Tours to India Holidays, An unsullied hill station located atop the Nilgiris, Ooty houses a fascinating bunch of tourist attractions. Check out this article to learn about the various places to see in Ooty.

 Mesmerizing Madhya Pradesh:
Attractions Of India, Madhya Pradesh, the Heart of India’ boasts of numerous, varied tourist attractions. Explore more on the places to see in Madhya Pradesh.

Kanha and Bandhabgarh national parks have been very famous national parks around the world. The king of the forest may be easily sighted at Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Equally at home in the Jungles of Kanha and Bandhavgarh is the Gaur who does not fear the tiger. Another native is the Barasingha the only swamp deer who has adapted to hard ground. Chitals (spotted deer) can be sighted in hundreds. Sloth Bear, the leopard and the buffalo are much less common. At times one is surprised that wild life has survived so well despite the decades of senseless slaughter indulged in by the so-called big game hunters. Many of the princes marked out areas as their personal hunting reserves: Shivpuri near Gwalior for instance, which has served in recent years as the nucleus of the wild life park and where Madhav National park is particularly rich in many species of deer and famous for its white (albino tic) tigers. Pench National park is also an upcoming national park in Madhya Pradesh.

Bay Of Bengal (Assam):

Leaving the grey-brown land, the plane was over the majestic Bay of Bengal within seconds. I felt enveloped in a sphere of blue as the versatile shades of the skies met those of the sea. The sun was just making its presence felt as it cast its magical colours. At that point of time, there was nothing between me and bliss -- except my tiny aircraft window.

Floating in splendid isolation, east of the Indian mainland, is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands called Andaman and Nicobar. Once a hill range extending from Burma to Indonesia, these Indian islands are home to 400,000 Indians, 200,000 of whom live in the capital town, Port Blair alone. Though these islands stretch over an area of more than 700 kms, from north to south, only 36 of the 572 islands are inhabited. 

There are two distinct inhabitants of the islands. The 'Indians' and the 'Natives'. The Indians are mainly from Madras, Calcutta and Punjab. They are very peace-loving, extremely well behaved and kind. English and Hindi are widely spoken languages, though Bengali and Malayalam follow close at the heels. The economy depends on tourism-related activities, fishing and coir-making.

Haridwar-Gateway To Lord Vishnu

Haridwar, situated in Uttarakhand, is considered as one of the holiest cities in India. Read on to explore the tourist attractions and places to see in Haridwar.

Rishikesh Tourist Attractions

Rishikesh is the place where you see nature as well as devotion, at their very best. With this article, get information on the various tourist attractions i.e. places to see in Rishikesh.

Jaipur - The Pink City
The Pink City, Jaipur, has host of tourist attractions to offer. Check out the places to see in Jaipur, India.

The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to the scene, which is almost magical at sunset.

The Old City (Known as the Pink City) is a great place to wander around. The whole city was painted in Pink colour by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to maintain its facade. It is a very well planned city laid out in a grid pattern and was designed by a young Bengali engineer and scholar by the name "Vidyadhar Bhattacharya". 

Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world, symbolising the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. Jaipur is a royal city & this is its most noticeable aspect, small buildings & festivals testify it.

Delhi:

Delhi is India's main point of arrival for overseas visitors, and the major transport hub for destinations in the states of rajasthan, the Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh as well as central north India. Delhi city, the showacse of India, has been the centre of political activity from time immemorial. The ancient fortness, majestic buildings and historic ruins find their modern counterparts in the tall skyscrapers, diplomatic enclaves and well-planned townships of New Delhi. The people here, their lifestyles, traditions and even the climate are a rich and varied mixture of all that is india.

Flanked by ornamental ponds and lawns, Rajpath is host to the Republic Day Parade. The two secretariat buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan on the Raisina hills are located on the two sides of this immensely broad road. Previously the Boat Club, besides the Rajpath, was host to many demonstrations and Rallies. India Gate is towards the eastern end of Rajpath .

India Gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. It bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died in the campaigns of WW1, the North-West Frontiers operations and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. Below the arch is the memorial to the unknown soldier. India Gate is surrounded by green grass lawns and trees.



Chandigarh Tourist Attractions
Chandigarh, though one of the relatively new cities of India, impresses the visitors with its host of tourist attractions. Explore the places to see in Chandigarh.

Places to See in Bangalore
Bangalore, the IT Capital of India, is known for being home to largest number of IT companies in the country. Check out the tourist attractions and places to see in Bangalore.

Golden Chariot Luxury Train
Attractions Of India, The Golden Chariot is a luxury train, launched by Karnataka, which would take tourists on a journey of India. The train will make its trial run on 10th March 2008.

Puri - Abode of Lord Jagannath
Puri, the Abode of Lord Jagannath, is amongst the most scared pilgrim destinations in India. Explore the places to see i.e. the places of tourist interest in Puri.

Shimla-The Queen Of Hills
Shimla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British, is one of the most popular hill stations of India. Find out major places of tourist interest in Simla.

Dehradun
Home to many fetching tourist spots, Dehradun is a charming city of the Uttarakhand / Uttaranchal state in India. Find some places of tourist interest in Dehradun.

Char Dham Yatra
Chardham Yatra is the most sought-after pilgrimages of Hindus. Get more information on Char Dham pilgrimage.

Hyderabad City Of Pearls
Read on to know major tourist attractions and places to see in Hyderabad.

Mussoorie - Queen of Hills
There are many beautiful places to see in Mussoorie, located in the state of Uttarakhand state of India. Read about Mussoorie tourist attractions.

Cauvery Fishing Camp
Plan a different vacation this time and check out Fishing Camp adventure near Cauvery River. You will have a great experience at the Kaveri river fishing camps.

Golden Temple
Golden Temple, the most revered place for the followers of the Sikh faith in India, is situated in the Amritsar city of Punjab. Golden Temple is also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib.

Tirupati Balaji
Tirupati Balaji Temple in India is dedicated to Sri Venkateswara. Get more information on the Tirumala Tirupathi Temple.

Ajanta Caves
Ajanta caves in India are known for their beautiful fresco paintings. Find more on Ajanta caves and paintings.

Madurai – The Athens Of East
Home to the revered Meenakshi Amman temple, Madurai city has a legacy of rich heritage and great historical past.

Konark Sun Temple- A Major Attraction Of Orissa
Konark Sun Temple: Konark Sun Temple in Orissa is a UNESCO world heritage site.
 
Chennai Tour
Explore Chennai city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, and find about tourist attractions & hotels.


Travel Tips:

The American dollar is no longer accepted at heritage tourist sites in India such as the Taj Mahal. From early 2008, tickets are charged in rupee and the change makes such tickets about 25% more expensive for American tourists.

The democratic Republic of India covers 3.28 million square kilometres encompassing 28 different states and has a population around 1.1 billion (2006).

About 72% of its citizens are Indo-Aryan and most of the remainder are Dravidian.

Four out of five Indians are Hindu and about 14% are Muslim.

The five major language groups are Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil and Kashmiri, although there are 18 languages officially recognised in the Indian Constitution.

Well over 1,500 minor languages and dialects can be found throughout India but the common tongue among the upper classes is English.

Hindi is the predominant language in northern India but travel to the south and you'll find the main languages are Dravidian.

If you speak English you can travel through India fairly easily as there are usually enough people around who can understand you, dependent upon exactly where you are during your vacation.

Don't totally rely on English during your holiday in India as there are a lot more lower class than upper class people you'll want and need to speak to, and the poorly-educated often don't speak English.

If you plan navigating city streets by map during your holiday travel, be aware beforehand that reading or understanding street signs in India can be very difficult.

India's travel services have improved markedly over the past ten to 20 years and now cater for all levels of tourist demand, although even tickets for the plush hotels are well-priced by Western standards.

Regardless, there are still plenty of Third World disadvantages you'll notice within India's infrastructure and many visitors come down with at least a tummy bug during their holiday.