India: Overview
The millennial Republic of India, the world’s second most populated country, is located south of Asia, bordering with Nepal, China and Bhutan to the northeast, with Pakistan to the west, and with Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east.
Climate
From the summits of the Himalaya to the costs of the Indian Ocean, India has, at least, six different climatic regions, although the main one is tropical, with heavy Monsoons, heat and humidity. There are also many tropical hurricanes, especially in the coast during the second half of the year.
Due to these climatic variations among the regions, the best moment for your trip will depend on the chosen destination and activities. If you are going south it is best to go between January and September; if your destination is the deserts of Rajastán or the Himalaya region, northwest of the country, try during the Monsoon season. Between March and August is the best period for visiting the regions of the northeast; and summer (May-September) is when the mountains are in all their glory. Those who are looking forward to enjoy hiking in Himalaya should think of a visit between April and November, but you should check this before choosing, since time varies according to the route. If you want to spend sometime skiing, go between January and March.
Important Information
Entry requirements for India are a valid passport and a visa, unless the visitor holds a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card. You must keep in mind that some areas are restricted, so you will need a special permission if you want to visit them. Travellers going to the north-western areas of the country or to the islands should get informed in India Tourism.
The official currency is the Rupee (INR) which is divided in 100 “paisas” and it is impossible to get outside of India. The main foreign currencies can be changed in banks, official exchanging offices, and airports offices (permanently open). It is illegal to change money in the black market and you should not accept torn notes, since they won't be received outside the National Bank. When changing money, ask for small denominations. Traveller’s cheques and the main credit cards are broadly accepted, especially in tourist-oriented places. There are not many ATMs in the country.
People are used to leave small tips for every service, including tourist guides, hotel stuff and waiters. "Baksheesh" is also very common in India; this is more a way of bribing than tipping and it is given before the service to assure you a better attention.
There are some health problems to consider on a visit to this country, among them, outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue fever, both transmitted by mosquitoes’ stings, and malaria. Fatal cases of malaria are especially frequent in Assam, to the northeast of the country. Anyone travelling from a yellow fever infected area will be asked a vaccination certificate. Another great problem to keep in mind is the risk of food poisoning; ice and water should be also considered dangerous and you must only drink bottled water, making yourself sure that the bottle’s seal is intact. Meat and fish should only be consumed in the best restaurants, and must be well cooked and eaten hot. Salads and unpeeled fruit should be avoided. Medical facilities are limited outside the main cities, so it is recommended to hire a medical insurance before travelling. It is also recommended to travellers to stay away from any type of birds and to consume well cooked and hot any dish containing poultry or eggs due to some reported cases of bird flu.
Although most tourists who visit India do not have any problem, it is recommended to avoid some places as a security measure. Due to problems with Pakistan it is not a good idea to make trips to the regions of Kashmir, Jammu (except to the city of Jammu), Srinagar or to any place near the Pakistani border. In Srinagar and Kashmir there have been grenades attacks targeting tourists and tourist buses with several casualties. Ladakh, via Manali; Leh, by air; or Jaisalmer and Amritsar, do not have security issues. You also should avoid travelling to Tripura and Imphal. There has been an increase in terrorist attacks to the east and the northeast of the country where a lot of people, including tourists, have died. Extremist violent groups operate in Bihar, Jharkland, Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa. The security level in Delhi has increased, although visitors should keep in mind the existent tension between Muslims and Hindu and the terrorism risk it supposes, they should also be particularly alert in public spaces and transportations and in tourist places, mainly in Delhi and Mumbai. It is also advisable that tourists watch over their belongings, especially passports and documents, be cautious with jewel sellers (in most cases fake) in Agra and Jaipur, and never accept food offered by strangers, especially in trains, since many travellers have reported to have been drugged and robbed. Traffic accidents are frequent due to the vehicles conditions and reckless driving. Finally, the Monsoon season (June-September) causes big flooding and human and material losses.
The Indian society is quite tolerant with foreigners; however, there are some cultural and religious customs that visitors must respect. When you are visiting temples it is necessary to take off your shoes and cover your head. Women have to dress conservatively not only in respect to the local customs, but also to avoid unwanted attention; topless is illegal. Indians do not like not being able to help, so instead of saying "no", they will always say something positive, no matter if it is incorrect. Social order and status are very important to the Indian culture. It is recommended to avoid using the left hand, especially when eating.
Where to go
Delhi is much more attractive than what it may seems at first sight. Once you have overcome the first impact cause by a mix of contamination, smells, crowds and beggars, the city reveals its big charms. In Paharganj are the bazaars which are a perfect doorway to the bohemian India; there also stand out the architecture, the monuments and the food of the city. Of course, you cannot miss a visit to New Delhi city, capital of the country and an excellent starting point for trips to northern India.
Agra, 200 km of Delhi is located in one of the main tourist circuits. Here you can visit the famous and beautiful Taj Mahal, the imposing Agra Fort, beside the Yamuna river; see the exterior of Pearl mosque, where tourist are not allowed to enter; and go to Itimad-ud-daulah and the Mausoleum of Akbar, a sample of the syncretism of the religious philosophy of Akbar.
Jaipur, also known as the Pink City and capital of the Rajastan, stands out for its rosy ochre walls and buildings; this colour was associated with hospitality by their builders. The old city walls still have the seven original doors; one of them leads to the Johari Bazaar, the famous jewel market. The minaret Iswari Minar Swarga Sul is the most visible monument in Agra, followed by the wind palace, the Hawa Mahal, one of the palatine group buildings.
Benarés, built beside the Ganges River and called the Eternal City of Asia, is the religious capital of the country. Located east of Agra and southeast of Delhi, is also a destination in the Indian tourist main circuit. It is said that anyone who finishes his life there, never minding his beliefs or sins, will be instantly taken to heaven. There are more than a hundred "ghats" for bathing and incinerations in the city, the Manikrnika Ghat being the most sacred; there you can witness the cremation rituals (taking photographs is forbidden). If you are interested in seeing the fluvial activity, the ritual baths and cricket games, among other daily activities, or in making a boat trip down the river, the Dasaswamedh Ghat is where you have to go. In Benares you can also see the Temple of Gold, with it beautiful golden towers, Sarnath Buddhist centre and the markets or walk the narrow alleys that start in the "ghats".
In Bombay, home of Bollywood, you can enjoy the weekend cricket games in the "maidans" (parks) or some "bhelpuri" (typical food) in Chowpatty beach. You can also see the Asian largest shanty towns and Chinese joints, where Mafia and Communalism rule.
Calcutta, former capital of British India, is called City of Happiness, in spite of its cruel history of hunger and poverty. At the moment it is one of the friendliest cities and one of the main political, artistic and intellectual centres of the country. One of the most significant places is the great Maidan area where people spend their free time and from where you can see Fort William, still active, or Victoria Memorial. In Dalhousie Square you can visit the administrative centre of the city, a mix of kafkian the desperation of the Writers (clerks) Building and the horror of the Black Hole of Calcutta, now the Post Office. You can also visit the impressive Temple of Kali where faithful sacrifice goats to calm down the goddess’ blood thirsty, the Museum of India, the Botanical Garden, Howrah bridge, Chowringhee Road, globetrotters' meeting place, and the New Market.
Festivals
India has an attractive variety of festivals. The first day of the year begins with the Day of the Republic Festival, celebrated in Delhi with a great display of military and princely magnificence, parades and elephants. February is the time for one of the most exotic festivals carried out in the north of the country Holi Festival which marks the end of the winter and is celebrated by throwing water and red powders at many people as you can.
Muharraq is a Shiite festivity that lasts 10 days, between end of April and beginning of May, and commemorates the martyrdom of Mohammed's grandson. The main event of this highly religious party is a parade of devote flagellants. The best place to witness this party is Lucknow, the most important Shiite city. During this time Maha Kumbh Mela, a legendary fight between gods and demons for a “kumbh” (jar), is also commemorated. It is said that in the heat of the battle four drops were spilt and each one fell in one of the cities where, alternately and every three years, the festival takes place: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.
The Rath Yatra, a great festival of carriages, is carried out during June and July in Puri and it consists on the parade on wheels of the great temple of the god Jagannath that travels annually taken by a multitude of devote.
On the second Saturday of August the Regatta of Snakes Ships Nehru Cup is carried out in the lakes of Alappuzha, in Kerala. Between end of August and beginning of September the Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival dedicated to the famous elephant-headed god, takes place in the whole country, especially in Maharashtra. For this celebration people build altars, dive mud icons in the rivers and seas, launch fireworks and avoid looking at the moon, since it is considered bad luck. In September and October the destination is Kulu mountains, where you can enjoy the Gods Festival one of the events of Dussehra Festival. The best places to enjoy this festival are Mysore and Ahmadabad.
