INDIA
OVERVIEW
Home to the largest Asian Elephant, a biodiversity like no other, boasting of a staggering 22 official languages and more than 121 spoken ones, 43 UNESCO Heritage Sites and several diverse ecosystems, landscapes, cultures and festivals to boast of, India is much more than its metropolitans – although they bring their won charm to the table!
From the varied Northeastern cultures of the Seven Sisters to the southern plain beauty of the hills to the cold deserts of the north to the colonial beauty of the east to the biodiverse Western Ghats, this country pops a surprise in every corner.
With hospitality that reminds you of home, India welcomes its visitors like a warm hug from an old friend leaving you with a longing to discover more.
There’s a lot of historical pages to flip through, myth to learn and hidden truth to unpack – why wait, let’s dive in!
INDIA Travel guide
Getting to India
There are Direct flights available to the major cities in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi.
Best Time to Visit India
Its hard to generalize a topographically diverse country like India where weather may follow the same pattern but not the climate. But on a whole the best time to visit India is during summers when the climate is comparatively warmer, drier, laced with humidity and winters. It is better to avoid monsoons because it brings heavy shower accompanied with landslides and flash floods in mountainous regions.
- Spring: March to April
- Summer: April to June
- Winter: November to March
Local Food and Drinks in India
Food that reminds you a fresh cooked meal, India has so much more to offer to the culinary connoisseurs than a bowl of butter chicken, or a side of tandoori chicken with naan or biriyani accompanied with raita.
Food is a fine amalgamation of culture here, the secrets of which have been carefully passed over generations to uphold.
From street foods like phuchka (in Kolkata) or paani-puri (in Mumbai), vada pav (Mumbai), jhaal-muri (Kolkata), dosa (best in southern states), idli and medu vada combo, goni bhajji (Mangalore), samosa pav, chaat platters to Konkani, Bengali, Maharashtrian, Parsi, Sindhi, Kachhi, Gujrati, Andhra thalis to mouth-watering Chinese dishes of Kolkata to the exotic bamboo dishes, Tibetian and indigenous food items of the Northeast and also the tribal cuisines across India – we sure need more than one lifetime to experience it all!
How to Travel Within India
- For intercity or intracity travel Indian Railways is a great pocket-friendly option. Book your tickets here.
- Another option is by State Buses plying both intra-city and inter-city. Book here.
- Taxis and cabs (shared and private) are available in most cities along with autorickshaws which can also be availed on shared and private basis.
Applications to Download
Uber – for cabs, bikes and food
Swiggy – for food
Zomato – for food
Blinkit – for almost all household and edible items
Things to Remember
- Local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR)
- Credit cards are accepted but there are a 2% fee charges by certain merchants on transactions, ideal to check before swiping.
- UPI like GooglePay, Paytm, RuPay are widely used.
- Learn a few basic Hindi phrases. English is spoken and understood in quite a few states.
- For calling either purchase a local sim like Vodafone, Airtel or Jio or activate an e-sim.
- Carry portable fans if exploring southern, eastern and western states during summers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the capital of India?
The national capital of India is Delhi.
The financial capital is Mumbai.
- How easy is it to travel across all the cities in India?
With the extensive network of transportation even remote corners of the country is now accessible to travel.
- What is India famous for?
India is famous for its natural beauty, diverse culture, national parks, wildlife, cuisine and handicraft.
- What religion does India follow?
Predominantly Hindus followed by Islam, Christianity and other religions.