Posts Tagged ‘India Travel’

How About Taking a Trip to India

October 27th, 2009



India is a destination in the world where investing wildlife and adventure vacation can really turn out to be your dream vacation.India is also the land of culture, spices, art and intelligence has numerous reasons to offer an analysis.If you’ve picked India as your travel destination, here are some nice India travel suggestions that would make your journey enjoyable and as smooth.

India is a fascinating destination to visit since it has different places, monuments, forts and wildlife locations to give you adventure.

South India is blessed with much sightseeing like sandy beaches, historical monuments, wildlife sanctuaries and many more. India trekking adventure covering best adventure destinations in Kumaon and Zanskar, following trekking routes.Discover fascinating Buddhist destinations of India, providing wholly mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. There is a certain image about, India with mystics and snake charmers, poverty, palanquin bearers, slums, child laborer corruption. There are many cities and places you will want to visit in India. I will just mention a few of them here. This little article could not cover the whole great country of India.

If you are preparing for vacation in India, Goa would be the right place for you if you like the beach. It is also known as the beach capital of India, and undoubtedly it is a lifetime experience for anyone. The dazzling Goa has long been a magnet for travelers inclined towards adventure and fun. If you are a keen wind surfer or water sports enthusiast, you will possibly also like Goa. Goa is one of the most generalized states in India, and for a worldwide vacationer, a trip to India can never be complete without seeing the lovely beach.

Kerala also known as the gods own county is one of the most beautiful and charming states of India. We all know Kerala is known as green paradise on earth, has some of the immaculate hill stations in India. Kerala is located on the south western tip of India and is probably the most beautiful and cleanest state of India. Kerala is a charming land of gurgling backwaters, seductive beaches and rich culture. Tourists who love to spend their holidays in lap of nature should keep visiting Kerala. Kerala beauty needs no words to describe not it needs to be praised as it is globally famous for its astonishing beauty of nature.

Chennai is located on the west cost, and it is highly nice to feel the sea breath while you are walking at the beach. In the state Tamil Nadu is the south Indian capital Chennai positioned. The City is located on the coromandel coast along the bay of bengal. Once a tiny fishing village, Chennai is now one of the 4 chief metropolitan cities of India. Most of the Chennai hotels are located within nearby proximity to the local places of a tourist attraction and city center.

New Delhi serves as the capital of India and its also regarded as the drastic hub of modified business and commercial tasks. New Delhi, the third major city and the traveler’s delight is known for its historical moments and cultural heritage. Delhi is one of the places you require to visit every time you travel to India.

By: Annelee Karlsson

India Travel tips and Safety Information For Tourists – A Comprehensive List

October 14th, 2009



India is a beautiful country and every year millions of tourists visit this country. Here are some essential travel and safety tips which should be considered by anyone travelling to India.

1. Medications: Always consult your doctor regarding immunizations that should be taken like Hepatitis A and Polio. Additional vaccinations that your doctor may recommend are Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Rabies and Hepatitis B. Also carry medications for malaria, diarrhea, anti-allergy, Typhoid etc. Keep a copy of those prescriptions with you in case the local authorities like the Customs question you. Things like keeping an extra pair of glasses can be helpful. Carrying general medications for headache, nausea, sunscreen, few band-aids and mosquito repellent is also suggested. Although you get everything in India but its just better to have them beforehand.

2. Tourist Visa: Citizens of most countries including United States require a tourist visa on their passport. You should consult an Indian Embassy close to your location. Following Indian embassy sites are helpful: www.indianembassy.org, www.indiacgny.org, www.cgihouston.org, www.cgisf.org, chicago.indianconsulate.com .

3. Make copies of all your important travel documents (like ID, passport and visa) and leave it with a friend or family in case you lose the originals. Fill in the emergency information page of your passport. If you know the hotel phone number you will stay, leave that also with them. Country code (phone) of India is “91″

4. Keep the phone number of all the four U.S. embassies in India i.e. Delhi (North India), Chennai (South), Mumbai (West) and Kolkata (East), visit these websites newdelhi.usembassy.gov/, chennai.usconsulate.gov, mumbai.usconsulate.gov/, kolkata.usconsulate.gov/ .

5. Register yourself in the USA State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov/ so that they can use to assist you in case of an emergency. Also read public Announcements or Travel Warnings on the travel.state.gov website.

6. Do not wear expensive jewellery and do not put all your cash in one location. Get some US Dollars converted to Indian Currency (Rupees) before you go. Carrying some travelers’ cheques is also a good idea. If you need money in India only exchange it with authorized agents or banks. Inform your credit card company and Bank that you will be traveling to India on which dates so that your card is not blocked for suspicious activity.

7. Always drink bottled water and make sure that its sealed. Always eat well cooked food. In India, do buy fruits cookies and crackers with you, Local brands like Parle and international brands like Britannia and Nestle are safe to eat.

8. If traveling in the monsoon, carry a raincoat and umbrella. Carry flashlight and an extra set of lock and keys. If you need directions prefer shopkeepers over pedestrians. Its a good idea to re-verify with someone else also. Winters (December to February) can be chilly, especially in North India. Carry sweaters and jackets.

9. Be safe: Follow local laws and keep patience, Do not leave your luggage unattended in public places, beware of pick pockets and do not accept packages from strangers. Women travelers should be extra safe.

10. Tipping: Tips are not common in India as in USA. If you want to tip try to tip not more than 10-20 Indian rupees.

11. Beggars: You will find them quite often. Although some are genuine but at times people are forced into it. You you want to donate, its better to donate to a nonprofit organizations.

12. You can expect to bargain/negotiate price of the item in most of the shops (expect for government-run). You can even start with half price. Leave if you are not satisfied.

13. Try to learn some local words. In north India Hindi is the primary language, Southern India has a separate language for each State. Lot of people in India speak English, specially in popular tourist spots.

14. Not everyone follow the traffic rules, so prefer not to drive yourself. India has a lot of budget airlines, consider flying when traveling long distance. Trains are also a good option. Try to travel in 1st or 2nd class compartment instead of general class.

15. Cell (Mobile) phone coverage is quite good in India, and cheap too. Definitely consider getting one if you are staying for more than 1 month. Most plans have free incoming calls and cheap outgoing calls. If you want to buy a Sim card and unlocked international phone consider prior to your visit check a good site telestial.com.

Please do your self research and consult an expert before using this information. Also visit travel.state.gov for the latest and most up to date travel guidelines. Another article about top 7 places to visit in North India is at http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-7-Tourism-Places-in-India&id=556637

By: Swati A

Cool India – Travel Tips

October 2nd, 2009



If you’ve picked India as your travel destination, here are some cool India travel tips that would make your journey enjoyable and as smooth as possible.

As with any other travel to a foreign destination, do research beforehand. Purchase a travel guide that has the basics that will be useful throughout the duration of your trip. This includes the weather, the language, currency, food, means of transportation and more importantly the culture. This will prepare you for the trip and will help you make adjustments if you have to.

The appropriate clothing when traveling to India would be to wear light pants. Shorts are to be avoided so you are safe to roam the cities and towns of the country. A safe tip when traveling anywhere is to always seek comfort before fashion. Wear comfortable shoes like sneakers or flipflops rather than heels or any other sandals that would kill your feet.

There are a lot of beggars in India. When you encounter them, it’s your decision to give them rupees or not. If you must, then give it to kids just before hopping into the car or you might get mobbed. It is not a requirement to give them alms.

The black market is also prevalent in India. A good tip is to avoid them at all costs. You won’t get good deals and might just end up going to the Indian jail.

When dining out, choose places that are packed instead of the empty ones. It’s okay to wait for a table rather than go to an empty place because this means that the food that the place serves might not be that fresh. If you have a picky tummy, then choose safe food choices like veggies rather than red meat. Red meat can cause greater damage to your body especially if it’s spoiled and India doesn’t have the best hospitals.

Be sure to carry around first-aid materials and medications. It’s safer to drink your own meds than to buy from Indian drug stores. Don’t order Western foods except if it’s from big, well-known fast foods. This is because not everyone orders these types of food, and chances are – they might not be as fresh.

To be safe, drink soda instead of water. If you must drink water, opt for bottled mineral water and be sure they’re sealed. You can never know if water from a foreign place is potable unless your stomach starts acting up.

Make hotel reservations ahead of time. This will eliminate the worries of having a place to stay and will also avoid rip-offs. A lot of people in India might take advantage especially if they see that you’re a tourist.

Don’t wear valuables when exploring the city. This is also part of the cool India travel tips because there’s no point showing off those flashy accessories. They might get stolen and you don’t really need them.

Have a local tour you around the place. This is for your safety and will ensure that you don’t get lost or charged double the price, say for a taxi or food.

By: Barry Lycka