Introduction to backpacking
India is one of the cheapest places to go backpacking for. The tourism is continually rising but even today there are places where you can get accommodation at 100 rupees a day. This only makes India a preferred destination among backpackers. The three basic requirement clothing, shelter and food are absolutely manageable and easily affordable here. For these practical reasons and also owing to the huge publicity it receives as being a land of rich culture, heritage and traditions, India easily lures hundreds of backpackers every year.
There Is Enough to See In India for Years
India is a huge country. Not just in size but also from tourism point of view. If you decide to explore the entire nation you would probably have to come back every year for the rest of your life. Culture wise India is very rich and multifaceted. To understand the lifestyle and people here one needs to invest time, money and emotions. There is such a huge contrast in people, language, dressing and values within the same country that most people feel lost yet attached to this place.
Many backpackers come here for spiritual gains. They go and stay in Rishikesh or any other Himalayan settlement and probably never return from there. Some who like to have a feel of all the sides of India design itineraries that cover all the four direction of the country. Backpacking in India for foreign tourists is a cheap affair. Traveling takes time but each journey is a learning experience, a peek into yet another aspect of Indian culture.
Places for backpacking in India
Depending on what whether you are visiting India you can choose your destination accordingly. Or Vice Versa where you want to go and what’s the temperature like. Either ways knowing the temperatures makes your trip a lot less hassle. These are a few names mentioned for backpackers to explore. But it does not end here. The options are endless.
New Delhi
The capital city New Delhi has an extreme climate. Summers are long and hot, winters last 3-4 months and are very cold. It doesn’t snow here but the temperatures go as low as 0 degrees. As far as tourist attractions go Delhi is a huge city and has many types of entertainment activities for everyone. It also offers adventure sports and great sight seeing places. Delhi is an urban city with shopping malls and star rated hotels.
The culture is cosmopolitan and can suit even foreigners. Delhi is also a city of thugs where you never know who might con you. So when here give priority to your safety. Other things to do while here are shop at Janpath or Rajori bazaar, eat at chandni chowk or paranthe wali gali or see the red fort or India gate.
Mumbai
Mumbai climate is humid due to the sea. It never gets too hot or too cold here. Monsoons come earlier here and end late. Mumbai is the commercial hub of the country. It is cosmopolitan and absolutely a tourist’s favorite. There are many excursions from Mumbai like Ajanta and Ellora caves, Aksa Beach, Pune etc. In Mumbai you can visit the famous siddhi vinayak temple, shop at linking road, Crawford market or Fashion Street. Take a taxi ride on the Bombay-worli sea link or enjoy the chatpata food of Juhu Chopati.
Calcutta
Summers here are humid and temperatures exceed 40 degrees. Winters are short but extremely chilly and rainfall is moderate. Calcutta is a land of artists, literati and revolutionaries. It also has rich spiritual wealth. There is a strong influence of Romans, British and Moghuls. There are many historical monuments of tourist attractions and several adventure activities that you can indulge in. The China town, Howrah Bridges, tiffany’s pub is very famous here. Calcutta is also place where coffee-houses are quiet an old trend.
Shimla
Shimla is a cold place and has moderate warm weather. Snowfall occurs in December. The places to see in Shimla are the summer hill, Annadale, Christ church, Kufri, Kasauli and many more. There are hostels in shimla especially for backpackers. You can go trekking and camping in the Shimla Hills. You can also shop for handmade shoes, dolls, woollen caps, carved wooden sticks, toys in the Shimla Mall.
Things to carry in backpack
Here is a master list things which you can refer to if you plan for a backpacking trip. These few essential things can make your backpacking trip very easy.
• A route map which gives you locations of petrol pumps and toll booths. But this is a personal choice as backpackers generally like to discover places as and when they reach there. A big marker to keep a check on the places covered or any important notes to make. Lots of plain paper and cardboards and paper clips.
• Keep a small foldable umbrella with you. A large towel, toiletry, liquid peppermint soap, toilet paper, deospray.
• A sleeping bag, waterproof compression sack.
• Warm clothes: 3-4 t-shirts, lots of socks and under garments, a jacket, wind cheater, warm woolen leggings, 2 pairs of jeans, sneakers, flip flops, chewing gum, peppermints, water bottle, drinks, books, pack of cards.
• First-aid kit, sewing kit
• Torch, camera, iPod, CD player.
• Your cell phone.
By: Prashant Jainengg
Posts Tagged ‘Visiting India’
Best Places For Backpacking in India
December 21st, 2009Golden Triangle and Mandawa Tour – Famous Tourist Attractions of India
November 20th, 2009
If you want to spend your holiday with good memories, the Golden Triangle will make for a good tour package for visiting India. A Golden Triangle tour provides comfort and a great range of packages to destinations in the Golden Triangle of northern India. A Golden Triangle tour is one of the most famous tour packages of India. It includes a complete journey of India’s three most beautiful and charming places – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Delhi is the capital of India which is one of the most beautiful cities. It is a major cultural, commercial and political center of India. Delhi has many beautiful monuments landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad Fort, Lodhi Gardens, Purana Quila, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s tomb, Red Fort, India Gate, Raj Ghat, Bahá’í Lotus temple, Akshardham Temple, and the Magnificent President’s house (Rashtrapati Bhavan).
After visiting Delhi, you can explore Agra. It is one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in India. The city of Agra is famous for Taj Mahal. This most beautiful and charming building is located on the bank of the Yamuna River in Agra. It is the symbol of love. Agra is a very interesting and charming place to visit. There are many monuments and many things which you can see and make your days memorable.
After that, you can visit Jaipur which is known as “pink city” also because the monuments of Jaipur are made of pink stones. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. In the city of Jaipur, you can visit many monuments like Jantar Mantar, Jaigarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort, Laxmi Narayan Temple, City Palace, etc. There are many markets; you can shop according to your desire like Jauhari Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and Chaupar Stalls that sell everything from wollen rugn to exquisite parts of jewelries.
With a golden triangle tour you can visit Mandawa also. Mandawa is one of the most beautiful and luxurious towns. It is situated in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. This beautiful and charming town attracts tourists because there are many forts and places which are know as havelis. You will see many Havelis with convinced unique features which creates each Havelis stand out from each other. While visiting the places of Mandawa, you can see many havelis like Chowkhani Haveli, Mohanlal Saraf Haveli, Bhagchandika Haveli, Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli and Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli, The Newtia Haveli, Harlalka Well, Thakurji Temple, Murmuria Haveli, Chowkhani Double Haveli, Raj Well, Akhramka Haveli, Sonthalia Gate, Goenka Double Haveli, Tanu Manu Saraf Haveli, Harlalka Chattri, Goenka Chattri and the Saraf Haveli are the interesting thing to visit and to make your days memorable.
By: Pradeep Kumar Sharma
Ten Different Things You Can Do When Visiting India
October 14th, 2009
India happens to offer a whole range of activities for foreigners who are considering taking a vacation somewhere in Asia. You will be able to find a lot of things to see and do that are distinctly Indian. You see, they happen to host several religions and multiple cultures that will keep you wondering every time, and if you want to find out more about Bollywood, then here’s your chance.
1.) Kolkata
Previously, this city was named Calcutta where one will find fabulous colonial buildings that will transport seem to transport you to another place and time. The place abounds with cultural samples of all that is Indian. It is also known as the City of Joy.
2.) Bangalore
This is another notable city which used to be home to pensioners. Now, this place has become populated with pubs and technological companies. These companies show advances in industrialization in the area, which used to be a place of slow leisure.
3.) Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is found in Agra and named as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Who can forget the story of the ruler who loved his wife so much that he built this building to keep her happy? And to actually see what this ruler built would make one gasp in awe at its majestic architecture. Imagine people during that time coming up with such structures despite the lack of modern equipment.
4.) Goa
This landmark happens to be a destination of a mixture of cultures where east meets west. Check out this place for great buys in an urbanized city which offers a whole gamut of merchandise. If you want to take a dip in a beach, then you will want to check out this place so you can cool off after a day’s drive to other beautiful sites and landmarks.
5.) Bodh Gaya
Many times, people will only have literature to hold on to stories of our religion and culture. But at Bodh Gaya, one can find the place Indians believe is where Buddha Sakyamuni gained enlightenment. Buddha happens to be one of India’s most revered gods on which Buddhism has come about.
6.) Hampi
It is always a pleasure to see the ruins of a building that have withstood the test of time, and Hampi happens to be the very place. This was where the center of the Vijayanagara Empire was once seated. You will find here the ruins of that empire, proof of its existence in India where it once flourished and ruled the land.
7.) Meenakshi Temple
We know Hinduism is one of the major religions of India. We know how churches of other religions look like, but ever wondered how a Hindu temple could be different from other temples? Wonder no more as this spectacular temple is open to all visitors in Madurai, India.
8.) Ellora
This place is also called Ajanta. It is popularly known as a holy place specifically for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. What makes this place extra special is that these are cave monasteries and temples that have been shaped and cut by rocks to its form.
9.) National Parks
India has no less than 20 national parks one could visit while there. There are three in Karnataka, two each in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. There’s one each in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujurat and Andman and Nicobar.
10.) Indian Cuisine
India is popular for its spicy foods because of their love for using chili in their meals. You will hear of kebab, kofta, Tandoori chicken, sarson da saag, and many more. In addition, wheat products abound in the place where roti (Indian bread) and other bread varieties like chapatti, paratha, naan and puri can be eaten with gusto.
By: Jonathan Williams
