One of the world giants in terms of population, over one billion people, the Indian territory consists alone a subcontinent ... Suffice to say that the country is vast and varied landscape level to explore.
North flows the Ganges River in the center of Hindu spirituality, the valley is one of the most populated regions of the world: Calcutta, New Delhi ... Rajasthan, semi-desert region, especially attractive for its many palaces of maharajas, not to mention the world famous Taj Mahal in Agra. In the south, India is actually more green in Kerala image and its forests. A city to visit on each coast east Madras, Bombay in the west, not to mention the beaches of Goa and excesses.
Increasingly in vogue, a trip to India is not an easy task, and can sometimes be challenging for the western traveler accustomed to a certain level of comfort crowded metropolises, hard poverty, harsh climate, warm and wet: it is important to choose a time to travel. For this, preferably avoid the monsoon season, when heavy rains fall on the country. A trip to India can not be improvised!
A trip to India
Whether you choose to go to North India or South India, on the east coast or the west coast, the climate and the right season to vary from: do not forget that we have to do in a country -continent!
For an exciting journey, in which we are immersed in a cultural bath totally different two weeks seem minimal to go: time for a good tour in the area chosen for the trip, Rajasthan, Kerala Tamil Nadu, etc ...
Traveling in India can just as well be the backpacker way by spending next to nothing, as the most comfortable way, which of course costs more expensive.
Many therefore manage to mix their modes of travel (transportation, restaurants, routes ...), to take advantage of various facets of India. This applies particularly to accommodation: it is possible to have fun with a night in a luxury hotel in a palace for an unforgettable experience, or tighten up its budget in hotels (really) Cheap very basic comfort. Otherwise, the guesthouses are a good alternative as well.
To simplify the task, many tourists choose to leave India through a tour operator: The stay included the flight, accommodation, a tour with visits ... In short, it is convenient, but these formulas do not suit those who prefer to leave room for improvisation.
The four corners of India
India attracts many travelers came for adventure, experience the mysticism of many Indian religions, enjoy the luxury of past Maharajas or the natural beauty of the country. You choose how you want to discover India, you will find many holidays and tours in India at the seaside in Kerala or Tamil Nadu, in the footsteps of Maharajas in Rajasthan, in the foothills of Himalayas or jungle cities like Delhi or Bombay ....
o Rajasthan is one of the most visited regions, discover the magnificence of the palaces and cities of Maharajas. From Delhi you can go through Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Udaipur juqu'à the beautiful fortress of Jaisalmer in the desert. To leave a little off the beaten track in Rajasthan, go Bundi and Bikaner.
o Kerala also attracts many visitors. You can reach from Mumbai via Goa and Karnataka or from Madras through the Tamil Nadu. Discover the landscapes of Kerala and enjoy the sea through Mangalore, Mysore, Cochin, Trivandrum ....
o Less touristy but equally beautiful, discover Tamil Nadu. You can enjoy the ocean and visit many sacred cities with impressive temples.
o From Madras, go through Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chibandaram, Thanjavur, Madurai, before finishing on the sacred island of Rameswaram.
o From Calcutta, reassemble the Ganges Valley and discover the impressive and stifling atmosphere of Varansi (Benares), you can go back to the holy city of Haridwar (this is where the Ganges leaves the Himalayas).
o From Delhi, you can also go in the northwest discover the Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and why not go back to the Ladakh. Also from Delhi, Chandigarh visit (many official buildings and part of the city were built by modern architect Le Corbusier), Shimla, Dharamsala, Manali, Leh ....
o outside the box, you can go in the less visited India as Gujarat, Orissa and Assam ...
Best time to go in India
In India, it only rains during the monsoon. There are two monsoons, the southwest and the northern one. The southwest monsoon is the most important, it lasts from June to September. The northeast monsoon hits the east coast between October and February. The North has some extreme conditions, hot weather in summer and cold in winter, but except in the Himalayan regions, snow is almost unknown.
Main events:
Festival of Lohri or Makar Sankranti, celebrated with fireworks and dancing shows. It takes place on 13 January.
Vasanta Panchami: This festival is held in the spring during which we celebrate the Goddess of Knowledge. If you are in the North, you will attend a festival of kites. This festival takes place during the months of February and March.
Mahashivaratri day dedicated to Shiva with parades and folk songs. Religious holidays have not yet fixed the date it was also held in the spring.
Republic Day: January 26, it represents the Indian holiday the most important. The procession of the presidential guard is impressive and the festivities that accompany it are fabulous with ceremonial chariots and elephant shows the program.
Kitchen and culinary specialties:
It is no secret that the dishes of India are mainly based on spices, so prepare your palate for a taste of show. A specialty of the country is that cooking dhal in different ways in different regions. This is a basic yellow lentils dish that can be an accompaniment for meat. If you are a foodie, while tasting, you decelerate the taste of ginger, turmeric and cumin and others.
