About India

India can offer almost anything you want, whether it's beaches, forts, amazing travel experiences, fantastic spectacles or even a search for yourself. Here are just a few of those possibilities and where to start looking.

People generally don't come all the way to India just to laze on a beach - but if that’s what you’re into, there are some superb beaches. On the west coast, at the southern end of Kerala, there's Kovalam and Varkala; farther north, Goa has a whole collection of beautiful beaches complete with soft white sand, gentle lapping waves and swaying palms. Over on the east coast you could try the beach at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. In Orissa the beach at Gopalpur-on-Sea is clean and quiet.

India is a country of festivals and colourful events, and there are a number of places and times that are not to be missed. They start with the Republic Day Festival in Delhi each January – elephants, a procession and military might with Indian princely splendour are the order of the day. Also early in the year is the Desert Festival in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. September/October is the time to head for the hills to see the delightful Festival of the Gods in Kullu. This is part of the Dussehra Festival, which is at its most spectacular in Mysore. November is the time for the huge and colourful Camel Festival at Pushkar in Rajasthan.

India has more than its share of forts to tell of its violent history. The Red Fort in Delhi is one of the most impressive, but Agra Fort is an equally massive reminder of Mughal power at its height. Those built by the French, Dutch and Danes are, regrettably, largely in ruins, although the ruins also have a certain appeal.

India is rich in reminders of its religious heritage and past rulers. Tamil Nadu has probably more Hindu temples than any other state - including Sri Meenakshi, Lepakshi, Nagore and Nataraja - although no part of the country is without some focus for worshippers. Other notable temples are Elephants near Mumbai, Amritsar's Sikh Golden Temple, the Sun Temple in Orissa and Dilwara in Rajasthan.

Culture

Hinduism is India's major religion and is practised by approximately 80% of the population. In terms of the number of adherents, it's the largest religion in Asia and one of the world's oldest extant faiths. Hinduism is not a proselytising religion since you cannot be converted: you're either born a Hindu or you're not. There are more than 100 million Muslims in India, making it one of the largest Muslim nations on earth. Muslim influence in India is particularly strong in the fields of architecture, art and food.

India is as close as the world comes to Babel. There is no 'Indian' language, which is partly why English is still widely spoken almost half a century after the British left India. Eighteen languages are officially recognised by the constitution, but over 1600 minor languages and dialects were listed in the 1991 census. Language is a heavily politicised issue and major efforts have been made to promote Hindi as the national language and to gradually phase out English.

Indian art is basically religious in its themes and developments, and its appreciation requires at least some background knowledge of the country's faiths. The highlights include classical Indian dance, Hindu temple architecture and sculpture, the military and urban architecture of the Mughals, miniature painting, and mesmeric Indian music. The latter is difficult for visitors to appreciate since there is no sense of harmony in the Western sense.

Not all Hindus are officially vegetarians, although you will find vegetarians everywhere. Strict vegetarianism is most prevalent in the south and in the Gujarati community. There are considerable regional variations from north to south, partly because of climatic conditions and partly because of historical influences. In the north, much more meat is eaten and the cuisine is often 'Mughal style'. The emphasis is more on spices and less on chilli; grains and breads are more popular than rice. In the south, more rice is eaten, there is more vegetarian food, and the curries tend to be hotter. Another feature of southern eating, is that you do not use utensils! Just scoop the food up with your fingers - athough not with those of your left hand.

Local_Currency

Currency exchange: Currency can only be changed at banks or authorised money changers.
Credit cards: Access/Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: These are widely accepted and may be changed at banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Transport

The Indian Railways system is legendary and an Indian rail travel is unlike any other sort of travel on earth. At times rail travel can be uncomfortable and very frustrating, but it's also a part of the Indian travel experience.

Buses vary widely from state to state, although there is often a choice of buses on the main routes - ordinary, express, semi-luxe, deluxe, deluxe air-con and even deluxe sleeper. Government buses are supplemented by private operators on many routes. Private buses tend to be faster, more expensive and more comfortable which can make a lot of sense on longer jaunts, although general bus travel is generally crowded, cramped, slow and uncomfortable.

You can hire a car and driver very easily. Cars are usually rented on a daily basis and come with a limited number of kilometres per day. If you're planning a long trip, it's wise to go for a short spin with your prospective driver just in case you don't like his braking ability.

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