|
Travelling in India
Most visitors to India visit the "Golden Triangle" formed by the ancient cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, the seat of the various empires that have ruled India through the centuries and home to world famous symbols from history - including the Taj Mahal - the world's most beautiful building. But venture away from these mainstream attractions and you'll find another India opening up before you.
Explore the spiritualism of the Ganges and Varanasi - the site of pilgrimage for Hindus and see where Buddha achieved enlightenment at the city of Bodhgaya, replete with temples from all the Buddhist countries of Asia. In Mumbai and Calcutta you have modern cities that offer a counterpoint to this wealth of history. Both offer glimpses of the new India, crowded and chaotic but with a boundless energy.
Elsewhere in the country you can find some of the world's most beautiful beaches. The coastal town of Goa in the Southwest, with its palm-fringed sands is justifiably famous and offers a European ambience retained from its days as a Portuguese colony. Head away from the hedonistic resorts for the solitude and aching beauty of the National Parks, found all over the sub-continent and home to the magnificent animals that roam freely - including the Indian elephant, the great rhino and the rare but majestic Bengal tiger. The rainy plateaux of Assam, the northern plains and the uplands of the Himalayas, the roof of the world, offer their own natural attractions, charming regions of lush green scenery and snowy mountain peaks respectively. Take one of the great train journeys that cross this country and you will travel through regions of enormous diversity, connecting cities of great historical importance.
|
|
India by turns can be frustrating, frenetic and dirty, but it is also endlessly fascinating, an ever-changing and incomprehensible wealth of experience. The spice may not be to everybody's tastes but if it appeals, you'll be hooked.
Transport
India's transport infrastructure is an effective combination of variety and ingenuity. The extensive rail network covers all the main routes between cities, while the bus industry covers the gaps in between. River boats are another viable option - and certainly the most picturesque - while flying naturally represents the most efficient way to cover large distances. Driving a rental car or one's own vehicle remains an ill-advised option for all but the most intrepid visitors.
Destinations in India
Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai is a remarkable city that you are unlikely to warm to immediately, in fact it's much more likely that you'll get hot under the collar: it is a chaotic place whose charms are hardly ever apparent on short acquaintance. The city is a fascinating and frenetic introduction to India. It demonstrates all that is captivating about this remarkable territory in one city, with symbols of ancient culture swallowed up by a vast modern metropolis against the backdrop of British colonialism. Hence the red double-decker buses, the Victorian architecture and its place as India's spiritual home of cricket, the sub-continent's favourite sport.
Read more about Mumbai
Delhi
As the capital of India, Delhi, as you might expect, can boast some of the best attractions found in any of the country's cities. The modern city is replete with theatres, museums (including the excellent National Museum), art galleries and restaurants, while elsewhere the sights of the city represent a time line of the country's history.
Read more about Delhi
Varanasi
Naturally there are many places to visit along the Ganges, but the most famous and holiest of sites is Varanasi (Banaras). Although most of the city today is modern in construction, Varanasi dates back some 3,000 years and is the centre of the worship of Shiva. The Jnana Vapi ("Well of Wisdom") here is believed to have been dug by the deity, while the 18th-century Golden Temple of Viswanath demonstrates the unwavering faith in the Ganges and Shiva that spans thousands of years.
Read more about Varanasi
|
|
Agra -Taj Mahal
At the centre of an exquisite garden on the outskirts of Agra, the Taj Mahal is considered one of the wonders of the present world, and is certainly one of the most recognisable. President Clinton famously said that the world's population was divided into two halves: "those that had seen the Taj Mahal and those that hadn't". Few people want to visit India without making the effort to visit this stately structure.
Read more about Agra
Amritsar and the Golden Temple
Amritsar way up in the north-west of the country is one of India's oldest cities. It was once the pre-eminent city in the Orient, with its border location meaning that it was ideally situated to take advantage of the lucrative spice trade. The city still displays many examples of this wealth in its fabulous public buildings and palaces.
Goa and the Beaches of India
Goa is one of India's most popular destinations for foreign tourists and when you visit it isn't hard to see why. Although India isn't everyone's immediate idea of a sun, sea and sand holiday, Goa can rival places such as Hawaii for sheer brilliance in the beach stakes; the palm-fringed sands here are absolutely stunning.
Read more about Goa
|
