India

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Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Taxis and auto-rickshaws are available in large cities and fares are charged by the kilometer.

Most of the drivers can understand English, though not all can speak English.

A metro system is operational in Kolkata.

A metro system was opened in Delhi in 2004. It is spreading its network to reach sub-urban districts like NOIDA, Gurgoan and Faridabad.

Maps of urban networks

Map of Kolkata Metro available on the site of Metro Railways Kolkata
Map of Delhi Metro available on the site of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

Transportation from Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car rental
Mumbai - Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl (BOM)	37 km / 23 miles	INR 475	INR 50-60 / 60-90 min		Available
Calcutta - Dum Dum (CCU)	17 km / 11 miles	INR 135-200 / 40-120 min	INR 8	INR 2-6	Available
Delhi - Indira Gandhi Intl (DEL)	15 km / 9 miles	INR 220 / 30-60 min	INR 50		Available

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Air routes connects over 70 cities.
There are also ships from Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras) to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands( Shipping Corporation of India). and from Kochi and Calicut to the Lakshadweep Islands.

There is a catamaran service from Mumbai (Bombay) to Goa.

The Indian internal railway system covers much of the country and is relatively inexpensive.
An extensive network of bus services connects all parts of the country.

A large number of chauffeur-driven tourist cars are available in the main tourist centers.

Rail companies

Indian Railways

Airlines

You can consult the list of airlines banned within the EU. Look also the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

One must be very cautious when driving because of the bad condition of the roads and chaotic character of the traffic.
Driving around India is not recommended. Moreover self-drive cars are not generally available in the country. It is recommended to have a licensed and experienced local driver who has a "feel" for local roads and driving conditions.
The third party insurance liability is compulsory.

Road maps

Maps of India
India Maps

Find an itinerary

Make my trip
Journey Mark

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Delhi: testimony of the Muslim time.
Agra: testimony of the Moghols times: the Taj Mahal and the fort of Agra. The Taj Mahal, became the tourist symbol of India.
Goa: Former Portuguese enclave on the Western coast, gained its tourist reputation in the 60s, at the height of the hippy period.

Cultural

Rich cultural heritage and an element of mysticism. Various fairs and festivals: Pushkar fair, Taj Mahotsav, and Suraj Kund mela. Rajasthan, Udaipur (the most romantic city). Is famous to be the centre of theater, dance, painting and art craft activities. Some Indian sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, consult the website Unesco

Nature

Rich forest cover with some beautiful and exotic species of wildlife: Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, and Corbett National Park.

For ecotourism in India, tourists can go to places such as Kaziranga National Park, Gir National Park, and Kanha National Park.

Religious

Vaishno Devi, Golden temple, Char Dham, and Mathura Vrindavan.

Varanasi (formerly Bénarès): the holiest of the holy cities. The Indian pilgrims come to bath in the waters of the Ganges, supposed to wash all the sins. The most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat; you will be able to attend cremations, but leave your cameras in your hotel. Go sit down in Dasawamedh Ghat to observe ablutions.

Beach

Variety of beaches : Goa, Kovalam, Puri, Mahabalipuram, and Andaman & Nicobar.

Winter sports

Winter sports in India bring out the best of adventure in Indian outdoors: Skiing, Heli-Skiing, Mountaineering, Ice Climbing etc.

Outdoor activities

Camel safaris, Rock climbing, Trekking, River Rafting, Para Gliding, Camping, Biking & Cycling, Golf.

For trekking: Ladakh, Sikkim, and Himalaya. For skiing: Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir Tourists flock to Uttranchal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh for whitewater rafting . Visit: India Adventure.

Shopping

From the semi precious stone to a trendy leather shoe, Indian market is the ultimate destination for the shoppers around the world.

Tourism organizations

Ministry of Tourism
Dehli Tourism
Tour India
India.Org

Health and safety

Health precautions

No obligatory vaccinations.Vaccinations against Poliomyelitis, Meningococcal meningitis, Rabies, Cholera are recommended.
Risk of malaria exists. Other diseases like Dengue fever are present . H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country.
Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Milk should be boiled incase unpasteurised or otherwise also

.

International hospitals

International hospitals are not allowed to operate directly in India, but some of the private hospitals have tied up with international hospitals for technology & services transfer. Some of the hospitals of international standard operating in India are:
Apollo Hospitals;
Wockhardt Hospitals.

For more details, visit:
Mediescapes.com;
Incredible India.

For further information on sanitary conditions

The World Health Organization web pages devoted to India
The American government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

For further information on safety conditions

The Current Travel Warnings given by the American State Department
Travel Report on India by Canadian Foreign Office

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference

It is %T:%M %A in New Delhi (GMT+5:30)

Summer time period

None