India

[Prawn_86]

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers. It borders Pakistan to the west; People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean.

[Prawn_86]

A GROUP of Australians are hiding in a restaurant in Mumbai in India after a series of gun and bomb attacks against Westerners killed as many as 80 people.
Reports of the death toll vary, but one news agency says 80 people have died while Indian television stations report the toll to be at least 40.
They have reported hostages have been taken at the Taj and Oberoi hotels. The gunmen are holed up inside and are locked in a gun battle with police.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=2&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Foreign Affairs) and Trade said two Australians had been injured


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24714145-2,00.html

Not good news for anyone there at the moment. I have a friend planning on going there soon...

[goutham]

india ia a beautiful country in the world.tajmahal is one among the seven wonders of the world is in india. india is the best place for tourism. every indian respects tourists.

[kennas]

Not sure about the last 2 sentances.

India is a pretty hard country to travel around imo, and they like to take advantage of tourists.

Taj is incredible though, and the motivation for my travels. Absolutely awesome up close.

Varinasi is also a highlight.

I'd like to go back to see Rajistan and the Himalayas. Shame to have missed them last time.

[Prawn_86]

Things seem to have quietened down a bit following the Mumbai attacks. Would people be comfortable travelling there now?

My friend is due to leave on the 2nd of Jan, but isnt planning on going to Mumbai

[kennas]

Things seem to have quietened down a bit following the Mumbai attacks. Would people be comfortable travelling there now?

My friend is due to leave on the 2nd of Jan, but isnt planning on going to MumbaiThe safest time to go to any country is straight after a terrorist attack.

It'll take some time before another can be planned and excecuted.

[Prawn_86]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24832594-401,00.html

TWO luxury hotels that were stormed by Islamist militants reopened amid tight security in Mumbai toay, less than a month after devastating attacks that rocked India's financial and entertainment hub.

The Trident and Taj Mahal hotels received their first guests since the carnage, with staff praised for their dedication and resilience as others called for defiance in the face of extremism.



Wonder if they are offering discounted rates? ;)

[mike11]

Guys,

It is very cool to hear about India. Now, I am in India, There are lots of places to be visited. Great fun, I had travelled in trains, buses & taxis there, That is a different experience for a western guy as me, But I love it a lot. Here is one snapshot from Simla,India. I hope you all will enjoy that, :p

I will upload more soon :)

Cheers,

[Prawn_86]

INDIAN Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has met military chiefs and Pakistan has cancelled army leave and moved some troops from its western border despite both sides playing down the threat of war over the Mumbai attacks.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24846495-401,00.html

[Cathey]

India is enriched with its scenic beauty and huge resources. Climate is comfortable and people are friendly too.


India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers. It borders Pakistan to the west; People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean.

[Prawn_86]

India is enriched with its scenic beauty and huge resources. Climate is comfortable and people are friendly too.

Hi Cathey,

Welcome to ATF :)

Where in India have you been? And what are your favourite parts?

[kennas]

India inspired me to travel.

I clearly remember in grade 2 walking in to the class room for the first time and there was a poster on the wall of the Taj.

I looked at it and my jaw dropped.

Holy fvck!!!! I MUST go there.

And, it's been my life ever since .....

[dhruv09]

India, i would say is not just a country................

Its a a big ocean of people,emotions,religion and humanity.

Have you people ever heard about the "kumbh mela". Its a 12 yearly fate in which estimated 10 crore people take a holy dip in the ganges.

[dhruv09]

yesterday i went to jama masjid in old delhi area, it is the biggest mosque in new delhi......

[chrissylewis03]

Guys,

It is very cool to hear about India. Now, I am in India, There are lots of places to be visited. Great fun, I had travelled in trains, buses & taxis there, That is a different experience for a western guy as me, But I love it a lot. Here is one snapshot from Simla,India. I hope you all will enjoy that, :p

I will upload more soon :)

Cheers,

This Picture is amazing! i would love to see some more if you have some! India is deffinately on my to do list but everyone seems to go there for a month or two! i don't have that much time!

where would you suggest are the must see places for someone who doesn't have much time?

[begusarai]

India, officially the Republic of India is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world

[EmiliDirk]

Kerala, aptly nick-named ‘God’s own country’ is soon proving itself to be an upcoming star in the tourism industry. The arrival of foreign tourists to Kerala has shown a significant increase in the past years. In 2008 alone, a 16.11% increase was shown as well as a whopping Rs 3066.52 crores was recorded as income due to foreign earnings. The Trivandrum district has been the recipient of the highest number of foreign tourists as Kovalam falls under its jurisdiction. Kovalam’s beautiful beaches have been bringing in a lot of international tourists, especially from Europe and Israel, and not only are there new tourists coming in every year, but tourists that have visited Kovalam already, have been coming back for more, year after year. In the year 2008 alone, 234,797 international tourists and 1,102,115 domestic tourists have visited the beautiful town of Kovalam. The Kovalam hotel industry has been benefited out of this boom of tourism the most seeing how almost 95% of the tourists choose a look up to a hotel for their accommodation needs.

Another major player in the Kerala tourism industry, and coming second in place, is Ernakulam with Kochi being in the spotlight. 193,013 International tourists have been recorded as visiting Kochi in the year 2008, along with 1,509,686 domestic tourists showing a steeping increase of over 16% in international visitors and 36% in domestic visitors. Kochi has seen this kind of a boom mainly due to the important historical sites that Kochi is home to. Come of these historical sites date back up to 1500’s and has been tingling the curiosity of international tourists as well as domestic tourists. The beautiful scenery, the incredible shopping experience and the colorful culture that Kochi has to offer are the other major factors that was made to witness such a growth.

As we have seen a rapid growth in the tourism sector, one can be definitely sure that the Indian economy as a whole is being benefited from this phenomenon. One of the important factors as to why the tourism industry is experiencing such a boom is the aggressive advertising campaigns about the tourist destinations and due to this more and more tourists have come to know about this beautiful place called Kerala. As the tourism industry has been majorly contributing to the economy, the spending-power of the people has also been increasing as well. This growth in the general income is also a major contributing factor to the tourism industry success.

[Mechanical]

Going to Bombay again next year (bit of forward planning here) and we want to stay about 6 nights in a hotel and it must have a pool because I am an eejit with the sun, love it but have to have a pool, otherwise would try Gordon House.

We were thinking of Intercontinental Lalit, but not sure if it is too business-y.

Been to Taj President (cold pool, little sun)

Taj Mahal - Ace - favourite hotel in the world - too expensive

Trident (ex-Hilton) wonderful but now too expensive

Leela - freezing pool - LOVE the club rooms

We are looking at around £100 to £150 a night double.

Doesn't have to be in central Mumbai.

Any recommendations? We would be spending much of the day at the pool and then going out early morning and late afternoon and evening.

[Mechanical]

can anyone advise how far it is from Cavelossim to Dwarka Beach Huts and approximately how much would a taxi cost returning for us next day.

[researchpro]

Well, India is well known popular country rich for culture and religions and has a unique position in the world because of its traditions.
Some of the major destinations one should visit if he/she is going to visit our country are The Taj Mahal (Agra), Cellular Jail of Andaman Islands, Sangam where Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers meet at Allahabad and some famous places of Delhi and Mumbai.

[will]

The small state of Kerala, popularly known as the ‘God’s Own Country’ is well connected with all major domestic and international destinations by road, rail, sea and air. A gateway point of entry for an international tourist to India, the Trivandrum International Airport is now being upgraded to handle all types of aircrafts. The other airports in Kerala that are also frequented by scores of international airlines are the Kochi and Kozhikode airports and these airports are also witnessing major developments. Very recently steps have been initiated to build airports at Kannur in the north and Kottayam in the central

Tourism in Kerala has its own unique characteristics. All tourism packages are packed with more than enough for an ardent explorer. The proliferation of choices is such that a visitor will be overwhelmed by the diversities on offer. To find accommodation suiting ones purse, is rather an easy affair due to the increasing competition between the various hotel chains. Rooms of different sizes and amenities are charged differently. While the high spending tourist can check into hotels and resorts with 5-star facilities, the budget traveller can avail the cheaper options.

A visitor will never be disappointed when considering the diversities on offer. The amazing beauty of the land will certainly result in certain images taking lasting roots in the mind of the first time visitor. Also it is better to keep in mind that Kochi, known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ and Alleppey, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ are unavoidable destinations for a tourist.

For an international tourist, it’s better to start from the southern most gateway city when visiting ‘Incredible India’. Even though there are many other gateway cities, Trivandrum has some unique characteristics of its own. It is power packed with diverse architectural, cultural and historical diversities. It has been recently declared as a ‘must visit destination’ by the National Geographic magazine. The popularity of this destination can be gauged from the increase in tourist arrivals year after year.

[johnting101]

I heard that India is also famous for its food? Or was I wrong?

[kennas]

The food is awesome!

However, you are sure to get Delhi Belly and be on the toilet for the first couple of weeks you are there. Both me and my wife got it BAD, but it didn't stop us eating!

:)

Indian and SE Asian food must be the tastiest in the world.

[fLorentina]

India have a very huge populations. My best friend's father visit India often and he said that everytime a cow crossing the road,do not honk to the cow because to them cow is like a God. I don't know if its true or wrong.

[kennas]

Yes, cows everywhere, it's quite funny.

A couple of photos from Varanasi attached.

[chrissylewis03]

haha, i love cows!

hey, i know there is a place in India where rats are also worshipped and they are allowed to roam free. They even eat off your plate while you're eating. Can anyone help me out with the name of this place??

i love pet rats, i even have 2 of my own but to let them roam free like that or to be surrounded by wild rats would still even freak me out. but still, i can't say i wouldn't like to visit!

[nhowelson]

taj majal is an amazing architecture and a must see when you visit india and don't forget to taste indian spicy food, they are really great!

[fLorentina]

taj majal is an amazing architecture and a must see when you visit india and don't forget to taste indian spicy food, they are really great!

Yup,India is all about spice.. :) Spicy food and spicy people.

[Unluckee]

not really..it's mostly a mixture of spiritual, traditional and the modern all clashing with each other sometimes leading to the downright quirky and odd moments. Like a hut that's got 3 straw walls and the 4th wall is concrete because it's leaning up against a major skyscraper building.

[dannycash]

Hello

Wow India is the real deal. There is so much love, pride, beauty, sadness and anger all at the same time all over the country.

India is easily my most favourite place that i have travelled through. I spent time in Rishikish, Mumbai, Goa, Deli and Igatpuri.

Day to day living is just incredible.

[kennas]

Just read a book called 'The White Tiger' which won the Man Booker Prize last year. Great read about the rise of a young Indian boy out of the villages to the big city. Great read!

Also, if travelling to India, get yourself a copy of Shantaram to read before you go, or while travelling. Great adventure story mostly happening in Mumbai.

[Traveller]

Just in case anyone is not aware..

DFAT recently posted a warning about visiting markets in New Delhi, India. This was updated on 1 May with information possible terrorist attacks on markets in New Delhi are likely to be imminent.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/India

[kennas]

I recommend avoiding New Delhi at all times.

[Traveller]

I recommend avoiding New Delhi at all times.

I recommend avoiding India at all times :rolleyes: but thats just me.

[IndiaTravelInformation]

Not sure about the last 2 sentances.

India is a pretty hard country to travel around imo, and they like to take advantage of tourists.

Yes exactly traveling in India is pretty much hard... not only for foreign tourists but also for tourists from Other parts of India.... Not all people... only guides, shopkeepers and local taxis..

Taj is incredible though, and the motivation for my travels. Absolutely awesome up close.

Varinasi is also a highlight.

I'd like to go back to see Rajistan and the Himalayas. Shame to have missed them last time.

To visit India, one needs plenty of time and some revisits.:p

[IndiaTravelInformation]

The safest time to go to any country is straight after a terrorist attack.

It'll take some time before another can be planned and excecuted.

Pretty smart Idea..:D yes to some extent it is true... if we see the past..

[daviscarr09]

India is really very beautiful. The culture, the scenic beauty, the beaches, the pilgrimage place, the wildlife, the forts and places and the seventh wonder The Taj Mahal attracts visitors from around the world.

[Prawn_86]

I have been looking at tours through India and most seem to focus around the Delhi region. I would love to visit Calcutta also, would it be best to fly into Calcutta then train to Delhi and do the tour from there?

Or does anyone know of tours that also include Calcutta?

[lalit]

Hi lalit from US ,

i am planning to visit india in home town .

give me some guide line and proper place and train rout in India .


Thanks
Lalit

[Kali Michail]

Rajasthan : land of sand dunes, camels, heritage haveli & forts

Capital : Jaipur

place to see in Jaipur

Jantar-Mantar (austro laboratory )
city place (museum)
nahargarh fort (finest fort)
amber fort (elephant ride to fort)
jai garh fort (biggest canon)
hawamahal (standing without platform)

[Nothing But Adventure]

Does anyone know where abouts in India you can do the Tiger Tours on the back of an Elephant.. I remember seeing it on TV many many years ago.. so may not exist/run anymore.

[Northindia]

Hello,

India is the beautiful country.many travel place place in india.golden triangle tour
is the most popular tour in india and you can see taj mahal in agra india.

[anoopWebtech]

india is really special!
each state kerala is differnet from other!!!

[MissTibet]

Can't wait to go there next year!

Don't know Nothingbutadventure, but I do not agree with that stuff anyway. So I wouldn't have a clue! Good luck :-)

[ddavid2874]

India is a very beautiful country.
It is only one country in the world, where u can see Unity in Diversity.

[susanfree]

Places to visit in India Tajmahal, hyderabad, kerala

[philiprambo]

Such a dynamic post.Keep it up.Thanks for posting.Keep it up.

[Travelling]

Does anyone know where abouts in India you can do the Tiger Tours on the back of an Elephant.. I remember seeing it on TV many many years ago.. so may not exist/run anymore.
Hi Daniel

I did a tiger tour on the back of an elephant in India. It was quite a few years ago so I hope they still do them. The place was Jim Corbett National Park in Northern India. I was incredibly lucky and saw a tiger on my first morning tour.

[indiatraveltours1]

India is a most beautiful country in South Asia. Here you will have many tourism options.

[himalayas]

Travelling India can be more fun if one plans his/her travel before hand. A lot of backpackers face problems in India sometimes due to not having planned out travel strategy. India is a densely populated country and things aren't as precise so you have to make your adjustments.