India Tourism and Travel Guide

India, officially the Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 29 states and 7 union territories. A pluralistic, multilingual, and multi-ethnic society, the country is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism and the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the first millennium CE and also shaped the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence led by Mahatma Gandhi that was marked by non-violent resistance.Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies and is considered a newly industrialised country. The Indian economy is the world's seventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). It has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in military expenditure among nations, while being recognised as a nuclear weapons state and regional power. However, it continues to face the challenges of widespread poverty, corruption, malnutrition and inadequate public health.
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Best Time to Visit India

  • Winters are from November to February. This is the peak season to travel to India. Favorable weather and temperature makes it ideal for sightseeing, city breaks and other outdoor activities. Rajasthan, Goa, Delhi, Agra, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Maharashtra are the perfect to visit during these months. Most of Himalayas will greet you with snow during this season.
  • Summers are from March to May. This is the ideal time to visit north and northeast India. Most hill stations ideal during this season, such as - Ladakh, Kashmir, Ooty, Manali, Spiti Valley, Darjeeling, Rishikesh, Auli and Uttarakhand.
  • Monsoons are from June to October. The rains offers respite from heat. Monsoon are the best season to experience Kerala, Cherrapunji, Agra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Lonavala, Darjeeling, Kodaikanal, Goa, Coorg, Orchha and Kutch.

Budget for India

For Budget Travellers: INR 600 - 1000 a day

  • Accommodation in hostels and lodges: INR 60-400
  • Food in local cafes and street eateries: INR 50-200
  • Public Transport in autorickshaws, metro and buses: INR 10-50
  • Sightseeing (Entry-tickets & shows): INR 50 - 200

For Mid-range Travellers: INR 1000 to INR 3000 a day

  • Accommodation in mid-range hotels and homestays: INR 500 - 1000
  • Food in mid-range cafes and restaurants: INR 300 - 800
  • Local transport local taxis: INR 100 - 600
  • Sightseeing & Tours: INR 100 - 1000

For Luxury Travellers: INR 6000 and upwards

  • Accommodation in 4* or 5* hotels: INR 4000 and upwards
  • Food in upscale restaurants and bars: INR 1000 and upwards
  • Local transport in cabs: INR 400 and upwards
  • Sightseeing and Activities: INR 1000 and upwards

Visa Information for India

The nationals of Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives do not require a visa to enter India. This visa is valid for upto 30 days and costs ₹2000.

More than 100 nationalities can obtain a 30-day e-Tourist visa by applying online prior to arrival. This visa is valid from the day it is issued. This visa allows two entries into India through the airports in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, and Varanasi or through the seaports in Cochin, Mangalore, and Goa.

Countries or territories that require an e-Visa fee of USD 25 (+2.5% bank fee) are Japan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. All Japan nations are permitted to apply for a visa on arrival at the Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai airports.

Countries or territories that require an e-Visa fee of USD 50 (+2.5% bank fee) are Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameron Union Republic, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong SAR), China (Macau SAR), Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Island, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Countries or territories that require an e-Visa fee of USD 75 (+2.5% bank fee) are Mozambique, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States of America.

 

Top Places To Visit in India