The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, china & Nepal. To the north it is bordered by the world's highest mountain chain, where foothill valleys cover the north most of the country is 29 states. Side by side with the country staging topographical variations is its cultural diversity, the result of the coexistence of a number of religions as well as local tradition. In the extreme north is the high attitude desert of Ladakh, local culture is visibly is shaped by the faith- Buddhism as well as by the harsh terrain, Indian culture is observed in the colorful tribal lifestyles of the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura & Manipur with their folk culture.

Indian mountains provides us hail skiing,river running mountaineering and trekking. Its beaches provide lazy sunbathing as well as wind surfing and snorkeling and its jungles provide shooting wildlife-with a camera.

Features of India are ayurveda, art & culture, pilgrimage, religion & cult, fashion & beauty, fair, festival, cinema society history and legend. These all things make India best and different from other country.

Tourist come to India for its wealth of sights, cultural embrace, diversity, of terrain and in search of that special something an extra punch that only India promises and delivers teeming with over a billion people who voice over a billion people who voice over a million concern in fifteen hundred different languages.

All visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least to 6 months. Visa exemptions include:

1. Bhutanese and Nepalese visitors can stay for less than 3 months.

2. Nationals from the Maldives can stay for a maximum of two days.

3. Transit passengers have follow on ticket within 72 hours of arrival as long as they cannot go to leave the airport.

Special instructions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals. It is always wise to check updated visa requirements prior to travel. How do I get there? By air:-

Major gateways include; Indira Gandhi international airport in new Delhi, Chennai international -20 km from city, Chhatarpati Shivaji

By rail:-

Railways do not cut across international borders in this part of the world except understanding. Express that runs between Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan). However, in many cases it is possible to travel until the border by train. By road:-

Except the Lahore-Delhi bus (4 times in a week), there are no cross borders coach services. It is possible to drive into India with the requisite paperwork in order. Even driving in from Nepal now requires a permit. Permits may arrange through the Indian embassy in your country.

By sea:-

Several international cruise lines include stopovers at Indian ports. The popular destinations are Goa, Mumbai, Kochi, Kezhikode, Calcutta and Chennai. There are no regular passenger services; the services between Rameshwaram (Tamilnadu) and Srilanka has been identifying suspended. Travel by water is not popular but there are ships to the Andaman's from Calcutta, Chennai, and Vishakha Putnam, backwater cruises in converted rice boats called Kettuvatams are a delight in the lazy lagoons of Kerala. They can purchase at major through travel agents. Advance, reservations are necessary because this is a first come, first serve service. Where do I stay?

There is enough variety in tourist accommodation in India for the visitor always finds comfort; degrees of luxury through will be directly proportionate to the degree of the depth of your pocket. Hotels are grading on the star system-5 star being fully air-conditioned, with a coffee shop, multiple specialist's restaurants, pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, health center, in house shopping and all the razzmatazz. Down to hostels, ashrams and public works guesthouses; dormitory style living with rationed hot water (just about enough for a decent shave), no smoking and no drinking restrictions and curfew.

About the Author

swati gupta