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India

A visit to India is an extraordinary experience, a voyage that provokes the mind and enchants the senses. India lies in South Asia, between Pakistan, China, and Nepal. The country’s 28 states hold virtually every kind of landscape from snow-capped mountains to deserts and palm-fringed beaches.

India’s civilization is an amalgam of the Vedic, Islamic, and Western streams and the monuments, sculptures and paintings bear testimony to the national ethos for harmony and diversity. In a country as diverse and complex as India, it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian. Traveling through the country is not just a journey but an experience of a lifetime.

Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography, from the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated peninsula of the South; the deserts of the West to the humid deltas of the East; and the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest foothills. The food, clothing and habits of Indian people differ in accordance to the place of origin. Above all, India is a country, which has to be experienced from the first Namaste (hello) to the last good-bye!

10 Things to do

Adventure Sports: Experience the snow-clad peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows and ski slopes, beautiful valleys, meandering and roaring rivers, gushing waterfalls, thick forests rich in wildlife, swampy deltas, long coastlines and magical moonscapes of India. Due to India’s diverse terrain, a plethora of adventure sports are recommended including white water rafting, kayaking, diving, trekking, biking, and skiing.

Architecture: Stand in awe in front of the Taj Mahal and marvel at this jewel of Muslim art – one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Local Transportation: Journey through India on local transportation and feel the true pulse of the country from hand-pull rickshaws that are still available in Kolkata to luxury trains like the Golden Chariot in Karnataka.

Eco-Tourism: Trek to the Valley of the Flowers near Nanda Devi National Park and witness the meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. The Valley of the Flowers is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear, and blue sheep.

Golden Triangle: Travel to the Golden Triangle whose points are represented by the cities of Delhi an historical gateway into India, Agra which is home to the majestic Taj Mahal, and Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, due to its red sandstone buildings. This trip is an evergreen favorite route for visitors to India with additional side trips to palaces and historic temples.

Beaches of India: Soak in the sun on the emerald waters of Kerala or travel to the Andaman Islands and surround yourself with coral reefs that are ideal for water sports and relaxation.

Lord Sacred Sites: Visit the Patna Museum, established by the British in 1917, which houses more than 50,000 rare and valuable antiquities and art objects. The most prized possession here is the Holy Relic Casket containing the sacred ashes of the Buddha.

Shopping: Shop at Nalli’s, one of the oldest silk stores in Chennai, which sells some of India’s most beautiful saris.

Wellness: For eternal youth, practice yoga on the river Ganga or visit the Char Dham of Garwal, the four most hallowed shrines dedicated to the female deites, Ganga and Yamuna.

Wildlife: Observe and listen to the sounds of a majestic elephant, a peacock’s dance, the stride of a camel, the roar of a tiger which makes for an unparalleled jeep safari in Rajasthan and Karnataka

BEST TIME TO VISIT

India is a pleasure to visit during the cooler months between October and March. At this time, the heat of the summer is gone and tourism becomes an enjoyable affair. Rajasthan’s dry and arid land is more bearable in the winter months. The months of March to May are hot and humid in most parts of the country and unbearable for most visitors. This is the time to take off to the hills and see another facet of this fascinating country. March to May and September and November are months for trekking in the Himalayas. So, if you have plans to do serious mountain climbing or take part in some adventure sports, plan your trip to India around this time.

ANNUAL EVENTS

The colorful mosaic of Indian festivals and fairs is an eternal expression of the spirit of celebrations and are key aspects of India’s cultural heritage. The festivities, spread over the year, offer an opportunity to see and experience the culture of the country. Every season brings along new festivals including birthdays of Gods and Goddesses, saints and prophets, great historical happenings, and the advent of the New Year.

Hindu Holi Festival – Holi, the Spring Festival of India, is a festival of colors celebrated in March or April of each year. The liveliest of all Hindu festivals, Holi heralds the end of the winter and celebrates harvesting of the winter crop. North India, in particular, goes wild, with people smearing brightly hued powders on each other and squirting each other with colored water from pichkaris. Diwali -

Diwali Festival is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word 'Deepavali', which means 'rows of lights', also known as the “Festival of Lights.” Divali falls on a new moon day in the month of October or November and celebrations are spread over five days throughout India.

Gandhi Jayanti – Celebrated in early October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated with reverence all over the country. Gandhi is the man who played a significant role in achieving independence for India from the British Empire with his simplicity and strong will power.

SIGNATURE FOODS

Tandoori Chicken - Spring chicken on the bone marinated in yogurt with tandoori spices and barbecued in a clay oven.

Chicken Tikka - Diced chicken pieces marinated in yogurt with spices and barbecued in a clay oven.

Samosa - Deep fried pastry triangles filled with meat or vegetables.

Palak Paneer - Fresh spinach with home made cheese in a creamy sauce.

Aloo Gobi - Sliced potatoes cooked with cauliflower.

King Prawn Shashlick - King prawns lightly spiced, marinated with green peppers, onion, tomatoes, and barbecued in a clay oven.

Click Here to Visit India's Culinary Page

TOP BUYS

	Jewelry (Silver, gold, modern and traditional)
	Handicrafts (blue pottery, papier-mâché, sandalwood carvings)
	Carpets from Kashmir
	Saris

FUN FACT

India produces more feature-length movies than any other country in the world. Bollywood, the Indian film industry, produces over 800 films each year. That's more than double the number of feature films produced in the United States.

KEY WORDS

	Hi!	Namaste!
	Good morning!	Suprabhaat
	Good evening!	Shubh sundhyaa
	Welcome!	Aapka swaagat hai!
	How are you?	Aap kaisey hain?
	I'm fine, thanks!	Mein theek hoon, shukriya!
	Thank you (very much)!	Shukriyaa (Bahut dhanyavaad)
	Excuse me	Kshama keejeeae
	Do you speak (English/ Hindi)?	Kyaa aap (angrézee/hindi) mein baat kar saktey hain?
	What's your name?	Aapka naam kyaa hai?
	My name is ...	Meraa naam …hai

FAQ

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	Chicken Sandwich	$3.25
	Dinner for two	$10.00
	Cab ride from airport to town	$7.00
	Local subway/train	$0.50
	Souvenir tee shirt	$2.00
	30-minute massage at a local spa	$10.00
	A bus tour around the city	$7.00
	Souvenir Gift	$10.00

New Delhi Weather Forecast, India

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