India

The Republic of India is the largest state in South Asia with a population of almost 1.5 billion people. The country covers an area of more than 3 million square kilometers. The capital is the city of New Delhi with a population of more than 1.3 million people.

Despite what India is called a poor country, it is considered a potential superpower possessing nuclear weapons and is part of the UN. In India, there are at least 22 official languages, but Hindi is the state language. Most locals understand English, but speak a language with an accent.

The state is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. Cash currency ‒ rupee. Censuses are conducted every 10 years. According to statistics, India is one of the most multinational countries. There are about 500 ethnic groups.

In Agra there is the Taj Mahal mausoleum, declared one of the 7 wonders of the world. The monument has a romantic halo. One of the best examples of architectural buildings was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her death.

Another famous attraction is the Hampi Temple Complex in Karnataka. In the past, this city was the richest in the country. Its rulers paid a lot of attention to the development of art and culture. The complex, consisting of the abundance of sculptures of Indian deities, belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Buddhists are attracted to Dharamsala in the foothills of the Himalayas. In this place is the residence of the Dalai Lama XIV. Back in 1989, the Supreme Buddhist leader was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peacekeeping. Every year the teachings of His Holiness are held.

Goa is located in northwestern India. This is the main resort of India. Tourists love to winter here. It’s not cold in the country at this time of year, there is never snow. The beach area occupies 110 kilometers, it is called the state hallmark. Goa is struck by the diversity of nature, consisting of rivers, lakes, islands and waterfalls. There are many spice and jungle plantations. In the evenings, incendiary discos in the open air take place.

Researchers call the prehistoric settlers of India proto-Australoids. Later, Mongols, Greeks, Turks, Afghans joined the country. The British and French also left their mark on history.

India is considered the birthplace of ancient Indian civilization. Due to its geographical location, the country has become the center of trade routes. Already in the 1st century, trade was held with Rome. Currently, the major partners in the field of trade are the United States, China, the Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism are adhered to in the state. In the first millennium, people professed Christianity and Islam. Many temples have been installed in the country. When visiting most of them, you need to take off your shoes as a sign of respect. You also need to be modestly dressed and be in a sober state.

In the XVIII and XIX centuries, the British Empire colonized India. Only in 1947 was she able to gain long-awaited independence. The political leader Mahatma Gandhi made a great contribution. He began his career as a lawyer and actively fought against racial and social inequality. In his activities he practiced non-violent methods. 5 times he was nominated for the Nobel Prize, but he was never awarded a reward. Later, the Nobel Committee regretted this.

In the second half of the last century, neighboring states began to argue over the borders of the conquered territories. The issue with China is still unresolved. Because of this, there was a short war. In this regard, India also fought with Pakistan. The last conflict with this country was in 2019. Previously seized lands remain controversial. The parties cannot agree.

In general, already in the 20th century, India was called a rapidly developing republic. However, today most of the population lives below the poverty line. The most difficult problems are corruption and an undeveloped health system. But in large cities, highly qualified doctors work. For example, some tourists turn to dentists, as treating teeth in India is cheaper than in other countries.

India is located in the subequatorial belt. Because of this, weather conditions are directly dependent on tropical monsoons. The weather in the states is different from each other. You can plan your trip time and always fall for good weather. It can be represented in the form of a wet and dry tropical or subtropical monsoon and alpine climate.

The forecast of weather forecasters does not always coincide with reality. But the locals have long been used to it. In general, the country is cool from November to February, but at the same time sunny. From March to June it’s hot, but precipitation practically does not fall out. But from July to October, the rainy season lasts. Cherrapunji is considered the rainiest place in the world, where almost 12,000 mm of rainfall per year falls.

It is best to visit India from mid-September to April. Exceptions are mountain stations. In summer, there will always be warm favorable weather, with the exception of the rainy season. Per diem differences are contrasting. For example, if it was cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon, you can walk in a winter jacket at night so as not to freeze.

The nature of India is called one of the richest on Earth. 45 thousand plants grow on the territory of the republic, of which 5 thousand are found only in India. This diversity is explained by climatic conditions. Landscapes are contrasting. Some states have a lot of vegetation, while in others ‒ the land is deserted and arid.

Kashmir in the north of the country is generously covered by forests, alpine meadows and lakes. Punjab in the northwest has fertile lands. Wheat, barley and pros are grown here. South India is represented by granite entities. Delhi has a lot of rice. The territory leading to the foothills of the Himalayas contains forests. Darjeeling and Assam have many tea plantations. On the Malabar coast grow nuts, pepper, rubber, cardamom. Palms bordered the entire coast of Indostan.

In India, 350 species of mammals live, which is 8% of all species on the planet. You can meet bears, Bengal tigers, Asian lions, elephants, deer, wolves. You need to be careful with macaques. They move in packs and can easily take food or a thing they like from a person. A sacred animal is considered a cow. Believing Indians are called Hindus. They worship snakes that are in every city. Zoologists have about 200 species, a quarter of which are poisonous. The king cobra is recognized as the largest snake. The length of her body can reach up to 5 meters. If the snake enters the house, the locals try to remove it without causing harm. If this fails, you can call the caster.

Giant proteins from 80 to 110 centimeters and weighing up to 3 kilograms are at the extinction stage. And the state is taking rescue measures to increase the population of the animal. India has become a monastery for more than 3 thousand species and subspecies of birds. This is 12% feathered on Earth. The most common are ravens, turtledoves, herons and parrots. Peacock hunting is prohibited. In the marriage period, males dissolve their tail in order to attract the attention of females. Their movements resemble dance. In addition to them, more than 20 thousand insects are found.

Indian possessions make up 3.3 million square kilometers. They are divided into more than 700 districts, each of which has its own government. The state ranks seventh in the world in area. It geographically covers the south of Asia and the entire Indostan Peninsula. Nearby are the borders of Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Near the maritime borders are the Maldives, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The geographical location determines the value of the country. Between Orissa and Bihar, iron ore is mined. India is rich in manganese rocks. There are coal reserves in West Bengal. Gold and diamond deposits are concentrated in the southern states. In the central regions there are many ferrous metals. The East is called the oil-producing region.

Rivers make up 77% of India’s water resources. They flow into the Bay of Bengal, which is part of the Indian Ocean. The country is washed by the waters of the Arabian and Lakkadivsky seas. You can get to the republic by plane, train, bus or ferry.

The kitchen in India is not distinguished by unity. Each state has its own culinary traditions. In most areas, they do not eat beef, because the cow is a sacred animal. But if you wish, in big cities you can find beef in stores.

In northern India, lamb dishes are often prepared. Acute meatballs serve in yogurt. In any restaurant you can order rice with chicken, lamb or fish. Instead of bread, they eat unleavened cakes. Most of the population of South India is ‒ vegetarians. The most popular dish is spicy curry from bhujia vegetables. The lentils with curry are called an amba. In the western part, food is prepared from fish and seafood. A signature dish is considered to be curry fish in yogurt. In the east they advise you to try shrimp with coconut.

Common to national cuisine of India is an abundance of vegetables and seasonings. Spices are added even to tea. Local residents love to enhance the taste of food, so they have long been accustomed to the severity of dishes. History says that the Portuguese brought paprika to India. And pepper is generously added to almost all dishes. Also among the popular seasonings ‒ curry, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander and turmeric. The meal is customary to be completed with tropical juices.

Water from crane in India is of poor quality. You can’t drink it, but you can wash fruits and vegetables. It is advisable to rinse your mouth with bottled water in the first 3 days when brushing your teeth in order to mitigate the adaptation process. It is better to always carry water with you to prevent dehydration of the body in hot weather. If cafes and restaurants are far from tourist areas, most likely they will not have free WI-FI and an English menu.

Local residents, especially in the provinces, are very friendly. If you turn to them for help to suggest the way, it is advisable to repeat this question several times, replacing words with synonyms. It is inconvenient for them to ask if they did not understand the first time. And, in order not to offend the guest of the country, out of politeness they indicate the wrong road. At the same time, they do not feel guilty, as they will be sure that the tourist will definitely ask someone else for directions.

Many cities are close to each other. It is more convenient to explore the sights on a rented scooter or motorcycle. Rent is cheap. On the street you can often find tales with the inscription « for rent » in English.

Rental cars with and without a driver are slightly different in price, so many rent a car with a driver. The smaller the car, the cheaper it will cost. The price will also depend on the brand, year of manufacture of the model and the presence or absence of air conditioning. You need to carefully inspect the vehicle and fix all the dents and damage, if any.

Indian roads are considered one of the most dangerous in the world. There are very few traffic lights in the country, but accidents rarely happen. Drivers honk each other when they are going to turn right or left, overtake the car or just wish a good day. These signals are not always able to recognize by foreigners. The average speed is 30-40 kilometers per hour.

If a scooter or motorcycle can be rented by ad on the street, then it is better to take a car from proven companies. This can be done through the hotel or contact the Namaste India Tours, Magic Tours of India, V Care Tours and Travel, Swagatam Tours. They are reliable, and they have many positive reviews.

To cross the border of India, everyone except the citizens of Nepal and Bhutan needs a visa. You can go through the green corridor at customs if there are no things to be declared. The rest of the people go through the red corridor.

On the road you can take 199 cigarettes, up to 200 milliliters of alcoholic beverages, 250 milliliters of toilet water. The optimal amount of funds is up to 5 thousand dollars, transportation of local currency is prohibited. Medicines can be transported with a notarized prescription, otherwise it can be regarded as smuggling of prohibited drugs.

If a traveler wants to bring more than 2 animals with him, you need to have a DGFT certificate with you. You can not import pork, firearms and cold steel, fake money, drugs and pornographic products. It is forbidden to export gold and silver bars, live sinks, rare plants, stuffed animals and birds. When purchasing ancient souvenirs, the seller must issue a document confirming that the goods are not of historical value.

In India they like to celebrate holidays. The population lives according to the lunar calendar, so the holidays change. In January after the New Year, the Pongal Harvest Festival is a major event. He is celebrated for 3 days. Cows and oxen are showered with rice in gratitude to the God of the Sun. People treat each other with food. A kind of bullfight passes. Banknotes are deposited on the horns of the bull, they must be removed.

On January 26, a mass march in honor of Independence Day takes place. On this day, the country demonstrates cultural diversity and military power. The period from February to March is called carnival time. On festivities, people dress up in fancy dress, sing and dance. During the time of Shivratri glorify Shiva with music and prayers in temples. In honor of the arrival of spring, the Holi festival is held. This is a symbol of the victory of good over evil and the joy of life. Everyone can try on any outfit. People pour water on each other and sprinkle them with colored powders for good luck. The festival ends with the burning of a stuffed animal personifying all the bad on Earth.

In March-April, Gangur passes, a procession of girls carrying jugs of water on their heads. She was washed by the legs of Shiva Parvati's wife. After that, the statue is decorated with garlands of fresh flowers. In May, during the celebration of spring, Kashmiris take out large teapots and tea, to mark the flowering of almond trees.

India has many shops, handicrafts, souvenir shops, markets and bazaars. When exchanging currency, it is advisable to ask for the issuance of funds in small bills. There are often no trifles in stores, and sellers give chewing gum or candy for rent. A taxi may also not have change.

Markets are called the national color of India. Here you can find a wide variety of products, ranging from sunglasses to picturesque carpets. One must not be afraid to bargain. A polite smile, sign language and calculator will help in this matter. You can reduce the originally announced cost from 20 to 50%. And this will not push the sellers away.

In India, tea, coffee are often bought. When visiting specialized stores, buyers are given satin bags for storage. Also in the country you should pay attention to natural fabrics and clothes from them. World famous for high-quality Rajasthan cotton. Kashemir hails from the province of Kashmir. Chutters and neck scarves are in great demand.

The pride of India is silver and bronze jewelry. Products are quality and inexpensive. Most of them are produced in Jaipur, recognized as a major center for the processing of precious and semiprecious stones.

In a large assortment are spices. They are presented in multi-colored placers. There are curry, saffron, turmeric and other spices. As souvenirs, you can bring home elephant figures from sandalwood, singing bowls, handmade carpets. Some woven products are decorated with semiprecious stones and embroidery of gold threads.

In India, a diverse cultural program can be compiled. The Golden Temple of Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar gathers a lot of pilgrims every day. It is located near the center of the pond, you can go through the bridge to it. This is the main temple of Sikhs. On its territory there is peace and bliss. You can come here to those who do not profess Sikhism.

Kerala is called the homeland of Ayurveda. Alternative medicine is practiced here, you can comprehend the basics of yoga. A lot of fun on Goa. You can relax on various beaches, swim in the sea, swim with dolphins, go water skiing, arrange fishing and catch exotic fish. In the evenings, noisy discos take place. Even in European clubs, « goa trans » music plays.

In Maysur, there is the former residence of the royal family of Amba Vilas. The palace with large domes impresses with its size and the wealth of interior decoration. On weekends and holidays in the evenings, the illumination of almost 100 bulbs is included.

In the Casirang Nature Reserve in Assam, you can see rhinos, tigers, bears and elephants. Birds are represented in great diversity. There are migratory species. All animals live in a natural environment. The area of the park is almost 700 square meters. You can visit it from April to October.

Wonderla Bangalore Park has over 50 attractions, of which 12 are water-based. This is a great opportunity to have fun with the whole family. There are attractions for children. It’s cheaper to come on weekdays, as ticket prices on weekends increase by 2 times.

There are no problems with accommodation. You can rent rooms for every taste. In large cities and tourist centers you can stay in luxury hotels. For example, in Rajasthan, the royal chambers and the maharajah palaces were converted into hotels. In such circumstances, you can feel like a royal special or real celebrity.

In general, there are budgetary, medium and expensive living options in the country. Hotel rooms are always worth paying attention to bedding. The kit may forget to replace after previous guests, but it can be asked to replace. The cheapest accommodation options are lounges at train stations or hostels. If you do not like living in a room, you can rent an apartment or a private house. When inspecting real estate, you can bargain.

You can arrange for living in Indian families. This service is organized by Tourism Development Corporations in some states. In any case, the room should never leave food on the table. Ants can appear very quickly, and then it will be hard to get rid of them.