An intro to India: India is such a vast country which, like Brazil, it is impossible to see everything in one visit. Unlike Brazil, India is very much poorer and a lot less traveled, so the best advice when visiting India is to plan what you want to see before you go – and don’t try to fit too much in at once. There are several well worn tourist trails around India. The Golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is a favourite, and was my chosen route. This takes in the Taj Mahal, the pink city of Jaipur and plenty of other Rajasthan treats on the way. I spent 2 weeks travelling through Rajasthan, also visitng pushka and Amritsar in Punjab – but even this time wasn’t really long enough.
Another great traveller route is the West and Southern coasts from Goa down to Tamil Nadu. This is tipped to be much friendlier and a little less touristy, however Chennai is a very hectic, dirty and fairly tourist-unfriendly place – which is best avoided.
Whichever route you take be warned: Of all the countries in the world, as a westerner, India will give you the biggest cultural shock. Abject poverty sits alongside vast wealth – as do cows, sheep, chickens and endless amounts of filth. Navigating India is a piece of cake with it’s excellent railway network, but getting past the touts is super difficult. You will be ripped off, you will be hassled and you will be lied to – but it is all part of the travel experience of India. Visiting India is like nowhere else and despite its poverty and difficulties to navigate, India must be experienced to truly understand the meaning of ‘cultural shock’.
India quick facts: (As of Feb 2010)
- Population: 1.1 Billion (plus 1000 more while you read that!)
- Languages:There are over 20 languages across India however the national languages are Hindi and English. Most people in most areas of the country will speak English, although the more rural you get the less you may find English speakers.
- Currency: Rupee (INR): roughly 70 to £1 GBP (feb 2010)
- Time Zone: +5.30GMT
Prices in India
India is one of the cheapest countries around which to travel. In most towns you can find accommodation for the price of a pint in the UK. The exception is Mumbai. Accommodation here can be hard to find and expensive. Food is also incredibly cheap, with a good meal costing perhaps 100 Rupees (less than £2). Alcohol is not fantastically cheap as in many areas alcohol was prohibited until recently. A bottle of Kingfisher beer will be between 80 and 120 Rupees depending on the type of bar.
Accommodation in India
India has plenty of tourist accommodation, and in many places this will be good quality too. Unfortunately however, most of this accommodation is in the form of hotels or guest rooms. Hostelling has not quite reached India yet, so you will find dorms hard to come by. Whilst this is great for couples or people not feeling particularly sociable, it can make travelling alone pretty tough, as common areas in which to mingle are often non-existant