India
Holidays & Travel Facts

Bamboozling. There’s simply no other word that convincingly captures the enigma that is India. With its in-your-face diversity, from snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, lantern-lit villages to software-supremo cities, it’s hardly surprising that this country has been dubbed the world’s most multidimensional. India promises to jostle your entire being.

India

Overview for India

Home to more than one billion people, the subcontinent bristles with an eclectic melange of ethnic groups, which translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveller. For those seeking spiritual sustenance, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites and stirring philosophical epics, while history buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere – from grand vestiges of the British Raj serenely peering over swarming spice bazaars, to crumbling fortresses looming high above plunging ravines. Meanwhile, aficionados of the great outdoors can paddle in the shimmering waters of one of many balmy beaches, scout for big jungle cats on a blood-pumping wildlife safari, or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk. And then there’s the food! From squidgy South Indian idlis (fermented rice cakes) to zesty North Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savouring a seductive smorgasbord of specialities.

Once you touch down on sub-continental soil, you’ll quickly discover that cricket – India’s sporting obsession – is one of the most spirited topics of conversation, along with the latest shenanigans in the razzle-dazzle world of Bollywood. However, it is politics – whether at the national, state or village level – that consistently dominates news headlines, with middle- and upper-class India also keenly keeping its finger on the pulse of international events.

Best Time to Travel

India has vast climate changes from north to south. The more comfortable time to visit most of India is during the cooler months from October to March. The summer months between April and June are hot, with temperatures in central India reaching 45°C. This is the time to visit the hill stations such as Shimla, Darjeeling and Ooty for a cool retreat. The monsoon commences in the south from June and moves northwards, finishing around September, when more humid weather is experienced.

Top Tours for India

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When to Go:

The cooler winter months from November to March are the best time to visit India and the Himalaya area April to September.