India

Republic of India

Bharat Ganrajya

One of the oldest melting pots of civilization, the second most populated country and home to the magnficent and beautiful Taj Mahal—India. This peninsula, separated from mainland Asia by the breathtaking mountains of Himalayas and surrounded by the Bengal Bay, Indian Ocean, and the Arabian sea continues to amaze and inspire visitors with her rich and diverse culture and awesome sights.

Droves of tourists from across the globe travel to behold and experience India. This interestingly diverse country comprises of four regions: the Southern Peninsula, the great mountain zones, Indus and the plains of Ganga. The wide expanse of landscapes and vegetation found in India is home to almost 350 mammals, over a thousand of birds and more than thirty thousand species of insects. The maginificence and grandeur of this country continues to entice visitors to keep on coming back.

Indian Rupee (INR) To convert USD or other currencies to Indian Rupee click on the link: Currency Converter

Climate

There are 3 general seasons in India- cool, wet (monsoon weather), and hot. Various parts of India experience different weather simultaneously due to the extremity of land formations present. Regions located at the highlands such as Assam, which can be found in the northern part, usually have cooler temperature as compared to the western regions, composed of deserts.

The best time to visit India is along the months of November until mid-February. Hot season starts around February and will reach its hottest in June. Central and Southern India also heats up during these months, it is best to relocate somewhere uphill during this season to avoid the dry and humid weather. However, as the months progress, hot and humid will be quickly replaced by hot, humid, and muddy weather conditions as the monsoon weather begins. Expect dust storms, electrical storms, and short rainstorms during these months.

People

Hindi is the primary language in India and is spoken by 30% of the inhabitants. Aside from English, there 21 other official languages found in India. There is a multitude of culture coming from various states of India. People dress and prepare their food according to the tradition of the state where they came from yet the differences are put aside when celebrating or grieving. Celebrations transcend the walls of the home and is also felt and celebrated by the community or the neighbor.

Nowadays science is integrated in the complex and diverse culture of India. They compliment their traditions and belief on the oneness of mind and body through Yoga and meditation with technologically enhanced new age medicine. They have found ways to benefit and enhance their traditional practices with the emergence of new technology.

 From the mountains to the desserts, India provides a lot of activities to engage in.  The variety of landscapes and climate offers the opportunity to try out various sports, tours, and other activities.  Among the more popular tourist activities in India are trekking, safaris, river running, snorkeling, scuba diving and para sailing. 

Entry and Exit Concerns

Foreigners who wish to travel to India must have their original passport which will be valid for atleast 6 months. Supporting documents must also be prepared in case the immigration asks for it. There are some areas in India, like Lakshadweep Islands, Annachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagalad, etc., which requires a special permit before one can enter.

Health advisory boards recommend that you consult your family doctor on what inoculations or vaccines to take before a trip to India. However, the following are the essential vaccines and booster you must have prior to a trip to any South Asian country:

            Vaccine                                                                   Booster

           Hepatitis A                                                           Tetanus booster

           Hepatitis B                                                               Measles

           Japanese Encephalitis                                                 Polio

            Rabies

            Typhoid

SOURCES:

Geographia

Indian Government