In your haste to make plans, you might miss out on a lot of important things. Our India Travel Guide will essentially give you the tools you need for getting the best information on the places to see and the things you can do while you are in the country. India is as colorful as its national bird, the peacock and as serene as the lotus, its national flower. Our India Travel Guide gives you the chance to have the best possible time in India and get experiences you will never forget. We also include some useful words and phrases, travel safety tips and climate and temperature ranges in the country. For those with limited time to stay in India, do not miss out on touring the Golden Triangle at least, consisting of the cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

Agra is in the state of Uttar Pradesh, near the country’s capital and therefore also one of the most populous cities in the region, and sad to say, is also one of the most polluted. Aside from the Taj Mahal, the Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort, equally listed as World Heritage sites as well as Akbar’s Tomb are interesting spots to tour. Most of the temples and places of interest in Agra are from the reign of the Mughals and largely dedicated to members of their large family. Overall there are still about 14 spots that you can check out around Agra.

Bargaining hard is the thing you have to keep in mind when shopping for souvenirs as overpricing is very common. In Agra you will find plenty of local arts and crafts, including hand-tooled leather, jewelry and intricately embroidered fabrics. Art is not only there to be admired. Your hands, arms and even your feet can be the perfect canvas for henna tattoo artists. Relax after a hectic day and get a special henna tattoo at a fraction of the cost in Agra. Afterwards, spend sometime for a relaxing city tour aboard a rickshaw or check at the tourist center for schedules of puppet shows.

Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II on November 18, 1727. It is a fine example of an Indian planned city, following the Vedic planning guide for the prosperity and comfort of its citizens. Most of the ancient buildings found in Jaipur are examples of the architectural style favored by the Rajputs. The city planners during that time were forward thinkers, and have urban planning in mind with the main streets panning out into six sectors separated by very wide streets and the residential areas floow a grid. The central part is occupied by Hawa Mahal, a palace complex that includes a sprawling expanse of land with a lake and formal gardens. While the summer months of April to July can have arid and dry weather with temperature averaging 86 °F, winter (November to February) in Jaipur is mild, with the temperature reaching somewhere between 59 °F to 64 °F.

Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds was designed like the crown of Hindu god Krishna and built using pink and red sandstone. It front exterior is five stories high and is very distinct because of its almost honeycomb-like pattern which is due to the jharokhas or small windows, totalling 953 in all. Each window is decorated with latticework do that the royal ladies can take a peek at the daily ongoings outside the palace without being seen. The Hawa Mahal is located at the main thoroughfare in the business center of Jaipur.

Like most of India, Mumbai also has its share of ancient buildings that are now used commercially. It ranks second to Miami in its large collection of Art Deco buildings which can be found along the Oval Maidan and Marine Drive. There are still several monuments of greatness that you can see in Mumbai, including the Gateway of India that has already become a landmark. This is a 26-meter high arch created as a memorial to where King George V and Queen Mary of England landed when they visited India in 1911. It is located at Mumbai’s waterfront For a vast collection of art pieces the best museum to go to will be the Bhau Daji Ladd Museum. The Haji Ali Mosque, a white mosque built in honor of the Muslim saint is worth a visit. The remains of the saint were laid in the mosque and it can be a fantastic sight to behold when you go there before the sun sets and view it silhouetted against the setting sun on the Arabian Sea. Go back in time and look at the treasures and tributes and learn about the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Once his own residence, the place had been converted into a museum, research center and library in his honor, and aptly named Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum.

Amidst the busy life in the commercial center at the Martyr’s Square, you can find respite walking around the Flora Fountain, also called the Hutatma Chowk. It was built in 1869 in honor of Sir Bartle Frère who was then the governor of Mumbai. The goddess Flora, the Roman deity of prosperity and abundance stands on top of the fountain. Other Roman deities are placed around the corners of the imported Portland stone fountain sculpture.

If you are tired of the commercial hustle and bustle in downtown Mumbai, book a day tour to see the caves in Elephanta Island, so named because of the stone elephant that graces its shore. To reach the caves, visitors need to climb a long staircase or take an easy way up by paying the locals a few rupees to have them carry you up to the caves on a chair. However, take care and hold on to your belongings and whatever you are carrying on your hands as moneys on the island are well-known snatchers.

Spend a day out on the shores of Chowpatty Beach. You not only get tanned and relaxed, you also get to enjoy the sideshows like snake charmers, monkey trainers, masseurs and if you are lucky, participate in local celebrations like the Ganesh Chaturthi and Coconut Day. In the evenings you will be treated to a theatrical view of the street lights getting lit. It even has a name – Queen’s Necklace. Never go hungry when you are at Chowpatty Beach. Kiosks sell popular Mumbai snacks such as Kulfi, amilk-based frozen dessert, much like ice cream that’s flavored with vanilla, pistachio or rose, and Bhelpuri, made from puffed rice and topped with various sautéed vegetables drizzled with a tangy sauce made from tamarinds.

Of course a trip to Mumbai will not be complete when you have not sampled one of its prime products, a Bollywood movie. Check local listings for what good to see and head down to any of the multiplex cinemas in the city. You should prepare for the unique experience of watching a film Bollywood-style. It is normally about three hours long and have more singing and dancing than plot constructions. They do have intermissions halfway through the screening. You can order food from a restaurant or have a snack delivered straight to you. Cinemas in Mumbai have perfumed auditoriums, screening rooms, state-of-the-art audio/video systems and plush seats. You may also find gaming parlors within the cinema complex and enjoy valet parking if you’ve got a car with you. Check with your hotel concierge as there are studio tours available.

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is located in the state of Tamil Nadu and is its capital. It is a congested city with an estimated population of 8.2 million. It is a very progressive industrial city that caters to computer technology and hardware manufacturing, healthcare and automotive industries. Chennai is the second largest exporter of computer-based technologies and services. And its automotive export industry is a very stable high-earning industry, thus Chennai is dubbed as the Detroit of Asia.

Chennai is the center of the Tamil film industry which is second to Bollywood, Carnatic music and the classical dance form, Bharata Natyam. Chennai Central, an imposing railway transport terminal is considered the gateway to the south. Trains from this terminal connects Chennai to capitals such as New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. The station offers several conveniences to travelers and visitors, with restaurants, accommodation, Internet cafes, a shopping center and bookshops.

The second largest beach in the world, Marina Beach is located in Chennai. With a very long coastline, you will be able to find a wonderful spot to while the time away. Unfortunately the waters can be quite rough so you have to contend with strolling along the beach or partaking of local cuisine, enjoying a bit of sunshine and browsing the wares sold by hawkers. A temple of Shiva is located in Mylapore, Chennai called the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, which was built in seventh century CE. A form of Parvati, the wife of Shiva is worshipped in the temple. It is called the Karpagambal in Tamil or the Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree in English. The temple is an example of Dravidian architecture. A 40-meter high ornate monumental tower known as a gopuram is built in the eastern front of the temple. Its façade is decorated with paintings, carvings and sculptures from Hindu mythology. A smaller one is located on the western side. A gopuram has wooden doors underneath.

For Catholics, spend some time at the San Thome Basilica, which is a fine example of Neo-Gothic architecture favored by the British. It was erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century and remodelled by the British, which is the version that is seen today. A museum is attached to the Basilica. After seeing almost every other building and temple colored red, the white paint of the Basilica gives your eyes some rest.

For a bit of modernity, visit the largest IT park in Asia, Tidel Park. This is where you will find back offices of some major international corporations in the world such as Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank and World Bank as well as offshore offices of some of the largest telecom and electronics companies including Nokia, Dell, Foxconn, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola and Zebronics. The research and development facilities of Dow Chemicals and Pfizer are also at Tidel Park.

If Mumbai has Bollywood, Chennai has Kollywood, the Tamil movie industry responsible for producing about 150 Tamil movies annually.

Aside from visiting the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, visit Fort St. George, an old British fort that used to house the British army barracks and spend some quiet moments at the oldest church in Chennai, also located at the fort, St. Mary’s. Parthsarthy Temple is famous for its beautiful architecture so it is also worth a visit. The temple was built by the Pallava kings on the 8th century in dedication to Lord Krishna. Its towers and pillars are heavily decorated with elaborate and intricate carvings.

If you want some fun, then reserve a day to frolic in any of the amusements centers in Chennai, such as Dash-n-Splash, MGM Dizzee World, Dolphin City or at Kiskinta. For those who love to learn about the culture of the city, art and antiquities can be viewed at the Government Museums, National Art Gallery, Cholamandal Artists’ Village or at the Birla Planetarium.

Anna Salai, College Road, Mount Road, Chetty Road, Burma Bazar and Nageswaran Road are places to keep in mind when you want to go shopping in Chennai. These are the places where you can get almost anything you want. After a hectic day spent shopping for bargains, have a meal in one of the restaurants around the busy metropolis for a taste of wonderful South Indian cuisine.

As tourism is one of the major industries in Goa, expect to see a lot of local color when you visit the city. Best time to visit is during the summer and in winter when the weather is fine. The Bom Jesus Basicilica contains the remains of St. Francis Xavier. The body of St. Francis Xavier is venerated and available for public viewing every 12 years, and the last one happened in 2004. For a sampling of Goa-Portuguese style of architecture, the place to go to is Velhas Conquistas. Tiracol, Aguada, Gaspar Dias, Cabo de Rama, Chapora and Corjeum are old forts that are tourist drawers. A view of the culture, architecture and the life in Goa, Fontainhas, which is located in Panaji is the best place to see a showcase. Several temples can also be found in Goa and the most recommended ones are the Mahalsa, Mangueshi and Shanta Durga temples.

As was said, Goa is famous for its beaches so it may be the one of your most important destinations in the state. Head off to any of the popular beaches where amenities for your comfort and pleasure await. Anjuna Beach, Candolim Beach, Colva Beach and Benaulim Beach are just some of the wonderful beaches you can choose from. Various water activities are available in the beaches of Goa. You can go wind surfing, water skiing, parasailing, canoeing, sailing, scuba diving or ride a banana boat for a thrilling experience. Water scooters, deep sea fishing trips, speedboat rides and paddleboats are also available.

Nature lovers will have a grand day exploring the many wildlife sanctuaries in Goa, with most of its denizens belonging to the local fauna. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries include gardens where you can see local flora. Dudhsagar Waterfalls and the spice farms in Goa are sure to provide you with an exciting and enticing sightseeing trip.

Flea markets at Anjuna and Mapusa markets and the Government Emporia are just some of the places you can go to in Goa for your shopping experiences. Unique local handicrafts made from bamboo, shells, crochet, terracotta and brass and other souvenir items are available to satisfy your craving for mementoes.

Sample local cuisines in Goa and delight in the fact that the food served in the restaurants cater to different tastes so you do not have to hesitate in ordering something that will burn your tongue and stomach in its spiciness. Vegan dishes, curries, fresh seafood, food cooked with coconut, chillies and nuts are some of the varieties that are fun to enjoy.
Find some time to have a feel of what Ayurvedic Therapy is all about while you are in Goa and come out fresh, clean and very relaxed. You should do this after you have spent the night partying or joining in one of the rave parties sponsored by one of the many clubs and bars along the beach. You can also book a trip and join one of the sunset, night or full moon cruises on Goa’s rivers or in the sea that cruise operators in Goa offer visitors.

Fort William is a top tourist destination for the exhibitions and fairs that are hosted inside its walls. It is still a military installation though, initially erected to prevent Muslim invasion, so permission from the commanding officer must first be secured. The Victoria Memorial is another important destination when visiting Kolkata. It is a massive museum created from white Makrana marble mined in Rajasthan and dedicated to Queen Victoria of England. It showcases Indian history and contains effigies of the India’s prominent personalities who contributed to the shaping of India as a nation. It also includes one of the finest art museums in Kolkata. For its sheer size, visit the best place to play India’s national sport, cricket. The Eden Gardens is the finest and oldest cricket ground in India. It can seat about 1.2 million spectators.

Astronomy buffs will have a field day exploring the Birla Planetarium, a planetarium and science museum that conducts presentations on astronomy in English, Bengali and Hindi as well as in other local languages such as Tamil, Gujarati and Oriya.

One of the busiest bridges in the world, the Howrah Bridge spans the Hooghly River to connect Howrah to Kolkata. It was built in 1874 and is constructed as a cantilever truss bridge and does not have nuts and bolts typical of other bridges.

A palatial private mansion that can be toured upon prior arrangement is the Marble Palace, which got its name from its marble walls and floors. It was built by Raja Rajendra Mullick in 1835 and is still occupied by his descendants. Raja Rajendra Mullick was a wealthy businessman who loves to collect art and his collection is a hodgepodge of valuable paintings from well-known masters mixed with works of art that have little value. The collection includes paintings by Rubens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, John Opie, Titian and Murillo. The grounds contain a garden and a zoo that now only contains different species of birds.

The Gothic-styled Writers’ Building is found in the north end of Dalhousie Square, where the very large building used to serve as the apartments for the writers of the British East India Company. The present-day Writers’ Building was built on the same site as the previous building of the same name that was erected in 1690. The new one was built by Lt. Governor Ashley Eden. It is now the Secretariat of the government of West Bengal and the repository of all important records and important documents of the government.
Take a look at the amazing Great Banyan, a tree inside the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden. It is purported to be the largest tree in the world. The banyan tree incidentally is the national tree of India. The Great Banyan is believed to be between 200 and 250 years old. Curiously, the tree is now without its main trunk which had become diseased and had to be removed. The aerial roots took to the soil and now the tree is not a single tree but a series of trees from one main source that it closely resembles a forest. Presently the crown of the tree when viewed from a distance is about one kilometer in circumference. It has 3,300 aerial roots that have reached the ground and its highest branch is about 25 meters high. Overall the Great Banyan occupies an area of 1.5 hectares.

For a vast cultural and historical experience, visit the National Library where you will find a collection of books written in almost all the languages spoken in India. The library also has several divisions containing items that are available in a particular Indian language.

You cannot escape the lure of the temples when you are in Kalkota, as well as in any other place in India. One temple to visit is the majestic Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Bhavatarini. It juts out of lush and verdant surroundings on the eastern shore of the Hooghly River. It has nine spires erected and distributed on two floors of the temple. Aside from the main temple, it also has 12 smaller but identical temples.

For some peace and tranquillity while touring, take a trip to the Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission on the western bank of the river Hooghly. The huge building welcomes people of different faiths. It houses the relics of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Sarada Devi.
Dip your feet into the waters of the Bay of Bengal when you go to Digha Beach for the day to catch some sun and have a relaxing day frolicking in the gentle waves. When the tide turns low, you can enjoy shopping at the Digha market and get a good bargain on items made from seashells as well as colorful hand woven mats made from weeds made by craftspeople from Midnapore.

If you are interested in plants and wants to see some rare species, take a tour of the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden that was created by Colonel Robert Kyd in 1787 for the primary purpose of identifying plants that have commercial value for their growing trade industry. The botanical garden has a large collection of rare plants and over 12,000 plant specimens planted in the garden’s 109 hectares of land.
Kolkata boasts of a Science City, a landmark in the capital city. If you are a science buff, this is your scene. It features different exhibition halls. The Dynamation Hall is an interactive and hands-on exhibits to experience scientific principles in Illusions, Power of Ten (magnification), Live Butterfly Enclave and Fresh Water Aquarium. There is also an Earth Exploration Hall, Space Odyssey, Maritime Center and Evolution Park. Science City contains almost everything that will delight the science geeks.