India travelguide

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INDIA

The most visited country in Asia. India is the 7th largest country in the world with a population over one billion. More than one million foreign tourists visit India in a year. India is the largest democracy in the world. It was a travel destination since 300 BC (Megasthenis). No travel guide on India is not complete as India is so vast, wonderful and colourful.

World Heritage Centres by UNESCO (28 in India): TAJ MAHAL, Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Humayun's tomb, Qutb minar, Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus/ Victoria terminus, Elephanta caves, Ellora caves, Ajanta caves, Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, toy train route to Darjeeling, Se cathedral & Bom Jesus cathedral of Goa, Pattadakal, Hampi, Brihadeshwara temple - Tanjavur , Brihadisvara temple (Gangaikonda cholapuram, Tanjavur), Airvastesvara temple (Parasuram, Tanjavur), Mahabalipuram, Nilgiri mountain railway (Ooty), Konark Sun temple, Khajuraho, Keoladeo Khana national park (Bharatpur), Kaziranga national park (Assam), Manas national park (Assam), Sundarbans national park (West Bengal), Nanda Devi and Valley of flowers national park (Uttaranchal), Rock shelters of Bhimbetka (Bhopal), Sanchi Stupa, Champaner - Pavagadh archaeological park (Vadodara), Lumbini(Nepal).

Travel to the scenic India, visit New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mussoorie, Shimla, Kashmir, Khajuraho, Mumbai, Kolkota, Chennai, Kerala, Mysore, Mount Abu.

India photo gallery

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India has 28 states, one capital union territory and 6 Union territories - Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujrat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

New Delhi (capital union territory), Andaman Nicobar, Chandigarh, Daman Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Pondicherry.

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Important Tourist Circuits

Amritsar-Waga-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Leh
Dehradun-Mussorie-Gangotri-Yamnotri-Kedarnath-Badrinath
Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer
Khajuraho-Varanasi-Gaya-Kathmandu
Shimla-Kullu-Manali-Dharmasala
Mumbai-Ellora-Ajanta-Goa-Jog falls
Bhavnagar-Palitana-Mount Abu-Udaipur
Belgaum-Hampi-Badami-Pattadakal-Aihole-Bijapur
Hyderabad-Warangal-Nagarjunakonda
Bhubaneshwar-Puri-Konark-Chilka
Kolkotta-Darjiling-Kalimpang-Gangtok-Guwahati-Kaziranga
Chennai-Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram-Tiruchirapalli-Tanjavur-Velamkanni
Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty
Madurai-Kodaikanal-Thekkadi-Alapuzha-Kochi

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INDIA : General Information

Capital : New Delhi.

Area : 31 lakh sq. km.

Roads : 33 lakh km.

Railways : 1, 08, 706 km.

President : Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

Prime Minister : Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Metro cities : Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkotta and Delhi.

Currency : Rupee (1 US$=45 INR).
(For current exchange rates see www.xe.com, 1 INR = 100 paise)

Monsoon : June to Sept.

Population : 102.86 Crores (in 2001).

Population below poverty line : 25% (2002).

Literacy : 65.3% (Male 75.3% Female 53.7% ).

Sex ratio : 933 females per 1000 males.

Life expectancy : 62.5 year.

Independance : 15 August 1947.

Largest state : Rajastan.

Smallest state : Goa.

Internet users : 10 million plus.

Border Countries : Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka.

Religions : Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi.

Languages : Hindi - National language. 22 more languages are recognised by the Indian Constitution.

International Airports : Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkotta, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Amritsar and New Delhi.

States : 28 States, 6 Union territories and one National capital territory.

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NEW DELHI : General Information

Capital : New Delhi.

Area : 1, 483 sq.km.

Literacy : 81.5%.

Languages : Hindi, English .

Roads : 25, 283 km.

Railways : 172 km.

Airports : Palam (Delhi), Indira Gandhi International Airport.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 45 to 7 Winter 20 to 7.

Monsoon : June to Sept

Districts : 9, Central, East, New Delhi, North, North East, North West, South, South West, West.

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NEW DELHI

National museum, Dolls museum, Rail transport and philatelic museum, National art gallery, Jumma masjid - largest mosque in India, Hazrat Nizamuddin's shrine, Hauz Khas - Feroz Shah's tomb and deer park, Mughal gardens, Raj Ghat, Shanti vana, Vijay Ghat, Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Birla House, India Gate (42 m high) - memorial to over 90,000 soldiers who died in second world war with 13,516 names inscribed on it, Janpath, Supreme court, Parliament house, Bahai Lotus temple with marble tiled 27 petals constructed in 6 years (1980-86), Red fort and inside palaces. Qutb Minar (18 km, 72.5 m high) - World heritage centre, tallest stone tower in India with rust free Iron pillar.

OLD DELHI - Adilabad fort, Ashoka pillar, Humayun's tomb - World heritage centre, Jantar Mantar observatory (1724 AD) of Raja Jai Singh, Purana Qila built by Sher Shah Suri in 1545 AD, zoo, Safdarjang's tomb.

SHOPPING - Chandni chowk, Connaught place, State handicraft emporia.

FESTIVALS - Republic day (26th January), Festival of flowers (August/ September), Ram Lila (September/October).

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Andhra Pradesh : General Information

Capital : Hyderabad.

Area : 2, 75, 069 sq.km.

Literacy : 61.14%.

Languages : Telugu, Urdu, Tamil, Hindi.

Roads : 1, 72, 669 km.

Railways : 5, 057 km.

Airports : Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Vishakapatanam, Cuddapah, Rajamundry, Ramagundam, Warrangal.

When to visit : Nov to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 41 to 20 Winter 32 to 13.

Monsoon : June to Dec.

Districts : 23, Adilabad, Anantapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah, East Godavari, Guntur, Hyderabad, Karim Nagar, khammam, Krishna, Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nellore, Nizamabad, Prakasam, Rangareddi, Srikakulam, Vishakapatnam, Vizianagaram, Warangal, West Godavari.

Places of tourist importance: Hyderabad, Tirupati.

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ANDHRA PRADESH

HYDERABAD - Mecca masjid : largest masjid in south India, Char Minar (55 m, 1591 to 1612, built by Mohamad Quli Qutb Shah), mosques, palaces, Salar Jung museum, Archaeological museum, gardens, NTR gardens, Nehru zoological park with lion safari, Golconda fort (11 km, tombs of Qutb shahi kings are nearby) : A clap at Fateh darwaza can be heard far away summit palace, Birla mandir : marble temple near Secretariat, Hussain Sagar lake : 16 m tall, 350 tonne monolith statue of Lord Budha on Gibralter rock in the middle of the lake, Secunderabad city (8 km), Ramoji film city; Medak church (100 km) : Huge gothic church in white granite; Warangal : Fort, temple, Hanamkonda temple (7 km) : 1000 pillared hall with 1.8 m Nandi statue.

NAGARJUNAKONDA - Archaeological museum, Buddhist ruins and reconstructed monuments; Rajahmundry : Hindu pilgrim centre, second longest railway bridge in India. Papi Kondalu : magnificent gorge and scenary near Rajahmundry.

NAGARJUNA SAGAR - Dam, Ethipothala Waterfalls ; Srisailam - Sri Mallikarjunaswamy one of the 12 jyotirlingas, Wild life sanctuary.

TIRUMALA near TIRUPATI - World's richest temple (Gold & diamonds worth Rs. 500 Cr.), Sri Venkateshwara University museum, Chandagiri fort (12 km from Tirupati), Kailasanathakona waterfalls (44 km).

PUTTAPARTI - Satya Sai Baba's Prashanti nilayam; Lepakshi - Temple having largest Nandi Statue in India (100 km from Bangalore). Amaravati (66 km from Vijaywada) - Buddhist carvings, viharas, chaityas etc.

VISHAKAPATANAM / VIZAG - Waltair beach (5 km) and Dolphin's nose (174 m cliff), Light house, Hindustan shipyard ; Simhachalam temple (20 km); Anantagiri : temples, Borra : (12 km, limestone caves with Stalagmite and Stalactite formations); Machkund waterfalls, Araku valley : scenic beauty, waterfalls.

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Arunachal Pradesh : General Information

Capital : Itanagar.

Area : 83, 743 sq.km.

Literacy : 54.3%.

Languages : Tribal, Nepali, Bengali.

Roads : 10, 240 km.

Railways : 1 km.

When to visit : Oct to May.

Climate (in °C) : Summer 40 Winter 15 to 21.

Monsoon : June to Sept.

Districts : 14, Changlang, Dibang valley, East Kameng, East Siang, Kurung Kumey, Lohit, Lower Subansiri, Papum Pare, Tawang, Tirap, Upper Siang, Upper Subansiri, West Kameng, West Siang.

Places of Tourist importance : Tawang.

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Arunachal Pradesh : Tourist Information

ALONG - Ramakrishna ashram, waterfalls, tribal temples.

BOMDILA - Buddhist temples, handicrafts, scenary.

ITANAGAR - Buddhist temple, Botanical garden, Dony Polo tribal temple.

NAMDAPHA - Wild life sanctuary.

TAWANG - Buddhist monastery.

VIJAYANAGAR - Remains of Buddhist centre.

FESTIVALS - Igu dance festival (Jan), Makar sankranti (Jan).

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Assam : General Information

Capital : Dispur.

Area : 78, 438 sq.km.

Literacy : 64.3%.

Languages : Assamese, Bengali, Bodo.

Roads : 68, 079 km.

Railways : 2, 435 km.

Airports : Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Jorhat, Silchar, Lilabari.

When to visit : Oct to May.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 35 to 18 Winter 26 to 7.

Monsoon : June to Sept.

Districts : 23, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Marigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, North Cachar Hills, Sibsagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia.

Places of Tourist importance : Guwahati, Kaziranga & Manas natonal park, Majuli.

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Assam : Tourist Information

GUWAHATI - State museum, Assam state zoo & botanical garden, temples.

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK - A world heritage centre at Jorhat (90 km, Feb to May) famous for one horned Rhinoceros, tea gardens and tribal villages.

MANAS NATIONAL PARK - A world heritage centre (176 km from Guwahati).

MAJULI - World's largest river island and a pilgrim centre (120 km from Guwahati).

SILCHAR - Ancient ruins, temples, Bhuban (50 km).

FESTIVALS - Bohag Bihu (April), Rangoli Bihu (Sept/Oct), Durga Puja.

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Bihar : General Information

Capital : Patna.

Area : 94, 163 sq.km.

Literacy : 47.5%.

Languages : Hindi, Maithli, Urdu, Santhali.

Roads : 85, 565 km.

Railways : 5, 254 km.

Airports : Gaya, Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 47 to 20 Winter 28 to 4.

Monsoon : June to Oct.

Districts :37, Araria, Aurangabad, Banka, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga, Gaya, Gopalganj, Jamui, Jehanabad, Kaimur,Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Madhubani, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Nawada, Pashchim Champaran, Patna, Purba Champaran, Purnia, Rohtas, Saharsa, Samastipur, Saran, Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Supaul, Vaishali.

Places of Tourist importance : Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Pawpuri, Vikranshila.

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BIHAR : Tourist Information

PATNA - Golghar granary (29 m high and 3.6 m wide at the base), Patna museum with world's longest fossilised tree, Pahar Ki masjid, Sikh pilgrim centre - Hari mandir Takht, Hajipur (30 km, World's longest river bridge over Ganga, 5.5 km); Baidyanath dam at Deogargh (29 km from Patna), Vaisali (35 km from Hajipur) - Birth place of Mahavira, ashes of Budha preserved, Lion pillar at Kolhua (18.3 m high) and Ramkund, Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centre, museum.

BUDH GAYA - Mahabodhini temple (52 m) : World heritage centre, most sacred Buddhist pilgrim centre with Bodhi tree, stupas, museum.

GAYA - 92 km from Patna, Hindu pilgrim centre, temples, nearby stupas and Buddhist caves (Barabar cave); Nalanda - Ruins of ancient university (500 BC), Archaeological museum, Buddhist research centre, Pawapuri (23 km, Jain Pilgrim centre, Lord Mahavira the 24th Theerthankara attained Nirvana (died) here, Samosharan and Jalmandir temples are nearby), Rajgir (15 km, Jain pilgrim centre, Ajatshatru's fort (600 BC), museum, Vishwa shanti stupa at Vultutre's peak, hill station, trek to 26 Jain temples in the hill nearby, hot springs and Pippala caves at the Vaihava hills); Dehri_on_sone : Longest railway bridge in India near Sasram (3 km); Sasaram - Tomb of SherShah Suri and antiquities, lake.

HAZARIBAUG national park - Season : Dec to May.

JAYNAGAR, RAXAUL, JOGBANI - Temples, cross over point to NEPAL.

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CHATTISGARH : General Information

Capital : Raipur.

Area : 136, 034 sq.km.

Literacy : 65.17%.

Languages : Hindi.

Roads : 35, 388 km.

Railways : 1, 000 km.

Airports : Raipur, Bilaspur.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer hot Winter cold.

Monsoon : June to Sept.

Districts :16, Bastar, Bilaspur, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Durg, Janjgir Champa, Jashpur, Kanker, Kawardha, Korba, Koriya, Mahasamund, Raigarh, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Surguja.

Places of Tourist importance : Jagadalpur waterfall, Chitrakut falls at Jagadalpur (India's largest waterfall), Tirathgarh waterfall (35 km from Jagdalpur), Kutumsar caves (World's second longest underground cave with Stalactites and Stalagmites) and Kailash gupha (columns produce musical sound) are in the Kanger valley national park near Jagdalpur, Sirpur - Buddhist historical site with Lakshman temple, Amarkantak - Source of river Narmada (250 km from Jabalpur), Bhoramdev temple with erotic carvings (18 km from Kawardha), Bastar - Palace (Oct. Dussera), Danteshwari temple, Barnawapara sanctuary (125 km from Raipur).