Road Transport in India

India’s most preferred mode of transport, Road transport system enables one to cover almost every nook and corner of the country. In fact, travelling in various parts of India becomes very convenient, if you know the transportation facilities offered by state road transport corporations including undertakings or institutions authorized by the Ministry of transportation government of India or by the authorities of state governments. All the government authorized transport organizations have their own operational style and they try their best to provide hassle free services to public.

Almost all the Indian states have their own state road transport corporation, providing transport facility within the state and the neighboring states. Apart from the public transport corporations run by state governments, private operators also play a major role in fulfilling the needs of the public. Besides intra state and inter city services, some of the state transport corporations offer city bus services. The city bus services usually provide affordable and on-time service to the public.

The buses run by private operators usually remain in good condition and attract more-and-more commuters due to on-time service and good condition of buses. Major types of buses found across India are Deluxe bus, Luxury bus, Volvo bus, Coach bus, 2x2 bus, 2x3 bus, video coach and simple city bus with seating and standing space. Choose the buses according to your needs and budget, and reach your desired destination by road transport in a short time.

Find the list of some of the major state transport corporations and transport departments of India.

Andhra Pradesh - Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation - APSRTC - http://www.apsrtc.co.in

Assam - Assam State Transport Corporation - ASTC - http://www.assamtransport.com

Bihar – Bihar State Transport Corporation - http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Transport.htm

Delhi - Delhi Transport Corporation - DTC - http://www.dtc.nic.in

Goa - Kadamba Transport Corporation - KTC - http://goagovt.nic.in/charter/files/KTC/charter.pdf

Gujarat - Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation - GSRTC - http://www.gujaratsrtc.com

Himachal Pradesh - Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation - HRTC – http://www.himachal.nic.in/hrtc

Jammu & Kashmir - Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation - JKSRTC - http://www.jksrtc.nic.in

Karnataka - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation - KSRTC - http://www.ksrtc.in

Kerala - Kerala State Road Transport Corporation - KSRTC - http://www.keralartc.com

Maharashtra - Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) - http://msrtc.maharashtra.gov.in

Rajasthan - Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation - RSRTC - http://www.rsrtc.gov.in

Tamilnadu - State Express Transport Corporation - SETC - http://www.tnstc.in

Uttar Pradesh - Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation - UPSRTC - http://www.upsrtc.com

Uttarkhand - Transport Department - http://www.uttara.in/transport/transport_intro.html

Punjab - Punjab State Road Transport Corporation - PEPSU - http://punjabgovt.nic.in/GOVERNMENT/PepsuRoad.htm

International Airlines in India

In the past decade India’s aviation industry has witnessed a rapid growth that has encouraged global airlines to start their service. Currently, dozens of airlines including world’s leading carrier offer flight services to and from major cities of India. Besides major Indian cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, international airlines operate flights from other cities like Bangalore, Cochin and Mangalore. Each year these international airlines serve to leisure as well as business travellers visiting India from different parts of the world. Along with a comfortable travel, the international airlines in India provide access to first class in-flight amenities and services. Some of the popular international airlines operational to and from India are as follows:

Aeroflot – Officially called ‘Aeroflot – Russian Airlines’, Aeroflot is the national flag carrier of Russia. Established on February 9, 1923, Aeroflot commenced its operation on July 15, 1923. Aeroflot offers its services to 97 cities in 48 countries across the world from its main hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. Currently Aeroflot has a fleet of 91 aircraft from Airbus, Boeing and Ilyushin families.

British Airways – British Airways is the national airline of the United Kingdom (UK) and ranked as the largest airline of the UK on fleet size and other components. With its primary hub at London Heathrow Airport, British Airways offers its flights for over 370 destinations worldwide. British Airways was founded on March 31, 1974 after the merger of BOAC and BEA. The vast fleet of British Airways has 239 aircraft belonging to two families, namely Airbus and Boeing.

Air France – Air France or Air France, S.A is the flag carrier of France having its headquarters in Tremblay-en-France, France. One of the biggest and oldest airlines of the world, Air France serves to 32 domestic destinations and more than 100 destinations worldwide. Air France has its principal hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and currently operates a fleet of 248 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing families.

Cathay Pacific Airways – Cathay Pacific Airways is a Hong Kong based airlines founded by American Roy C Farrell and Australian Sydney H De Kantzow in 1946. The airline has its main hub at Hong Kong International Airport and offers scheduled passenger and cargo services to 114 destinations in 36 countries across the world. Cathay Pacific Airways has a fleet of 126 wide-body aircraft from Airbus and Boeing families.

Etihad Airways - The national carrier of Abu Dhabi (UAE), Etihad Airways or simply called as Etihar is a major airline of Asia. Etihad was founded in the year 2003 and currently operates around 147 daily flights to 64 destinations in 42 countries worldwide. The main hub of Etihad is Abu Dhabi International Airport and its head office is in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. Etihad has a fleet of 55 aircraft including 5 cargo flights. In India Etihad Airways operates flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Bangalore and Chennai.

Lufthansa - Founded in January, 1926, Lufthansa is one of the important airlines of the world. It is a German Airline having its headquarters in Cologne. Lufthansa is the founding member of Star Alliance and currently offers its services to around 410 destinations worldwide. The fleet of Lufthansa has 274 aircraft that include Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier aircrafts. Lufthansa flies to Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Singapore Airlines – Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) or Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier of Singapore. The primary hub of the airline is Singapore Changi Airport and it has a strong presence in the South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and many other destinations worldwide. Singapore Airlines has a fleet of 106 aircraft and it offers services for 61 destinations including Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Originated in 1947, it was earlier known as Malayan Airways. It is one of the six airlines of the world to receive a 5-star rating by Skytrax.

Virgin Atlantic Airways – A private airlines run by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, Virgin Atlantic Airways has its main base at London Heathrow Airport. It was the first airline to offer individual TVs to their business class passengers. Virgin Atlantic has one of the youngest fleets in the world and currently boasts of 37 aircraft. Virgin Atlantic flies to Indian cities, namely Delhi and Mumbai.

Thai Airways International - Thai Airways International, the national airline of Thailand came into being in 1960 as a result of the joint venture between Thailand's domestic airline Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airlines System. It operates domestic, regional and international flights to many destinations of the world. Thai Airways International has its main hub at Bangkok International Airport. The airline has a fleet of around 99 aircrafts and offers its services for 71 destinations including Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore.

Sri Lankan Airlines – SriLankan Airlines Limited, earlier known as Air Lanka is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka. With its main base at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lankan Airlines offers its flight services to 49 destinations in Asia and Europe. Currently the fleet of SriLankan Airlines has 13 aircraft from Airbus family. The airline flies to many cities in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Hyderabad and Goa.

Air Canada – Air Canada is the flag carrier and the biggest airline of Canada. Founded in 1936, Air Canada offers scheduled and chartered services to 178 destinations around the world. Air Canada has a vast fleet of 202 aircraft including aircrafts from Airbus, Boeing and Embraer families. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance and provides its service to Indian capital city New Delhi.

Other popular international airlines to India are: American Airlines, Finnair, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Druk Air, US Airways and United Airlines.

Domestic Airlines in India

The airline industry is existing in India since a long time, and flights are available in domestic and international sectors. However, in this decade the domestic market of airline has seen a rapid growth in India. Thanks to Captain Gopinath, the man behind the attractive concept of Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Air Deccan that changed the whole domestic market in India. In fact, the air travel that was mainly restricted to elite group people slowly become the favourite mode of transport for middle-class people. With the passage of time many other airlines introduced the cheap flights in the domestic routes of India including second-tier cities. From government owned Air India and privately owned Jet Airways in the 2000s, many airlines came into existence in India that include Kingfisher Airlines, Kingfisher Red, IndiGo Airlines, GoAir, SpiceJet, Paramount Airways, MDLR Airlines, Jagson Airlines and JetLite. Whether you are a dometic traveler or a foreigner, you can rely on India’s domestic airlines and enjoy a hasslefree air travel with access to in-flight amenities and on ground service.

Air India

India’s flagship carrier Air India was started by JRD Tata in the year 1932. Air India was previously known as Tata Airlines. It was only in August 1946 that Tata Airlines was converted into a Public company under the name of Air India. From 1948 that Air India started its international operations. In early 1950's due to the declining financial conditions of various airlines, the government decided to nationalize air transport. This gave birth to two autonomous wings - Indian Airlines and Air India International. The Indian Airlines was formed by the merger of eight domestic airlines whereas Air India International was established to operate the overseas services. However later the word' International' was dropped. Since then the company has been called as Air India Limited. Air India's network today covers 29 destinations (excluding subsidiaries) all over the world with a fleet consists of 31 aircrafts.

Indian Airlines

Indian Airlines now known as Indian is one of the premier airlines of India. It is fully owned by the government and was established in 1953. It provides its services in India as well as in other neighboring countries. It was only after the nationalization of eight private airlines that Indian Airlines came into being. At the time of nationalization Indian Airlines inherited a fleet of 72 aircrafts (excluding subsidiaries). Since then the fleet has been in a mode of continuous up gradation. Indian Airlines covers around 63 destinations.

Air India Express

Air India Express is a low-cost carrier subsidiary of Air India that operates mainly to the cities of Middle East and Southeast Asia. A fully owned subsidiary of National Aviation Company of India Ltd., Air India Express operates around 100 flights per week, mainly from its bases in Kerala and other south Indian states. Established in May 2004, Air India Express commenced its operation on April 29, 2005. Currently with a fleet of 21 aircrafts, Air India Express offers its service for 31 destinations.

Air India Regional

Initially started as Alliance Air, Air India Regional is a lost-cost subsidiary of Indian. Founded in 1996, Air India Regional has its main hub at IGI Airport in New Delhi. Currently Air India Regional has a fleet of 11 aircraft that include ATR 42-320 (7) and Bombardier CRJ-700 ER (4). Air India Regional offers its flight services for 27 domestic destinations.

Jet Airways

Jet Airways is one of the premiere private airlines of India. It operates over 400 flights daily to around 67 destinations in 19 countries across the world. It operates daily international flights to many destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Established on April 1, 1992, Jet Airways commenced its operation on May 5, 1993. Jet Airways has its main hub at Chhtrapati Shivaji International Airport, while Brussels Airport, Chennai International Airport and IGI Airport Delhi are its secondary hubs. Owned by London-based billionaire Naresh Goyal, Jet Airways has 90 aircraft in its fleet.

Jet Konnect

Jet Konnect is a lost cost brand of Jet Airways, which was launched on May 8, 2009. The airline shares the same airline code and callsign like Jet Airways, only the in-flight amenities have been curtailed. Now passengers travelling in Jet Konnect flight need to buy meal on-board while travelling to any destination. Jet Konnect operates a mix fleet of ATR 72-500 and Boeing 737-800s flights.

JetLite

Another subsidiary of Jet Airways, JetLite was actually established as Sahara Airlines on September 20, 1991 and began operations on December 3, 1993 with two Boeing 737-200 aircraft. Due to financial Sahara Airlines that was rebranded as Air Sahara on October 2, 2000, was taken over by Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal on April 12, 2007. Air Sahara was renamed as JetLite on April 16, 2007 and now mainly targets second tier cities of India. Currently JetLite has a mixed fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation and Bombardier CRJ-200 ER aircraft.

Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines, a leading private airline of India is based in Bangalore. It is owned and managed by the liquor baron Vijay Mallya. The operations of Kingfisher Airlines started in May 2005. The chief Indian destinations covered by the airlines are: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Pune and many other Indian destinations. In a short span of time, Kingfisher Airlines has come a long way. Several unique facilities are offered to the customers flying by Kingfisher Airlines. It was the first airline of India to operate with all new aircrafts. Kingfisher Airlines operates over 375 daily flights to 71 destinations with regional and long haul international services. Currently Kingfishr Airlines has a fleet of 66 aircrafts and the airline has placed order for 130 more aircraft including 5 Airbus A380-800.

Kingfisher Red

Formerly known as Simplifly Deccan or Air Deccan, Kingfisher Red is a low-cost subsidiary of Kingfisher Airlines mainly focusing to second-tier cities of India. Headquartered in Mumbai, Kingfisher Red is the only low cost carrier that offers complimentary in-flight meals to air travallers. Kingfisher Red has a fleet of 21 aircraft and offers its service for more than 60 destinations in India.

GoAir

GoAir is a low cost budget airline that is based in Mumbai. The leading Indian brands of Bombay Dyeing and Britannia are the promoters of the airline. GoAir is the brainchild of Jeh Wadia, who is also the Managing Director of the airline. The services offered by GoAir totally quality based, punctual and affordable. The airlines theme line is 'Experience-the Difference'. Currently the airline covers 13 destinations. Some of them are: Hyderabad, Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Jammu, Pune, Mumbai and Srinagar.

Spice Jet

Spice Jet like is a low cost airline based in New Delhi. The main motto of Spice Jet is to become no.1 low cost airline of India by offering lowest airfares to the middle class customers. It's objective in a nutshell is to provide the benefits of travelling by air to everyone. The Spice Jet Airlines began its operation in 2005. Earlier it was known as Royal Airways. The fleet of aircrafts that it owns promises excellent technology and trend. It currently flies to 11 destinations - Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jammu, Kolkata, Mumbai, Srinagar.

IndiGo

IndiGo Airlines is one of the new entrants in the aviation industry. Its inaugural flight took off from Delhi to Imphal in August 2006. The airline targets those class of people who are cost conscious and look for affordable, punctual and hassle free services. It has a fleet of certain aircrafts that are technological advanced. The IndiGo Airline has plans to serve around 30 Indian cities with a fleet of 40 Airbus A - 320 s by 2010. The cities on which they are concentrating are: Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangalore and Nagpur.

Travel Requisite for India

Travelling is one of the best possible ways to people’s mind, body and soul residing in any part of the globe. Besides these, travelling allows one to know the culture, values and rules of an unexplored land. After vacationing in any new country or a destination you feel yourself refreshed and also carry some lifelong memories along with you. However, before visiting any strange land, one must have prior knowledge about the geography, rules and regulations etc. related to the particular country or place to avoid any unpleasant circumstance during the trip.

Fact is that, a tourist or common traveler need to know a number of things before flying to a new country or a distant place. India Travel Directory always take care of the international tourists visiting India from different parts of the world. Keeping in mind your hassle less journey we have compiled some important travel related requisites below that would be surely handy for you. Hence, before landing to the charming land of India, must keep yourself updated about the facts and essentials mentioned below:

• Travel Tips: Before visiting any new destination, it is very essential to know the do's and don't s or the general tips for travelling. One should enquire about some essentials such as the visa procedures, destinations to visit, the best time to visit and things one needs to carry. With the aim to make your trip a pleasant experience, we are providing some important tips related to your trip to India.
• Travel Advisory: Likewise Travel Tips one should also have a glance at the travel advisory. In fact, having a glance at the travel advisory would help you to make your journey to the India a memorable experience. Our Travel Advisory provides you information about - Safety & Security, Health Conditions, Political Conditions prevailing, Customs of the land, Sensitive areas and so on.
• Tourism Offices in India: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has established a number of tourism offices all over the country. Tourism offices in India provide essential assistance to global tourists during their trip to India.
• Tourism Offices of India Abroad: With the aim to provide India related information to tourists across the world, Government of India has established its tourism offices in some major countries. Global tourists can get the answers of their India travel related queries in these offices. 
• Tourism Boards in India: A vast country India is visited by millions of tourists every year from across the globe. With the aim to provide hassle free journey to tourists, all the states and union territories of India have set up Tourism Development Board. Get more information about Tourism Boards in India with ITOPC. 
• Guidelines to Obtain Indian Visa: Obtaining the tourist visa before visiting to India is prerequisite. However, due to lack of knowledge global tourists often face a number of problems. For global tourists we provide all types of travel assistance and also guide to obtain the Indian Visa. 
• Medical Visa:  Indian Government offer Medical Visa to foreign national who desires to go for treatment under the Indian system of Medicines. Get the important information regarding the Medical Visa and plan your Medical tour accordingly. 
• India Baggage Rules: Keeping in mind the hassle free tour of foreign tourists and commercial and economic interest of the nation, the Government of India has carved out certain baggage rules. Before visiting India one should know about the baggage rules of the country. For avoiding any type of unusual circumstances go through the India Baggage rules carefully and made your vacation pleasant.
• Domestic Airlines in India: For past few years the airlines industry of India has seen tremendous growth. Presently a number of airlines offer domestic flights across India. Boom in airlines industry has resulted in the several cheap airline carriers. Now one can travel to all the big cities of India by airline at cheap fare. Know more about the domestic airlines in India in detail. 
• International Airlines in India: One of the most popular destinations of world, India is visited by large number of tourists from all over the world. Global trotters mostly use the airways to reach India, as it is the fastest and most convenient mode of transport. We provide you brief information about famous international airlines operating for India.
• Travel Insurance for India: Before visiting any new place one must assure all travel requirements and other concerned worries. Keeping in mind travel worries of thousands of tourists visiting India, government has made Travel Insurance policy. From business trip to family vacation, Travel insurance plan takes care of all your travel needs and worries. 
• Road Transportation in India: Road Transportation in India is the main medium of transport in the country. In fact, almost every nook and corner of India is attached with roads that provides easy accessibility. With the aim to provide hassle free transport to people and essential assistance, government of India and State governments alike have set up road transport corporations. 
• Train Travel in India: Train travel is the considered the most convenient mode of transport in India. Indian Railways is the third largest railway network of world and it provides train connectivity to all the important places of the country. Travel across India by train and experience one of the best journeys in your life.
• Bus Travel in India: Buses are the only mode of transport which can take you far flung areas, where you reach by train or air. Most of the places in India is well connected by good motorable roads, served by a number of buses. Buses in India are available in various options like ordinary (local), luxury, deluxe, coaches, volvo etc. In India both government as well as private operators offer bus services to different places. 
• Renowned Hotel Chains in India: The boom in travel and tourism industry in recent time has also encouraged the major hotel groups of the country. Equipped with modern amenities, these hotels offer world class services to guests. Get more information about hotel chains in India. 
• Handy Travel Books: Travel Books are one of the best medium to know about any place and its facts. You will find well compiled texts as well as photographs of various places in travel books. After going through the travel books you get an overview of particular place that makes your trip easier.
• Popular Newspapers of India: Newspapers are considered the convenient and authentic means of knowing about the happenings around the world. In India newspapers are published in various languages daily that keep people updated with news related to politics, events, crime, business, sports, entertainment, culture, opinions and much more.
• Latest Tourism Statistics: It becomes necessary sometimes to check the tourism statistics before planning a trip to a place. Tourism statistics helps the travellers to plan their accordingly. We at ITOPC provides you information about the inbound, outbound and domestic tourism statistics.
• National Parks/ Wildlife Sanctuaries Entrance Charges: All over India there are dozens of wildlife parks and you have to pay entrance charges to explore those wildlife areas. Know about the entrance charges of important wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India. 
• Monuments Entrance Charges: For proper maintenance of the ancient monuments the tourism department has fixed entry charges. You have to pay entry charges of few dollars to visit the historic structures known for their rich past, cultural or architectural importance. 
• Amusement Parks Entrance Charges: Amusement Parks have been developed in major cities of India to provide complete entertainment. Charges of amusement parks ranges from Rs 100 to 500 and you would certainly enjoy every minute inside the parks.

Cultural Vacations in India

India is a vast country comprises of many small villages, towns and metros. The 28 states and 7 Union Territories of India have their own unique culture and traditions. From the north to south, and east to west you will observe a vast difference in the lifestyle, eating habits and dress senses of the people. Despite such a huge difference, Indians are bounded by the unique bond of culture and tradition that fascinate all residing across the world.

Do you like to travel to some ancient city of India, one that you watched, say in a documentary show on your television; ruins and remnants everywhere that makes you wonder how it would have been hundreds of years ago? Would you like to explore some ancient monuments of India; the glory of which have been preseved by the popular legends; preserved in the cross continental history books; magnificent forts, palaces, tombs build with all the grandeur and style?

Visit India and explore its hidden treasures including cultural traits on your own this vacation. Meet the charming people of India, know more about their traditions, bear witness to their practices and customs and share with them your own experiences. The culture and traditions of India can be observed in some prized historic destinations including historical cities, ancient forts, monuments, palaces, temples, mosques, gurudwaras, tombs and more.

Some of the key destinations / attractions are as follows:

1. Cultural Vacations in Delhi

• Old Fort or Purana Qila
• Qutab Minar
• Red Fort or Lal Qila
• Humayun’s Tomb

2. Cultural Vacations in Rajasthan

• Amber Fort
• Bikaner City
• Jaipur City
• Jaisalmer Fort
• Jaisalmer City
• Chittaurgarh Fort
• Mehrangarh Fort
• Taragarh Fort
• Jaigarh Fort
• Hawa Mahal

3. Cultural Vacations in Uttar Pradesh

• Taj Mahal
• Red Fort or Agra Fort
• Bada Imambara
• Fatehpur Sikri
• Jehangir Palace
• Sikandra

4. Cultural Vacations in Andhra Pradesh

• Charminar
• Golconda Fort
• Warangal
• Tirupati

5. Culutral Vacations in Tamil Nadu

• Meenakshi Temple

Eco Lodges / Resorts in India

Eco lodges / resorts emphasise on the enjoyment of travelling without causing harm to the enviornment or natural surroundings. Though Eco lodges / resorts are generally perched in remote locations, they are surprisingly luxurious and always comfortable. The vast country of India has a surplus of ecological sites and ecological environments and that has resulted in the provisions through out the sub continent. But to avail these places, services and all facilities one needs to have a fair idea of the places where they are situated and what types of amenities and services offered by such properties.

Are you interested to know where one can avail all these services and amenities? If yes, then I am providing you a rough idea that virtually takes you to small but luxurious hut, at a famous wildlife sanctuary of the country. You will have to stay in the night to experience amidst the jungle environment; there may be distant noises of the wild, may be a visit by any woodland friend, a very natural setting and more.

You will surely prefer staying in a lodge inside a national park, rather than travelling kilometres and avail services of any hotel? Additional advantage is that while staying in an eco lodge, you get a chance to live some of your moments with some native population.

Some of the noted Eco-lodges / Resorts are as follows:

 

Bandhavgarh National Park

Tiger’s Den Resort

Tiger Trail's Safari Lodge

Nature Heritage Resort

Bharatpur National Park

Chandra Mahal Haveli

Laxmi Vilas Palace

Corbett National Park

Corbett Hideway

Corbett Riverside Resort

Infinity Resorts

Tiger Camp

The Wild Safari Lodge, Corbett

Panna National Park

Ken River Lodge

Lawania Jungle Resort

Jass Trident Hotel

Periyar Wildlife Santuary

Taj Garden Retreat

Spice Village

Ranthambore National Park

- Tiger Den Resort

- Tiger Moon Resort

- Sher Bagh Resort

Sariska National Park

- Sariska Palace Hotel

- Sariska Tiger Heaven

An Overview of Indian Culture

Majestic Snow - clad peaks reaching for the sky, shimmering blue lakes, lush green forests, rare flowers, breathtaking scenic beauty and sweeping panoramic view. Wow! everything about India is so beautiful and its diverse unique culture adds cherry to the cake. The Indian culture has been the outcome of many absorptions of customs, traditions and ideas from both raiders and immigrants. It has not died out with the throes of modernity wafted across the Indian Ocean. In spite of the great cultural diversity the entire country is bound as a civilization due to its common history.

 

Whenever we talk about the culture of India a flash of vivid images of flowing saris, sounds of the crowded bazaars and exuding aroma of curry and sandalwood evoke in our minds. The quality ingredients that have played a huge role in making the culture of India gain international recognition are:

Festivals:  India is the land of some of the most fascinating festivals which adorns the canvass called life with rainbow colours. Most of the festivals celebrated here have religious associations like Holi, Dussera, Janmasthmi, Hanuman Jayanti, Ganesh Chaturthi, Muharram and Deewali which are enjoyed in most part of the country with pomp and gaiety. Pongal- Sankranti are harvest festivals celebrated with full fervour in south India. Whereas Karwa Chauth is strictly observed by the Hindu married woman. Festivals give people a reason to smile.

Music: Music has always enjoyed a pivotal role in the lives of the Indians. The range of musical phenomenon extends from simple melodies to the most developed systems of classical music in the world. Music also held a significant role during the pre Vedic age as evidence of several strings and wind instruments, drums and cymbals have been found in the Vedas. Ragas on which our Indian music is based came in to existence in the 10th century. By the 16th century the distinction between the North Indian ( Hindustani ) and South Indian ( Carnatic ) music was recognized in a full fledged manner. Classical Indian music entered a new phase in the 1960's and began to acquire Western students. The sitar of Pd. Ravi Shankar was heard on the Beatles' album. Satyajit Ray, the great Indian director through his neo-realist films brought the Indian classical music to the attention of the Westerners. Indian genres like filmi and bhangra have also gained momentum in the west.

Dance: The classical Indian dance forms have their audiences world wide. Each dance form of India represents the culture and ethos of a particular region. Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kucchipudi, Bhangra and Kathakali are the various dance forms prevalent in India. Besides these there are certain Indian folk dances that are the true representatives of the rich culture of different lands of India.

Dressings: Dresses in India are worn according to the region. However sarees among Indian women and dhoti among Indian men are the everyday dress form with a slight variation in various regions. Working class and Muslims wear a Lungi. In Punjab loose- fitting pajamas called Shalwar are worn. In Bengal and Maharastra sarees and dhotis are the major dress forms but the wearing style varies.

Cuisine: The Indian cuisine has undergone a great change with the passage of time. Wheat, lentils, rice and occasionally meats were the earliest Indian food. The modern Indian cuisine offers great variety and each reason has its own distinctive flavours. North Indian staple food consists of Rotis, Rice, Dal, Curry, Yogurt, Chutney and Achars. On the other hand south India dishes comprises sambhar, dosa, Rasam, Yogurt and Curries. Fish is quite popular in the coastal areas of West Bengal, Orissa and Kerala. Street food like Panipuri, Bhelpuri, Samosa and Vada are enjoyed in every nook and corner of India. It is said that vegetarianism gained importance with the spread of Buddhism and Jainism.

Art: The paintings and sculpture of India has remain a source of inspiration for many. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of the pre- historic times. Cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora exhibits the love for nature and God. Madhubani painting, Rajputana painting, Tanjore painting and Mughal painting are some of the specialties of India.

Architecture: The most significant achievement of Indian civilisation is its architecture. The Taj Mahal of Agra, temple complexes of Khajuraho and Vijaynagara leaves the spectators spellbound. However the real beginnings of the Indian architecture can be dated to the advent of Buddhism, during the reign of king Asoka. The Buddhist art and architecture flourished with the construction of Buddhist monasteries and stupas. The contribution of the southern school of architecture cannot be unnoticed and the notable amongst them are the rock- cut temples of Mahabalipuram and the temples of Kanchipuram.

Cinema: Indian film industry holds the pride of being one of the oldest in the world. Dadasaheb Phalke, commonly called the father of Indian cinema made and screened the first film of India- Raja Harishchandra which became a huge commercial success and motivated other people thereby giving birth to umpteen classic directors like Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Hrishikesh Mukherjee , Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt. Satyajit Ray, Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt took the Indian cinema to the new zenith and gave it the international recognition by making neo- realist films inspired by Vittorio De Sica's " Bicycle Thieves".The Neo-Realist cinema captured the real life of humans and did not regard them as superheroes in fabricated situations.

Literature: India has always used writing as a major means of putting across any piece of idea or any other expression. It has a long tradition of poetry and prose writing. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two Indian epics that are not only the epics of India and Hinduism but also serves as the folk epics of other Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Safari tours in India

Many a times while watching a show on National Geographic Channel or Animal Planet, we are moved by the thrilling encounters people on safari have. There is an intense feeling that makes us crave about the experiences these people have. Do you feel it too, like going for a safari into some hinterlands searching for a known being, a creature like Tiger, or say you want to make it through the dunes, leaving behind an impression that will last long?

Do you wish to explore the off beaten tracks, hilly terrain, simmering desert sands by riding on a camel or an elephant back. If yes then, India is a perfect place for you. The vast topography of India is dotted with thick lush green forests, lofty snow covered peaks, the Great Indian Thar Desert and many other natural attractions.

Though covering the natural attractions on foot is really tough, but you can easily explore them by a ride on camel or elephant back or by having a fun-filled ride on open roof jeeps.

Some of the popular sites for safaris in India are as follows:

Jeep Safari in India
- Jeep Safari in Leh - Ladakh
- Jeep Safari in Uttaranchal
- Jeep Safari in Manali
- Jeep Safari in Thar Desert

Camel Safari in India
- Camel Safari in Rajasthan
- Camel Safari in Ladakh

Elephant Safari in India
- Elephant Safari in Corbett National Park
- Elephant Safari in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Elephant Safari in Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Elephant Safari in Kaziranga National Park

Romantic Holidays in India

Are you looking for a truly romantic place, a place where you and your partner can sit down for a while and express to your hearts full? If yes then, India is dotted with numerous such romantic destinations including serene beaches and picturesque hill stations.

How about a serene beach and a stroll in the moon lit night, a candle light dinner in an open roof restaurant? Some moments next to the most beautiful monument you have come across with, that is symbolic of love and heightens your feelings and commitment? Or a place where legends of love have been created and recreated?

Or would you like to explore the wonderful shallow waters in a slow paced boat, through the lush nature in the tropical lands, capturing beautiful moments with the person who has been with you and who is going to be with you all your life?

Of course, you have started to dream about a romantic holiday. Don’t worry at all, just choose from the plethora of choices and head towards any romantic destination to enjoy a memorable holiday. For your convenience below I am providing a list of some of the popular romantic destinations of India with various themes.

Romantic Tropical Vacations
Andaman Nicobar
Lakshadweep
Pondicherry
Goa
Kerala

Romantic Hill Vacations
Manali
Kashmir
Nainital
Shimla
Devikulam
Sikkim
Munnar
Darjeeling
Mount Abu
Dehradun

Romantic Desert Vacations
Jaisalmer
Jodhpur Thar Desert
Bikaner

Romantic House Boat Vacations
Kerala
Jammu & Kashmir

Thiruvananthapuram - the capital city of Kerala

Quick Facts
Situated in : Kerala, 218 kms, south of Kochi
Major Attractions: Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Vizhinjam, Bhagawathy Temple
Ideal Time to Visit: October to February

Earlier known as Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram lies towards the southern end of the state on the low lying hills of the Western Coast of India, interspersed by ridges and lanes. Trivandrum is an ancient city the traces of which can be found as early as 1000 B.C. Even then the city was an established trade and commerce centre. The city was made the capital of Travancore in the year 1745 during the reign of Marthanda Varma. Presently, the city is one of the primary commercial and industrial areas located in the state of Kerala.

Trivandrum is dotted with a range of hotels. Budget hotels are most in number and located throughout the city. Some known hotels of Trivandrum are Muthoot Plaza Hotel, South Park Hotel, Hotel Saj Lucia, Hotel Residency Tower, Hotel Mascot and Hotel Pankaj. Trivandrum is connected with other city and states by all major means of transport. There are buses, trains and airways providing the services in the city.

Major Attractions of Trivandrum
Shree Padhmanabhaswamy Temple: Situated in the heart of the city, Shree Padhmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to 'Padmanabhaswamy', an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple is built in a typical Dravidian style, which is unusual for a temple in Kerala and features a tall gopuram. It happens to be one of the most revered places of Hindus and every year thousands of them reach the site to pay the homage and for offerings.

Bhagawathy Temple: One of the popular worshipping places in Kerala, Bhagawathy Temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawathy. The temple site is a great attraction during the festival days of Ponal Utsavam, which is celebrated for 10 days.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum: The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. The architecture of the palace represents typical Travancore style with incredible wood carving. The palace also features paintings and valuable articles belonging to the royal family, that have been preserved here.

Government Art Museum: The Government Art Museum or Napier Museum as it is popularly called has been built in the year 1880 in the honour of Lord Napier. The museum houses great archaeological and historical artifacts.

Vizhinjam: The place used to be a popular site for the Dutch and Portuguese traders. It is located south of Kovalam beach and represents a modern fishing harbour.

M.G.Road: The road is a popular shopping area located in the city. Sandalwood, brass and oil lamps are extensively sold in the markets here. A lot of general stores and arts, antiquities shops are located at M.G.Road. The Connemara Market is great shopping place here.

Kovalam Beach: Just 16 kms from the city is the popular Kovalam Beach. The beach comprises of a series of beaches, the best one being the southern most. The beach area has emerged as a great tourist place and is lined up with resorts and tourist cottages.