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India
is perhaps the ultimate travel destination, containing some
of the most spectacular sights anywhere in the world. Yet to
many visitors, India is an enigma. It can give you the best
and worst of times-often in the same day. An extended visit
will throw up plenty to surprise, plenty to amaze and plenty
of frustrate. India is such a huge and diverse country that
it almost impossible to take it all in at one visit. You can
see the world's highest and most impressive mountain range,
some of the finest architecture creations ever fashioned, and
even the odd beach or two. The so-called golden triangle of
travel in India is here in the north.
India occupies
a strategic position in Asia, looking across the seas to Arabia
and Africa on the west; Burma, Malaysia and the Indonesian Archipelago
on the west. Geographically, the Himalayan ranges keep India
apart from the rest of Asia.
Location
India, a land of variety and beauty occupies a strategic position
in Asia, the Himalayan ranges and Nepal separate India from Tibet
and China. The boundary line between India and China is called
the McMahon line. In the east are Bangladesh and Mynamar, in the
west Pakistan and in the south lies the Indian ocean and Sri Lanks,
Gulf of Mannar and Palk straits separates India from Sri Lanks.Kanyakumari
constitutes the southern tip of the Indian peninsula where it
gets narrower and loses itself into the Indian Ocean.
Islands
Andaman & Nicobar: Andaman is the northern cluster of 204
islands and Nicobar of 19 small islands.
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of 27 coral islands scattered in
the Arabian Sea 300 km to the west of Kerala coast.
Climate
India has three main seasons:-
1.
Rainy season or Monsoon: June to October
There are two types of monsoon-the south - west monsoon which
is from June to September. The north-east monsoon, which is
from October to December and is confined to the east coast particularly
on Tamil Nadu.
2.
Summer: April to June
During the summer, the mountains and hill resorts are cool and
pleasant. Barmar in the west of Rajasthan remains the hottest
with temperature shooting up to 50° C during daytime.
3.
Winter: October to March
The Himalayan regions are the coldest, particularly Drass and
Kargil in Laddakh where temperature falls below 4° C.
How
to reach India
India can be reached by air, sea or road. However, in recent
years, over 97% of all tourists have been arriving by air. India
has direct air link with all five continents except South America.
Over 50 international carriers fly to and through India. The
four major international airports ar Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai
and Kolkata.Other small international airports are Varanasi,
Patna (from Nepal), Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin
(Kochi). The charter flights bringing foreign tourists to the
country are now allowed to operate to Goa, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur,
and Bangalore.
Flights
from the UK and Ireland: It takes between eight-and-a-half
and eleven hours to fly from the UK direct to India.However,
most airlines route passengers through their hub city on the
way, which can double the total traveling time.
Flights
from the US and Canada: India is on the other side
of the planet from the US and Canada. If you live on the East
Coast it's somewhat shorter to go via Europe, while from the
West Coast it's quicker via the pacific, but either way it's
a long haul, involving one or more intermediate stops, and you'll
arrive fresher and less jet-lagged if you can manage to fit
in a few day's layover somewhere en route.
Flights
from Australia and New Zealand: There are no nonstop
flights to India from either Australia or New Zealand; you have
to make at least one change to plane in a Southeast Asian hub
city (usually Kuala, Lumpur, Singapore or Bangkok).
Customs
Regulation
For purpose of customs, a 'Tourist' is defined as a person not
normally resident of India, who enters India for a period up
to six month in the course of any twelve months period for legitimate
non-immigration purpose, such as touring, recreation, sports,
health, family reasons and pilgrimage.
There
are two channels for Customs clearance:
Green
Channel: Green Channel is for passengers not having
any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.
Red
Channel: Red Channel is for passengers having dutiable
articles or high value articles to be entered on Tourist Baggage
Re-Export from.
Visa
Requirements
Indian Visas are available from India Consular offices around
the world on payment. They should possess a valid National Passport
except in the case of nationals of Bhutan and Napal who may
carry only suitable means of identifications. A multi-entry
visa, valid for 180 days, is granted for the purpose of tourism.
The visa is valid for entry into India within six months form
the date of issue.
Currency
Regulations
Tourists are not allowed to bring Indian currency into the country
or take it out of the country. Unlimited amounts of foreign
currency to traveler's cheques are allowed into the country,
but any amount more than US $ 1000,should be declared on arrival
and a certificate obtained from the Customs.
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