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India will sidetrack you with its size, diversity and culture. You always need to keep your eyes open. If you are the adventurous then India is one of the most complex and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth.
Dividing India into 5 regions namely - north, south, east, west & central here is a curtain raiser for you:
NORTHERN INDIA:Here you have Delhi which is the capital of India, it's also the travel hub of northern India. It's an excellent base for visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal, and the Rajasthani colour of Jaipur is less than five hours away. If you're heading north to the Himalayas or east to the ghats of Varanasi, you'll probably pass through Delhi. So you might as well grit your teeth, hold your breath and dive on in. Needless to mention Khajuraho, the erotic temples, is also a short distance away.
16 years after Delhi was inaugurated as the nation's capital, Delhi was torched during the trauma of Partition. In a matter of weeks it was transformed from a Muslim-dominated city of less than a million inhabitants to a largely Hindu city of almost two million. Today, very few city residents can lay claim to being 'real' Delhi-wallahs, and most of the population of New Delhi comprises Hindu Punjabi families originally from Lahore.
Since Independence, Delhi has prospered as the capital of India and is a big influence on other states in the north. In the past decade, its population has increased by 50%, largely due to rapid economic expansion and increased job opportunities. The downside of this boom is increased overcrowding, traffic congestion, housing shortages and pollution.
Delhi is India's major gateway for all international flights and there are domestic flights from Delhi to all major Indian destinations. Some of the other domestic airports in the region are at Agra, Jaipur, Srinagar, Varanasi & Khajuraho. Popular bus routes head into Rajasthan via Jaipur, and to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh & Uttaranchal at the foothills of the Himalayas. Delhi is an important rail centre and New Delhi Railway Station is an easy place to make bookings. Useful long-distance trains head in all directions across the sub continent
States in Northern India - Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Punjab, & Haryana.
SOUTHERN INDIA:Chennai & Bangalore are the major metropolitans in the south of India. Chennai is the gateway to the south. A comparatively peaceful area as even in the past eras it was this area that never attracted any invasions or real wars.
A highly progressive region be it heavy industry in Chennai; IT, Scientific & Research in Bangalore and tourism becoming the main stay in the entire southern region. Also you have the state of Kerala with the famous Backwaters & Ayurveda/Rejuvenation Tours. Most of this region are coastal belts and touring these areas is a unforgettable experience. Tamil Nadu is popular because of temples & cultural tourism.
With international airports at both Chennai & Bangalore it makes it very convenient. At the same time frequent domestic flights from all the other major cities around India makes this region very accessible. Other airports in the region are at Madurai, Hyderabad, Thiruvanthapuram & Cochin.
Southern India covers states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh & Pondicherry
EASTERN INDIA:East India is rich in Cultural Heritage and Kolkata (originally Calcutta) as the gateway. Kolkata generally evokes strong emotions, it is a city where there are extremes of riches and abject poverty.
Kolkata has an international airport and other airports in the region are at Bhubaneshwar, Bihar, Bagdogra, Guwahati and Puri.
You have a variety in temples, monasteries and the buddhist circuit for visitors in this region.
Most Popular tourist destinations for this region are - Kolkata the former capital of India, Puri & Bhubaneshwar. The Buddhist Circuit in Bihar, Monastries in Sikkim, Kanchenjunga range of mountains in Darjeeling.
East India consists of states like Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland & Tripura
WESTERN INDIA:Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the Commercial Capital of India and the gateway for the western part of the country.
Mumbai is the glamour of Bollywood cinema and cricket on the maidans on weekends. An island connected by bridges to the mainland, Mumbai is the industrial hub of everything from textiles to petrochemicals and responsible for half of India's foreign trade.
With an international airport considered as one of the busiest in the country, you remain well connected. Other airports in the region are at Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Nagpur & Jaipur. Two railway systems operate out of Mumbai. Central Railway handles services to the east and south, plus a few trains to the north. Western Railway has services to the north from Churchgate and Central stations.
The seven islands that now form Mumbai were first home to the Koli fisher folk whose shanties still occupy parts of the city shoreline today. Mumbai soon developed as a trading port thanks to its fine harbour and the number of merchants who were attracted from other parts of India by the British in promise of religious freedom and land grants.
Mumbai’s fort was built in the 1720s, and soon after land reclamation projects began the century-long process of joining the seven islands into a single land mass.
Mumbai leapt into the new millennium determined to become the most populous city in the world by 2020, when it might hold as many as 28.5 million people. This upcoming stature is, however, of little comfort to the 50% of the city's inhabitants who presently still live without water or electricity. It's hoped that the satellite city of New Mumbai which is taking shape on the mainland, will relieve some of the pressures on the urban environment.
Western India is popular because of - Mumbai, Goa (for its beaches & laid back life), Rann of Kutch / wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat. Aurangabad for the Ajanta & Ellora caves & Pune the retired man’s abode, and last but not the least the State of Rajasthan - with the cities of Jaipur / Udaipur / Jodhpur / Jaisalmer / Ranthambore (wildlife) / Bikaner all vibrant in colours.
CENTRAL INDIA:
The largest state Madhya Pradesh is the only area of Central India. Of tourist interest you have destinations like Bhopal the capital city, Indore for it’s temples, Khajuraho (erotic temples), Gwalior, Orcha, Shivpuri, Kanha & Bandhavgarh (wildlife sanctuaries), Jabalpur (famous for it’s marble rocks)
Airports are at Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur & Khajuraho. This state being in the centre is very well connected by rail to all parts of the country.
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