Of all the countries in the world, most likely, it is India that is capable of turning a person’s worldview around, forever changing his idea of life, death, and happiness. Traveling through this large and colorful country, you can see so much that the trip can replace a trip around the world for a tourist.
To the traveler who is about to travel independent travel to the land of a thousand secrets and a million riddles, it’s worth a little preparation for the trip. Many Europeans, arriving in India unprepared, experience severe culture shock, which spoils all impressions of this country. It's all about the attitude of Indians to the material world: they do not consider it worthy of attention. Therefore, many Europeans, upon arrival in the country, are struck by dirty streets, littered water bodies, and the abundance of beggars and homeless people on the streets. The main thing here is to be able to discern all the treasures of a rich culture so different from ours. Be able to see stars reflected in a puddle. However, soon the shock passes, and the person begins to see, think, and feel differently. And all the treasures of Indian history and modernity will be left exclusively positive impressions: the taste of masala tea, the aroma of temple incense, the Taj Mahal shimmering in the pink haze and a smiling street preacher...
Although accommodation and food are very cheap in India, you have to come to terms with high travel costs as well as visa fee in the amount of 60 US dollars.
Visa
The Indian Republic has made an attempt to save tourists from many countries, including Russia, from communicating with bureaucrats or smiling and money-loving employees of travel agencies and visa centers when obtaining a regular tourist visa. An entry permit for a period of no more than 30 days can be obtained online by filling out a form on the website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html.
To obtain permission, you will need to upload your photo to the website, as well as a scan of your passport in pdf format. This must be done at least 5 days before the trip, but it is better to do it earlier, since the system does not always work flawlessly. Here you can pay the consular fee - $60. You can pay for the service with VISA or Master Card.
You can also obtain a visa in the usual way: at consulates, visa centers or through mediation travel companies. All of these methods will result in higher costs.
Road
You can fly from Moscow to the Indian capital of Delhi by Aeroflot ships, as well as on planes of ETIHAD and TURKISH AIRLINES. The last two offer travel with a transfer, but are cheaper. The leading domestic carrier guarantees direct and non-stop flights, but charges a little more for speed.
Direct flight (6 hours in the sky) - from 322 euros round trip, with a transfer to Abu Dhabi (ETIHAD) - from 290 euros, but the journey takes 12 hours or more (waiting at the airport - 3 hours or more).
Turkish airlines also offer inexpensive tickets, but political motives, as well as the unstable situation in Istanbul, may scare away domestic tourists from the services of this, by the way, very good airline.
Housing
Even in the capital fairyland You can find a double room in a hotel with all amenities - from 4 euros per night. Of course, you shouldn’t expect a European level from an establishment, but it’s quite suitable for a tourist who can do without breakfast in the room and a safe.
The hotel, offering double rooms from 15 to 20 euros, provides clients with quite European comfort and amenities.
In principle, there are thousands of excellent hotels in India that do not have their own website, are not in the database of hotel reservation systems, but offer good accommodation conditions. Many experienced tourists do not reserve rooms in advance and travel at random, which allows them to save even more. But for those traveling to India for the first time, it is still better to reserve accommodation in advance.
Apartments in Delhi or Mumbai can be found for 15-17 euros/day. Living with a Hindu family can be an unforgettable cultural experience. This service costs from 16 euros per day, including breakfast. In addition to all the usual amenities, this type of accommodation will provide you with good advisers and even guides through the most interesting places cities of India.
Nutrition
Indian cuisine consists of rice, vegetables, dairy products, nuts and honey. Not everyone in the country eats meat, but in many restaurants you can see dishes made from lamb, goat, and poultry (chicken, goose, duck, turkey) on the menu. The abundance of fruit is simply magnificent, and you can get freshly squeezed juices everywhere.
And now about the main thing: the amount of spices in Indian dishes is simply unimaginable for a European person. When ordering any dish except dessert and water, you must add the magic words: “But spicy, please!” (no spices please). This does not mean at all that the served dish will be bland, far from it. It’s just that in this case they will bring you food that you can eat and admire a completely unique flavor bouquet.
Absolutely everything is delicious in India. Many Europeans are discovering vegetarianism, amazed by the abundance delicious dishes from fruits, nuts, vegetables and dairy products. Oriental sweets and spices with a unique “ensemble” of aromas are so different from the usual and familiar ones that a culinary adventure will be almost as vivid as an acquaintance with ancient culture.
If you eat in cafes, snack bars and small restaurants for local residents, then you won’t have to spend more than 5-6 euros per person per day.
Having chosen establishments for tourists, add 3-4 euros to the indicated amount, and if you want to indulge in local whiskey or rum for dinner, then add a couple more euros to the amount. As a result, we get that, even without denying yourself anything, you won’t have to spend more than 10-12 euros a day on food.
What to try?
To list all the famous Indian dishes, you will need several dozen pages of text, but you can highlight the “magnificent ten” dishes that you simply must try:
- Dal is a lentil stew richly flavored with spices. The basis of the diet of more than half of the vast country. The most inexpensive and accessible dish. Among the main advantages: satisfying, healthy and inexpensive;
- Palak Paneer is the most delicate cheese in spinach sauce, there are many varieties of this dish, but only one thing remains the same - excellent taste;
- Sabji is an incredibly common vegetable stew with rice and flatbread. A vegetarian masterpiece;
- Tandoori chicken is marinated chicken baked in a special oven. The dish is spicy, but unleavened rice and flatbreads “even out” the situation. Tasty!
- Chapati is the most common type of bread. It looks like a flatbread that reveals all its flavor characteristics along with any sauce;
- Thali - it’s difficult to call it a dish. When you order a Thali, you get a plate with flatbreads, rice, vegetables, sauces - a great lunch;
- Gajar Ka - halwa made from ordinary carrots and almonds, a favorite delicacy in the north of the country;
- Samosa - fried pies with vegetable or curd filling;
- Raita is a cold vegetable soup prepared on the basis of yogurt; the exotic okroshka is especially good in hot weather, especially in summer.
When traveling around India, you can eat in European restaurants, where the dishes will be familiar. But it is better to order fish delicacies if the restaurant is located by the sea. In this case, the freshness of fish products is guaranteed. Experienced travelers do not recommend eating fish in India from May to August, when the weather is very hot.
Dal - lentil stew Main attractions
Agree that in a country where there are about hundreds of thousands of ancient temples, palaces, monuments, and sanctuaries, it is difficult to determine what to visit first. Tourist guides offer many sites and routes to suit every taste, but they all include several sites in the list that are simply impossible to miss:
- Delhi - you can spend two days in the capital, or you can explore it for several weeks. You should definitely visit Lal Qila or the red fort - the citadel-palace, the imperial residence of the rulers, the main historical building of the city (entrance - 2 euros, evening light and sound show - additional 0.67 euros); Qut Minar is an ancient mosque, of which only the minaret remains. The main object is a mysterious iron column, which has not corroded at all in 1,500 years (entrance: 3.30 euros); Lakshmi Narayan is a modern Hindu temple, opened in the mid-twentieth century;
- Agra (2 hours from the capital by train, ticket - 9.40 euros one way) - the main thing here is the tomb of the wife of Shah Jihan (Taj Mahal). Entrance fee - 10 euros;
- Ajanta - cave temple complex, a place to find the path to liberation from suffering: ancient paintings, Buddha statues, huge halls and narrow cells (entry - 3.30 euros, from Mumbai to Aurangabad by train, 4.5 hours, 3.50 euros one way; then by bus - 0.20 euros, 20 minutes);
- Mumbai - a city of museums and markets, vibrant and eventful night life, one of the most modern cities in the country, Indian Hollywood, there is a lot of interesting things, but it’s difficult to see the real India here;
- Varanasi - City of dead, a place of funeral pyres, cleansing from all sins and mourning ceremonies. The spectacle is quite specific, as are the aromas that reign in the city. But you cannot know India without visiting Varanasi. From Delhi by train it takes 11 hours, a ticket starts from 4 euros one way;
- Kolkata - it’s simply nice to walk along the central streets of the old city, look into the temple of the goddess Kali, visit the Kumar Tuli artisans quarter, buy a small figurine of one of the many gods, and relax in the Maidan Park. The city has a reputation cultural capital India, although it makes a depressing impression on many Europeans, but after a few days of living, the vast areas of slums no longer seem so scary, and numerous museums and exhibition halls will help fill your stay with vivid emotions and pleasant memories.
The list is far from complete. In all major cities In India, you can find an experienced and knowledgeable guide from local residents who, for a nominal fee of 3-5 euros, will show their hometown from the most unexpected side, help you bypass the queues at museums and palaces, and provide a comfortable place in the temple during services.
Important!
When traveling to a country of magnificent temples and palaces, we must not forget that there are some peculiarities of hygiene and behavior in India. Take simple but useful things with you:
- Wet disinfectant wipes;
- Activated carbon and antiacid (Gastal type);
- Hydrogen peroxide tablets;
- Patch.
Do not drink water from the tap or from waterpots. Only in store bought bottles.
Have an unforgettable experience!
The Indian state of Goa stretches across west coast countries near Indian Ocean. Geographically and historically it is divided into northern and southern parts. Where is the best place to relax in Goa? Let's try to figure it out.
Separates Northern and South Goa Zauri River. The state's infrastructure is also divided along this geographic line. Indeed, completely different categories of tourists prefer to relax in the north and south.
North Goa and South Goa differ from each other in energy and atmospheric charge, because young people prefer to relax in the north, and wealthy couples with children prefer to relax in the south.
Discussions about where is the best place to relax in Goa continue to this day. It all depends on your temperament and what you want to get from your holiday in this blessed place. In the end, only you decide where it is better to go to Goa.
This place was opened for recreation in the 60s of the last century by representatives of the hippie movement. And today North Goa is preferred by lovers of hiking, wild parties and discos until the morning.
Those who are looking for new, unusual experiences and discoveries come here. Previously, it was a real Mecca for students, moneyless people, fans of Hinduism, students of the Vedas, etc. The Beatles visited here in the 60s.
Where is the best place to relax in North Goa? First of all, this part of the state is famous for its beaches, where there are always a lot of young people and other easy-going people.
It should be remembered that in North Goa there are no very expensive and modern hotels with service at top level. Here everything is much simpler and more democratic, closer to an ordinary student. This is how North Goa differs from South Goa.
If you are wondering where to go to Goa, then from the point of view of the cost of a vacation, the best place, of course, is in this part of the state. Here you can find the most low prices and completely merge with the magnificent Indian nature.
Beaches of North Goa
1.Arambol
This business card north of the state. Arambol is the most famous among tourists, so it is always full of people. Tourists can enjoy cafes, bars, inexpensive hotels, shops and stalls.
Arambol has a magnificent market called the Drum Circle. Every evening a local youth crowd gathers here and watches the sunset. One of the best places where you can have an inexpensive holiday in Goa.
2.Mandrem
And this beach is most often chosen by newlyweds or families with children. There are many small lagoons - natural seawater pools - where children can bathe, and they absolutely love it.
Mandrem is one of the best holiday destinations in Goa. In addition to inexpensive infrastructure, it offers tourists magnificent sand, a gently sloping seabed with virtually no rocks and an extraordinary sunset in the evenings.
3.Morjim
This beach is also called Moscow-beach, because... Most vacationers here speak Russian. In served in local cafes Authentic Russian cuisine predominates in food and drinks in bars and bars. And the music sounds purely domestic.
On this beach Goa is better This is a Russian holiday, but you should remember that it is considered quite expensive. But here you can go windsurfing or kiting – the weather is favorable.
4.Calangute
This North Goa beach has the most developed tourist infrastructure: cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, sun loungers, umbrellas, etc. The beach completely meets all modern requirements.
Calangute is always full of vacationers; here you can enjoy water sports or just soak up the sun. Tourists will be pleased with the fine and clean sand, flat bottom and transparent sea water off the coast.
5.Candolim
This beach is a wonderful “golden mean” for those who cannot decide where to go to Goa. In its spirit, Candolim is closer to South Goa. It is comfortable, sophisticated and secular, and has a tourist infrastructure.
It so happened that we arrived in the small, relatively secluded town of Rewalsar in the Himalayas quite late, so late that the small, sleepy and lazy provincial hotels had a hard time bothering with our check-in. The hotel owners shrugged their shoulders, shook their heads and waved their hands somewhere towards the night and slammed the doors in our faces. But we were willingly, although not free of charge, accepted to live in a guest house on the territory of the Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the shore of the lake.
As is often the case in Tibetan places, our meeting and accommodation were handled by a Hindu, since it is not appropriate for Tibetan monks to deal with monetary and worldly matters. In addition, the monastery had been immersed in the darkness of night for several hours, and the monks needed to get enough sleep so that tomorrow early in the morning they would have to go to meditation with a cheerful and pious face. The Indian who gave us the keys to the hotel room told us about this and other sorrows of the world, and in order to somehow console himself, he insistently recommended that we attend this event at seven in the morning.
The main topics are below: buses and trains, air tickets and visas, health and hygiene, safety, choosing a route, hotels, food, required budget. The relevance of this text is spring 2017.
Hotels
“Where will I live there?” - for some reason this question is very, simply terribly annoying for those who have not yet traveled to India. There is no such problem. There are a dime a dozen hotels there. The main thing is to choose. Next we are talking about inexpensive, budget hotels.
In my experience, there are three main ways to find a hotel.
Spiral
Typically you will arrive at new town by bus or train. So there is almost always a great mass of hotels around them. Therefore, it is enough to move a little away from the place of arrival and start walking in a circle with an increasingly larger radius in order to come across many hotels. Inscriptions "Hotel" throughout large parts of India, it indicates a place where you can eat, so the main landmarks are signs "Guest house" And "Lounge".
In areas of mass idleness (Goa, resorts of Kerala, the Himalayas) private sector, well, like here on the Black Sea coast. There you can inquire about housing from the local population and follow the signs " Rent"In Buddhist places you can live in monasteries, in Hindu places in ashrams.
The further you go from the bus station or railway station, the lower the prices, but hotels are becoming less and less common. So you look at several hotels that are acceptable in price and quality and return to the chosen one.
If you are traveling in a group, then you can send one or two people lightly to find a hotel while the rest wait at the station with their things.
If the hotel refuses and says that the hotel is only for Indians, then insisting on check-in is practically useless.
Ask a taxi driver
For those who have a lot of luggage or are simply too lazy to look. Or you want to settle near a landmark, for example, the Taj Mahal, and not near the train station. Even in large cities there are places where tourists traditionally gather: in Delhi it is Main Bazaar, in Calcutta it is Sader Street, in Bombay it is also called something, but I forgot, that is, you have to go there in any case.
In this case, find an auto-rickshaw or taxi driver and set the task of where you want to live, in what conditions and for what approximately money. In this case, they can sometimes take you to the desired hotel for free, and even show you several places to choose from. It is clear that the price immediately increases; there is no point in haggling, since the taxi driver’s commission is already included in the price. But sometimes, when you are lazy or in the middle of the night, using this method can be very convenient.
Book online
This is for those who like certainty and guarantees, more comfort and less adventure.
Well, if you book in advance, then book hotels of higher quality and not too cheap (at least $30-40 per room), because otherwise there is no guarantee that in reality everything will be as wonderful as in the photographs. They also complained to me that sometimes they came to booked hotel, and the rooms, despite the reservation, were already occupied. The hotel owners were not embarrassed, they said that a client came with money, and the client with cash did not have the willpower to refuse. The money was returned, of course, but it’s still a shame.
Finding, checking into and staying in budget Indian hotels can be an adventure in itself, a source of fun and sometimes not so fun memories. But there will be something to tell you at home later.
Settlement technology
- Free yourself from the presence of “Hindu assistants” and barkers, their presence automatically increases the cost of accommodation.
- Go to a hotel that seems worthy of you and ask how much it costs and decide whether it’s worth living there, at the same time you have time to evaluate the interior and helpfulness.
- Be sure to ask to see the room before checking in, show your dissatisfaction and indignation with all your appearance, ask to see another room, most likely it will be better. This can be done several times, achieving ever better placement conditions.
Those who are interested in the energy of Osho and Buddha, meditation and India, we invite you all on a journey to the places where the greatest mystic of the 20th century Osho was born, lived the first years of his life and gained enlightenment! In one trip we will combine the exoticism of India, meditation, and absorb the energy of Osho’s places!
The tour plan also includes visits to Varanasi, Bodhgaya and possibly Khajuraho (subject to availability of tickets)
Key travel destinations
Kuchvada
A small village in central India, where Osho was born and lived for the first seven years, surrounded and cared for by his loving grandparents. There is still a house in Kuchwad that remains exactly as it was during Osho’s lifetime. Also next to the house there is a pond, on the banks of which Osho loved to sit for hours and watch the endless movement of reeds in the wind, funny games and flights of herons over the surface of the water. You will be able to visit Osho's house, spend time on the banks of the pond, stroll through the village, and absorb that serene spirit of rural India, which undoubtedly had an initial influence on the formation of Osho.
In Kuchvad there is a fairly large and comfortable ashram under the patronage of sannyasins from Japan, where we will live and meditate.
A short video of the “emotional impression” of visiting Kuchvada and Osho’s house.
Gadarwara
At the age of 7, Osho and his grandmother moved to his parents in small town Gadarwara, where he spent his school years. By the way, the school class where Osho studied still exists, and there is even a desk where Osho sat. You can go into this class and sit at the desk where our beloved master spent so much time in his childhood. Unfortunately, getting into this class is a matter of chance and luck, depending on which teacher teaches in the class. But in any case, you can walk along the streets of Gadarvara, visit the primary and high school, the house where Osho lived, Osho’s favorite river...
And most importantly, on the outskirts of the city there is a quiet, small and cozy ashram, where there is a place where, at the age of 14, Osho experienced a deep experience of death.
Video from Osho Ashram in Gadarwara
Jabalpur
A large city with more than a million inhabitants. In Jabalpur, Osho studied at the university, then worked there as a teacher and became a professor, but the main thing is that at the age of 21 he gained enlightenment, which happened to him in one of the parks of Jabalpur, and the tree under which this happened still grows old place.In Jabalpur we will live in a quiet and cozy ashram with a magnificent park.
From the ashram it is easy to get to Marble Rocks- a natural wonder where Osho loved to spend time during his stay in Jabalpur.
Varanasi
Varanasi is famous for its cremation pyres, which burn day and night. But it also has a surprisingly pleasant promenade, famous temple Kashi Vishwanath, boat rides on the Ganges. Located near Varanasi small village Sarnath, famous for the fact that Buddha gave his first sermon there, and the first listeners were ordinary deer.
bodhgaya
Buddha's Enlightenment Place. In the main temple of the city, which is surrounded by a beautiful and vast park, a tree still grows in the shade of which Buddha gained enlightenment.
In addition, in Bodhgaya there are many different Buddhist temples erected by followers of Buddha from many countries: China, Japan, Tibet, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma... Each temple has its own unique architecture, decoration, and ceremonies.
Khajuraho
Khajuraho itself is not directly connected with Osho, except that Osho often mentioned the tantric temples of Khajuraho, and his grandmother was directly related to Khajuraho.
Many resorts in the Indian state of Goa can offer a good beach holiday, but I advise you to pay attention to its northern part, namely a resort like Arambol. This is very interesting and a nice place, creative people often come here to communicate with like-minded people, but there are also plenty of ordinary tourists. There are no luxury hotels in this area, but you don’t need them, since it’s a waste of money; you’ll still spend most of your time outside the hotel (what’s the point of going to India and staying in a hotel). Most often, tourists stay in guesthouses, where the cost of accommodation starts from about $15 per night. The better the services and the closer the accommodation is to the beach, the more expensive it is. The largest influx of tourists occurs in December and January. At this time, prices in guesthouses almost double.
The beach of this resort is considered the most crowded in all of North Goa, but this does not mean that there are so many people that there is nowhere for an apple to fall (even in the midst of tourist season Finding a free place will not be a big problem). The length of the beach is several kilometers, and the sand on it is fine and pleasant to the touch. In the evenings, various parties, discos and performances are held on the beach. All this is accompanied by live music. The beach is cleaned both by the owners of cafes, restaurants and other establishments, and by public utilities, so the cleanliness is at a good level.
The advantages of this place can be described for a long time, but you chose an extremely unfortunate time for relaxation, and this applies not only to Goa, but also to the entire resort of India. July and August are the main peak of the rainy season and unlike many others exotic countries This period in India is accompanied by heavy (heavy) rains and winds. In such conditions, there is no question of any beach holiday and there is a high probability that you will spend most of your holiday in a hotel room. If you like waves, rain and wind, then you can go, but based on your question, this is not the case. Experienced tourists say that a trip to India in the summer is for beach holiday- This is money thrown away. For the month of July in Goa, on average there are 24-27 rainy days. Raincoats and umbrellas can protect you from rain, but they will not protect you from strong winds. There is no beach holiday at this time, except that it rains and the waves are raging, the sea becomes very dirty, as well as the beaches, and this in turn creates unsanitary conditions and the possibility of catching some kind of infectious disease. Only a few people decide to go into the water during this period (mostly local population). It is also not possible to go on excursions due to the fact that many roads are washed out, and traveling on bikes, which are the main means of transportation in India, becomes very dangerous.
Even on dry days, you should not hope for the sun to appear, since throughout the rainy season it is hidden behind clouds. For a beach holiday in India you need to go from about the beginning of November to the end of March.
In addition, it is worth considering that in low season getting to Indian resorts is possible only with transfers, since there are simply no direct flights, and this entails additional inconvenience.
Sometimes tourists hope that in the low season they can relax much cheaper than in the high season. But considering that we are talking about India, you shouldn’t count on significant savings, since the money saved on housing and food will have to be spent on travel.
India is a country with a variable climate: from the end of May to the beginning of October, it inevitably finds itself at the mercy of tropical downpours.
As the rainy season continues, the flow of tourists to local resorts dwindles and life seems to slow down.
But in mid-autumn, as soon as dry, sunny and hot weather sets in across the country, everything around becomes lively. The sea becomes friendly and calm, many cafes and shops that were closed during the rainy season open. The months from October to April are the best time to visit best resorts India and see the country in all its splendor.
India is an amazingly multifaceted and original country, each resort of which bears its imprint. ancient history and culture. Here are famous Ayurvedic centers and clinics, amazingly beautiful beaches, impressive architectural monuments and awe-inspiring sacred places. That’s why, even if you choose one specific region for travel, you won’t be able to—and won’t want to—limit yourself to just one type of vacation.
So where are best places for holidays in India and why are they so interesting?
Goa
A lot has been written about them, as well as about their main similarity – beautiful beaches, as if straight out of an advertising picture. Perhaps this is where the most famous and popular resorts India by the sea: Majorda, Palolem, Cavelossim, Cansalium, Colva, Calangute, Vagator, Mandrem, Arambol.
Peculiarities: South Goa is traditionally positioned as a place of calmer, respectable and luxurious holidays, while North Goa is traditionally positioned as a more “party”, youth and democratic destination. There are more entertainment and conditions for a comfortable trip in the resorts of South Goa, which, however, does not mean that they are absent in Goa North. And the beaches are equally good in both regions of this state.
Interesting: On the territory of Goa there is the largest Indian waterfall - Dudhsagar, and the smallest reserve - Bandla. Other attractions worth seeing are ancient temples and fortresses, spice plantations and colorful local markets. There is one in Goa amazing place, where, regardless of the time of year, you can often hear Russian speech. It's called Morjim. There are many people from the CIS in this resort, and therefore there are Russian guest houses, restaurants and other establishments.
Suitable for: beach, excursion holiday and tours with children.
Kerala
Goa is always popular, but there is an even more beautiful resort in India by the sea with palm trees and snow-white beaches. This is Kerala - “one of ten paradises world" (according to National Geographic) and "God's personal country" (according to the Indians themselves). The list of main resorts in the state is as follows: Trivandrum, Varkala, Kovalam.
Peculiarities: All the names given to Kerala reflect the heavenly beauty of these wonderful places: nature reserves and parks, beaches, mountains and cliffs, lagoons and lakes. The state is considered the most tranquil and comfortable in India and has an extremely developed tourism infrastructure. There is literally everything here: from luxury hotels to restaurants, shops and other establishments. The only not very pleasant nuance concerns the sea - in some areas it can be turbulent and it is unsafe to swim there.
Interesting: Almost every local resort is a kind of Ayurvedic center where you can try traditional Indian practices in the treatment of various ailments. To do this, you can go, for example, to Pallakad or Kovalam.
Rules in Kerala communist party, and therefore propaganda posters and other similar paraphernalia are often found here. The legendary Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum is definitely worth a visit. ancient city Madurai, Fort Kochi, and also visit numerous nature reserves And national parks with untouched, wild nature.
Suitable for: beach and sightseeing holidays, eco-tourism and photo tourism, medical and health (Ayurvedic) tours, traveling with children.
Gujarat
Where else is a beach holiday possible in India, besides Goa and Kerala? Of course, in the state of Gujarat - here is the longest in India coastline(1600 km). However, it is worth mentioning that places for swimming here need to be chosen carefully because it is not always calm sea and muddy water. Among the most popular beaches include Gopnath, Dwarka, Ahmedpur Mandvi, Diu, Somnath, Chorwad, Mandvi.
Peculiarities: Gujarat is the most vegetarian state in India. For example, it is on its territory that Palitana is located - a city in which meat dishes are completely prohibited, and it is impossible to find fish and eggs for sale. However, in general in India there are few places where you can see beef on the table - the cuisine of Gujarat will not be an exception. There are vegetarian establishments on every corner here, but you will have to look for a menu with meat dishes.
Interesting: Gujarat has preserved the natural habitats of the Asiatic lion, four-horned antelope and some other rare animals. Therefore, tourists first of all strive to visit nature reserves and national parks in the state: Lake Nalsowar and Flamingo Island, the Rann of Kutch and Sasan Gir parks, and the marine national park.
One of the world's largest dinosaur excavations (in Balasinore and Kutch) is recognized as an exceptional local attraction. And of course, you cannot ignore the impressive ancient temples and fortresses.
Suitable for: excursion and beach holidays, photo and ecotourism, gastronomic tour.
Last minute tours to India
All resorts in India - location on the map
Goa, Kerala and Gujarat are just a small part of where you can organize a luxury holiday in India, where it is better to go and what to see in this amazing country. Other, slightly less popular, but no less beautiful destinations include Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, as well as the islands of Bangaram, Kadmat and Agatti. And if you are interested not in beach, but ski tour, feel free to travel to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. There is a lot of snow here, and the ski slopes are excellent.
