India – A Fascinating Holiday Destination

It is possibly fair to say that there is no such thing as the 'typical' India - because it is a faraway country we tend not to know very much about it and assume that everything is the same. Yet this is a country with 18 official languages together with associate languages (including English), stretching 1,800 miles from north to south (Kashmir to the Indian Ocean); and at its furthest extremities also 1,800 miles from west to east (Arunachal Pradesh to the Arabian Sea). Until recently, it was even bigger than its 1.27m square miles, as it included the territories currently home to Bangladesh and Pakistan. This means that its land is also extremely varied, comprising some of the highest mountains in the world (together with the temperatures and conditions to match), rainforests, arid deserts, mangrove swamps, flat plains; hilly and subtropical locations too.

Perhaps its most famous export to the world is its food, and a trip to India is indeed one which will be full of gastronomic wonder. It is no secret that much of the modern flavourings, spices and herbs we use in our cooking originated in India and indeed we are still importing large amounts. Each region has a distinctive identity, culture and cuisine, dependent on the local climate and religion, and if you were to plan a holiday to India you might even be advised to choose your region based on your food preference!

There are so many different places and things to see in each of the regions that you might be bewildered at first - the more one reads into the country, the more things one wants to see. Holidays in India are becoming more popular, but it still pays to do plenty of research before you set off, and be sure about what you want to do. The capital city is Delhi, and most international cheap flights swill arrive here, although significant numbers also link the world to Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta) and Mumbai (Bombay) and each in themselves offers an adequate starting point for travel in India.

If you prefer to remain in one of the main cities such as Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai, there is a great deal to occupy you, but it is of course great to escape the hustle and bustle of city life - Indian cities, while full of life, excitement and colour, are also tremendously busy. One of the hill stations in Darjeeling or Ootacamund. These were established by the British when they were in search of respite from the high temperatures in the cities and a taste of home: strawberry plantations can be found, for example.

And of course, a great way to see any country is by rail, and Indian Railways offer an Indrail pass that is valid for certain periods of time up to 90 days and are worth investing in. Often the best cultural experiences are those gained through travelling by rail.