India
India is a beautiful place with culture and colour galore unfortunately the bureaucracy makes it difficult to travel. There are various scams to avoid. The honest traveller will meet dozens of persisent and dishonest people who will use any method to attempt to make a quick dollar. The crowds are extremely difficult to navigate and just buying a train ticket will test anyone’s sanity.
- Location: Southern Asia
- Capital: New Delhi
- Climate: Varies greatly from arid desert to monsoons.
- Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
- Language: Hindi (English widely spoken)
- Related Link: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/india/
March 2, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
rohan said,
well.. in one way i do agree with you regarding the people are kind of money hungry. but that depends on the place you visit. with all due respect, basically india is 90% muslim and hindu. and these people are really old world,crooked and illiterate- i.e. rural india. Well if youd like to have a good vacation free from crowded places and other nuisance. visit the christian india..the 2 states of GOA and KERALA. famous beaches,massages,95% literacy and food. besides the value of the indian rupee is very very low.so with any foreign currency ..you could probably live like a kind or buy a whole town. white people are respected and treated with utmost respect. Its all in the culture..christian india is much more westernised in culture and tastes. please email me at rohanrp_143@hotmail.com if youd like to know more
July 24, 2007 @ 12:49 am
Ludose said,
You say “white people are respected and treated with utmost respect”, what about other races. I think India must be still be suffering from serious ‘Inferiority complex’. In this day and age, everyone should be respected and treated equally, not just the whites.
September 24, 2007 @ 5:32 am
Vasant said,
I do not agree with Rohan. Rohan seems to be a fundamentalist christian. How can say Hindu and Muslims of India are old crooket and illiterate and how can this kind of letters are published here?? Ask this fellow to get his facts right. Today there are more engineers, technologists and scientists in India than in any other country in the world. If majority hindus and muslims are illiterates, then how is it possible to have so many of these people. Please do not believe kinds of people like Rohan. India is still developing and soon will have good infrastructure and governance which will eliminate the problems faced by tourists.
October 16, 2007 @ 5:26 am
Pae Yu Thorne said,
Well, taking into account my personal experiences with indians. I wouldn’t even be surprised if India sanks in the reviews when it comes to tourism.
Even outside their country, it will be very hard to find an indian who has a welcoming personality or a potential good host. It is very natural for them to make business at everything, regardless of the legality issues…
India is a nice place… But with not so friendly people… I’m sure it will not be a good experience to have a holiday over there…. Sorry… Reality bites…
January 5, 2008 @ 6:23 am
sameer said,
Whoever comments whatever on india doesn’t make any differrence. Watch out for 2020 & india would be the number 1 nation in the world & people all over the world would be standing in queues outside indian embassy in their respective country to get tourist/business visas of India.
March 24, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Mike Gupta said,
India is not the worst place to have a holiday - it THE BEST! No place on earth offers the diversity in terms of culture, cuisine, architecture, and landscapes as India. People are only trying to get money from you because they are poor and trying to survive. Ignore them and avoid the places where they reside and you’ll be fine. One can ski in the Himalayas and sunbathe on the beaches of Goa in the same trip, and it is one tenth the price of the same experience in the U.S. I have been to India four times now, each time I love it more, and I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface. No place has the energy and dynamism of this place. If your idea of a vacation is no culture, no history, eating burgers in some closed of beach resort - then you can have it.
April 27, 2008 @ 2:42 am
jd said,
i agree with ludose. most of the indians have inferiority complex. NRI’s (indians living in foreign countries) are seen and treated as semi-Gods. we (yup, im an indian too) follow the western culture in gaudy way, speaking with fake accents, ridiculing indian music even though u secretly enjoy it… etc.
well.. this is not the topic. but if u wanna see india.. visit atleast these: taj mahal (not overrated), also worth paying visit: fatehpur sikri near agra, goa (just for fun), kerala (for relaxation), udaipur in rajasthan (much better than crowded jaipur and more beautiful) and there are lots of peaceful hillstations in himachal (avoid crowded ones like simla, manali etc.) my personal favourite: chamba and chehal. try trekking to some unspoiled greenery filled spot.
Have safe and awesome travels! bye
April 27, 2008 @ 2:42 am
ERA said,
the guy with the first comment deserves a punch in the face. such racism.
April 27, 2008 @ 2:44 am
jd said,
oh! i forgot the Golden temple in Amritsar, Punjab. Go when there is very less rush. At night it looks great.. all gold surrounded by shimmering water. Very calming.
April 27, 2008 @ 6:23 am
Jack Sand said,
rohan praises GOA–a dangerous terrible place despite its beauty–there have been so many attacks on women there in the last 20 years.The police and Government do nothing to protect the tourists against scams and women against rape–not to be all doom and gloom—but any parent who reads this—don`t let your sons and daughters take their vacation there.
April 27, 2008 @ 6:23 am
sanju said,
with all due respect Pae Yu Thorne i doubt if u’ve seen India. even if you have i bet u tried to con some indian who was up to ur trick and got the better of u..ha ha ha
April 27, 2008 @ 10:58 am
Ken said,
Pae Yu said that even outside their country it would be very hard to find an Indian who has a welcoming personality or a potential good host. Well, try South Africa. There are lots of Indians there and I would describe them as indeed having those qualities. Are you judging an entire race by a few examples?
April 27, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Rakhee said,
oh yes ! Rohan ( the first guy who wrote the comment )indeed deserves a good punch on his face ! I sure agree that india has its negative sides , but which country dont ? and ofcourse it depends on where you are going and what you ask for ! if you are dumb , people will take advantage of you anywhere n this world , wont they ? Yes , Indians ( mostly shop keepers ) they can be a lot pushy and tricky ! but which shop keepers aren’t ? but i think Pae Yu Thorne should learn to accept the diversities in India , only then if at all someday to get there, you will be able to have fun in India .after all thats what most foreigners come looking for — the cultural diversity in india ! i am born in India , and raised abroad , me and my family has seen a lot of India - frm the mighty Himalayas to the serene backwaters of kerala -to the enchanting uttaranchal - to beautiful pushkar !!! my tip would be —plan well ! get yr air/train tickets n advance , stay away from the huge line of shops selling arts , instead go to govt / handicraft shops.
April 27, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Kim Sikes said,
OK, so this location has just totally become a political platform. Get off it, and just enjoy life. One day I hope to visit here, as well…
April 27, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Joanna said,
Come on people!! What are you looking for when you visit India? My experience is limited to New Delhi and environs (including Agra) but I found the people kind and gracious and with a wild sense of humor. The shopping is great whether you are pinching pennies or money is no object. There is no end of wonderfully exotic places to visit and lots of stuff to do. Train travel is a hoot if you go 2nd or 3rd class. Great fun and a quick intro to the NOT professional or wealthy India. I will grant you that India can be intimidating for westerners but trust in God and the great good humor of the people of India and you will have a safe, wonderful, and fascinating experience. Travel in India is no harder for you than it is for the people of that lovely country. I never lacked for help, good advice, and sweet invitations to visit in private homes.
Joanna
April 27, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Priya Dahl said,
Actually, India is a very good place to visit, yes it may be a little crowded but that’s because of India’s population, and almost every indian is friendly, yes some people may be illterate, but they are learning how to read and write, the only problem is traveling. But some cities in India are really great, like Bangalore, New Delhi, Madras, Mumbai. Okay, they actullay do try to welcome tourists, but yes some indians are a bit stuck up. But come awn 1# worst place?
lame!!!! the reason some indians have a grudge against americans and others is cuz india has been ruled by the British for a long time and indians don’t know what culture is like in the U.S. and im actually from India and have been there so DO NOT TRY TO PROVE ME WRONG!!!!!!!! and the idiot with the first comment is wrong, only 76% percent are Muslim 85% are Hindu. Trust me the only thing you’ll hate about going to India is the traveling.
April 27, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Joanna said,
I couldn’t resist coming back - sorry. I believe some tourists/travelers might have problems with Indians because of their own behavior. I saw westerners (very often Americans, Australians, and South Africans) display shocking behavior. They were rude, overbearing, and contemptuous toward the people. Snotty comments about poverty, corruption, dirt, and “everyone is a thief” evoked aggressive responses. If you think it’s that bad, the same plane that brought you into the country will take you out of it. India is not an easy country for its people or for the visitor so if you are delicate, sensitive, easily intimidated, or just plain rude and obnoxious - try a different place because India is not for you. I also cannot understand why the devil Indians are sort of apologizing for their country and people. I found the people to be clever, intelligent, hard-working, and tough - completely admirable. I also found them more understanding, gracious, and kind than I ever would have imagined. Did anyone ever try to over-charge me? Yes. Had that ever happened to me anywhere else? Yes. India is spectacular, gorgeous, exotic and way different than the states of Europe. Where else can you step into a time machine by simply wandering down into Old Delhi or out to a tiny rural village? I fell hopelessly in love with the country and its people and plan/hope to go back for another three months.
**Again, if you are delicate, nervous, or obnoxious, save your money and your nerves and give Mother India a pass. She’s too tough for you.**
Joanna
April 27, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
ken said,
Joanna, the sad thing is that Americans tend to be nice, polite people while in their own country, but it seems that many of the travelling ones are the obnoxious ones. I think they think that their country is superior to every other, and they have to find fault to support that view. The same behavior that you observed by Americans in India, can be observed in Britain, France, and other first world countries where they travel too.
April 27, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
J5365B said,
Visited Eastern part of India (West Bengal & Assam) in March 08. I spent 2 weeks out there mostly touring the rural India where I was pretty much left alone from the rest of the world. Great food, great culture and I met people that were dirt poor but probably the happiest human beings in the entire world. Going back in Dec this year to explore Delhi and Agra for 1 week.
April 27, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
mike said,
first of all….”punch in the face”…..do u see the sad irony of those responses? Anyways… India is cool…like anyplace, had some good experiences and not so good experiences….i’d go back…..
April 27, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
Sheila said,
I strongly agree that India is a good place. The only reason that make it bad (regional actually) is the political situation in Kashmir. I badly want to go to Kashmir, the most beautiful place in the world.
June 24, 2008 @ 10:17 am
pb said,
Every place on this planet is nice in its own way. All human beings regardless of rich, poor, young or old are nice in their own respective ways. Most people in India or anywhere else are sane and they know how to treat others. Some crazy fellows can be found in every society. India is special in its own way. People might not say ‘Thank You’ every time but that does not mean that they do not mean it. Look closely and you can see the receiver nodding his head in one of the several ways to indicate ‘Thank You’. Try and ask for directions to one and several will be ready to help you out ‘Free of Charge’ (no Thank you expected). Try traveling in a train and you might be offered home made delicacies from someone you do not know and will probably never meet again. Women are respected in India in every way possible. Animals are respected in India. Families stay very close to each other. They do not have to say ‘I love you’ every day to each other. Its all understood. Overall, just like any other place in the world, India has its own good and bad. It is definitely a good place to go and relax.
July 6, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Sachin said,
Just cannot understand this “Indian” mentality.We proud ourself when Ambani & Mittal who are Indians,comes in the top 10 list of richest people in the world but our heads never go down when people die of hunger & starvation in uttar pradesh & bihar.We never shed a single drop of tear for poor farmers of Maharashtra & Andhra pradesh commit suicide because they are unable to payback a loan of just $250.About 100000 ppl die in accidents each year in India we dont care a damn about it.
That time we are more indulged in what bollywood actors or Indian cricketers are doing.
We proud ourself with ancient culture & heritage but whats the use of it when we see people & dogs togther in garbage dump trying to find food for themself,20% of indian population sleeping hungry.
Instead of getting in this argument of claiming that India is a good place to travel we should look at realities on the ground.
The Indian posters in this forums who are claiming that India is a next force in the world & all that crap just if they get a chance to have a green card of US or a PR of any European country will never ever look back to India.
July 7, 2008 @ 11:56 pm
ron said,
“Where else can you step into a time machine by simply wandering down into Old Delhi or out to a tiny rural village? I fell hopelessly in love with the country and its people and plan/hope to go back for another three months.”
China, Japan, Italy, Greece, and any other Continetnal European country.
I visited Jaipur, and it is a shame that the Indian govt does not preserve landmarks. It lets monkeys into the landmarks.
Pathetic
July 13, 2008 @ 4:53 am
Kashif Raza said,
i just love india the people and the seaside and many more and esha deol and kareena kapoor and ajay devgan i m there fan.
July 22, 2008 @ 11:00 am
kumar said,
India is the most corrupt place on earth