India Hotels

Gandhinagar is the serene capital of the westernmost Indian state of Gujarat. Built as a planned city, Gandhinagar makes an interesting contrast to the nearby sprawling metropolitan hub of Ahmedabad. In the capital, you can find politicians’ houses, wide boulevards and a sense of order that might prove shocking to travelers who have spent a significant amount of time on the subcontinent.

Traveler's checks are not as popular as they used to be, due to the widespread presence of internationalized ATMs around the world. However, the old-fashioned traveler's check still has its uses, especially in a place like India. ATM cards can be lost, stolen or damaged, and replacing an ATM card so far from your home bank is a difficult and time-consuming process. Some parts of rural India do not have ATMs yet, and sometimes the local ATM is just plain broken. For travel in India, traveler's checks continue to offer a useful hedge against unfortunate and unplanned-for circumstances.

Bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal, East India is made up of the four states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand. Although the name suggests it, it is actually not the easternmost region of India; that designation goes to Northeast India, an ethnically distinct area flanked by Burma, Tibet and Bhutan.

The market for culinary tourism to India is growing as the country’s culinary traditions continue to garner increasing international attention. Cooking classes, both formal and included in home stays, are a favorite activity among foreign visitors. India’s broad culinary culture reflects influences of Persian, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. India is home to a multidimensional and eclectic mix of cultures resulting in a variety of food traditions. There is no single dish that represents the country; rather, Indian culinary traditions vary greatly from region to region.

Home to a population of more than a billion and one of the world's fast-growing economies, India is a prime spot for tourism, no matter your end goal or primary interest. With dozens of languages, landscapes and cultural lineages, there is no succinct way to describe what you'll find when you arrive in India. This being said, you should keep several aspects of tourism in India in mind prior to your visit, your itinerary notwithstanding.

India is home to many of the remaining Royal Bengal tigers, of which only an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 remain in the wild. Since the 1970s, the Indian government has put tiger protection programs in place to create 27 tiger reserves throughout the country. Nowadays, tiger safaris are a popular tourist activity in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserves where tigers make their homes.

Sustainable tourism supports travel that is ecologically maintainable in the long term, promotes indigenous cultures and works with locals to see that the tourism industry benefits their villages and towns directly. Not all tourism in India is sustainable, and certain tourist hot spots like Goa have been damaged by irresponsible tourism and development. Three ways to engage in responsible tourism in India are village home stays, wildlife ecotourism and tribal tourism.

The treatments of Ayurveda, an Indian practice of medicine dating back 4,000 years, generates big bucks in India. It is most strongly identified with the southwestern state of Kerala, described by India's Association of Medical Tourism as the home of the "most famous Ayurveda Shalas" and "the only State in India, which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication." Yet ayurvedic treatments of one type are another are joined at the hip with the wider tourist industry in India, to such an extent that Ayurveda of some form or another is literally everywhere. Still, there is a big difference between a relaxing oil massage and proper therapy, so if you want more than a little pampering, you need to go to the right place to get it.

From bustling modern metropolises to ancient temples, the high peaks of the Himalayas to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea, India is a colorful and diverse country popular with tourists from all over the world. Historic sightseeing, adventure travel and cultural vacations are all popular forms of tourism in India, and many of the country's top destinations enjoy international renown.

Home of Buddha, Gandhi and the seat of the Dali Lama, India has long draw certain types of tourists as a pilgrimage location. But with over 4,000 miles of coastline, a portion of the Himalayas and megalopolises like Bombay and Delhi, there are many other attractions to draw tourists. As a young country, having gained independence from Britain in 1947, India is in the midst of the process of honing, developing and expending its tourism industry and messaging.

Goa is the Indian equivalent of the Riviera. Foreigners and domestic travelers alike flock to Goa's coastal towns to soak up the sun and the scene at India's most popular beaches. Visitors looking for a quiet retreat in a small village or an alternative to overpriced chain hotels rely on the region's guesthouses for accommodations.

While the more metropolitan portions of India are catching up to the West in terms of modernization, the majority of India still remains rural and untouched. With a growing interest in maintaining the indigenous culture of the country, tourism groups inside India and abroad are working to preserve the ancient quality of the lands by traveling responsibility. India's tourism industry features a variety of responsible providers to please even the most discerning travelers.

Tourism is the largest service industry in India. Government figures show tourism contributes 6.23 percent of GDP and accounts for 8.78 percent of jobs. The World Travel & Tourism Council has predicted that tourism in India will continue to sustain steady growth. The Ministry of Tourism is the primary driving force behind tourism development in India, and it manages many of the country's tourism enterprises.

From a sporting point of view, India offers travelers a diverse selection of outdoor adventures, from its snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the north to the rainbow of corals off its tropical islands in the southeastern and southwestern seas. However, the bulk of India's people have little interest in these pursuits and are instead fixated on the game of cricket, making catching a cricket match a genuinely Indian sports experience.

India is the birthplace of yoga and Ayurveda nearly 5,000 years ago. So people visit the country from all over the world seeking wellness advice at retreat centers that specialize in these ancient methods. Ayurveda is a method of healing that aims to keep the body healthy by balancing vata, pitta and kapha, the body's three energies, also known as doshas. Ayurveda is a sister practice to yoga. Whether you have a particular ailment that you would like to cure or you're just looking for holistic wellness, you'll find a range of health sanctuaries dotting the nation.

Nainital is a hill station in northern India’s Kumaon region. Set in a steep valley near a picturesque volcanic lake, Nainital has long been a popular retreat destination for city dwellers looking to get away from the heat of the plains.

With more than 4,700 miles of coastline on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, India has a staggering and diverse array of beaches. On the one hand there is Goa, an international beach destinations that attracts 2 million visitors every year. On the other are the sometimes overlooked beaches of Orissa, combining lovely stretches of white sand with the exotic culture India is famous for.

Rich colors, inventive regional cuisines and a mix of old and new draw visitors to India. India's tourism continues to grow as visitors come to see the remains of ancient civilizations, pilgrimage to marble-constructed temples, view some of the world's endangered animals and receive medical treatment at lower costs than their home country.

India is a predominantly rural country, with over seven million villages and less than 30 million of its population considered urbanized. Recognizing India’s opportunity to provide rural travel experiences to local and international tourists, the government of India has chosen 31 specific villages across the country to serve as destinations for its Explore Rural India Campaign. While these 31 destinations are more easily accessible and have a more fully developed tourist infrastructure, there are also millions of other villages throughout rural India to explore.

Central India is made up Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, two states that were one until Chhattisgarh separated in the year 2000. The region is home to Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and tribal architectural sites and cultural influences, as well as nine national parks and dozens of wildlife sanctuaries.

India is prominent on the heritage tourism map, with its share of World Heritage Sites. This site designation applies to “extremely exceptional cultural and natural properties” inscribed on the elite World Heritage List. Properties that make the List qualify only when they meet highly demanding criteria.

Rajasthan embodies all that India’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture envisages in its cultural tourism campaign, “Incredible India!” Here in the country’s largest state are all the elements of an unforgettable holiday, from ancient history, architecture and customs to music, dance, food and festivals. Like the states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, each with unique cultural attractions, Rajasthan beckons tourists and locals alike to explore its rich heritage.

India's majestic palaces and ancient temples give off a regal yet mysterious vibe that sets this country apart. From the snowy Himalayas to the sunny coastline in the south, India's urban chaos and natural beauty coexist in complete contradiction to one another. Myriad tourism sites can be found throughout India, but several attractions stand out as essential points of interest for travelers in search of cultural discovery.

The Indian Railway system is one of the most extensive and busiest rail networks in the world. For tourists faced with hundreds of routes, almost a dozen different passenger classes, and several types of trains, making any type of reservation for Indian Railways can be a bit intimidating. If you prefer to have your travel itineraries planned and booked for you, there are numerous tour companies that can provide rail tourism packages in India and take care of all the booking details.

India, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, is a rich cornucopia of culture and is often a riot of color and pageantry. It is also a widely diverse religious nexus, with thousands of temples and holy sites throughout the country. India is home to bustling metropolises and undisturbed natural wonders – enough to satisfy any tourist.

Home to 438 living languages, India is a country full of ethnic and cultural diversity. More than 570 distinct tribal communities are scattered throughout India, many of which have unique traditions, festivals, music and modes of artistic expression. One way for tourists to experience these diverse communities is through tribal tourism.

Home to over a billion people, India boasts an outstanding diversity of cultures and landscapes. From the Himalayas to the Ganges Plain to the coasts on the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, each destination offers a complex array of attractions. It is impossible to explore India in its entirety during a vacation, so select from the innumerable potential destinations according to your interests and desires.

"Incredible India," the marketing slogan that attracts tourists to India from around the globe, also reports incredible results for its marketers. Indian tourism, stimulated by nonstop flights from Europe and North America, continues to develop new markets. And via low cost domestic airlines, Indians themselves fuel growth as they discover their country.

One's sense of India's polluted cities and population of over a billion sometimes clouds images of the land's high, inspiring mountains and brilliant blue seas. Yet those outdoor attractions and more are present in India. Rightly called a subcontinent, India embraces deep jungles, snow-capped peaks, rushing rivers and tropical island waters within its borders. With such a broad sweep of terrain and climate, the possibilities for adventure in India are close to boundless.

Hyderabad, also known as “The City of Pearls” for it's pearl industry, is the most populous city in the Indian state Andrha Pradesh, and is the sixth largest city in the country. The bustling city displays a blending of cultural traditions of North India and South India in the areas of language, cuisine and religion. This coalescence makes the city one of the most dynamic cultural melting pots in India.

India beckons not only the leisure traveler, but the business traveler as well. With nonstop flights from several U.S. cities, travel to India has never been easier, resulting in a business tourism boom. Companies increasingly choose India for business meetings, and international organizations select cities for convention sites, from cosmopolitan Mumbai on the coast, to Delhi, India's capital city.

India can be a really difficult place to travel, especially for Western visitors who may not be prepared for just how many people are in its cities. But the rewards for pushing through crowds and braving overnight trains in the public, 72-berth sleeper cars are immense: world-famous monuments, hidden jungle temples, ancient cities, white sand beaches and a fascinating religious multiculturalism.

Perched high on a Himalayan Ridge in the West Bengal hills, Darjeeling is the state's most popular destination. This historic hill station features Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, sprawling tea plantations, lively bazaars and crisp mountain air. Just as it's no wonder the British chose Darjeeling's site for a mountain retreat from the sweltering plains of India, it's little wonder it remains high on India's list of tourist attractions.

Barricaded by icy peaks in all directions -- Kashmir to the west, Himachal Pradesh to the south and Tibet to the north and east -- Ladakh is known as "Little Tibet," India's Shangri-La, largely isolated from the outside world since medieval times. Even today, Ladakh can be reached only by a harrowing flight into the Leh Valley or a bone-shattering bus ride across some of the world's highest passes, closed off with snow for much of the year. Although belonging to the same state as Kashmir, Ladakh's largely Buddhist population has been spared the political upheaval of its neighbor, allowing for the tourism boom that this spectacular region deserves.

The port city of Mangalore might not be a common tourist destination, but it does have some beautiful beaches, including Ullal and Panambur, and some architectural gems. The city has been an important part of Indian commerce since the sixth century and while the port itself might be a bit of an eyesore, the city and surrounding area offer lush valleys, elegant temples and a rich history and culture.

India's first train left Bombay for a 21-mile trip to Thane in 1843. Since then, India's rail system has grown to be the second largest in the world, dispatching 7,000 passenger trains each day on over 63,000 miles of track as of 2011. Trains reach virtually every part of the country, from Kerala's backwaters in the south to the Himalayas in the north. The popularity of interstate trains attests to their reliability. Vacationers often select train travel over road journeys because of cost considerations as well as the trains' efficiency and comfort.

Kerala sits in the extreme southwest corner of India facing the Arabian Sea. The narrow state hugs the coastline for 350 miles, reaching almost to the southern tip of India. Kerala's backwaters extend inland from the sea and connect with lagoons, lakes and rivers. Intermingling currents from the rivers and ocean form barrier islands resulting in a quiet waterscape protected from the sea. Fishermen earn their living from the backwaters while visitors enjoy cruising on its serene waters.