India is a country of indescribable shades and colors, the oldest traditions, rich history and architecture, with an amazing cultural heritage.
The majestic Himalayas and mysterious Tibet, the sacred Ganges River and tropical forests, dozens of seaside resorts, peaceful rest on the beaches of Goa and Kerala, colorful Delhi and the Golden Triangle. Surprisingly, most travelers who have visited India return here again and again. India will not leave anyone indifferent. After immersing yourself in the culture of this wonderful country and discovering all its borders, you will definitely find that piece of India that will be close to you.
India is one of the largest countries in the world, a huge country, it occupies the entire Hindustan peninsula, the country has access to the seas on three sides. In the east, India is washed by the Bay of Bengal, in the west by the Arabian Sea, and in the south by the Indian Ocean. The length of India from north to south is about 3220 km, and from east to west - 2930 km. It borders Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. It is washed by the Indian Ocean, where Lanshadwip and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are part of the state, are located. It has a sea border with Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives.
Climate
India's climate is significantly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, causing monsoons. The Himalayas act as a barrier to the cold Central Asian winds, thus making the climate in most of India warmer than at the same latitudes in other regions of the planet. The Thar Desert plays a key role in attracting the humid southwesterly winds of the summer monsoon, which bring rain to most of India between June and October. Four main climates prevail in India: humid tropical, dry tropical, subtropical monsoon and highland.
In most of the territory of India, three seasons are distinguished: hot and humid dominated by the southwest monsoon (June - October); relatively cool and dry with a predominance of the northeast trade wind (November - February); very hot and dry transitional (March - May). More than 80% of the annual precipitation falls during the wet season. The most humid are the windward slopes of the Western Ghats and the Himalayas (up to 6,000 mm per year), and on the slopes of the Shillong plateau is the rainiest place on Earth - Cherrapunji (about 12,000 mm). The driest regions are the western part of the Gangetic plain (less than 100 mm in the Thar desert, the dry period is 9-10 months) and the central part of Hindustan (300-500 mm, the dry period is 8-9 months). The amount of precipitation varies greatly in different years. On the plains, the average temperature in January increases from north to south from +15 to +27 ° C, in May it is everywhere + 28 ... + 35 ° C, sometimes reaching + 45 ... + 48 ° C. In the wet period in the greater part of the country, the temperature is +28 ° C. In the mountains at an altitude of 1500 m in January -1 ° C, in July +23 ° C, at an altitude of 3500 m, respectively -8 ° C and +18 ° C.
Time
Time in India is 3.5 hours ahead of Kyiv time in winter and 2.5 hours in summer.
Language
The official languages are English and Hindi, and each state has its own additional administrative language.
Currency
The national currency is the Indian rupee. Ratio 1 $ = 72 rupees. Banks offer a more favorable exchange rate, bank cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants, large stores, and tourist centers. Indian rupees cannot be imported into or exported from the country. Be sure to keep the currency exchange receipts, in case you need to exchange the remaining rupees for dollars or euros at the airport, they will need to be presented.
Religion
Hindus (80%), Muslims (11%), Christians (2%), Sikhs (2%), Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, etc.
Traditions and Customs: Clapping palms is a traditional form of Indian greeting, and if you use it, Indians will appreciate it.
Transport
India has one of the largest domestic airline networks in the world. There are airports in every big city and district center. Airports are equipped with all necessary infrastructure. There is also an extensive network of bus routes connecting all parts of the country.
Traffic is quite chaotic, so renting a car is not worth it. To get to the hotel, we recommend a transfer provided by a tour operator or a taxi.
Taxis and auto-rickshaws operate in large cities and are paid for by the taxi. They don't always have meters, but if one is installed, ask for it to be switched when you board. Prices for taxi services change from time to time and therefore do not always correspond to the readings of the meter, but the driver must have a copy of the tariff. There are taxis with and without air conditioning. The fare on three-wheeled rickshaws is about two times cheaper than the fare on a taxi.
Kitchen
Indian cuisine is exceptionally hot and spicy. Vegetarians have a special treat, because most dishes are based on beans and vegetables seasoned with spices. The first place among spices is curry. Beef and pork are practically absent in the daily diet, if meat is used by Indians, it is chicken or mutton.
Shopping in India
India is a true shopper's paradise. Indian markets offer a very large selection of handicrafts: silverware, sandalwood souvenirs, bronzes, Kashmiri carpets, silk shawls, Indian tea. When buying jewelry, ask for a quality certificate, only if you have such a document, you can return or exchange the purchased product. When buying goods at the markets or from local residents, it is recommended to bargain, because you can reduce the price by 2 times. This is considered a good tone among the locals and even serves as a "tradition". If you buy goods in stores, please note that on the label of all goods there is a so-called "M.R.P." - the maximum allowable price is the value of the product, more expensive than which the seller has no right to sell the product. Goods with such a mark should not be bargained for.
Tip
Tipping in restaurants is usually 10% of the bill (depending on the level of the establishment). In hotels, the service charge is 10% and, as a rule, is included in the bill, but usually the maids are left an additional 10-20 rupees, porters and porters also 10-20 rupees. Taxi or rickshaw drivers are left with 20 to 30 rupees, tour car drivers - 700-1000 rupees from the whole group. Usually, it is customary to leave 1000 rupees to the guide, depending on the number of tourists in the group.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient system of Indian medicine and human science. Ayurvedic treatment differs from the methods of treatment of various diseases accepted in Europe, as well as in the perception of the human body, which allows the use of Ayurvedic massage with special oils, a health course, yoga and meditation to perfectly restore the body, mind and soul.
Beaches
Almost all beaches in India are municipal. The use of sunbeds on the beach can be paid, up to 100 rupees per day. If you order alcoholic beverages and food in restaurants on the shore, sunbeds can be provided free of charge by agreement. Sunbeds by the swimming pools in the hotels are free.
Useful recommendations
You cannot drink tap water in India. Be sure to wash your hands with soap before eating and drink only bottled water in factory packaging. Do not buy water from street vendors. Do not drink drinks with ice in street cafes or in hotels in small towns.
It is not customary to hug and kiss in public, you should not approach a young Indian girl without reason, let alone touch her.
In any situation, it is not customary to shout, let alone let go. This can lead to dire consequences.
Beware of thieves! Keep expensive things in the hotel safe, keep an eye on your money and equipment. Do not leave things unattended on the beach.
If you are a woman and traveling alone, dress modestly: cover your shoulders, arms up to the elbows and knees.
When entering the temple, take off your shoes, it is better to cover your head.
Beware of the tropical sun - wear a hat. Use sun protection products.
Don't point your finger at people or at shrines in temples
