India

India is a land of extraordinary contrasts, from frenetic urban Delhi to tranquil Keralan backwaters, and from the deserts of Rajasthan to snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Northwest India makes a good starting point with the impressive palaces and forts of Rajasthan, the dazzling Golden Temple of Amritsar, cool colonial hill stations in Himachal Pradesh and some spectacular trekking in Garhwal. In the far north there are breathtaking and epic summer treks in Ladakh and Zanskar whilst the kingdom of Sikkim offers beautiful mountain walking and a vibrant Buddhist culture. For those wanting a more relaxing experience, the laid back charms of Southern India won’t disappoint.

Alongside its impressive scenic and cultural diversity, India is rightly renowned for its wonderful wildlife. Kaziranga National Park in the northeast reaches of the country, close to the mighty Brahmaputra, is home to the rare One-horned rhino. Bengal tigers and numerous exotic birds. You can spend time at Kaziranga, as well as seeing the splendours of Jaipur and the Taj Mahal on our Brahmaputra River Cruise & Rajasthan.

The little-known state of Gujarat is renowned for its rich heritage of crafts and textile productions which you can discover on our immersive, in-depth tour - Colours of India - led by textiles expert Sue Lawty.

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Sue Lawty's Colours of India

• Capital city: Delhi
• Population: 1,236,344,631 (est. 2014)
• Size of country: 3,287,263 sq km
• Currency: Indian Rupee
• Power supply: 220v/240v
• Sockets: two pin sockets or Indian three-round pin variety
• Language: Hindi is promoted as the national language and is spoken throughout the northern states. In the south, Tamil is spoken by 65 million people.
• English is also widely spoken and written.
• Time difference: GMT +5.5 hours
• Visas: British nationals are required to obtain a visa in advance of travel to India.
• Religion: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1%
• Popular dishes: The regional nature of Indian cuisine makes it impossible to define a national dish but spices are the essential ingredient throughout the country.
• Popular drinks: Chai (tea) is the staple drink of India.
• Did you know: Indian railways carries over 20 million passengers daily and employs almost 1.5 million people.
• FCDO advice: FCDO travel advice

When is the best time to travel to India?

India is such a vast country, with the climate varying considerably depending on the area you are visiting. As such, India is a year-round destination. Whilst the majority of India may be washed out by the monsoon during the summer, Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya is best visited in the summer months.

Our climate charts will give you a guide as to the best time of year to visit India, or phone one of our destination experts to discuss your walking holiday, trek or tour in India. We can also create a Tailor Made holiday to India just for you. Simply call 01453 844400 to discuss all the possibilities for travel to this fascinating country.

For more detailed information on the best time to visit each region, please see the following pages: Ladakh, Sikkim, Northeast India, Northwest India, Southern India.