Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Countries With the Most Billionaires
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
The 8 Best Fall Festivals for Families
Now that we've all gone apple picking you might be wondering, what left is there to do beyond trick or treating? I'm here to tell you! Festival season is far from over and it's always a thrifty route that's well worth looking into. Check out 8 of the best fall festivals (in the world!) for the whole family:
1. Keene Pumpkin Festival - New Hampshire, Oct. 20
1. Keene Pumpkin Festival - New Hampshire, Oct. 20
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Varanasi City
For over 2000 years, Varanasi, the 'eternal city', has been one of the holiest places in India. Built on the banks of the sacred Ganges, it is said to combine the virtues of all other places of pilgrimage and anyone who ends their days here is transported straight to heaven.
Coordinates:
25.2820110321 latitude and 82.9563369751 longitude
Hindi is spoken as a mother tongue by about 20% of the population, mainly in the area known as the Hindi-belt, the cow-belt or BIMARU, which includes Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This Indic language is the official language of the Indian government and the states already mentioned, plus Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.Urdu is the state language of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with Hindi, it evolved in early Delhi. While Hindi was largely adopted by India's Hindu population, the Muslims embraced Urdu, and so the latter is written in the Perso-Arabic script and includes many Persian words.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Chennai City
Chennai has neither the cosmopolitan, prosperous air of Mumbai (Bombay), the optimistic buzz of Bengaluru (Bangalore) or the historical drama of Delhi. It's muggy, terribly polluted, hot as hell and difficult to get around. Traditional tourist attractions are few.
Even the movie stars are, as one Chennaiker put it, 'not that hot'.But then, the residents are a little friendlier than average here, the streets a little wider, and, in spite of its booming IT, business-outsourcing and auto industries, the pace much slower than that of most Indian cities half its size. Chennai is so modest you wouldn't even know it's an economic powerhouse, much less a queen of showbiz: India's fourth-largest city is also its most humble.
Hindi is spoken as a mother tongue by about 20% of the population, mainly in the area known as the Hindi-belt, the cow-belt or BIMARU, which includes Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This Indic language is the official language of the Indian government and the states already mentioned, plus Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Bengaluru (Bangalore) City
.JPG "The Bangalore Palace was built by Chamaraja Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1887. The Palace flaunts turreted parapets, battlements, fortified towers and arches. Spread over an area of about 430 acres, the Palace is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. It is right in the heart of the city. With a built-up area of around 45,000 sq. ft, this 120-year old monument is a popular tourist attraction. It is surrounded by a garden all around, giving it an almost fairytale setting. The architecture is inspired by Windsor Castle in London and is built in the Tudor style.")
Introduction
Step into one of India's most progressive cities - just be sure to look both ways. Bustling Bangalore (official name: Bengaluru) is where to get your kicks in Southern Karnataka. Elegant lounges, upmarket bars and fast food will lure you to the Mahatma Gandhi Rd area where you can refuel no matter what your budget. Good transport connections, pleasant parks and grand temples make the city an ideal pit stop.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT GMT
Coordinates: 12.966667 latitude and 77.583333 longitude
Population: 5700000
Area codes: 080
Weather
Generally speaking, India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. October to February are the cooler months in Karnataka - a pleasant average of 23 ° C (73.4 ° F). You'll need wet weather gear from July through to early September, while the mercury regularly exceeds 30 ° C (80 ° F) in March, April and May.
The Society
Today's Bangalore is a traffic-locked, vibrant city with many good restaurants, lounges and shops. Despite its shiny veneer of affluence, the city is no stranger to poverty. Slums are tucked away even within well-off neighbourhoods, and there's a dire need to improve the city's infrastructure for all facets of society. Many in the city - and the rest of the state - wonder if the IT windfall will ever trickle down.
Modern History
Bangalore's economic vitality picked up in the 1960s when the government located key defence and telecommunications establishments here. It became the science and technology centre of India, and home to many multinational companies. Known as India's Silicon Valley, it's been a software centre for decades. Over half of India's software exports come from Bangalore, and technology parks are spread around the city.
Ancient History
Bangalore allegedly got its name after an old woman living nearby served a humble dish of boiled beans to a lost Hoysala king. A local ruler, Kempegowda, founded the 'town of boiled beans' in the early 16th century. He built a mud fort and mapped out the extent of the city he envisioned with four watchtowers (now engulfed by urban sprawl).Two centuries later, Bangalore became an important fortress city under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, although little remains from this period except the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and a small palace. The British moved their regional administrative base from Srirangapatnam to Bangalore in 1831, and the town began to take on the ordered look of a British cantonment.
Related Posts: Kolkata (Calcutta) City, Mumbai City, Goa City, Delhi City
Step into one of India's most progressive cities - just be sure to look both ways. Bustling Bangalore (official name: Bengaluru) is where to get your kicks in Southern Karnataka. Elegant lounges, upmarket bars and fast food will lure you to the Mahatma Gandhi Rd area where you can refuel no matter what your budget. Good transport connections, pleasant parks and grand temples make the city an ideal pit stop.
Time zone: GMT GMT
Coordinates: 12.966667 latitude and 77.583333 longitude
Population: 5700000
Area codes: 080
Generally speaking, India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. October to February are the cooler months in Karnataka - a pleasant average of 23 ° C (73.4 ° F). You'll need wet weather gear from July through to early September, while the mercury regularly exceeds 30 ° C (80 ° F) in March, April and May.
Today's Bangalore is a traffic-locked, vibrant city with many good restaurants, lounges and shops. Despite its shiny veneer of affluence, the city is no stranger to poverty. Slums are tucked away even within well-off neighbourhoods, and there's a dire need to improve the city's infrastructure for all facets of society. Many in the city - and the rest of the state - wonder if the IT windfall will ever trickle down.
Bangalore's economic vitality picked up in the 1960s when the government located key defence and telecommunications establishments here. It became the science and technology centre of India, and home to many multinational companies. Known as India's Silicon Valley, it's been a software centre for decades. Over half of India's software exports come from Bangalore, and technology parks are spread around the city.
Bangalore allegedly got its name after an old woman living nearby served a humble dish of boiled beans to a lost Hoysala king. A local ruler, Kempegowda, founded the 'town of boiled beans' in the early 16th century. He built a mud fort and mapped out the extent of the city he envisioned with four watchtowers (now engulfed by urban sprawl).Two centuries later, Bangalore became an important fortress city under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, although little remains from this period except the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and a small palace. The British moved their regional administrative base from Srirangapatnam to Bangalore in 1831, and the town began to take on the ordered look of a British cantonment.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Kolkata (Calcutta) City
Introduction
Vast, ramshackle, often chaotic - but always engaging. Simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. And it's all played out before your very eyes on teeming streets where not an inch of space is wasted. By its old spelling, Calcutta, India's second-biggest city conjures up images of human suffering to most Westerners.
But Bengalis have long been infuriated by one-sided depictions of their vibrant capital. Kolkata is locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Several of India's great 19th- and 20th-century heroes were Kolkatans, including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. Dozens of venues showcase Bengali dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. And while poverty certainly remains in-your-face, the dapper Bengali gentry continue to frequent grand old gentlemen's clubs, back horses at the Calcutta Racetrack and play soothing rounds of golf at some of India's finest courses.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 187
Coordinates: 22 ° 32'N latitude and 88 ° 21'E longitude
Population: 14000000
Area codes: 033
Getting there and away
Kolkata is a good centre for competitive airfares to other parts of Asia, Europe and the USA's east coast. Air India is the national carrier, but state-owned Indian Airlines also has international flights from Kolkata to Bangkok, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Yangon. Private airlines Jet, Air Sahara and Kingfisher offer generally more reliable services around India. Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is 17km (10.5mi) northeast of BBD Bagh. It's often called Dum Dum, as it sits on the site where explosive dum-dum bullets were once made. A public minibus runs from BBD Bagh to Dum Dum, but you must take a rickshaw for the last 1km (0.6mi); a taxi is usually easier. The efficient Metro also stops short of the airport in Dum Dum, but a shuttle bus runs from the station to the airport terminal. If you're after a taxi from the airport, it's cheaper and more reliable to go to the prepaid taxi booth (after you clear customs), where you'll be assigned one. Because of the urban sprawl, few people bother to travel from Kolkata by bus, though there are direct international bus services from Kolkata to Dhaka and Phuentsholing in Bhutan, and buses to most large towns in West Bengal, leaving from the Esplanade bus station. It's generally quicker and more comfortable to travel by train. Kolkata has two major train stations, both of them frenetic (beware - they're a pickpocket's paradise). Howrah station, on the west side of the Hooghly, handles most trains to the south and west, while Sealdah station on the east side of the river is for trains heading north of Kolkata to Siliguri, Darjeeling and the northeast. There are also boats from Kolkata to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Getting around
Kolkata buses are packed monsters that travel at frightening speeds, jostling for space on the roads with trams and taxis. Routes are varied and confusing - the little red minibuses that leave from BBD Bagh have signboards in English. Fares are dirt cheap. Perhaps the most characterful way to travel around the city is by tram; from the Maidan terminus, narrow tin trams run north to Belgachia and south to Tollygunge, but they can be like sardine tins in rush hour. Although pollution-free, the trams face an uncertain future as politicians blame them for Kolkata's notorious traffic congestion. The Kolkata Metro, India's first underground railway, is calm, clean and efficient. There are two types of taxis in Kolkata: yellow taxis have permits to travel all over Kolkata and West Bengal, while black-and-yellow taxis are restricted to Kolkata. Metered fares are very reasonable, but you have to strenuously insist that the driver uses the meter. Kolkata is also the last real bastion of the human-powered rickshaw (cycle-rickshaws never really caught on in the rutted, tram-lined streets). Although slow, they come into their own in the monsoon when the streets flood, and fares - predictably - go through the roof. Fares are invariably elevated for foreigners, but you will be supporting someone's livelihood. Ferries are a quick and pleasant way to get along and across the Hooghly, as well as offering the best views of the Howrah Bridge.
Weather
Kolkata positively bakes from April to June, so the arrival of the cooling monsoon rains in mid-June can feel like a blessing. The feeling doesn't last - for the next three months, rain buckets down on Kolkata like it was going out of fashion, swelling the Hooghly and flooding the streets. From October through to February the rains slow and temperatures drop back down to bearable levels. It is never cold in Kolkata - the temperature rarely drops below 15 º C (59 º F), and often soars above 35 º C (95 º F).
Places of Interest
Simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. And it's all played out before your very eyes on teeming streets where not an inch of space is wasted. By its old spelling, Calcutta, India's second-biggest city conjures up images of human suffering to most Westerners. But Bengalis have long been infuriated by one-sided depictions of their vibrant capital. Kolkata is locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Several of India's great 19th- and 20th-century heroes were Kolkatans, including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. Dozens of venues showcase Bengali dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. And while poverty certainly remains in-your-face, the dapper Bengali gentry continue to frequent grand old gentlemen's clubs, back horses at the Calcutta Racetrack and play soothing rounds of golf at some of India's finest courses.
Related Cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Goa City
Vast, ramshackle, often chaotic - but always engaging. Simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. And it's all played out before your very eyes on teeming streets where not an inch of space is wasted. By its old spelling, Calcutta, India's second-biggest city conjures up images of human suffering to most Westerners.
But Bengalis have long been infuriated by one-sided depictions of their vibrant capital. Kolkata is locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Several of India's great 19th- and 20th-century heroes were Kolkatans, including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. Dozens of venues showcase Bengali dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. And while poverty certainly remains in-your-face, the dapper Bengali gentry continue to frequent grand old gentlemen's clubs, back horses at the Calcutta Racetrack and play soothing rounds of golf at some of India's finest courses.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 187
Coordinates: 22 ° 32'N latitude and 88 ° 21'E longitude
Population: 14000000
Area codes: 033
Kolkata is a good centre for competitive airfares to other parts of Asia, Europe and the USA's east coast. Air India is the national carrier, but state-owned Indian Airlines also has international flights from Kolkata to Bangkok, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Yangon. Private airlines Jet, Air Sahara and Kingfisher offer generally more reliable services around India. Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is 17km (10.5mi) northeast of BBD Bagh. It's often called Dum Dum, as it sits on the site where explosive dum-dum bullets were once made. A public minibus runs from BBD Bagh to Dum Dum, but you must take a rickshaw for the last 1km (0.6mi); a taxi is usually easier. The efficient Metro also stops short of the airport in Dum Dum, but a shuttle bus runs from the station to the airport terminal. If you're after a taxi from the airport, it's cheaper and more reliable to go to the prepaid taxi booth (after you clear customs), where you'll be assigned one. Because of the urban sprawl, few people bother to travel from Kolkata by bus, though there are direct international bus services from Kolkata to Dhaka and Phuentsholing in Bhutan, and buses to most large towns in West Bengal, leaving from the Esplanade bus station. It's generally quicker and more comfortable to travel by train. Kolkata has two major train stations, both of them frenetic (beware - they're a pickpocket's paradise). Howrah station, on the west side of the Hooghly, handles most trains to the south and west, while Sealdah station on the east side of the river is for trains heading north of Kolkata to Siliguri, Darjeeling and the northeast. There are also boats from Kolkata to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Kolkata buses are packed monsters that travel at frightening speeds, jostling for space on the roads with trams and taxis. Routes are varied and confusing - the little red minibuses that leave from BBD Bagh have signboards in English. Fares are dirt cheap. Perhaps the most characterful way to travel around the city is by tram; from the Maidan terminus, narrow tin trams run north to Belgachia and south to Tollygunge, but they can be like sardine tins in rush hour. Although pollution-free, the trams face an uncertain future as politicians blame them for Kolkata's notorious traffic congestion. The Kolkata Metro, India's first underground railway, is calm, clean and efficient. There are two types of taxis in Kolkata: yellow taxis have permits to travel all over Kolkata and West Bengal, while black-and-yellow taxis are restricted to Kolkata. Metered fares are very reasonable, but you have to strenuously insist that the driver uses the meter. Kolkata is also the last real bastion of the human-powered rickshaw (cycle-rickshaws never really caught on in the rutted, tram-lined streets). Although slow, they come into their own in the monsoon when the streets flood, and fares - predictably - go through the roof. Fares are invariably elevated for foreigners, but you will be supporting someone's livelihood. Ferries are a quick and pleasant way to get along and across the Hooghly, as well as offering the best views of the Howrah Bridge.
Weather
Kolkata positively bakes from April to June, so the arrival of the cooling monsoon rains in mid-June can feel like a blessing. The feeling doesn't last - for the next three months, rain buckets down on Kolkata like it was going out of fashion, swelling the Hooghly and flooding the streets. From October through to February the rains slow and temperatures drop back down to bearable levels. It is never cold in Kolkata - the temperature rarely drops below 15 º C (59 º F), and often soars above 35 º C (95 º F).
Simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence. And it's all played out before your very eyes on teeming streets where not an inch of space is wasted. By its old spelling, Calcutta, India's second-biggest city conjures up images of human suffering to most Westerners. But Bengalis have long been infuriated by one-sided depictions of their vibrant capital. Kolkata is locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Several of India's great 19th- and 20th-century heroes were Kolkatans, including guru-philosopher Ramakrishna, Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore and celebrated film director Satyajit Ray. Dozens of venues showcase Bengali dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. And while poverty certainly remains in-your-face, the dapper Bengali gentry continue to frequent grand old gentlemen's clubs, back horses at the Calcutta Racetrack and play soothing rounds of golf at some of India's finest courses.
Related Cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Goa City
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Mumbai City
Introduction
Bollywood flash, big-business glitz and the crushingly poor. Mumbai is the bubblegum glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls full of designer labels, cricket on the Oval Maidan, promenading families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses queuing in grinding traffic jams and the infamous cages of the red-light district.
This pungent drama is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It's a city with vibrant streetlife, India's best nightlife, and a wealth of bazaars.
Mumbai sprawls across a series of islands jutting out into the Arabian Sea from the west coast of India. Although it feels like a single land mass, the city is criss-crossed by creeks and streams, and large parts of southern Mumbai are built on land reclaimed from Back Bay. The touch of the British Empire is evident in the glorious colonial architecture of the old town at the southern end of the isthmus. Even today, Mumbai seems a world apart from the rest of Maharashtra, despite being the state capital. The old part of Mumbai is concentrated at the southern end of the peninsula. Fort was the centre of the British colonial quarter, served by the docks in nearby Colaba, and the streets are still lined with stately colonial mansions and civic buildings. Travellers gravitate towards Colaba, where you'll find most of the cheap hotels, excellent and inexpensive food and accessible nightlife. Fronting onto Mumbai Harbour are two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (commonly known as the Taj Mahal Hotel). Boats leave from the quayside to Elephanta Island, with its famous Hindu cave temples. East of Fort is Nariman Point, an upmarket area of modern office towers and government buildings, built on reclaimed land facing onto the Arabian Sea. From here, Marine Drive curls north around Back Bay to famous Chowpatty Beach and the headland at Malabar Hill. Trains from the northern suburbans terminate in Fort at Churchgate Station and Victoria Terminus (aka Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), perhaps the most distinctive building in all of British India. Long-distance trains run from either Victoria Terminus or Mumbai Central Station, further north, near Tardeo. To the north are the posh suburbs of Greater Mumbai - Breach Candy, Bandra and Juhu - and also some of the largest slums. Here you'll find the two airports, Chhatrapati Shivaji International and the domestic Santa Cruz. In the far north of Mumbai is Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a vast area of protected woodland home to ancient Buddhist cave temples.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 4200
Coordinates: 18.975 latitude and 72.82583 longitude
Population: 16400000
Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
Area codes: 022
Getting there and away
Mumbai beats Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai for international air traffic. It also has the busiest network of domestic flights, including flights to Aurangabad near the Ellora and Ajanta caves. National carrier Indian Airlines has been joined by various private carriers which are often more reliable - Jet, Air Sahara and Kingfisher Airlines are all good companies. The international terminal (Chhatrapati Shivaji) and the domestic terminal (Santa Cruz) are 30km (19mi) and 26km (16mi) respectively from downtown Mumbai. There are regular free shuttle buses between the two terminals. Long-distance buses depart from the state road transport terminal opposite Mumbai's Central railway station. It's fairly chaotic, and there are almost no signs or information available in English. The state bus companies of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh all have offices here. Two railway systems operate out of Mumbai. Central Railways handles services to the east and south, plus a few trains to the north. Western Railways has services to the north from Churchgate and Central stations. Trains travel frequently between Mumbai and Agra, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Pune and Varanasi. Taxis operate 24 hours a day from the airport, though they add a surcharge at night. A taxi from either airport to Colaba costs around 350.00 - be ready to bargain and pay extra for your luggage. Autorickshaws are a cheaper option - it's only a ten minute ride from either airport to Andheri or Vile Parle railway station, where you can catch a train into the centre. Minibuses outside the arrival hall offer free shuttle services to the domestic airport and Juhu hotels.
Getting around
Mumbai has one of the best public bus systems of any major Indian city. However, its red double-decker buses must run the gauntlet of the city's unbelievable traffic congestion. More useful, though no less crowded, is Mumbai's extensive network of suburban electric trains, but avoid rush hours when trains carry five times their maximum safe limit of passengers and you may be carried off several stops early, or miss your stop entirely, because of the heaving mass of humanity. Mumbai has a huge fleet of metered black-and-yellow taxis but, contrary to the practice in most other Indian cities, no autorickshaws are allowed in the city centre. Taxi meters are invariably out of date, so fares are calculated by using a conversion card. Note that taxis outside tourist sites and entertainment venues may ask for flat rates or refuse short journeys.
Weather
Mumbai is prone to high temperatures, high humidity and tropical rain, though the climate is tempered by the influence of the Arabian Sea. Rainfall averages a soggy 2200mm (85in) per year, with the heaviest falls coming in the monsoon season from June to September. Recent years have seen massive floods, cited by many as evidence of global warming. January is the coolest month, though 12 ° C (53 ° F) is about as low as it goes. March and October tend to swelter, with temperatures rising as high as 38 ° C (100 ° F).
Places of Interest
Mumbai is the bubblegum glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls full of designer labels, cricket on the Oval Maidan, promenading families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses queuing in grinding traffic jams and the infamous cages of the red-light district.
This pungent drama is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It's a city with vibrant streetlife, India's best nightlife, and a wealth of bazaars.
Related posts: India Country, Delhi City, Goa City
Bollywood flash, big-business glitz and the crushingly poor. Mumbai is the bubblegum glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls full of designer labels, cricket on the Oval Maidan, promenading families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses queuing in grinding traffic jams and the infamous cages of the red-light district.
This pungent drama is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th-century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It's a city with vibrant streetlife, India's best nightlife, and a wealth of bazaars.
Mumbai sprawls across a series of islands jutting out into the Arabian Sea from the west coast of India. Although it feels like a single land mass, the city is criss-crossed by creeks and streams, and large parts of southern Mumbai are built on land reclaimed from Back Bay. The touch of the British Empire is evident in the glorious colonial architecture of the old town at the southern end of the isthmus. Even today, Mumbai seems a world apart from the rest of Maharashtra, despite being the state capital. The old part of Mumbai is concentrated at the southern end of the peninsula. Fort was the centre of the British colonial quarter, served by the docks in nearby Colaba, and the streets are still lined with stately colonial mansions and civic buildings. Travellers gravitate towards Colaba, where you'll find most of the cheap hotels, excellent and inexpensive food and accessible nightlife. Fronting onto Mumbai Harbour are two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (commonly known as the Taj Mahal Hotel). Boats leave from the quayside to Elephanta Island, with its famous Hindu cave temples. East of Fort is Nariman Point, an upmarket area of modern office towers and government buildings, built on reclaimed land facing onto the Arabian Sea. From here, Marine Drive curls north around Back Bay to famous Chowpatty Beach and the headland at Malabar Hill. Trains from the northern suburbans terminate in Fort at Churchgate Station and Victoria Terminus (aka Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), perhaps the most distinctive building in all of British India. Long-distance trains run from either Victoria Terminus or Mumbai Central Station, further north, near Tardeo. To the north are the posh suburbs of Greater Mumbai - Breach Candy, Bandra and Juhu - and also some of the largest slums. Here you'll find the two airports, Chhatrapati Shivaji International and the domestic Santa Cruz. In the far north of Mumbai is Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a vast area of protected woodland home to ancient Buddhist cave temples.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 4200
Coordinates: 18.975 latitude and 72.82583 longitude
Population: 16400000
Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
Area codes: 022
Getting there and away
Mumbai beats Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai for international air traffic. It also has the busiest network of domestic flights, including flights to Aurangabad near the Ellora and Ajanta caves. National carrier Indian Airlines has been joined by various private carriers which are often more reliable - Jet, Air Sahara and Kingfisher Airlines are all good companies. The international terminal (Chhatrapati Shivaji) and the domestic terminal (Santa Cruz) are 30km (19mi) and 26km (16mi) respectively from downtown Mumbai. There are regular free shuttle buses between the two terminals. Long-distance buses depart from the state road transport terminal opposite Mumbai's Central railway station. It's fairly chaotic, and there are almost no signs or information available in English. The state bus companies of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh all have offices here. Two railway systems operate out of Mumbai. Central Railways handles services to the east and south, plus a few trains to the north. Western Railways has services to the north from Churchgate and Central stations. Trains travel frequently between Mumbai and Agra, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Pune and Varanasi. Taxis operate 24 hours a day from the airport, though they add a surcharge at night. A taxi from either airport to Colaba costs around 350.00 - be ready to bargain and pay extra for your luggage. Autorickshaws are a cheaper option - it's only a ten minute ride from either airport to Andheri or Vile Parle railway station, where you can catch a train into the centre. Minibuses outside the arrival hall offer free shuttle services to the domestic airport and Juhu hotels.
Getting around
Mumbai has one of the best public bus systems of any major Indian city. However, its red double-decker buses must run the gauntlet of the city's unbelievable traffic congestion. More useful, though no less crowded, is Mumbai's extensive network of suburban electric trains, but avoid rush hours when trains carry five times their maximum safe limit of passengers and you may be carried off several stops early, or miss your stop entirely, because of the heaving mass of humanity. Mumbai has a huge fleet of metered black-and-yellow taxis but, contrary to the practice in most other Indian cities, no autorickshaws are allowed in the city centre. Taxi meters are invariably out of date, so fares are calculated by using a conversion card. Note that taxis outside tourist sites and entertainment venues may ask for flat rates or refuse short journeys.
Weather
Mumbai is prone to high temperatures, high humidity and tropical rain, though the climate is tempered by the influence of the Arabian Sea. Rainfall averages a soggy 2200mm (85in) per year, with the heaviest falls coming in the monsoon season from June to September. Recent years have seen massive floods, cited by many as evidence of global warming. January is the coolest month, though 12 ° C (53 ° F) is about as low as it goes. March and October tend to swelter, with temperatures rising as high as 38 ° C (100 ° F).
Places of Interest
Mumbai is the bubblegum glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls full of designer labels, cricket on the Oval Maidan, promenading families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses queuing in grinding traffic jams and the infamous cages of the red-light district.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Goa City
Introduction
Succulently hybrid and determinedly individual, Goa may just surprise you. It's a shame Goa comes burdened with a reputation for louche living, because there's so much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.
Goa has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers' lexicon since the heady days of the 1960s, but the (in)famous hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe. The locals are relaxed and friendly, and skirts outnumber saris.
Geography:
Goa is India's smallest state, bordered to the west by the Arabian Sea and to the east by Maharashtra and Karnataka states. The state can easily be split into north and south Goa, with the Mandovi River and state capital Panaji roughly in the middle. Geographically, Goa is divided into three distinct areas: the Western Ghats, a series of foothills and low mountain ranges to the east; the Midland region of laterite plateaus and plantations; and the Coastal region. The coast is around 105km (63mi) long and consists of broad beaches, scattered villages, resort developments and tidal rivers. From north to south, the main tourist beaches are: (north) Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga-Calangute, Candolim; (south) Bogmalo, Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Agonda, Palolem and Patnem.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 3700
Coordinates: 15.58333 latitude and 74 longitude
Population: 1340000
Languages: A smattering of Portuguese is spoken.English is widely spoken.
Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
Area codes: 0832
Getting there and away
The number of charter flights headed to Goa is increasing every year. The vast majority come from the UK and Europe. You can fly direct to Goa from the UK on a seat-only charter flight or on a package trip that includes accommodation. Be aware that it is illegal to enter on a scheduled flight and out on a charter flight, and vice versa: if you enter on a charter flight, you must also leave on one. Dabolim Airport, Goa's only domestic and international airport, is in Dabolim, just outside Vasco da Gama. Numerous domestic airlines fly here from major Indian cities - as well as Indian Airlines and Jet Airways, new budget airlines such as Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet are providing competition. The 760km (465mi) Konkan Railway links Mumbai with Goa (10hr) and south to Mangalore (15hr). Private companies still offer the dreaded super deluxe video buses from Panaji and Margao to Mumbai (15-20hr), Mysore (16hr) and Bangalore. Buses also head east from Goa to Hampi (11hr).
Getting around
The best way to get around Goa is to hire a motorcycle or scooter, though be sure to carry the necessary paperwork (licence, registration and insurance) with you at all times because checks on foreigners are a lucrative source of baksheesh (kickbacks) for the police. If you don't know how to ride, motorcycle taxis are a legitimate and fun way of scooting between towns. Crowded buses ply between the main towns - they're dirt cheap and full of locals masquerading as sardines. Regular taxis and autorickshaws can also take you around and between most towns. Bargain hard.
Weather
The climate in Goa is not just an academic point; it affects the character, customs and culture. The main feature of the Goan climate is the monsoon between June and the end of September, which sees 250cm (98in) to 300cm (118in) of rain. During the two months preceding the onset of the monsoon, the humidity increases and the normally clear skies become hazy. High winds and lightning come just before the rain. Goans store enough firewood and food to last through the rains; fishing ceases almost entirely because of stormy conditions. Surprisingly, the temperature throughout all of this drama remains fairly constant, varying from a maximum of about 29 º C (84 º F) in July to a maximum of 33 º C (91 º F) in May, and minimums for the same months of 24 º C (75 º F) and 26.5 º C (80 º F).
Places of Interest
It's a shame Goa comes burdened with a reputation for louche living, because there's so much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.
Goa has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers' lexicon since the heady days of the 1960s, but the (in)famous hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe. The locals are relaxed and friendly, and skirts outnumber saris.
Succulently hybrid and determinedly individual, Goa may just surprise you. It's a shame Goa comes burdened with a reputation for louche living, because there's so much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.
Goa has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers' lexicon since the heady days of the 1960s, but the (in)famous hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe. The locals are relaxed and friendly, and skirts outnumber saris.
Geography:
Goa is India's smallest state, bordered to the west by the Arabian Sea and to the east by Maharashtra and Karnataka states. The state can easily be split into north and south Goa, with the Mandovi River and state capital Panaji roughly in the middle. Geographically, Goa is divided into three distinct areas: the Western Ghats, a series of foothills and low mountain ranges to the east; the Midland region of laterite plateaus and plantations; and the Coastal region. The coast is around 105km (63mi) long and consists of broad beaches, scattered villages, resort developments and tidal rivers. From north to south, the main tourist beaches are: (north) Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga-Calangute, Candolim; (south) Bogmalo, Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Agonda, Palolem and Patnem.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 3700
Coordinates: 15.58333 latitude and 74 longitude
Population: 1340000
Languages: A smattering of Portuguese is spoken.English is widely spoken.
Currency: Indian Rupee (Rs)
Area codes: 0832
Getting there and away
The number of charter flights headed to Goa is increasing every year. The vast majority come from the UK and Europe. You can fly direct to Goa from the UK on a seat-only charter flight or on a package trip that includes accommodation. Be aware that it is illegal to enter on a scheduled flight and out on a charter flight, and vice versa: if you enter on a charter flight, you must also leave on one. Dabolim Airport, Goa's only domestic and international airport, is in Dabolim, just outside Vasco da Gama. Numerous domestic airlines fly here from major Indian cities - as well as Indian Airlines and Jet Airways, new budget airlines such as Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet are providing competition. The 760km (465mi) Konkan Railway links Mumbai with Goa (10hr) and south to Mangalore (15hr). Private companies still offer the dreaded super deluxe video buses from Panaji and Margao to Mumbai (15-20hr), Mysore (16hr) and Bangalore. Buses also head east from Goa to Hampi (11hr).
Getting around
The best way to get around Goa is to hire a motorcycle or scooter, though be sure to carry the necessary paperwork (licence, registration and insurance) with you at all times because checks on foreigners are a lucrative source of baksheesh (kickbacks) for the police. If you don't know how to ride, motorcycle taxis are a legitimate and fun way of scooting between towns. Crowded buses ply between the main towns - they're dirt cheap and full of locals masquerading as sardines. Regular taxis and autorickshaws can also take you around and between most towns. Bargain hard.
Weather
The climate in Goa is not just an academic point; it affects the character, customs and culture. The main feature of the Goan climate is the monsoon between June and the end of September, which sees 250cm (98in) to 300cm (118in) of rain. During the two months preceding the onset of the monsoon, the humidity increases and the normally clear skies become hazy. High winds and lightning come just before the rain. Goans store enough firewood and food to last through the rains; fishing ceases almost entirely because of stormy conditions. Surprisingly, the temperature throughout all of this drama remains fairly constant, varying from a maximum of about 29 º C (84 º F) in July to a maximum of 33 º C (91 º F) in May, and minimums for the same months of 24 º C (75 º F) and 26.5 º C (80 º F).
Places of Interest
It's a shame Goa comes burdened with a reputation for louche living, because there's so much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.
Goa has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers' lexicon since the heady days of the 1960s, but the (in)famous hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe. The locals are relaxed and friendly, and skirts outnumber saris.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Delhi City
Introduction
The crowded, colourful and unruly heart of India. Don't let your first impressions of Delhi stick like a sacred cow in a traffic jam: get behind the madcap fa ç ade and discover the inner peace of a city rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep with history and totally addictive to epicureans.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 1483
Coordinates: 28.6666679382 latitude and 77.2166671753 longitude
Population: 13800000
Area codes: 11
Getting There
Summer in Delhi is no joke - from April the temperature climbs relentlessly to more than 45° C (113° F) in May and June and the heat doesn't really abate until October. Dust storms called loo sweep in from Rajasthan with considerable fury. The arrival of the monsoon, at the end of June, brings intense humidity - the murder rate usually peaks in this month.From November to March is the best time to visit, with cool but sunny weather. Also, Holi, one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals, takes place around this time, in February or March. October sees the end of the monsoon, but is reasonably pleasant, although the days can still be pretty hot. Nights can be quite chilly in December and January.
Getting there and away
Delhi is India's flight centre, with international and domestic flights readily available in a range of costs and comforts plus travel agents queuing up to negotiate a deal. Both domestic and international terminals for the Indira Gandhi International Airport are quite a way out of town - domestic 7km (4.5mi) from the city and international 11km (6mi) - so be prepared for the taxi driver ambush upon arrival. The Inter State Bus Terminal at Kashmiri Gate, north of the 'Old' Delhi Train Station, has long distance trips south to Rajasthan and north to Chandigarh, and to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. The New Delhi Train Station is as user friendly as such a place can be in India, if you ignore the touts who have all sorts of stories aimed at parting tourists with their money. From here you can organise long-distance trips east across the Ganges Plain to Kolkata, and south to Mumbai (Bombay) via Agra.
Getting around
Delhi's bus system is not for the faint hearted, or indeed for those who need to get somewhere on time. The network covers most of the city and is dirt cheap, but is also overcrowded and ramshackle - adventure travel you might say. There are plenty of metered yellow-and-black taxis, but don't expect the existence of a meter to mean they will be used. Learn to negotiate before you get going. Auto-rickshaws are generally speedy over short distances and less expensive - cycle rickshaws are somewhat romantic, but harder to find now they have been removed from the modern parts of the city. Motorcycle rickshaws are a better bet during busy hours. They have set courses and prices and can muscle their way through traffic as well. Trying to cycle through Delhi streets would be a foolish choice for a traveller. Try the metro instead - check out www.delhimetrorail.com for more details.
Weather
One of Delhi's drawbacks is that for more than half the year the climate is lousy. For about four months - from November until about March - it's fine, with daytime temperatures between 21 and 30 ° C (70-86 ° F). However, by the end of April it's hot, while May and June are really hot - temperatures can swoop up to more than 45 ° C (113 ° F). In July it gets cooler but the humidity really hits, often with all-day rain through August and September.
The crowded, colourful and unruly heart of India. Don't let your first impressions of Delhi stick like a sacred cow in a traffic jam: get behind the madcap fa ç ade and discover the inner peace of a city rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep with history and totally addictive to epicureans.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Area: 1483
Coordinates: 28.6666679382 latitude and 77.2166671753 longitude
Population: 13800000
Area codes: 11
Getting There
Summer in Delhi is no joke - from April the temperature climbs relentlessly to more than 45° C (113° F) in May and June and the heat doesn't really abate until October. Dust storms called loo sweep in from Rajasthan with considerable fury. The arrival of the monsoon, at the end of June, brings intense humidity - the murder rate usually peaks in this month.From November to March is the best time to visit, with cool but sunny weather. Also, Holi, one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals, takes place around this time, in February or March. October sees the end of the monsoon, but is reasonably pleasant, although the days can still be pretty hot. Nights can be quite chilly in December and January.
Getting there and away
Delhi is India's flight centre, with international and domestic flights readily available in a range of costs and comforts plus travel agents queuing up to negotiate a deal. Both domestic and international terminals for the Indira Gandhi International Airport are quite a way out of town - domestic 7km (4.5mi) from the city and international 11km (6mi) - so be prepared for the taxi driver ambush upon arrival. The Inter State Bus Terminal at Kashmiri Gate, north of the 'Old' Delhi Train Station, has long distance trips south to Rajasthan and north to Chandigarh, and to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. The New Delhi Train Station is as user friendly as such a place can be in India, if you ignore the touts who have all sorts of stories aimed at parting tourists with their money. From here you can organise long-distance trips east across the Ganges Plain to Kolkata, and south to Mumbai (Bombay) via Agra.
Getting around
Delhi's bus system is not for the faint hearted, or indeed for those who need to get somewhere on time. The network covers most of the city and is dirt cheap, but is also overcrowded and ramshackle - adventure travel you might say. There are plenty of metered yellow-and-black taxis, but don't expect the existence of a meter to mean they will be used. Learn to negotiate before you get going. Auto-rickshaws are generally speedy over short distances and less expensive - cycle rickshaws are somewhat romantic, but harder to find now they have been removed from the modern parts of the city. Motorcycle rickshaws are a better bet during busy hours. They have set courses and prices and can muscle their way through traffic as well. Trying to cycle through Delhi streets would be a foolish choice for a traveller. Try the metro instead - check out www.delhimetrorail.com for more details.
Weather
One of Delhi's drawbacks is that for more than half the year the climate is lousy. For about four months - from November until about March - it's fine, with daytime temperatures between 21 and 30 ° C (70-86 ° F). However, by the end of April it's hot, while May and June are really hot - temperatures can swoop up to more than 45 ° C (113 ° F). In July it gets cooler but the humidity really hits, often with all-day rain through August and September.
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