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Planning what to see on a trip to India can be a daunting experience especially when you have to choose between the south, north, the east or the west.
India is a vast country and one that hosts a variety of cultures and landscapes. Whether on a spiritual quest, a cultural sojourn or a relaxing vacation, it makes sense to plan a trip in India so as to cover a few destinations in a particular region. The peak time to visit India is November through March – in fact, any other time of the year entails bearing the vagaries of the weather. In Rajasthan for instance, you will have to endure temperatures that touch 120 degrees in off-peak months. The country can be divided into the North, South, East and West and each one of these regions nurture cultures that are unique to them. It’s not impossible to cover popular tourist destinations like the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala in a single visit. However, if pressed for time, choose a single region and travel across it. Trying to pack in as many destinations across the four regions during a two-week trip can be exhausting. Moreover, every one of these regions is different with respect to the people, architecture, food, culture and languages spoken. The North(Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh) The northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh together form the Golden Triangle with its three cities Jaipur, Delhi and Agra. When tourists talk of ‘doing India,’ more often than not, it is this trinity that they are referring to. The north Indian states mainly speak Hindi, which is also the national language. The West(Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra) Maharashtra is home to one of India’s biggest cities and the business hub of the country, Mumbai (Bombay). Gujarat is best known as the native state of Mahatma Gandhi and Goa, for its carnivals and lush tropical beaches. The East(West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur) Eastern India is popular for the Sun Temple, Buddhist monasteries, tea estates, and tribal cultures, but is also among the least explored parts of India. West Bengal is one of the few states in India where Communism thrives. The South(Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) The south is home to the nation’s booming software industry and a good chunk of the population may not respond favorably to Hindi phrases from traveler’s guides. Southern states speak languages that are a mix of the Dravidian language Tamil with a good measure of Sanskrit words thrown in. Visit this region for its ancient temples, cosmopolitan cities and coconut-tree fringed beaches.
The copyright of the article Planning a Trip to India in India Travel is owned by Renu Pariyadath. Permission to republish Planning a Trip to India in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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