General: India

*******August 2008 UPDATE **************** Since originally posting this review it's had over 7000 external hits so clearly people have been reading it. As a result of the complete horlicks that the Consulate and High Commission were making of the visa issuing process in 2007, the decision was taken to outsource the process of issuing Indian visas so that you now have to go through an agency called VFS. I have reviewed this process and if you hunt ...
...it. The below review is now obsolete - read it, (hopefully) enjoy it, but be aware that it's no longer valid. YOU CANNOT GET VISAS FROM THE HCI IN LONDON OR THE CONSULATE IN BIRMINGHAM ANY MORE I would appreciate it members considering rating the review please keep in mind that at the time or writing it was an accurate picture of the process and just because that process has changed 2 years later, it shouldn't be an excuse for a bad rating - please! ...

koshkha 22.05.2006 (02.09.2008) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

Unlike many of my co-ciao members who have described their experiences about India, I shall distance myself from just providing information about places,advice or guidance, but I would like to bring to fore the experience that makes a country called India and what keeps it going. India, Not a country, But an Experience. I can bet on that, I have lived in India for 25 years and have travelled across the globe a good few times and had the hospitality ...
...country mesmerised me and the uniqueness in every country fed my curiosity in exploring the world. India, by itself is diverse. Any public speaker, any politician, any person speaking about India will use the term " Integrity in Diversity" without fail. This concept has been coined only a few decades ago, but summarises the essence of India from millions of years. My views today would be based on this aspect largely. India has a rich history, a rich ...

atbbiz 13.10.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

Mussoorie also called the Queen of Hills can be anybody's dream destination and so was mine. The sizzling experience starts when we view and experience its altitude location of 6600 feet. The heart stops when we see the Doon valley in the south and the snow clad Himalayas in the north east from Mussoorie. This beautiful hillstation has got the varied collection of Flora and fauna with Cedrus deodara being the main attraction. Cedrus deodara resembles ...
...Mussoorie keeps on changing throughout the day. There is a saying in India which says 'You can never predict when the Fashion of Mumbai, Girl of Delhi and Climate of Mussorie will change'. Before I narrate my travel experience of Mussoorie, let me give its background in terms of history, location, my hotel stay and a glimpse of the places to be visited. '''History''' : In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this ...

snoty9 03.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

Last summer I spent three amazing months travelling in India. I met some amazing people, saw some beautiful landscape and made some really close friends. I would recommend visiting India to anyone and here is my advice if you?re planning a trip. Some of it is obvious and basic, some of it I wish I was told before I went. I?ve just realised how long this has turned into ? Sorry! I hope it is of some use? ~~~ Before you go ~~~ PASSPORT & VISA: ...
...Post Offices. You will also need a Visa. To do this you can post off your passport with appropriate information, however, the easiest option is to go to an Indian Embassy in Birmingham or London and queue up to get it done there and then. MONEY: You can not change pounds for rupees in this country due to the instability of the Indian currency. Organise travellers cheques. Take both dollars and pounds, most places accept both, however some don?t. ...

bigfoot 26.09.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

There were markets everywhere.Traffic,both ancient and modern,filled the city streets and through the dust and fumes beautiful women dressed in lovely silk saris flitted as gracefully as butterflies. We were in Chanai once known as Madras,at the begining of our tour of south India. Chanai has a fantastic cathedral dedicated to the apostile St Thomas,the 13th century Shiva temple of Kapaleeshwara with it's impressive collection of Chola bronzes. Driving ...
...fields and emense lakes of waterlillies,through towns where sacred cows and goats wander free.(yes their sacred) Once deep in the counry side we stopped to admire the magnificent hand carved rocks of Arjunas Penance Ratha which is a masterpiece in ancient symbolic carving. We stayed in the Maharaja's Palace at Mysore. The cheap accomidation and food were amazing and the lovely bath was much appreciated. Next day we were back on the road when we noticed ...

barrytoplis 14.10.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

A day is more than enough to know the place inside-out. You could be familiar with each turn of the winding road in a week. But even having lived there for two months, some things still seemed new to me as I got out each morning and stopped at the designated spots and met the same people and spoke about the same things.There exists an ethereal charm, which envelopes each individual here. Situated in Almora district, 61km from Nanital and 360km from ...
...State of Uttranchal. Ranikhet may not be on every tourist’s route while visiting Uttranchal, and that is just one of the many reasons why this hill station, situated at an altitude of 1,829m, is the perfect place for a quiet vacation. The town, which was founded by the British as an army establishment, is still the headquarters for the Kumaon Regimental Centre. I get into a Santro, which has been designated as a taxi other than the Sumos and Jeeps, ...

twinkle88888 19.02.2004 (02.03.2004) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

Bollywood and Scorpions India is for the most people a synonym for poor people, slums, dirty cities and religious castes, where women will oppressed (i hope it's correct) and the land of bollywood films. But India is more than a dirty country as children must work and bombs will threaten the rest of the world. India is with 1,1 billion people one of the biggest countries worldwide and started by the economic boom the upgrading of the social systems. ...
...of money and a lot manpower in the past 5 years to grow up the education of the india people, to brake of the castes off. That means the government placed people from low castes into high positions. Politics India has a similar system like germany. India is in 28 states structured. Every state has his own state president or minister. Abutted is this system under the UK form of government as a result of of the colonial time. That means India has ...

Smokers 21.10.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

India is undeniably among the richest countries in the world in regard to heritage attractions and has a number of sites which are designated by UNESCO as world heritage sites. The whole world knows about the Taj Mahal and its famous history.Other world heritage sites in India include the Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, Sun Temple,Konarak, the monuments at Mahabalipuram, Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Keoladeo National ...
...Hampi, Fatehpur Sikri, Monuments at Pattadakal, Elephanta Caves, Sundarbans National Park and Nanda Devi National Park. There are still more such as the Brihadisvara Temple,Thanjavur, Buddhist Monastery at Sanchi,Humayun’s tomb and Qutb Minar and its monuments at Delhi. What an incredible array. ^^^^ Background Heritage now comprises a very important component of tourism and undeniably has a lengthy tradition and exercised a major influence ...

ashford 23.10.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: India

I went to India when I was 18, I never thought it would change me so much. You never actually think you have changed until you come back, it's then you start having a different outlook on life..... CULTURE Yes, the culture is different and you have to be prepared for that. If you're not the type of person who will be able to integrate or have an open mind then I suggest you don't go. You'll have to try different foods, meet different people and ...
...great thing about it and what makes the trip so special. EXPERIENCE The place we stayed at was near Delhi it was a little village and well catered for tourists. So try to go for a organised tour that way you'll make the most of your trip. COST It cost £500 flight fares including return. £130 for two weeks not including dinner and £20 for car hire for two weeks. Don't forget to convert pounds to rupees. It was one of the most adventurous and life ...

WAD1-2-3 17.12.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

I had a choice (self-imposed) of going to Israel,Ireland or India.I was travelling on my own and was 25 and had done some solo travelling already but nowhere as culturally different.My first experience after a very convoluted aeroflot flight(not to be repeated) was of paying a man in the accomodation office at Delhi airport some money for a hotel to be booked and then arriving only to be told there was no record of money being already paid.The rest ...
...on the door and me putting all available furniture up against it.I moved to a very basic but much more secure backpacker type hostel the next day and thought how attractive Ireland probably was at this time of year!I ended up staying for 9 months interspersed with 1 month in Nepal and although I would say it was very hard work at times it was certainly a life changing experience and one that I would definitely recommend. I found Delhi very difficult,crowded ...

Jenner1 14.04.2007 (15.04.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

The state of Uttaranchal,India,is crowned by the majestic Himalayas.Snowclad peaks & winding tracks of the highways leads one to Badrinath,Kedarnath,Gangotri,Yamunotri and several other picturesque places......places where Gods live.....as believed by millions belonging to the Hindu religion. The route to the Land of the Gods starts from Haridwar,an important Railhead.In fact,the 'Land' itself starts from Haridwar where the sacred Ganges meets the ...
...is a seat of saints and Ashrams having long chains of followers.Surrounded by majestic hills and blessed by the great river Ganges,mornings vibrate with the chanting of hymns and sweet ringing of temple bells and the evenings are mystic with 'Sandhyarati' i.e worship of mother Ganges with thousands of pilgrims and hundreds of lamps.Further up is Rishikesh sprinkled with a no. of Ashrams where 'Yoga'is practised and taught everyday.The atmosphere ...

manasray 18.03.2006 (15.01.2008) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

hey guys the first step to know india is just try to get visa Then the thing which you will experience ,will be unforgottable. there are lots of things which you will experience over here,not in another part of world. There is a rich cultural heritage like monuments in the area of delhi,jaipur ,agra famous worldwide for "TAJ" hyderabaad,kolkata.etc over these places you can discover the main india. The most unique thing about India is that its ...
...conditions,language,culture,festivals. There are thousands of festivals being celebrated over here.The famous are Diwali,Holi,Onam,Pongal,Ied.And inspite of modernisation Indians have shown great determination for preserving their moral values and cultural heritage. People are very friendly,the basic travel can be done on train which is covering almost every region The places best for visit depend on your personal interest like: Heritage:Jaipur,Delhi,Agra-north ...

amazon1984 10.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

With the recent earthquake to India, my summer trip to India is looking doubtful. But, it would be nice to go again, and this time make a little difference. The earthquake has left many thousands of people homeless, and has also killed many. I normally go to the capital, and then a few villages, followed by a trip to a few of my relatives. I always find it a marvel to go back, things are so good and you appreciate the differences, it’s asif ...
...people whom the earthquake probably affected the most. The scenery is beautiful, the historical importance of buildings like the Taj Mahl are so great, and to see them first hand is even more special. The artistry and the way the buildings have been preserved is so good. The people are so friendly, and you can get a good tourist guide to show you round. Items are cheap, and you can collect some bargains. The weather warm, and it makes for a perfect ...

india1 17.02.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

THE INDIA VISA information, (not available by postal application anymore) whilst full of detail should you live in or near one of the states areas, is not at all helpful if you live in Penzance in the far south west of Cornwall. In the past I have always had success with postal visas from the Indian High Commission - returned very quickly. Never a problem. I travel to India every year as a tourist (I love the place) but now.....I have cancelled this year's plan to travel there due to the visa difficulty. I cant drive 400 miles to get a visa. What has happened is crazy. It will kill tourism. I am off to Sri Lanka instead, as other "friends of India" are doing as well. Sri Lanka gives a 30 day visa on landing. ...

Malabar 27.10.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India

This is a trip report about India. My husband and I just returned from a month trip to Rajasthan and loved every minute of it. It was our dream to be there at least once but finally we found this country so different and interesting to come back again some time. I did a search for our trip via the internet and came up with a variety of in-country travel specialists. After reading all info and checking prices etc, decided to go with Mr. Raju www.rajuindia.com ...
...the message board on many other forums to see if any one else had used this travel specialist and how surprising that I got many responses from the people who has been traveled with him. Raju gave me few addresses of his previous traveled clients from States and it was really helpful for me to mail them and get all the practical information. Personally he helped me lot to plan my route. What is special about Rajuindia.com is that the trip is planned ...

chrisrameti 20.12.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: India