This writeup is intended to throw some light on the various facets of India for those who are still searching to locate India on a map. It is difficult to explain all of India in this short article, and any attempt to do so results in the oversimplification of a complex topic. But I do hope that it provides a glimpse of India for the novice India tourist.... Read More »

…Or “How to stuff so many experiences into one day that your head will explode”. My first day in India was so full of experiences that I had to call it quit at 8pm and go to my room to cope with it all by writing this entry. So all in all it wasn’t a whole day, but only from 7am to 8pm. But Wow! How many things can possibly happen in 13 hours? A lot!... Read More »

Every so often on IM we have people wondering about travelling overland to India from Europe, and I regularly get questions on the subject. Since many people seem to think it's not possible, or too dangerous, I thought I'd do an article on it, covering the main topics. Other IMers who have done the trip can add their own thoughts in the comments thread. ... Read More »

We were in Bhutan for three nights and four days. A fact which will not allow this post to be anything more than a passing observation. I did some amount of reading on Bhutan before I went on the trip and I was enchanted with the idea of a place like Bhutan being in existence not just in the modern, but actually, incredibly, in an incurably post-modern world.... Read More »

Travel to India takes you to a kaleidoscope of cultures, cuisine and climate, and can be an exciting affair. Millions of tourists flock to India every year, visiting centuries old relics like the Taj Mahal, unwinding on secluded, white sand beaches or ingesting the beautiful landscapes that abound in all corners of India. Tourists who want to visit India should familiarize themselves with facts about India, when to travel to India and where to go in India and in which particular months of the year.... Read More »

This article is meant for Indian Citizens only. It is a brief introduction to the process of applying for, and acquiring from within India, an Indian passport for the first time. This How To article only concerns itself with regular passports applied for through the normal and Tatkal process. The process for official and/or diplomatic passports is beyond the scope of this article. Those applying for an Indian passport outside India need to check with the nearest consulate for the procedure.... Read More »

Getting a visa to India should be a fairly straightforward process, although some India Mikers have found it difficult. This article aims to answer some of the frequently asked questions about obtaining an Indian tourist visa. ... Read More »

This isn't going to be a lush, detailed description of a Rajasthan tour or something. I just wanted to post a bit of a ramble because I felt I learned a lot this time round. This was partly due to very funny and frankly talking (to borrow my friend's phrase) by my Indian acquaintances. And partly it was due perhaps to familiarity with my surroundings - you start to see the stuff you didn't see the previous five visits.... Read More »

India is a diverse country. Its art, history, and culture date back to several thousand years BC. It has been through historical and cultural upheavels due to conquests and rebellions. For these reasons, suggesting a short list of attractions in India or things to do in India is a daunting task. The following is a list of monuments, temples, and buildings that have been identified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Make sure you visit at least one of these when in India. Any India tour is incomplete otherwise.... Read More »

Arranging a trip to Jim Corbett National Park is not as easy as many may think. So, please read this entire article before going off half cocked. This article focuses on making a trip to Jim Corbett National Park easy, covering getting to Corbett Park, accommodations for Corbett Park, and getting the most out of your visit to Corbett Park. ... Read More »

Back in 2006, we visited 5 of India's National parks: Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, Keoladeo National Park and Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, and Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This article describes our tour of the national parks of this magical country, along the tracks of Kipling and Jim Corbett.... Read More »

Malabar is the name of the northern districts of the Kerala state in the Southwest corner of India. I visited Malabar in December 2011 with my wife. It was a backpack journey that took us to very remote areas and gave a very strong emotional spark. Thus, this account is hardly a travel guide, rather a very personal reflection on the people and their culture by an attentive passer-by.... Read More »