Description

India is almost a collection of countries, due to its vast size and dazzling regional array of languages, cuisines and religions. The southern states stretch from the palm-lined beaches of Goa down to the quiet Keralan Backwaters and across the Western Ghats to the thriving city of Chennai - once a hub of the British East India Company - with Bangalore, the "Garden City", on the plains in between. The state of Andhra Pradesh spans a huge part of the east coast, with Hyderabad, which is famed for its nawabs and markets at the heart. In Tamil Nadu, visitors can explore elaborately carved stone temple complexes with towering gopurams visited everyday by hundreds of pilgrims, such as the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Chennai and the former French colony Pondicherry each have their own distinctive style of architecture. Besides the many fun beach resorts, Goa has a wealth of churches, a legacy of more than 400 years as a Portuguese colony. Few tourists make it to the remote, ruined Vijayanagara city of Hampi in Karnataka but those who do are left overwhelmed by its beauty and atmosphere. The trick with India is probably to do less, rather than more, and plan to go back.

Getting There

There are direct flights from Britain to Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Calcutta, Amritsar and Bangalore. Direct flight times are between 8 - 10 hours. India has an excellent network of domestic flights and combining the north and south is easy.

Visa Requirements

All visitors to India must obtain a visa prior to departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return from India and have at least 2 blank pages. We recommend Visa Express (0207 251 4822), who will organise your visa on your behalf for a charge of £25 per passport (in addition to the charge for the visa itself). If you are arranging your own visa, you can apply online at VFS Global.All visas are valid from the date of issue. You will need to give the name of two India referees with your visa application. For this and any other information, please contact your Ampersand Travel consultant.

Health Advice

For information on vaccinations and health requirements, we suggest you contact your GP or a travel clinic such as Fit For Travel at least 2 months prior to departure for advice and to arrange immunisations. Recommended vaccinations for travel to India are polio, tetanus, typhoid, meningitis and hepatitis A. We would also recommend you take anti-malarial tablets, but please consult your doctor for his/her advice.

Flying times from UK

Chennai: 9 hours 40 minutes direct non-stop
Bangalore: 9 hours 35 minutes direct non-stop
Goa: Approx. 10 hours not direct
Cochin: Approx. 10 hours not direct

Local Time

GMT + 530 hours

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