Traveling to India can be a life changing experience for the first-time visitor. For tourists seeking peace and tranquility, India is a spiritual destination that provides insight and enlightenment. For others, travel to India means visiting the Taj Mahal or walking the picturesque beaches in the resort town of Goa. Whatever the reason travelers book flights to India, you can be sure to leave with a lasting impression of this country.
India is a country of contrasts. Visitors will find that in some areas India is rich in prosperity and poor in culture, but in others the reverse is true. India evokes a sensual and exotic experience for some, but it is also plagued by poverty. Your India flight could be filled with tourists, diplomats and ambassadors. On either side of a busy tourist street in Delhi, travelers will find themselves surrounded by turbaned shepherds and politicians of India’s parliament.
On a geographic scale, India is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. India borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh to the north. Its borders are ever prone to conflict and even internally there is tension between Hindu and Muslim. India is known as a country where great personal peace can be sought and found. India flights and hotel availability are plentiful depending on the time of year you travel. Many of the major airlines offer cheap flights to India, and travelers can also find good flight deals to Delhi and Calcutta on local airlines specific to the Asian market.
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India's climate varies greatly from region to region. In general, there are four regular seasons. Winter falls from December through February and is relatively dry and cool. The summer months fall between March and May, and travelers to India will find summer is usually hot and dry. Cheap flights to India can usually be purchased during the Southwest Monsoon season (June through September) when most of the country gets rain. Northeast, or Retreating, Monsoon is October and November.When searching for flights to India, take into consideration the climate during the time of year you’re traveling.
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Generally the best time to fly to India is January through September. Cheap flights to northeastern India can be found from March through August. The desert and northwestern areas of India are best visited during the July to September monsoon season. The best time to visit the mountain regions is summer, so flights to India are plentiful during this time. Flights to India from the U.S. average around 20 hours (depending on your departure city), including the time change, so plan your trip accordingly with time to travel
Peak Season:
Delhi’s peak tourist season is mid-September through March, during which October to February is considered the best time for flights to India. Mumbai is cooler and drier November through February. Goa’s best season is October to February, and Bangalore’s dry and clear season is December to February.
Off Season:
Indian summers are typically hot (Delhi summers can go above 110 F) and humid. Also keep in mind when booking India flights that a monsoon can disrupt plane schedules and shut down phone systems and electricity.
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While your flight to India will take an entire day, once you’re there the country is best seen on foot. Driving in India is not recommended, particularly in the cities. In Old Delhi and Mumbai you can explore the top India attractions by simply walking through the city. Many visitors hire a car and driver by the day to get around a city, although taxis and rickshaws are an option. For taxis and rickshaws (both auto and bicycle), make sure to negotiate the fare before you set out.
Motorbikes are very popular in Goa, and the state is small enough that a motorbike may be all the transportation you need.
Most cities in India have a bus system. Generally the buses are hot and crowded, particularly during rush hour, when the additional traffic also affects the bus service. The exception is Chennai where the city buses and suburban trains are fast and economical.
Traveling from one city to another is made easy by the number of international and regional airports and carriers in India.
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Delhi (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in India. Insider travel tip: When booking flights to India, look for car rental or driver rates to add to your India flight.
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The following chart gives approximate journey times from Delhi (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in India.
| | Air | Road | Rail | Sea |
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| Mumbai | 1.50 | 28.00 | 17.30a | |
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| Kolkata | 2.00 | 30.00 | 18.00b | |
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| Chennai | 3.00 | 45.00 | 32.00 | |
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| Port Blair | 5.05 | c | | Note a. Time by express (not daily); normal train takes 23 hours. b. Time by express (not daily); normal train takes 25 hours. c. Does not include stopover in Chennai. d. Boat journey from Chennai takes three to four days. |
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- Delhi, India’s capital, has thousands of years of history, and Old Delhi is a step back in time with its historic buildings, bazaars, and narrow alleys. Throughout Delhi the old and new are side by side: modern skyscrapers, beautiful gardens, and tree-lined avenues. Delhi is modern India, with its contradictions—old and new, affluent and poor—and a rich mix of India’s history, cultures, and religions. Most India flights will come directly to Delhi, but travelers can book additional flights to India’s cities through the Delhi airport.
- Goa’s warm weather and sandy beaches bring droves of vacationers from India and abroad. A hippie playground in the 60s, today’s Goa has five-star resorts and a party-all-night atmosphere, yet you can find remote and secluded beaches. The cuisine is a mix of Indian and Latin, and a must-do experience is shopping in the thousands of stalls at the Wednesday Market.
- Mumbai (Bombay) has a Victorian-townhouse, English-industrial, coastal-city setting and is India’s richest and most vibrant city. Mumbai has more millionaires than any other Indian city, a swinging nightlife and the Banganga Tank where pilgrims cleanse their souls. A visit to Mumbai also brings you to some of the best bazaars, sports activities, and performing arts. Travelers can find India flights to Mumbai through major airlines.
- India’s fifth largest city, Bangalore, has a mild and healthy climate. Bangalore was the first Indian city to get electricity and is now India’s high-technology center. Cosmopolitan Bangalore has excellent pubs, restaurants, and cafes. It is also a shoppers’ paradise with Mysore silks, sandalwood and rosewood carvings, brass and ivory artifacts, lambani jewelry, and handicrafts from embroidery to pottery. Travelers should be aware that India flights to Bangalore will transfer through Mumbai or Dehli.
- Chennai (Madras) has one of the longest urban beaches in the world, but also a large city’s pollution problems. An important center before the British arrived, Chennai retains the best of southern Indian traditions and remains a gateway to South India. As one of India’s important trade centers, Chennai is a great place for shopping.
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When preparing for your flight to India, don’t forget the proper identification. A valid passport and visa is required by all for entry to India, unless they hold a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card. Some parts of the country are restricted areas and require a special permit. Travelers planning to go to the far northwest of the country or to the islands should check with India Tourism for the latest information.
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United States citizens must have a valid passport and a visa.
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