Insight Guides India (Travel Guide eBook)

Insight Guides

Description

Insight Guides: all you need to inspire every step of your journey.

From deciding when to go, to choosing what to see when you arrive, this is all you need to plan your trip and experience the best of India, with in-depth insider information on must-see, top attractions like the Taj Mahal, Himalayan foothill and the Golden Palace, and hidden cultural gems like Shimla and Pune.

- Insight Guide India is ideal for travellers seeking immersive cultural experiences, from exploring the golden beaches of Goa, to discovering the Himalayan hill stations 
- In-depth on history and culture: enjoy special features on independence, cinema and food, all written by local experts
- Invaluable maps, travel tips and practical information ensure effortless planning, and encourage venturing off the beaten track
- Inspirational colour photography throughout - Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books
- Inventive design makes for an engaging, easy reading experience

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps, as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

Sujets

• South Asia
• Travel
• Asia
• India

Informations

• Publié par: Apa Publications
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781839051449
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

How To Use This E-Book

Getting around the e-book
This Insight Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration for your visit to India, as well as comprehensive planning advice to make sure you have the best travel experience. The guide begins with our selection of Top Attractions, as well as our Editor’s Choice categories of activities and experiences. Detailed features on history, people and culture paint a vivid portrait of contemporary life in India. The extensive Places chapters give a complete guide to all the sights and areas worth visiting. The Travel Tips provide full information on getting around, activities from culture to shopping to sport, plus a wealth of practical information to help you plan your trip.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in India are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
You’ll find hundreds of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of India. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years’ experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.

© 2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd




Table of Contents
India’s Top 10 Attractions
Editor’s Choice
Introduction: The Allure of India
Land and Climate
Wildlife
Society and Religion
Decisive Dates
Beginnings
Europeans in India
Independent India
Contemporary Issues
Food and Drink
Insight: Festivals
Performing Arts
Cinema
Art and Architecture
Insight: Hindu Deities
Introduction: Places
Introduction: The North
Delhi
The Northern Plains
Insight: The Taj Mahal
The Himalayas
Introduction: The Desert States
Rajasthan
Insight: Indian Railways
Gujarat
Introduction: West-Central India
Mumbai (Bombay)
Insight: Ajanta and Ellora
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh
Insight: Khajuraho
Goa
Introduction: East and Northeast India
Kolkata (Calcutta)
West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand
The Northeast
Introduction: The South
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Insight: Hampi
Chennai (Madras)
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Insight: Cruising Kerala’s Green Backwaters
Offshore Islands
Travel Tips: Transport
Travel Tips: A–Z
Travel Tips: Language
Travel Tips: Further Reading


India’s Top 10 Attractions



Top Attraction 1



Kerala. The intense greens of the Kerala backwaters, overhung by innumerable coconut palms, encapsulate tropical India like nowhere else. For more information, click here .
Britta Jaschinski/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 2



Jaisalmer. The desert citadel of Jaisalmer, with its golden sandstone fort and wonderful havelis, is the oldest Rajput capital. It also has some beautiful and ornate Jain temples, and is the base for excursions into the Thar Desert. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 3



The Taj Mahal. It is India’s most recognisable sight. This truly stunning monument in white marble is seductive in its perfect proportions and fine details. For more information, click here .
Julian Love/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 4



Hampi. The ruined Vijayanagar capital is perhaps India’s most evocative archaeological site, set amidst a wonderful boulder landscape in the heart of India. A World Heritage Monument, the Vittala Temple has a wealth of sculptural detail. For more information, click here .
David Abrahams/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 5



Kullu Valley. Set in the beautiful lush green foothills of the Himalayas, the valley is a relaxing and picturesque place to unwind. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 6



Varanasi. This is the most sacred place on India’s most sacred river – the bathing ghats present a spectacle that covers the panoply of human existence. For more information, click here .
Julian Love/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 7



Mumbai. It is the heartbeat of modern India, brash and vibrant, sometimes frustrating, always fascinating. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 8



Udaipur. One of India’s most romantic locations, Udaipur is centred on its famous lake and overlooked by one of the most resplendent Rajput forts in Rajasthan. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 9



Darjeeling. A summertime retreat for the British Raj, the city has extraordinary views over the eastern Himalayas. It is reached by a “Toy Train”, itself a World Heritage Monument. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 10



Ajanta. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, these carved rock temples lie in a beautiful, forested ravine. The stunning frescoes are some of the greatest works of ancient Buddhist art. For more information, click here
Abe Nowitz/Apa Publications


Editor’s Choice




Holi festival celebrations.
Dreamstime


Most Memorable India Experiences

Tiger-watching at Corbett, Ranthambore or Kanha National Parks. Ranthambore offers the best chance of seeing a wild tiger in India, although Bandhavgarh and Kanha give a more complete experience. For more information, click here , here or here .
Riding the rails. There is nothing quite like an overnight journey on an Indian train. It’s a great way to meet locals, the rail network is extensive and trains, on the whole, comfortable and reliable. For more information, click here .
Mumbai at night. The vibrant megalopolis is at its best in the evening. Bars, cafés and clubs are here in abundance, with a dash of Bollywood glam. Begin the evening with a sunset stroll along the seafront. For more information, click here .
Khajuraho at dawn. These temples, famed for their erotic sculpture, are best seen in the early morning before the tour groups arrive. For more information, click here .
A Rajasthan fort. To capture the romance of India visit one of Rajasthan’s flamboyant forts – the best are at Jodhpur, Amber, Bikaner, Udaipur and Jaisalmer. For more information, click here .
Hindu festivals. There is no better way to experience India’s amazing colour than by seeing a Hindu festival in full swing. For more information, click here .
Camel safari. Setting out from Jaisalmer on a desert safari is for many people the most long-lasting memory of India. For more information, click here .
Sleep in a palace. Many of India’s old royal palaces have been converted into luxury heritage hotels. For more information, click here .
Indian food. The cuisine in India is quite different from the variety so familiar in the UK and elsewhere, and varies a great deal from north to south. Street food can be excellent, too. For more information, click here .


Urban Highlights

Delhi. India’s dusty capital is full of interest, from the shops of Connaught Place to major sights such as the Red Fort and Qutb Minar. For more information, click here .
Jaipur. Close to Delhi and Agra, the pink city is an intoxicating introduction to the splendour of Rajasthan. For more information, click here .
Kolkata (Calcutta). Early centre of the British Raj’s power, this dynamic city lies off the main tourist trail. For more information, click here .
Bengaluru (Bangalore). At the forefront of India’s brave new 21st-century world. For more information, click here .
Chennai (Madras). This steamy southern metropolis has great food, colonial relics and vibrant culture. For more information, click here .
Varanasi. Arguably the most intense, atmospheric place anywhere in India. For more information, click here .
Hyderabad. Historic Muslim hub of the south. For more information, click here .
Mysore. The old sandalwood city is one of India’s most pleasant urban centres; don’t miss its incredible palace. For more information, click here .
Madurai. Tower