If you fly to India alone. Independent travel to India

This article will be useful for those who want to travel to India on their own, but do not know how much it costs and cannot decide.

I roughly described the route and budget of our trip to India this winter. This will be our 2nd trip.

The budget can be reduced or increased, it all depends on your needs.

Some people use their last money to buy tickets to Goa, where they sleep on the beach or at the "man under the star anise" in Arambol, beg from the Russians, smoke, and they are happy!!!

In general, everyone decides what happiness is.

The article will be supplemented as we spend. Green will mark the amount actually spent, you can compare with the plan))

So, let's begin.

We are going to India for 22 days: 12/31/2017- 01/22/2018

The budget looks like this:

1.Airfare expenses.

1.1. Omsk-Delhi (with transfer in Astana) 27000 rubles for two There and back again.

1.2. We are going to Kerala, but direct tickets are expensive, and I want to go to Hampi and Goa, so I bought more tickets: 01/04/2017 Delhi-Hyderabad (Central India) - 5000 rubles for two . If you do not want to watch India, but fly specifically for Ayurveda to Kerala, then tickets to Kochi 01.01.-04.01. cost about 13,000 rubles, and after 04.01. -10000-12000 rubles for two.

1.3. And return tickets: 01/21/2017. Kochi (Kerala) - Delhi (with a change in Bangalore) - 7000 rubles for two (until January 10, tickets are more expensive than 10,000 rubles, and after January 17, you can fly cheaper). Total: 39000 rubles.

2. Accommodation.

We choose the most budgetary type of housing (hut in Russian), the average cost is 500 rupees for two. 22 days*500=11000 rupees. Plus 2000 rupees just in case (force majeure).

You can compare prices for hotels of different companies on the website

Those hotels that we booked, you can read in the article:

The planned amount came out as follows: 413 + 459 + 635.15 + 550 + 2,282.49 + 2201 + 750 + 2742 + 1,468 = 10499 rubles.

Since some hotels can cancel the reservation themselves, and there are different situations, so later I will write the amount after the fact.

3. Visa.

75 $ * 2 people = 150 $ = 9100 rubles (approximately). This is the cost of the e-visa.

If you live in Moscow or St. Petersburg, you can apply to the embassy, ​​and the visa will cost you much less (about 2500 r per person)

Plus, when paying for an electronic visa on the site, a commission of $ 1.8 is taken.

In total we spent: 76.8 $ * 2 = 153.6 $ (at the rate of 60 rubles - 9216 rubles)

4. Transportation costs in India.

We are planning several trips by trains and buses, the cost is approximately:

3.1 Train 02.01. Delhi-Agra 700 rubles for two.

3.2. Train 02.01. Agra-Sawai Madhopur 250-350 rubles for two

3.3. Train 03.01. Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur 300 rubles for two.

3.4. Train 04.01. Jaipur-Delhi 470 rubles for two.

3.5. 04.01. Train or bus Hyderabad-Hospet (Hampi) 600 rubles for two.

3.6. 07.01. Train or bus Hospet-Goa (Mapsa or Margao) 1000 rubles for two.

3.7. 10.01. Buses from Arambol (Goa) to Palolem (South Goa) 260 rubles for two.

3.8. 12.01. Bus from Palolem to Kochi.

3.9. 14.01. Bus from Kochi to Trivandrum.

4.10. 21.01. Bus from Trivandrum to Kochi.

The total amount will be calculated after counting all the moves.

Also, the list does not include trips within the city by buses, motor rickshaws and taxis.

What route we got in reality, read in the article ""

4. Nutrition

We calculated the budget for food 1300 rubles a day for two. For 22 days it turns out 28,600 rubles. This amount includes alcohol (a bottle of Rum 180 rupees, beer 0.6-60 rupees). In general, you can dine with rice with Indian sauces for 100 rubles, but we are not vegetarians. We plan to eat in Tibetan momo eateries, buy seafood once every 2 days. For example, in Calangute in Goa, we bought tuna for 350 rupees (2.5-3 kg.), We cooked it for 300 rupees. We ate them for 2 days. Or another example: they took medium-sized shrimp in the same place for 150 rupees (600 grams), cooked for 50 rupees. What is is up to you.

5. Shopping.

The budget is 15000 rubles.

I always include in my expenses the budget for the purchase of Indian cosmetics and various dietary supplements and medicines, because I don't buy shampoos in Russia.

6. Ayurveda.

Be sure to include a general massage in the budget, the average cost is 600 rupees, 10 sessions. For two it turns out 12,000 rupees.

Plus several Ayurveda treatments 3000 rupees.

And a few yoga lessons 1000 rupees.

Total: 16,000 rupees (rubles).

7. Excursions.

Below I will describe our route of movement by day, along with the prices for excursions, to make it clearer.

01/31/2017 Departure from Omsk to Astana.

1.01. Departure Astana-Delhi. Day in Delhi.

Tours have not yet been assigned.

2.01. Departure by train to Agra.

Visit to the Taj Mahal. Price 1000 rubles * 2 = 2000 rubles.

Visit to Agra Fort.

Departure to Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore Reserve is located there).

3.01. Visits to the Ranthambore nature reserve. Jeep Safari: Rs 1800*2= Rs 3600.

Departure to Jaipur.

Visiting the Fort in Jaipur. The price is 500 rupees, but maybe we will take a tourist ticket to visit several attractions. The price is 1000 rupees*2= 2000 rupees.

Visits to the reserve with elephants.

4.01. Departure to Delhi.

Delhi-Hyderabad flight

Departure from Hyderabad to Hospet (Hampi).

5.01.-06.01. Visit to Hampi.

7.01. Departure to Goa

8.01.-09.01. Vacation in Goa. Arambol.

10.01.-11.01. South Goa. Palolem.

12.01.-13.01. Kochi (Kerala).

Excursions will be, but the exact number is not calculated.

14.01.-21.01. Trivandrum (Kerala).

21.01. Departure from Kochi to Delhi.

22.01. Departure Delhi-Astana-Omsk.

The plan is approximate, not all expenses are taken into account, only the main ones. After the trip I will write what happened in the end.

The exchange rate of the rupee to the ruble for the calculation of 1: 1, in reality it will be a little more profitable.

Haven't bought tickets yet? Subscribe to the desired direction on the site and catch luck by the tail!

We catch last-minute vouchers on sites with the lowest prices

If you want to be inspired by ideas for planning excursions or book an excursion with a professional guide for yourself, then this can be done on the sites,.

And don't forget to take out insurance. All options and prices can be found on the websites,

Read also:

• How much money to take with you to Goa? Considering the budget...

It so happened that in the small, relatively secluded town of Rewalsar in the Himalayas, we arrived quite late, so late that it was hard for small, sleepy and lazy provincial hotels to bother with our settlement. The hosts of the hotels shrugged their shoulders, shook their heads and waving their hands somewhere in the direction of the night slammed the doors in front of our noses. But we were willingly, though not free of charge, accepted to live in a guest house on the territory of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the lake.

As is often the case in Tibetan places, our meeting and accommodation was handled by a Hindu, since it is unsuitable for Tibetan monks to deal with money and worldly matters. In addition, the monastery had been immersed in night darkness for more than an hour, and the monks should have had enough sleep, so that tomorrow early in the morning they should go to meditation with a cheerful and pious face. The Hindu who gave us the keys to the hotel room told us about this and other sorrows of the world, and in order to somehow console himself, he strongly recommended that we visit this event at seven in the morning.

The main topics are below: buses and trains, flights and visas, health and hygiene, safety, route selection, hotels, food, necessary budget. The relevance of this text is spring 2017.

Hotels

"Where will I live there?" - this question is for some reason very strong, just terribly annoying for those who have not yet traveled in India. There is no such problem. Hotels there are a dime a dozen. The main thing is to choose. Next, we are talking about inexpensive, budget hotels.

In my experience, there are three main ways to find a hotel.

Spiral

Usually you will arrive in a new city by bus or train. So around them there is almost always a great mass of hotels. Therefore, it is enough to move a little away from the place of arrival and start walking in a circle with an increasing radius to come across a lot of hotels. inscriptions "Hotel" designates a place where you can have a bite to eat in a large area of ​​India, so signboards are the main landmarks "guest house" And Lounge.

In the zones of mass idleness (Goa, the resorts of Kerala, the Himalayas), the private sector is developed, well, as we have on the Black Sea coast. There you can ask about housing from the local population and focus on the signs " Rent". In Buddhist places you can live in monasteries, in Hindu places in ashrams.

The further you move away from the bus station or railway station, the lower the prices, but hotels are becoming rarer and rarer. So you look at several hotels of reasonable price and quality and return to the chosen one.

If you are traveling in a group, then you can send one or two people light in search of a hotel, while the rest are waiting at the station with things.

If the hotel is refused and they say that the hotel is only for Indians, then insisting on settling is practically useless.

Ask a taxi driver

For those who have a lot of luggage or are just too lazy to look. Or you want to settle near the sights, for example, at the Taj Mahal, and not at the station. Even in large cities there are places of traditional congestion of tourists: in Delhi it is Main Bazaar, in Calcutta it is Sader Street, in Bombay it is also called something, but I forgot, that is, in any case, you need to go there.

In this case, find a rickshaw or taxi driver and set the task of where you want to live, in what conditions and for what kind of money. In this case, you can sometimes be taken to the desired hotel for free, even show you several places to choose from. It is clear that the price immediately increases, it is pointless to bargain, since the taxi driver's commission is already included in the price. But sometimes, when you are too lazy or in the middle of the night, it is very convenient to use this method.

Book online

This is for those who like certainty and assurance, more comfort and less adventure.

Well, if you book in advance, then book hotels of better quality and not too cheap (at least $30-40 per room), because otherwise there is no guarantee that in reality everything will be as beautiful as in the photographs. They also complained to me that sometimes they came to a booked hotel, and the rooms, despite the reservation, were already occupied. The owners of the hotel were not embarrassed, they said that a client came with money, and there was not enough willpower to refuse the client with cash. The money was returned, of course, but it's still a shame.

Finding, checking in and staying in cheap Indian hotels can be an adventure in itself, a source of fun and sometimes not so fun memories. But then there will be something to tell at home.

Settlement technology

• Get rid of the presence of "Hindu helpers" and barkers, their presence automatically increases the cost of settling.
• Go to a hotel that seems worthy of you and ask how much it costs and decide whether it is worth living there, at the same time you have time to appreciate the interior and helpfulness.
• Be sure to ask to show the room before checking in, show dissatisfaction and indignation with all your appearance, ask to show another room, most likely it will be better. This can be done several times, achieving better placement conditions.

Those who are interested in the energy of Osho and Buddha, meditation and India, we invite you all to travel to the places where the greatest mystic of the 20th century Osho was born, lived the first years of his life and gained enlightenment! In one trip, we will combine the exotic of India, meditation, absorb the energy of Osho's places!
The tour plan also includes a visit to Varanasi, Bodhgaya and possibly Khajuraho (subject to availability of tickets)

Key Travel Locations

Kuchvada

A small village in central India, where Osho was born and lived for the first seven years, surrounded and cared for by his loving grandparents. There is still a house in Kuchvad, which has remained exactly the same as it was during Osho's lifetime. Also near the house is a pond, on the banks of which Osho liked to sit for hours and watch the endless movement of the reeds in the wind, funny games and the flights of herons over the surface of the water. You can visit Osho's house, spend time on the banks of a pond, stroll through the village, soak up that serene spirit of rural India, which undoubtedly had an initial influence on the formation of Osho.

In Kuchvada there is a fairly large and comfortable ashram under the patronage of sannyasins from Japan, where we will live and meditate.

A small video "emotional impression" from visiting Kuchvada and Osho's house.

Gadarwara

At the age of 7, Osho moved with his grandmother to his parents in the small town of Gadarwara, where he spent his school years. By the way, the school class where Osho studied still exists, and there is even a desk where Osho sat. You can go to this class, sit at a desk, where our beloved master spent so much time in his childhood. Unfortunately, getting into this class is a matter of chance and luck, depending on which teacher conducts classes in the class. But in any case, you can walk along the streets of Gadarwara, visit the primary and secondary school, the house where Osho lived, Osho's beloved river ...

And most importantly, on the outskirts of the city there is a quiet, small and cozy ashram, where there is a place where, at the age of 14, Osho experienced a deep experience of death.

Video from Osho Ashram in Gadarwar

Jabalpur

Large city with over a million inhabitants. In Jabalpur, Osho studied at the university, then worked as a teacher and became a professor, but the main thing is that at the age of 21 he gained enlightenment, which happened to him in one of the parks of Jabalpur, and the tree under which this happened is still growing on old place.

In Jabalpur we will live in a quiet and comfortable ashram with a magnificent park.

From the ashram it is easy to get to the Marble Rocks - a natural wonder where Osho liked to spend time during his stay in Jabalpur.

Varanasi

Varanasi is famous for its cremation fires, which burn day and night. But it also has a surprisingly pleasant promenade, the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, boat rides on the Ganges. Near Varanasi is the small village of Sarnath, famous for the fact that Buddha read his first sermon there, and ordinary deer were the first listeners.

Bodhgaya

The place of Buddha's enlightenment. In the main temple of the city, which is surrounded by a beautiful and extensive park, a tree still grows in the shade of which the Buddha gained enlightenment.

In addition, Bodhgaya has a wide variety of Buddhist temples erected by followers of the Buddha from many countries: China, Japan, Tibet, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma ... Each temple has its own unique architecture, decoration, and ceremonies.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho itself is not directly related to Osho, except that Osho often mentioned the tantric temples of Khajuraho, and his grandmother was directly related to Khajuraho.

Crazy, confusing, dirty, poor, sultry, unbearable, noisy, frightening. All this India is one of the most ancient and colorful countries in the world. What to expect from her? What to prepare for? How to choose a resort? For those who just have to plunge into this bright fairy-tale world - 5 short and useful tips. Welcome!

Seriously think about what interests you more - snow-white beaches or mysterious temples; What would you like to do - elephant trekking or shopping. Read all the most useful information about the regions of the country and start creating your own itinerary through the beautiful mesmerizing India.

The most popular tour in the country is the classic "Golden Triangle". Yes, beaten up. Yes, traveled and yes, crowded. But it is he who, in just a few days, is able to give the most complete picture of India, its culture and sights. Starting in Delhi, it will take tourists to the beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra, show the temples of Fathipur Sikri and the pink city of Jaipur, to return to the capital again for an amazing day in the Delhi bazaars.

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Looking for something special? Please:

• best shopping: Delhi
• beaches: Goa
• Tiger Watching: Madhya Pradesh
• trekking: Himachal Pradesh
• religious shrines: Varanasi
• Relaxation and Ayurveda: Kerala
• diving: Nicobar
• parties: Mumbai and North Goa

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So many travelers try to cram all of India's beauties, monuments, museums, regions and beaches into one trip to India... don't be one of them. Visiting one place at a calm, relaxed pace will bring much more pleasant impressions than visiting 10-15 cities in a hurry. Less stress - more understanding, as well as time to communicate with the locals.

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Avoid tap water and fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. No ice, salads, fruits that have not been cooked, washed or cleaned by you yourself.

Some tourists become vegetarians while traveling in India - and this is not a bad idea. A questionable piece of meat can do more harm than lightly cooked vegetables. In addition, many Indians are vegetarians, so there is a huge selection of "green" dishes. But if you can't refuse meat, make sure it's well cooked. There are doubts - go to a restaurant at a good hotel, you definitely won’t lose.

Toilets in India, of course, can easily compete with their counterparts at provincial Russian bus stations, but they are unlikely to cause harm to health. In any case, you should always carry soap or wet bactericidal wipes with you.

One billion and another 100,000+ inhabitants... that might be too much for some travelers. However, in India you can always find cozy desert corners. If you get tired of noisy big cities or crowded resorts, head south to

In 2019, Russians can travel to India on an e-visa, which is issued for 365 days. During one trip continuously in the territory of the country can be no more than 90 days. There is no need to stand in queues and visit the embassy or visa center on your own, everything can be done online via the Internet.

We can issue you an electronic visa to India in 1-3 days, so you will not need to fill out forms, collect documents and waste your time.

Phone (as well as Viber and WhatsApp) + 7 985 123 55 59 e-mail: [email protected]

(Experience with India for more than 5 years).
.

Due to the change in the Consular fee and the constant jump in currencies, we have established a new pricing policy:

Registration cost:
2300 1500
+ consular fee

You need:

• a scan or photo of a passport (you can take them on a regular phone - just so that everything is visible and clear all the inscriptions),
• photography on a white background,
• scan or photo of a Russian passport.

Send the documents to us and in 1-3 days you will receive a ready-made visa. Constantly in touch, applications can be left around the clock.

If you intend to spend your next vacation in India, you will need a visa. Under various circumstances, it can be issued as follows:

1. At the Indian consulate of other countries.
2. On the internet online.
3. At the visa center.

The method of receipt depends on how long you decide to go to a country located on the Hindustan peninsula. If you are only interested in tourism and you are going to travel around the Republic of India for no more than 90 days, the best option would be to go online and get your document on hand upon arrival at the airport.

This is what an electronic entry permit for India looks like, you will need to present it at the airport in order to get a stamp in your passport

Rules for obtaining an e-visa

The on-line option for obtaining permits is available to citizens of 150 countries of the world. Russia is among them. This type of permit is called Indian e-visa. The conditions under which you can apply to the Indian Migration Services online are as follows:

• Your goal is tourism, business trip or treatment. You will be issued a multivisa for 1 year. If you provide a document from the clinic where you are going for treatment, the authorization period will be the same.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival in the country.
• A foreign passport must have at least two pages for affixing visa stamps.
• You must have enough money to spend your holidays in India.
• You must have a return ticket.

If you meet all of the above, you can apply for an entry permit online.

How to Apply for an e-Visa to India Online (Video)

On this video you can see. The Indian site very often does not work well, especially if you are filling out a questionnaire from Russia.

If you need to get a visa urgently and quickly, please contact us: Phone (as well as Viber and WhatsApp) + 7 985 123 55 59, e-mail: [email protected]

You must apply in advance, no later than four days before your departure. Otherwise, you may not be able to. And this means that you will arrive in India, and your visa will still be in the process of being processed.

Even more likely, without permission to enter India, you simply will not be put on a plane.

It makes sense to apply in advance, because after registration you will have a corridor of 120 days, during which you can fly to India.

Visas online cannot be obtained by citizens with diplomatic passports and children who are inscribed in the passports of their parents.

How to get an e-visa

To get an electronic version of the visa, you need to enter all the required information about yourself on the website, send a copy of your international passport. If the purpose of the trip is treatment, you also need a certificate from the clinic where you will undergo it.

If the copies you sent are of poor quality and difficult to read, your visa will be denied.

To obtain a visa on your own, you need to pay a consular fee. Its size is 100 US dollars (excluding the bank commission, which is additionally about 3-4 dollars). In case of incorrect filling of the questionnaire and refusal, this amount will not be returned to you.

Since March 2019, an electronic permit has been issued for 365 days.

You should be aware that India, like, takes biometric data from its guests. Holders of electronic visas will need to hand them over upon arrival at the airport of the state (28 airports) or sailing to one of the 5 ports of the country (Goa, Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai).

Airports where e-visa is valid:

1. Ahmedabad.
2. Amritsar.
3. Bagdogra.
4. Bengaluru.
5. Calicut.
6. Chennai.
7. Chandigarh.
8. Cochin.
9. coimbatore.
10. Delhi.
11. Gaya.
12. Amausi.
13. Guwahati.
14. Hyderabad.
15. Jaipur.
16. Kolkata.
17. Lucknow.
18. Mangalore.
19. Madurai.
20. Mumbai.
21. Nagpur.
22. Pune.
23. Tiruchirapalli.
24. Trivandrum.
25. Varanasi.
26. Bhubaneswar.
27. Port Blair.

You can apply for an online version of the permit twice a year. You should be aware that the document is not subject to renewal. The date of entry into the country is considered the first day of stay in its territory.

There are also prohibitions: to visit some Indian states, an additional special permit is required. For example, you need it for a trip to the Andaman Islands.

In order for visa applicants to track the status of their electronic application, they need to refer to the pages of the website indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/VisaEnquiry.jsp . When traveling to India, it is very important to have a printed version of the electronic permit on hand.

What documents are needed to obtain an electronic permit

To obtain an e-visa, you will need the following documents:

• Passport plus copy. The entry document must be valid for six months. The countdown starts from the moment you enter the country.
• Photo size 5 x 5 cm. The photo must be in color, of good quality and on a light background.

• You will need to indicate the hotel where you are going to stay.
• You will need to fill in the date of arrival in India.

An electronic photograph in JPG format must be no larger than one megabyte. A copy of the passport in PDF format should not exceed 300 kB.

If you have children going to India with you, you need to send copies of their birth certificates. When accompanied by only one parent, a notarized permission from the second parent or a copy of the certificate certifying the reason for the impossibility of obtaining permission from the second parent (for example, a death certificate) is also sent. If parents and children have different surnames, a certificate of kinship must be attached.

An example of the consent of one of the parents to leave the child abroad

All copies must be clear and of good quality. A copy of your passport will need to be submitted in pdf format.

We can help and do all the work of filling out the application form, as well as converting the passport photo to pdf format, paying the consular fee on the Indian website for you.

Applying for a visa through Visasam

With us, the process of obtaining a visa will be easy and fast.

1. Call our specialist + 7 985 123 55 59 (phone, Viber, Whats Up) and leave a visa application, you can also send an application by e-mail [email protected].
2. Our specialists will contact you in the near future and discuss all the terms of cooperation.
3. Within 24-72 hours after payment, you will receive your e-Visa to India and start your journey.
4. Applications can be submitted around the clock. On weekends and holidays we are also ALWAYS open and in touch.

You will only need a passport photo, which you can take on your phone, and a photograph of your face against a light background.

Steps to follow when applying for an e-visa

The first thing you have to do is fill out the application form on the website. Complete all fields accurately. The last thing in this process should be uploading a color photo.

Make payment only after filling out the form. Check your email box, you should receive a code, which will be confirmation that you can start packing your bags. This is what you need to print and present at customs in India. In addition, you will need to present all originals and copies of the above documents.

The video shows how to get your passport stamped upon arrival and enter India with an e-Visa.

Types of visas for visiting India

The rules for entry into India allow for the following types of visas:

1. Single Entry: You enter and exit once.
2. Electronic multivisa: you can enter and exit several times a year. It is important that the period of stay in the country for each trip does not exceed 90 days.
3. Multiple: you can run back and forth for an unlimited number of times, as long as they fit within the time limits. A multiple entry permit may be issued for several months. Its maximum term is 5 years. In practice, it is almost impossible for ordinary travelers to obtain such a visa in 2019. 3 and 6 months valid visa obtained at the visa center of the country.

In addition to the deadlines, permitting stamps differ according to the goals pursued by the guest of the state. Visas can be transit, student, business and tourist.

Long-term regular tourist visa for 3 and 6 months

If you are one of those tourists who travel for more than 90 days, you need to take care of getting. You can do it at the consulate or visa center. Cases of refusal to issue a 6-month visa occur much more often than when applying for an electronic permit. More documents need to be submitted.

You also need to take out medical travel insurance.

Before you go to one of the departments, you must. This:

• International passport. As with the e-visa, it must remain valid for at least another six months. You must also attach a copy of the document. It is important that two blank pages for stamps remain in it.

Other types of visas

Each type of visa has its own requirements for the package of documents presented. In addition to what is required for a tourist visa, prospective Indian students must provide proof of their residency and proof of financial ability to live in India for the duration of their course of study.

Business travelers need invitations from business partners or cover letters from companies sending their employees to seminars, business meetings, etc.

Visa-free transit is prohibited in India, so if you have to transfer in this country, you need to worry about obtaining a transit visa in advance. In addition to the documents relevant for tourists, you need to provide a visa to the country of destination and air tickets from India to a third country.

In practice, such visas are rarely issued in 2019, and even the official consulate or visa center cannot provide reliable information on the rules for issuing them. Therefore, tourists receive the usual electronic permit.

Another, quite rarely issued type of permit is a work visa. To get it, you need to be a high-level specialist. As a rule, such a stamp is placed on those who have entered into a contract with one of the Indian companies.

Organizing a cheap savage vacation in India is quite simple. You can fly to India from almost any major city in Russia; there are direct flights not only from airports in Moscow, but from other cities. While in Moscow, you can fly to Delhi in about 6 hours. To fly to India cheaper, you should get information about charter flights from travel agencies. If there are no private flight operators, you should try to fly by charter by buying a ticket from a large agency, for example, in Moscow.

How to get an Indian visa

Thinking about how to go to India on your own and organize a vacation as a savage, first of all, you need to get an Indian visa. Citizens of Russia can obtain a visa in two ways: the first is in Moscow or St. Petersburg at the visa center, the second is to independently apply for an electronic visa on the Internet.

It is convenient to make an electronic visa if you are going on a short trip as a savage, calculated for no more than 30 days, and also do not live in Moscow or St. Petersburg. To apply for an e-visa online, just fill out an application form, upload a scanned passport, a photo and make a payment. The visa fee is $60. You need to receive an e-visa by e-mail, and then print it.

Housing and movement around the country

The question that worries first-time savage tourists is how cheap it is to live in India. It is worth looking for accommodation in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe main attractions directly on the spot or make a reservation via the Internet. In most places it is possible to live from 3-5 dollars per day. In the case when you decide to make a reservation in advance, pay attention to the reviews of other tourists, the description of the hotel may not correspond to reality.

To travel by car in India, you need to get an international driving license or hire a car with a driver. A local driver knows the tourist routes and will help make traveling on the roads safer. A car with a driver will cost from $50 per day, the price depends on the class of the car and the number of rental days. It will be convenient for savages to travel many routes on a motorcycle, the average rental price per day is $ 15.

Distances in India are quite large, often, tourist routes are 1.5 - 2 thousand kilometers. Indian airlines allow you to fly cheaply to almost any part of the country, so even in a short period of time you can manage to see quite a lot.

New Delhi

It is from the capital of India that many tourists begin their journey around the country. You can live cheaply in Delhi in the vicinity of the New Delhi railway station. The time when tourists in Delhi are most of all is from November to December. During these months, it is better to make a hotel reservation in advance.

A visit to the main attractions will cost 3 - 4 dollars. Worth seeing in Delhi:

• The Red Fort is the symbol of Delhi.
• Humayun's Tomb is a mausoleum reminiscent of the famous Taj Mahal in its architecture.
• Qutub Minar is an ancient minaret.
• India Gate is a monument dedicated to those who died in the First World War.
• Raj Ghat is the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Lotus Temple is the main Baha'i temple.
• Akshardham is the largest Hindu temple in the world.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan is the palace of the President.

You can also make your holiday in Delhi more interesting by visiting museums. The average price of an entrance ticket for foreigners is 2 - 4 dollars.

India's Golden Triangle

Routes in India are very diverse. Where it is best to go for those who want to see the real India is the cities that are part of the Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The time when a trip here will be most successful is from October to March. The easiest way to get from the capital to Agra is by train, the journey will take about 3 - 4 hours, travel by SL-class (Sleeper Class) 1.5 - 2 dollars. In Agra you can see:

• The Taj Mahal is the most famous building in India, an attraction that has received such high reviews from tourists that it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.
• Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Taj Mahal.
• Tomb of Akbar the Great.
• Pearl Mosque.

When planning a budget trip to Agra, you can live inexpensively in the area located right next to the Taj Mahal. When visiting other attractions of Agra, the bearer of the ticket to the Taj Mahal should be given a small discount, but it is valid only on the day the ticket was purchased.

Jaipur is another peak crowning the "Golden Triangle" of India. You can get here from both Delhi and Agra by train in 5-6 hours. While traveling as a savage, it is worth seeing in Jaipur:

• Hawa Mahal is the palace of the winds.
• Jal Mahal is a palace floating on the surface of the water.
• The city palace is the palace of the Maharaja. The entrance ticket costs 4.5 dollars.
• Sarga Suli is the tallest tower in the city.
• Jantar Mantar is a medieval observatory, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance 1.5 dollars.
• Jaigarah Fort is one of the few medieval military fortresses in India.

On May 18, International Museum Day, many museums can be visited for free. The cheapest way to live in Jaipur is around the Old City.

Route along the west coast of India

When it is worth going to the west coast of India, it is from November to April. Places that will be interesting to visit:

• Jaipur - The Pink City.
• Jodhpur - Blue City.
• Mumbai is home to Indian Bollywood.
• Goa is a place where people go for beaches, surfing and colonial architecture. Many tourists from Russia and the CIS stay in this paradise of India for the whole winter.
• Bangalore - recognized as the best city to live in India, famous for a number of palaces and temples.
• Kerala is one of the best beach resorts in India.

East coast route

When traveling along the east coast is most enjoyable, it is in November and December. Places to visit:

• Calcutta is a city that you must visit for the sake of English colonial architecture. Living in Calcutta is somewhat more expensive than in other cities.
• Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world, the place where people go to see the wild Bengal tiger.
• Bhubaneswar is the religious center of Buddhists and Hindus, famous for its temples of the 8th-12th centuries.
• Puri is a city that offers relaxation on golden beaches and visits to ancient temples.
• Mamallapuram is a place famous for rock carvings and temples carved into the rocks.

Journey to Northern India

When is the best time to go to the north of India - so it is from May to September. In the southern part of the country at this time of the year there is a strong heat, so a trip to the mountains promises a pleasant coolness. Places to visit in North India:

• Dharamsala - the residence of the Dalai Lama and the government of Tibet in exile are located here.
• Shimla is the former summer capital of the British Empire.
• Varanasi is the most sacred city of Hindus, a place of pilgrimage to the Ganges River.
• Darjeeling is a city in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the British elite came to live from Calcutta in the summer.
• Gangtok is a mountainous city, the capital of Sikkim.

To visit the states of Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, a special entry permit is required. Access to certain regions may be closed from time to time.

Safety

Holidays in India will be pleasant and safe if you follow simple rules:

• Before leaving, do not forget to make copies of all documents, this will help to restore them in case of loss.
• Going on vacation to India for the first time, study the latest reviews of tourists about the places you plan to visit. This will help to avoid many troubles and surprises.
• Negotiate prices in advance, do not rush to get change and leave immediately. Be sure to count the money, cases of cheating are very common.
• If you decide to get somewhere by tuk-tuk or taxi, always negotiate the price before the trip or make sure the driver turns on the meter.
• Do not respond to beggars, especially children. It is not enough for them to simply receive money or food from you. It is worth making exceptions for one and you cannot get rid of all the others.
• Do not photograph military or government installations.
• When visiting religious sites, take off your shoes at the entrance, make sure that your clothes cover your knees and shoulders.
• Many women who travel alone in India leave negative reviews about the male half of the country's population. To avoid problems, women are advised to wear closed clothing and take extra care at night.