India Travel
Information, websites and maps
The Indian government maintains a number of tourist offices abroad, where you can pick up a range of pamphlets. Their main purpose is to advertise rather than inform, but they can be extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Other sources of information include travel agents (who are in business for themselves, so their advice may not always be totally unbiased), and the Indian Railways representatives listed.
Inside India, both national and local governments run tourist information offices, providing general travel advice and handing out an array of printed material, from city maps to glossy leaflets on specific destinations. The Indian government’s tourist department, whose main offices are on Janpath in New Delhi and opposite Churchgate railway station in Mumbai, has branches in most regional capitals. These, however, operate independently of the state government information counters and their commercial bureaux run by the state tourism development corporations, usually referred to by their initials MPTDC in Madhya Pradesh and RTDC in Rajasthan], who offer a wide range of travel facilities, including guided tours, car rental and their own hotels (which we identify with the relevant acronyms throughout this book).
Just to confuse things further, the Indian government’s tourist office has a go-ahead corporate wing too. The Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), is responsible for the Ashok chain of hotels, and operates tour and travel services, frequently competing with its state counterparts.
Related Properties from Gurgaon
India online
India has one of the highest levels of IT awareness on the planet and this has helped fuel the growth of home-grown resources on the internet. Today there are several excellent India-specific websites and portals, or gateway sites, covering a vast range of topics. We list relevant websites throughout the Guide; the recommendations below are more general, and are a good place to start your navigating. The internet has had a major impact, with sites like responsible for explosive stories such as the cricket scandal of 2000 that saw the downfall of several illustrious cricketers involved with bribes, including Hansie Cronjie
Book and map outlets in Canada
Open Air Books and Maps, 25 Toronto St, Toronto, ON M5R 2C1 416/363-0719. Ulysses Travel Bookshop, 4176 St-Denis, Montreal 514/843-9447. World of Maps, 1235 Wellington St. Ottawa. ON K1Y3A3 613/724-6776, World Wide Books and Maps, 552 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3J5 604/687-3320
Information of Varanasi in Eastern UP
The main UPTDC tourist office is at their Tourist Bungalow on Parade Komi) though their tourist information counter inside the railway station is far more efficient and on the ball - the boss, Uma Shankar, seems to regard the protection of tourists as a personal crusade. Both book accommodation and provide free maps. The shabby Bihar Government Tourist Office at Englishia Market, Slier Shah Suri Marg. Cantonment, is useful if you're heading east towards the Buddhist centres. The Government of India Tourist Office languishes in the leafy suburbs of the Cantonment, a long way from the main attractions of the old
Book and map outlets in Australia and New Zealand
Mapland, 372 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, VIC3000 03/9670 4383 The Map Shop 16a Peel St, Adelaide. SA 500008/8231 2033 Perth Map Centre 884 Hay St, Perth, WA 6000308/9322 5733 Speciality Maps 58 Albert St. Auckland 3)09/307 2217 Travel Bookshop Shop 3,175 Liverpool St, Sydney, NSW 2000 302/9261 8200 Worldwide Maps and Guides 187 George St. Brisbane, OLD 4000 07/3221 4330 Mapworld, 173 Gloucester Street, Chnstchurch 303/374 5399, fax 03/374 5633,
Getting good maps of India
Getting good maps of India, in India, can be difficult; the government - in an archaic suspicion of cartography - forbids the sale of detailed maps of border areas, which include the entire coastline. In theory, certain ; maps, especially detailed ones of border areas skirting Tibet and Pakistan, are illegal, so use them very discreetly. These maps are available outside India, and useful if you are going to be trekking in places like Ladakh, Spiti, Sikkim and Garhwal. It makes sense to bring a basic map of India with you, such as Bartholomew's 1:4,000,000 map of South Asia, which has
Information in Delhi
There are reasonably helpful tourist offices at the inCernational and domestic air por Cs, railway stations and bus tetminals, and the Government of India tourist office at 88 Janpath, just south of Connaught Place (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4.30pm), is a good place to pick up information on Delhi's sites, city tours, shopping, cultural events and accommodation. They also provide free maps of che city; you'll find the same ones sold in the streets at negotiable prices.The information counter at the less busy DTTDC (Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation) office, Bombay Life Building, Middle Circle (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-lpm; )
Gir National Park in Gujarat
The Asiatic lion which, thanks to hunting, forest-cutting and poaching, has been extinct in the rest of India since the 1880s, now survives in the wild in just 1150 square kilometres of the gently undulating Gir Forest. Gir National Park (mid-Oct or Nov to mid-June daily 7-11 am & 3-5.30pm), entered from Sasan Gir. 60km southeast of Junagadh and 45km northeast of Veraval, holds almost three hundred Asiatic lions in its 260 square kilometres. They share the land with Maldhari cattle-breeders, whose main source of income is buffalo milk. Many families have been relocated outside the sanctuary, but those who
Munnar Practicalities in Kerala
Munnar can be reached by bus trom Kochi, Kottayam, Kumily and Madurai, either directly or with a change at Tehni. State-run and private services pull into the stand in the bazaar at the north end of town, near the river confluence and Tata headquarters. For most hotels you should ask to be dropped off an Old Munnar, 2km south of the centre, near the ineffectual DTPC tourist office (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; 0486/530679). If you need information on transport, accommodation and day-trips, including to Eravikulam, seek out the helpful Joseph type, who runs the Free Tourist
Thiruvananthapuram Information and tours in Kerala
All the tourist offices at the airport are open during flight times. The Government of India's counter (0471/501498) offers general information regarding Kerala and the adjacent states, while the Government of Kerala has two counters, one at the domestic terminal (0471/501085) and the other at the internacion.il terminal (0471/502298), offering Kerala-specific information including, for example, on backwater cruises. The Government of Kerala also has an office in the main block at the Thampanoor bus stand (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; 0471/327224) which is good for general information and maps and sells tickets for backwater cruises between Kollam and Alappuzha. They have another counter
Information of the Agra in the Uttar Pradesh
Agra has two tourist offices, one run by the Government of India, at 191 The Mall (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm), and one run by UF Tourism, close to the darks Shimz, at 64 Taj Rd (same hours); there is also an information booth at Cantonment station. The Government of India office is better organized and provides information about other destinations, though both supply information on hotels and local sights, and details of tours that start and end at Agra Cantonment railway station.
Treks around Manali and the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh
The Kullu Valley's spectacular alpine scenery and proximity to some of HP's most dramatic and accessible peaks make it perfect for trekking. The trails are long and steep, but more than repay the effort with superb views, varied flora and the chance visit remote hill stations. Within striking distance of several major trailheads. Manali is the most popular place to begin and end treks. While package deals offered by the town's many agencies can save time and energy, it is relatively easy to organize your own trip with maps and advice from the Tourist Office and Mountaineering Institute at the bottom
Information of Mumbai
The best source of information in Mumbai is the excellent Government of India tourist office (Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm. Sat 8.30am-2pm; 022/203 3144) at 123 M Karve Rd, opposite Churchgate station's east exit. The staff here are exceptionally helpful and hand out a wide range of leaflets, maps and brochures both on Mumbai and the rest of the country. There are also 24hr tourist information counters at Sahar International (022/832 5331) and Santa Cruz (022/615 9320) airports. Maharashtra State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (MTDC) main office, on Madam Cama Road (Mon-Sat 8.30am-7pm; 022/202 6731), opposite the LIC Building in Nariman Point, sells tickets
Kochi (Cochin) Information in Kerala
If you are based on Willingdon Island, head for the helpful Government of India tourist office (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-noon; 0484/668352) between the Taj Malabar Hotel and Tourist Office Jetty. They offer information on Kerala and beyond, can provide reliable guides and also have a desk at the Airport. KTDC's reception centre, on Shanmugham Road, Ernakulam (0484/353234), reserves accommodation in their hotel chain and organizes fehtseeing and backwater tours. Another KTDC counter can be Found at the airport, and there's a DTPC desk at the Old Collectorate Park Avenue, Ernakulam (0484/371488). The tiny independent tourist desk (daily 8am-7pm: 0484/371761), at
Pachmarhi hikes in Madhya Pradesh
The web of toresc tracks and pilgrim trails that thread their way around Fachmarhi's widely dispersed archeological and religious sites make for excellent walking, but few, if any, routes are marked in English. By far the bet maps and trekking information are available at the Tola Trekking Club (07578/52256). run by Vinay Sahu from Hotel Saket. This very reliable outfit will organize both day (Rsl50 per persoa extra for Jeep hire to trailheads) and overnight treks (Rs250), where you camp in the adivasi villages hidden in the hills. The guides in the Tola Trekking Club are all young tribal men
Central Madhya Pradesh Arrival, information and city transport
Most of Bhopal's principal places of interest are so far apart that the best way of getting around has to be by metered auto-rickshaws, all of which sport smart interior upholstery and uniformed drivers (perhaps the reason for their slightly above average fares). Taxis can be found outside all of the top hotels, or else arranged through MPTDC. There's also a prepaid taxi and auto-rickshaw booth outside the station on Hamidia Road. MPTDC has helpful tourist information counters in the arrivals hall at the station (platform 1 exit), and on the fourth floor of the Gangotri Building on TT Nagar, New
Information about Calcutta
The efficient and friendly Government of India Tourist Office, Shakespeare Sarani (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-lpm, is your best bet for information on Calcutta,'West Bengal and destinations further afield, and can assist with itineraries and booking tours.The Government ofWest Bengal Tourist Bureau. 3/2 BBD Bagh East, arranges tours of Calcutta and package trips around West Bengal. They also issue permits and book tours and accommodation at the Sunderbans and Jaldapara wildlife parks. Tourist information counters at the airport and Howrah Station offer the same services. English-language newspapers such as the
Information on Calcutta
The efficient and friendly Government of India Tourist Office, 4 Shakespeare Sarani (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1 pm;) is your best bet for information on Calcutta, 'West Bengal and destinations further a field, and can assist with itineraries and booking tours. The Government of West Bengal Tourist Bureau, 3/2 BBD Bagh East (©033/248 8271), arranges tours of Calcutta and package trips around West Bengal. They also issue permits and book tours and accommodation at the Sunderbans and Jaldapara wildlife parks. Tourist information counters at the airport and Howrah Station offer the same
Matheran Practicalities in Southern Maharashtra
To reach Matheran by train, you must first get to Neral Junction, 21km away. This is easily done by faking the hourly suburban train from Mumbai (CST) to Kargat, which stops at Neral (2hr 15miti; Rsl33). Otherwise, the daily Deccan Express #1007 (8.45am) or Sahyadri Express #7307 (6.35am) are both considerably quicker and also leave from CST. From Pune (2-3br), the 9.10am Sahyadri Express #7304 stops at Neral. If you miss this, travel to Karjat and pick up the suburban service to Mumbai. Narrow-gauge trains up from Neral to Matheran (2hr; Rs24) depart at 8.40am, 11am and 5pm (also 4.15pm, April
Practicalities to the Manipur in the Northeast
State buses arrive at the stand next to the Polo Ground and private buses at their individual offices, most of which are along MG Avenue, 200m north of Khwairamband Bazaar. Manipur's tourist office (Mon-Sat 9.30am—5pm, Oct-March 4.30pm; closed 2nd Sat of month is based at Hotel Imphal north of the palace on the main Dimapur road. The ITDC tourist office, on Jail Road (Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm), provides information and maps. The GPO (Mon-Sat 9am—5pm) is on Secretariat Road, at the southern end of the palace complex. Individual travellers can get permits endorsed at the Foreigners Registration Office, along from the GPO.
Information of Lucknow in Central UP
The national government's regional tourist bureau, close to the railway station at 10 Station Rd (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed 2nd Sat of each month), provides information only; they also operate a stand at the railway station. The UP Tourism office, at 3 Newal Kishore Rd, has an information counter. Lucknow's GPO is onVidhan Sabha Marg. Among banks for foreign exchange are Punjab National Bank, Ashok Marg, Hazratganj, and State Bank of India, also on Ashok Marg and at Mod Mahal Marg. Top-range hotels such as the Taj Mahal also have foreign exchange facilities.