Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Points to Remember For a Budget Tour to India

By Mahendra Singh Rathore

From the majestic Himalayas on the north to the beautiful Kanyakumari on the south, India has plenty of attractions for tourists. With its rich diversity of peoples, cultures, landscapes and climates, India is a place that is impossible to cover in just a single visit. Still, it is possible to embark on a budget tour to India with the help of a well laid-out plan.

Given the vast size of India, it is sensible to decide beforehand the nature of the places you would like to visit. You will get everything in this country - mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, religious centers and what not. Once you make your choice, plan your trip with a strategically situated city as your base camp to visit the interior. For budget tourists, there are many inexpensive hotels - both government-run and private - in those cities as well as the interior locations. Staying in the interior is usually cheaper than your city accommodation. Tourism departments of most Indian states run their own accommodation for hire in tourist zones. They are mostly clean and offer standard food at affordable prices.

You can also opt for home-stay which is gradually catching up in many parts of India. This is an attractive option in places where hotels are either too expensive or lack basic facilities. In addition to being affordable, such an accommodation offers a tourist an opportunity of having a close peek at the social lives of his/her hosts while enjoying the renowned Indian hospitality. For a budget tour to India, traveling by train is an excellent option. Over the years, train travel in India has become much more comfortable and faster. So, you can forget the costlier alternative of journey by air and catch a train wherever possible. If you prefer the road, there are also comfortable bus services run by various operators. Both rail and bus fares are reasonable enough leaving you with no reason for complaint.

Many tour operators offer various packages for tourists that can take them to all parts of India. For a budget tour to India, it is important that you choose the right one from them that will suit both your interest and pocket. If you love mountains, choose the one which has maximum focus on them at a reasonable price. There are in fact several tour packages in India that cater to the needs of budget travelers. You can talk to your travel agent and try to include your favorite destinations at an affordable cost.

Most state tourism departments also offer various day trips and other themed trips such as temple and heritage packages. They may not enrich you with an in-depth knowledge about the places, but certainly acquaint you with them at a minimum cost.

These points, if remembered, can help anyone on a budget tour to India enjoy this magnificent country with a worry-free mind.

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