India Car Hire

Guide to India

Geography

India is the second-most populous country in the world and the seventh-largest country by land area. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea in the southwest and the Bay of Bengal in the southeast. India shares land borders with Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east and Sri Lanka in the south.

Climate in India

India’s climate may be broadly described as tropical monsoon weather. The four official seasons are winter (December to February) summer (March to May) monsoon or rainy season (June to August) and autumn (September to November). The summer months can get unbearably hot and humid in most parts of the country. From June to August, monsoon winds bring heavy rainfall across the entire subcontinent. The best time to visit India would be during autumn and winter from September till February when the weather is more likely to be sunny and dry with much cooler average temperatures ranging from 10°C-15°C in the northwest to around 20°C to 25°C in the southeast.

Indian culture

India is the birthplace of many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Today, it’s a multi-religious society that’s home to several Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) as well as tribal religions, among others. There are over 2,000 ethnic groups that speak over 19,500 languages and dialects.

Things To Do in India

Admire the Taj Mahal

The world’s most famous testimony to love and India’s most recognizable landmark, the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in Agra attracts hordes of visitors every year due to its elegance and splendour. It has many elements of Islamic architecture including arches, minarets, an onion-shaped dome and black calligraphy around the entrance. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Taj Mahal is decorated with delicate inlaid floral patterns and precious and semi-precious stones like jade, lapis lazuli, diamonds and mother of pearl.

Pay a visit to the Golden Temple

The spectacular Golden Temple in Amritsar, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest Sikh shrine in the world. This iconic gilded temple was built in the 17^th century and has a blend of Hindu and Islamic designs (pluralism at its best!). The large golden dome represents a lotus, a symbol of purity to the Sikhs. You will be impressed by the continuous recitation of prayers from the Sikh holy book, and the delicious free langar (community kitchen) food that is offered to every individual that passes through every day, without any exceptions.

Take a dip in the holy Ganges river

Dating back to the 8^th century, Varanasi (also known as Benaras) is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and a major Hindu pilgrimage centre. According to Hindu belief, one who takes a dip in the holy river of Ganges washes away all their sins. Varanasi has more than 100 locations known as ‘ghats’ which feature stairways leading to the water. The largest is the Dasashvamedh Ghat. The famous Assi Ghat at the confluence of the Ganges and Assi rivers is considered to be especially holy.

Traverse into the majestic Thar Desert

Jaisalmer in Rajasthan features an oasis of magnificent old architecture rising from the sand dunes of the formidable Thar Desert. The massive Jaisalmer Fort boasts ninety-nine bastions leading to the main courtyard where you will find the seven-storied Maharaja’s (Emperor’s) Palace. Jaisalmer has been nicknamed the ‘Golden City’ owing to the yellow limestone that was used to build the city. Jaisalmer is also a popular starting point for camel-back safaris that can last from one day to a week. These guided desert sojourns usually involve spending the night in a desert camp under a starlit sky.

Glide on a houseboat in the backwaters of Alleppey

Kerala is renowned for its slowly winding canals lined with coconut groves and paddy fields on either side. Known as the ‘Venice of India’, the Alleppey backwaters is best experienced on a houseboat. If you happen to visit in August, make sure not to miss the adrenaline-fueled boat race that occurs at this time of the year. However, the best time to visit is from November through February.

Eating Out in India

Rice and rice-flour based dishes like idli, appam and dosa are a staple in the south, whereas wheat in the form of roti, paratha, puri or kulcha is consumed more in the northern parts. The entire country is united in its love for dal (curried lentils or pulses).

In northern India, you will come across meat-dominated Mughlai cuisine which includes rich curries, kebabs, koftas, biriyanis and tandoori dishes. In the south, you can explore the delicately yet artfully spiced Chettinad cuisine. Seafood is of prime importance all along the coastline from Mumbai to Kerala and succulent prawns and fiery fish curries from Goa and West Bengal will set your taste buds on fire.

Though there is no official national dish, many Indians consider khichdi, a bowl of simple yet comforting rice and lentil porridge-of-sorts to hold that title. In the south, the same dish is called pongal.

Street food in India is a whole other ball-game, with flavoursome hits like pav bhaji, vada pav, sev puri, momo, pani puri, samosa and bhel puri.

India Transport

Flying into India

There are 24 international airports and 103 domestic airports in India. However, if you are flying to India for the first time, you’re most likely to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi or Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai.

Public transportation in India

To support a nation of 1.3 billion people, the public transit network in India is incredibly robust. Roads are the dominant mode of transportation and they carry almost 85% of the country’s passenger traffic and more than 60% of its freight.

Indian railway is among the largest companies in the country under single management and is divided into 16 zones, serving the people with nearly 1000 passenger trains. Book tickets at irctc.co.in.

The major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai and Gurgaon all have their own metro systems.

Driving in India

Cycle rickshaws, autos, ferries, motorcycles, taxis, cars and buses are the major modes of transport. Cars are also commonly used to get around the country and hiring a car is a popular option among tourists. The most popular car hire agencies are Zoom (currently only serving the major cities), Myles, ECO, and Avis. Remember to stick to the left side of the road when driving in India.

We recommend opting for a one-way hire which will allow you to pick up your car in the city you land in, drive across the country at your own convenience, and drop it off at the city where you catch your flight out. This will save you the hassle of having to drive it back. If you’re travelling with family or a large group of friends, a 7-seater or 9-seater minibus would be most advisable.