India

Updated May 29, 2023

India Overview

India is a vast South Asian country with 5,000 years of history and a diverse geography ranging from the Himalayas to the coastline of the Indian Ocean.

The north is home to some of the most iconic buildings of the Mughal Empire, such as the Red Castle in Delhi, the massive Jama Masjid, and the iconic Taj Mahal Mausoleum in Agra.

In Varanasi, pilgrims can be seen bathing in the Ganges River, and Rishikesh is known as a center for yoga and Himalayan trekking.

official name of a countryRepublic of India

national flower:蓮

area3,287,000 km² : 3,287,000 km² (3,287,000 km²)

capital cityNew Delhi, India

country code: +91

population: 1.353 billion (2018) World Bank

political systemparliamentary system of government

currency:Indian Rupee Seven types of bills are in circulation: Rs10, Rs20, Rs50, Rs100, Rs200, Rs500, and Rs2000. Rs1, Rs2, and Rs5 bills are also in small quantities.

official languageHindi, English

ethnic compositionThe four major ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent, in chronological order, were Austro-Asiatic, Sino-Tibetan of Mongoloid origin, Dravidian, and Indo-Aryan, with the Indo-Aryan group coming last and becoming dominant while absorbing the cultures of the preceding ethnic groups. The Indo-Aryan group came last and became dominant while absorbing the cultures of the preceding peoples.

religionThe percentage of each religion in India's population is 80.5 percent Hindu, 13.4 percent Muslim, 2.3 percent Christian, 1.9 percent Sikh, 0.8 percent Buddhist, and 0.4 percent Jain (2001 Census).

Also, according to the 2007 edition of the Britannica International Yearbook, Hindus 73.72 percent, Muslims 11.96 percent, Christians 6.08 percent, Sikhs 2.16 percent, Buddhists 0.71 percent, Jains 0.40 percent, Ayyavaris 0.12 percent, Zoroastrians 0.02 percent, and others 1.44 percent. 12 percent, Zoroastrians 0.02 percent, and others 1.44 percent.

phoneTo make a phone call, please follow the instructions below. Delhi area code "011".

1. From Japan to India 001/0033 etc. + 010 (international call identification number) + 91 (Indian country code) + area code (take off the leading 0) + phone number of the other party
2. From India to Japan 00 (international dialing code) + 81 (country code of Japan) + phone number of the other party (take off the initial 0 of the area code or mobile number)
3. How to make a local call in India Area code + phone number of the person you are calling * "Area code" is not necessary for local calls.

Voltage and plugPlug type: 220-240 V, 50 Hz. B3, BF, B, and C types are the most common plug types.

toilet:Basically, Indians do not use paper.

Fill a tub in the toilet with water and rinse yourself off with your own hands, pouring the water over your buttocks.

If you have a trash can, you can wipe with the paper you brought.

The paper used should not be flushed, but thrown in the trash.

In most cases, trash cans are located in the restrooms.

Do not flush paper down the toilet because it will clog the toilet.

Some toilets have showers instead of tubs.

In some hotels, toilet paper can be flushed as it is.

Japanese toilet paper dissolves in water (or more accurately, crumbles in water), so there is little risk of clogging even if it is flushed down the toilet bowl in the worst case scenario.

However, tissue paper is insoluble in water, so it should never be flushed down the toilet.

Throw the paper in the trash.If you just follow this rule, there is no need to be overly fearful of Indian toilets.

While out and about, flush toilets in shopping centers, upscale hotels, and fine restaurants are recommended.

Many places do not have paper, and some toilets require a cleanliness fee, so always have paper and change handy.

mailAirmail to Japan: Rs15 for a picture postcard, Rs25 for a letter, and 4 to 10 days for delivery by air.

水Tap water is said to be the most contaminated in the world, dozens of times more contaminated than in Japan.

Even if you try to wash your hands to keep them clean, the water for that handwashing is already badly contaminated.

Tap water should not be drunk straight from the tap.

Although jugs labeled "Boiled Water" are sometimes placed in hotels and restaurants, it is doubtful that the water is boiled to a boil.

Mineral water can be purchased anywhere in India (around 1L Rs20).

When buying, check to see if the bottle has been opened.

PACKEGED DRINKING WATER (commonly known as bottled water) is the most familiar drinking water sold in India.

public order:
Security] Tensions are high with Pakistan over the Kashmir territory in the northernmost part of India.

The situation has improved compared to previous years, but there are still not many tourists.

In addition, in the interior of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, and in the rural areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, there have been frequent attacks by far-left armed groups known as "Naxalites.

Even in other areas, danger warnings may be issued for large cities for reasons such as terrorism prevention.

[Crime] Fraud, pickpocketing, snatching, sexual assault, and sleeping pills robbery have occurred.

In Delhi in particular, there have been a number of fraud cases involving travel agencies.

Health] Basically, shots are not necessary.

If we take care not to overexert ourselves, not to drink or eat out of control, be careful about the water we drink, and encourage washing our hands before eating, we are less likely to get sick.

Before DepartureMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Overseas Safety Web SiteCheck the safety information at

India Tourism Board Official Website: The official guide of the India Tourism Board.

national anthemNational Anthem of the Republic of India

Map of India

India Overview

India Travel Guide

Domestic Transportation in India

airplane

Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and GoAir operate domestic flights in India.

Several other airlines operate flights to various parts of India.

Air India - The flag carrier of India, based in Delhi and Mumbai, India.

The company name in Devanagari script written on the aircraft is converted directly into katakana, which is "Aal Indya.

IndiGo - An Indian airline that began operations in 2006 and has grown rapidly in its first few years of existence, and as of 2017, has the largest share of the Indian airline market.

Classified as an LCC.

SpiceJet ~ SpiceJet is a low-cost airline in India.

GoAir - GoAir is a low-cost airline in India.

Air India Express - Low-cost airline based in Coach, IndiaAir India, Inc. Subsidiary of Air India.

railroad

Indian Railways is the name of India's state-owned railroad company.

In Japanese, it is sometimes called Indian National Railways or Indian Railways.

India's railroads are state-owned (Indian Railways), with a total length of over 62,000 km, ranking fifth in the world (after the United States, Russia, Canada, and China).

India was the first country in Asia to introduce railroads, and in the 1830s railroads began to be laid at road and dam construction sites to transport materials.

Today, a variety of trains are in operation, including sightseeing trains, long-distance trains, medium-distance trains, suburban trains, and subways.

As of 2014, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore have metro lines.

It is also under construction in Chennai and a number of other cities are in the planning stages.

long-haul bus

Private buses are recommended for long-distance travel.

Seat ranks are Seat, Semi Sleeper (reclining seat), and Sleeper (single private sleeper).

If you want to use Sleeper as a substitute for lodging, we recommend Sleeper for a good night's sleep.

Source:Transportation for your trip to India

local travel agent

Ashoka Tours

A travel agency specializing in India, founded in 1959.

Celebrity India
A travel agency specializing in India, offering experiential travel services with a focus on India.

India Tours and Travels
A local travel agency that provides comprehensive support for travel in India.

Westward Journey India
Specializing in unexplored overseas travel in Japan for 40 years.
They also offer a wide variety of tours in India.

Baishali Travels Japan
A travel agency specializing in India located in Gotanda, Tokyo.

JTB India
JTB India Travel Top Page.
Offers domestic tours in India and overseas tours from India for Indian expatriates.

Traffic Conditions in India

India, like Japan, has adopted the left-hand side of the road, and most cars are right-hand drive.

The first thing that surprises Japanese people arriving in India is its unique traffic situation.

The sight of cows, dogs, chickens, and other animals roaming freely amidst cars, motorcycles, and three-wheeled autorickshaws is a culture shock to many travelers.

In India, where the economy is rapidly developing, the number of cars is increasing all at once, especially in large cities, and traffic congestion on roads has become a serious social problem.

Moreover, people's sense of normality is a bit looser and more relaxed than the pace at which cars are rapidly increasing.

Drivers and pedestrians tend to act at their own pace, without much regard for traffic rules and manners.

The first thing that surprises me when I get into a cab or other vehicle is the frequent and unexpected interruptions, and the noise of the horn.

On arterial roads that are full of cars all day long, drivers are quick to try to cut in when the lane next to them is even slightly empty.

Moreover, most cars will force their way in if there is even a small gap.

As this unfolds in all lanes, you gradually lose track of the lanes, and what should be four lanes become five, and sometimes six.

In the worst cases, some cars even drive the wrong way in the oncoming lane (not just one car, but a convoy of cars, sometimes in reverse, can be seen).

One thing people who have lived in India say is, "Don't drive in India!" Don't drive in India!

Traffic jams are terrible, but traffic rules and manners are beyond our Japanese imagination.

The horn was constantly honking, they were not obeying lanes or traffic signals, and they were driving at a high rate of speed.

Is there no rule about the maximum number of people that can be loaded? There are even vehicles with the entire family of two children and their mother riding on a motorcycle driven by the father, or with nine adults in one car.

Also, surprisingly, it is not uncommon to find cars without side mirrors.

They would come off because a car driving beside them would hit them.

Indian Climate

The Indian climate is generally divided into a hot season from April to May, a rainy season from June to October, and a dry season from November to March.

Although it varies from region to region, the rainy season, from June to October, also brings higher discomfort levels.

Squalls fall several times a day in the west due to the monsoon (monsoon), with Mumbai and other western coastal areas receiving more precipitation per squall.

Generally, the best time to travel in India is from October to March.

Since this is the dry season, rain gear is not needed and travel is easy.

However, while it is hot in the south, nights in the north, such as in Delhi, are quite cool in December and January.

Also, in January in northern India, thick fog can hamper tourism and traffic.

July and August is the rainy season, but the best time to walk in the sacred places among the Himalaya mountains.

Access to India

Main Travel Destinations

Delhi... Capital of Indiaor the National Capital Territory. It is divided into New Delhi and Old Delhi.

Agra... The Taj Mahal and the Agra Castle are the most popular tourist attractions in India.

Jaipur... It is called the "Pink City" and the "Golden Triangle" because of its location with Delhi and Agra.

VaranasiThe Ganges River in India is a major Hindu sanctuary.

Mumbai...Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is located on the west coast of India and is the largest city in India, also known as the financial center.

Ajanta and Ellora Grottoes...Two of India's proudest heritage gems in the suburbs of Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Gore... Famous for its history as a Portuguese colony until 1961 and for its beaches.