India

Types of trips: Sight-seeing, History and Architecture, Outdoor and Active, Watersports, Festivals, Camel Trekking, Culture and Religion, Nature

Best known for: Taj Mahal, Caste System, Being a very populous country, Festivals, Unity and Diversity, Yoga, Indian food, Fabrics, Bollywood, Cricket

Why Go?: India is a vast country with many different landscapes and cultures. This is a very hospitable country and a great place for a school trip; loaded with tradition and culture it will really broaden a pupil's perspective of the world. 

Fact File

Population: 1,210,200,000

Capital: New Delhi

Language(s): Hindi, English

Ties to the UK?: Britain is intrinsically tied to India through the shared past of the Raj and modern migration. India, as part of the Commonwealth, was a vast dominion and a source of great wealth at one stage, then a source of rebellion and insurgency before becoming independent in 1947. In both countries cricket is a popular sport, and English is a national language of India. Of course, Indian cuisine is hugely popular in the UK following the huge influx of migrants in the 20th century.

Landscape: Mountains, Beaches, Rivers, Lakes, Arable Land, Desert, Waterfalls.

Climate/Seasons: Hot summers, Mild winters, monsoons from July to September.

When to Go: It depends on the region or area you wish to visit. Make sure to avoid the monsoons. Delhi is best visited between October and March, Mumbai between October and May, The Himalayan region during our springtime and the southern regions between April and May.

Reasons to Visit: A cultural and geographically diverse country, India is extremely welcoming with a huge amount to offer.

How to Get There: Fly - there are a number of international airports around the coastal regions, and the major cities of Mumbai and Delhi both have good airports.

Places to Go: Taj Mahal at Agra (see above), Qutb Minar, The Red Fort in Delhi, Gateway of India, Humayun’s Tomb, Goa

Famous People: Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shankar

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: Sandarban, Valley of Flowers, Girsky Forest, Lions, Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger

History: Mughal Empire, Ghandi

Architecture: Taj Mahal, Qutb Minar, Gateway of India, House of Worship (lotus Temple) in Delhi

Culture: Religious buildings, traditional music

Sport: Cricket, Field Hockey, Football, Basketball

Events: Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi

Watch Out For: You’ll need a visa to enter the country, and the big cities are very populous meaning notoriously dangerous roads.

Medical Issues: No mandatory vaccinations required although it is best to talk to your GP well in advance to discuss your options.

Watch this video about visiting India!