| With the hundreds and thousands of people that | | | | explore for even first time backpackers. It is |
| go backpacking on a yearly basis, India has | | | | regarded as a safe country too, providing you |
| established itself as a firm favorite, and that is no | | | | exercise common sense and show respect for |
| mean feat when you consider the range of | | | | the locals. Most backpackers there travel on a |
| locations that backpackers can choose from. So, | | | | route that has been traveled by thousands and |
| what is it that makes India such a popular | | | | thousands of other backpackers in the past, and |
| backpacking destination? | | | | you will come across lots of services geared |
| Traveling in India is never boring and there is | | | | specially towards backpackers. |
| always something to write home about, especially | | | | Locally run travel agents are readily available on |
| if you venture away from the backpacker | | | | backpacker travel routes and are useful for |
| hotspots and are determined to discover India | | | | arranging flights, visas and day trips. Overnight |
| outside of the most popular destinations. Then | | | | buses and sleeper trains are perfect for budget |
| you will feel more like a traveler and less like a | | | | conscious travelers and offer a cheap way to |
| tourist. | | | | cover moderate distances. Long in-country |
| In the half a year that the majority of tourist | | | | distances can be overcome with domestic airlines, |
| visas permit, you can backpack extensively, and | | | | which are mostly low-cost, dependable and are |
| still feel as though you only took in a tiny part of | | | | bookable on the day. |
| what is there. In fact, India is big enough that you | | | | As for the cost of things in India, prices have |
| could spend a number of years there without | | | | risen slightly in the past few years but, even |
| seeing all of its charms. You will find beautiful | | | | though the tourism trade in India is aimed more |
| Himalayan valleys, breathtaking mountain views, | | | | and more in favor of the domestic middle class, it |
| tropical beaches and holy cities. | | | | is still possible to find accommodation on the |
| It really is an impossibility to fit everything into a | | | | beach for around 5 US Dollars per night. It is also |
| single trip, and it is best to see a handful of areas | | | | possible to eat out whilst in the country for just a |
| properly rather than a dozen areas briefly. By | | | | few US Dollars a day, particularly if you eat at the |
| trying to see and do too much then you will | | | | same establishments as the locals. However, |
| never more than scratch the surfaces of the | | | | prices increase at restaurants that cater for |
| places you visit and you will either by at bus / | | | | backpackers, and non-Indian food is nearly always |
| train stations or at the main tourist sites. Taking | | | | more costly than Indian food. |
| an extra day or two at each place allows you to | | | | So, to summarize, India is a unique, exciting and |
| wander off the beaten track and see the real | | | | affordable location. If you are planning to go |
| India. | | | | backpacking in the future, then it should definitely |
| India is used to backpackers and, although | | | | be on your shortlist of places to visit. |
| traveling around takes time, it is simple enough to | | | | |