Explore
India
I have travelled around India in the past, visiting Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi and Cochin to name a few places. As I am now a little older, more discerning and prefer a slower speed of travel, I prefer a calmer, more easy going experience. This time round Goa, Chennai and Pondicherry were on the list, in part due to their different histories and curiosity over how the colonial history has affected the regions. The Andaman Islands sounded like idyllic coral islands, perfect for snorkelling and relaxing, with beautiful photographs showing gorgeous sandy beaches.
Pondicherry 2025
Goa 2025
Language
Indians speak 22 different languages and are sometimes unable to understand other people from different regions. Typically, the more tourists = the more English is spoken.
If you're really struggling Google Translate helps.
Currency
The currency is ruppees - currently 100 INR = £0.86.
Cash is still king here, however indian payment apps for the smallest amounts are prevalent eg Paytm.
Weather
The weather across the country varies widely depending on your location.
Generally :-
Winter is December to February
Summer is March to May
Monsoon is June to September
Post monsoon is October to November.
At a glance
My experience in India
Goa is a great place to start an Indian holiday. It is a real mix of history, scenic beach locations and lovely food. Some locations can be quite touristy as the temperature is warm for so much of the year. We used local transport to explore the sites and as we stayed for a few weeks, we were able to talk to locals and learn a little of the culture and way of life
We had hoped to travel to Chennai by train, however due to adminstrative challenges - basically no tickets available, we flew to Chennai. It's a busy, frenetic city with little place in it for relaxing or enjoying a beach walk. We visited the sites, mainly religious ones and as few people spoke English, we struggled to see or do anything of any particular note. However, as my partner loves Royal Enfield motor bikes, we did take the opportunity to visit the showrooms. Sadly, the factory is not currently doing tours, so we missed that riveting experience.
Pondicherry has always been on my list to explore. An ex french colony in India sounds such a strange phenomenon, just begging to be explored. It wasn't a disappointment. There is still a french contingent living in Pondicherry and it attracts arty french students and french visitors. The city has worked hard to present a good image to tourists and it feels quite different to other indian cities.
The last Indian location on our itinerary was the Andaman Islands. We booked a tour in order to get the most out of our time there, with an additional day to chill out on our own. It is possible to book the different activities yourself. In reality, everything can be booked online, it is more a question of having transport to ferry you to the different places.