When looking to go on a cricket tour, we can highly recommend India, a nation where cricket is revered as a religion. It is one of the most popular sports of the country. The game is the legacy of the British during their colonial rule in India. The British left the country, but the game did not. The game shot to popularity in no time even leaving hockey behind, the national game of the country. Due to the immense popularity of the game, numbers of cricketing academies have opened throughout the country to impart training with state of the art facilities. India is also a populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. It is bound by the Indian Ocean on the South, the Arabian Sea on the Southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the Southeast. It shares land borders with Pakistan to the West; China, Nepal and Bhutan to the Northeast; and Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh to the East. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad. All visa applicants seeking a visa for India are advised to mention the purpose of their visit to India clearly in their visa application forms and apply for relevant visa only. Please note that the validity of the visa begins from the date of issue by the High Commission / Consulate of India in South Africa and not from the date of travel mentioned on your application form.
Visa Cost: ZAR215.61 ex VAT, plus R165.61 VFS Visa processing fee.
Compulsory Vaccinations Required: Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Please note: Visa and vaccination information is correct at time of publish and are subject to change
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
The best time to travel is winter season, November – February. Monsoon season is June – October. Summer break in North India is mid-May to end June and in South India is end of April to beginning June. The Diwali break begins in either October or November, depending on the month Diwali occurs in that year.
India is so vast that the climatic conditions in the far north have little relation to those of the extreme south. Generally, the best time to visit is during winter (October to February), although there are regional variations. The rainy season is from June to August , and the post-monsoon season, which is the northeast monsoon in south India, is from October-November. Summer (March to May) is hot everywhere, except in the hills. September is a good time to travel for cultural tours as it the shoulder month with ease on inventory and good rates. For sports tours, September has to be avoided.
AREAS TO VISIT AND THEIR MAIN ATTRACTIONS
NEW DELHI
Delhi, the national capital of India, will never cease to amaze you. It happens to be the only city in the world with a unique distinction of having not one but three UNESCO World Heritage sites within its boundaries.
Find Inner Peace at Lotus Temple – Lotus Temple is an architectural delight. The whole complex from top to bottom is made of pure marble.
The universal symbol of peace, a lotus flower, gives the temple not only its name but shape as well.
Pay obeyence at the Akshardham temple – A place of worship, complete with exhibits, boat rides, water shows and lush gardens, the Akshardham temple situated in East Delhi is unlike any other, not only in India but the entire world.
Visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, The official residence of the President of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, is a splendid palatial building having more than 400 rooms. Apart from the President, it houses the bodyguards, stables and other utility staff.
Take a rickshaw tour of Chandni Chowk, translated as Moonlight street is the commercial heart of Old Delhi. One of the oldest markets of India, its small narrow lanes are a beehive of activity from daybreak, offering on sale every product you can imagine of under the sun.
AGRA
What is widely considered as the most beautiful building in the world, Taj Mahal is located in the historical city of Agra. Called as the “symbol of love”, it was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Every year visitors numbering more than the entire population of Agra passes through the magnificent gates to catch a glimpse of this breath-taking monument, and only a few leave disappointed.
JAIPUR
It hosts several attractions like the City Palace, Govind Dev ji Temple, Vidhan Sabha, Birla Temple, several massive Rajput forts. Also known as “Pink City” for its trademark coloured palaces and other 18th century structures.
MUMBAI
Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is a densely populated city on India’s west coast. A financial center, it’s India’s largest city. This massive city is home to Bollywood, grand colonial buildings and bazaars packed with antiques and textiles.
GOA
A state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. Goa is also known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to those in laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda.
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
The cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur are known as the Golden Triangle because of their cultural splendour. They form the basis of the classic tour of northern India, despite the fact that constant exposure to noisy crowded cities and crazy driving on traffic-choked roads can turn people off the country forever.
