“I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree.” Joyce Kilmer

There’s something really special, almost magical, about old trees. Being in the presence of a living thing that has been around for hundreds of years really puts our short human lives into perspective. Each tree is unique, shaped by both its own internal biology and the forces of nature. It’s no wonder that people often give names or even build shrines to trees that are particularly old or distinctive.

India is an excellent place to see some of these giants. In fact, Matador Travel currently has a post up by YD Bar-Ness describing the “tree pilgrimage” he took across the country. I love trees, but I must admit that until now I’d never thought of traveling to India to see them. I’d always imagined touring temples, visiting the Taj Mahal and finishing up with the proverbial elephant ride. However, according to Bar-Ness, India is one of the best places in the world to go in search of distinctive trees:

Additionally, there’s nowhere else in the world with so many temple trees, popular shade trees, historical marker trees, and trees used as business locations. The Hindu and Sikh religions, especially, recognize many famous trees. Trees are used as landmarks and reminders of events, and are often planted by dignitaries to mark special occasions.

See the post on Matador for descriptions of the trees Bar-Ness visited on the “pilgrimage” and some truly amazing photography.

If you want to follow in his footsteps, you’ll need to apply for a passport and an Indian visa. India doesn’t do visas on arrival, so you’ll need to apply for your Indian visa in advance and have it in hand before you leave the states. See Indian Visa Requirements for Tourists for details on what documents you’ll need and how to apply.

If you’d like help applying for your visa, RushMyTravelVisa can assist you. We’ll take a look at your itinerary to make sure that you know which documents are needed for your trip and don’t run into any nasty surprises along the way. We’ll also help you with the visa paperwork, answering your questions and helping to catch mistakes that could delay your application. Then, we’ll deliver your Indian visa application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

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Why travel to India?  There are too many reasons to count, really, but we’ve managed to narrow it down to the top 5. Your mileage may vary of course-if there’s something we should have included or something you think we should have left out, let us know in the comments!

1. The Taj Mahal

India’s most famous building, the Taj Mahal is practically the national symbol. Built by an emperor to immortalize his beloved wife, the Taj never fails to impress.

2. Indian Food

So much more than just curry, Indian food has countless regional variations, all of them delicious.

3. Goa

This countercultural playground is known for more than just its beach parties-the beaches themselves are stunning and the region’s rich history makes for interesting excursions.

4. Khajuraho

Khajuraho is best known for the gorgeous statues that decorate its three groups of temples. Be forewarned-although many of the sculptures depict scenes from the lives of ordinary people, some of them are most definitely NSFW!

5. Elephanta Caves

Thousands of years ago, on an island in the ocean to the east of Mumbai, unknown builders carved a series of Hindu and Buddhist caves into the rock. The caves fell into ruin after the Portuguese took over the region, but they have since been restored and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Gorgeous, intricate carvings and impressive rock-hewn architecture make these caves a must-see while you are in India.

If you are a US citizen, you will need both your US passport and an Indian visa to visit the country.   You must apply for your  Indian visa ahead of time, as visas on arrival are not permitted.  For more information on what you need to get your visa, check out Indian Visa Requirements for Tourists.

RushMyTravelVisa can make applying for your visa much faster and more convenient. Let us help you expedite your Indian visa application today!

When you think of India, what comes to mind? Elephant rides? Temples? The Taj Mahal? Paragliding? Aside from the normal touristy stuff, India is also a great place for adventure tourism. This post from the Environmental Graffiti blog has the scoop on the best regions of India for adventure tourism.

For example, you can go paragliding, skiing or whitewater rafting in Manali, located in the north of the country, or go for a hike off the beaten path in Leh and Ladakh. Nainital is a great place for boating, horseback riding and rock climbing. Goa is an excellent place for water-based adventures, such as parasailing, waterskiing and scuba diving. There are also dolphin watching tours and something called a “crocodile tour.”

If you’re planning a trip to India, it’s essential to have the correct travel documents in hand before you leave the US.  If you’re an American citizen, that means you need your passport and an Indian visa. You must apply for your Indian visa in advance, as India does not issue visas on arrival. Here’s what you need to apply:

• Your US passport
• 2 recent passport-sized photos, taken within the past 6 months.  If you wear glasses, take them off for the photos. The Indian Embassy wants to see those dreamboat eyes of yours!
• A completed Indian visa application form. Write legibly and proofread the application carefully before you turn it in.  Write“tourism” in the section that asks you to state why you are traveling to India.
• A copy of your plane tickets or your itinerary.
• India has a jurisdictional visa system, which means that each embassy handles applications for a different part of the US, and you must submit your Indian visa application to the embassy or consulate that serves your home address. So, you must also include a legible copy of your driver’s license or a utility bill showing your name and address.
• A copy of your birth certificate

RushMyTravelVisa makes the process of getting an Indian visa quicker and easier. We walk you through the application process, step by step, and deliver your Indian visa paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest processing available.

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The Grand Trunk Road is one of India’s oldest, longest and most important highways. Here’s how Rudyard Kipling described it in his novel Kim:

“Look! Brahmins and chumars, bankers and tinkers, barbers and bunnias, pilgrims -and potters – all the world going and coming. It is to me as a river from which I am withdrawn like a log after a flood. And truly the Grand Trunk Road is a wonderful spectacle. It runs straight, bearing without crowding India’s traffic for fifteen hundred miles – such a river of life as nowhere else exists in the world.”

Winding 2,500 kilometers from Bangladesh, through India and into Pakistan, the road passes a variety of interesting destinations of cultural, historic and religious significance, including the Taj Mahal and the city of Varanasi, where Hindi pilgrims come to die beside the holy Ganges river and to have their ashes scattered in the water.

You can drive the Grand Trunk Road yourself,  hire a car and driver, book a tour, or even cycle it.  However, driving/cycling on the Grand Trunk Road is not for the faint of heart.  World Hum travel writer Jeffery Tayler, who cycled the road in 2009, observed that “For these drivers, cows alone were sacred.”

To travel the Indian portion of the Grand Trunk road, you will need an Indian visa.  To get one, you need the following documents:

• Your US passport
• 2 recent passport-sized photos, taken within the past 6 months.  If you wear glasses, take them off for the photos.
• A completed Indian visa application form. Write legibly and proofread the application carefully before you turn it in.  Write“tourism” in the section that asks you to state why you are traveling to India.
• A copy of your plane tickets or your itinerary.
• India has a jurisdictional visa system, which means that each embassy handles applications for a different part of the US, and you must submit your Indian visa application to the embassy or consulate that serves your home address. So, you must also include a legible copy of your driver’s license or a utility bill showing your name and address.
• A copy of your birth certificate

RushMyTravelVisa.com makes applying for your Indian visa easy and fast. Apply with us today!

Goa is the smallest state India, but it’s the most popular tourist destination, bringing in approximately 2 million visitors every year. One look at Goa’s flawless white-sand beaches, and it’s easy to understand why!

Crystal-clear sea and dazzling white sand are the main attractions here. However, Goa, which was originally a Portuguese colony, has a rich and interesting history that shines through in its architecture, food and culture.

Starting in the ’60s and ’70s, Goa became a destination of choice for hippies and other counterculture types. Open-air beach parties and raves that last all night are still quite common.

Necessities for visiting Goa include sunscreen, swimsuits and an Indian visa. Visas are required and you must apply for yours ahead of time. Indian visa applications must be submitted to the Indian embassy or consulate that handles visas for your home address.  You will need the following documents to apply:

• Your US passport
• 2 recent passport-sized photos. Eyeglasses are not permitted in the photos and they must have been taken within the past 6 months.
• A completed Indian visa application form. To ensure that your application is accepted, write neatly and look over the application carefully to catch mistakes.  Also, make sure that you enter in “tourism” in the section that asks you to state why you are traveling to India- “lounging on a beach” is not an acceptable answer!
• A copy of your plane tickets or your itinerary.
• A legible copy of your driver’s license or  a utility bill showing your name and address.
• A copy of your birth certificate

RushMyTravelVisa can make the process of applying for an Indian visa faster and more convenient. We walk you through the application process, step by step, helping you avoid common mistakes that could hold up your visa application.

Apply for your Indian visa today!