Having been a cradle for numerous civilizations throughout its history, India owns a unique culture, shining out as the second most populous country worldwide by its population of more than one billion inhabitants. India remains as a desirable destination thanks to its cultural diversity and is accompanied by influx of more and more tourists every passing year. The country offers a wide range of must-see spots, which are not quite possible to be visited through a single travel. Therefore, enthralled by its history, culture, beliefs and gastronomy beyond comparison, first time visitors look forward to their next visits to the charming India.

Captivating everyone by its magical view, Taj Mahal is probably the most attention-grabbing destination in the country. However, it would not be right to narrow down the country only with this popular spot. Mumbai and New Delhi, which are regarded as one of the most interesting and dynamic cities worldwide, together with the spiritual events held by the Ganges River, famous Indian food, religious temples all over the world and many more… India always offers more to explore.

You may review the flights to India now to set your travel plan to embark on a mystical adventure, enjoying a privileged journey of high quality with Turkish Airlines.

India flight details

Turkish Airlines flies to 11 different destinations in India: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Madras, Mumbai, New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli. Flights taking off from Istanbul Airport (IST) land at either Indra Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi, or Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai. These direct flights take nearly six and a half to seven hours. Passengers wishing to reach other Indian cities should transfer to other flights at these two airports.

India hosts a large number of festivals, together with various feasts celebrated enthusiastically, thanks to the religious and ethnical diversity in the country. Although the dates of these events specified according to the Lunar Calendar fall on different days each year, these numerous organizations succeed in attracting a large number of visitors every year, during which the air traffic in India gets relatively busier. Without a doubt, one of the most colorful and crowd-pulling festivals of the country is the Holi Festival, cited as the “festival of colors”. In the festival celebrating the coming of spring, all streets are colored with powder paints and water colors, and the evil spirits are destroyed by dancing around the bonfires at night. Dussehra, on the other hand, is the most remarkable Indian Feast, which is celebrated with fireworks in the streets of Delhi. Get ready for a magical feast of colors and lights if you are planning a visit to India in the festival season.

If you are interested in seeing closely the local culture, you may organize your travel in line with the festivals like Mahayir Jayanti and Ramanavami which commemorate the birth and philosophy of every religion on these lands; and may attend Buddha Purnima festival where Buddha’s birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and death (Parinirvāna) are commemorated. It would also be advisable paying attention to the weather conditions while organizing your visit to India. September, October, November and the beginning of March would be the ideal times to visit India. As a matter of fact, many festivals and events take place also during these months, when the air traffic countrywide gets busier. It would therefore be advantageous to book your flight in advance, taking into account that the country gets more populous in this period. However, since India is a highly large country, it would also be best to keep in mind that the time of ideal journey may vary by your desired destination as well.

India sightseeing and attractions

India’s colorful culture greatly contributes to the popularity of this enchanting country. Nevertheless, the entire country is a home to countless natural beauties to discover, as well as architectural marvels witnessing the history. The religious diversity, on the other hand, offers numerous temples and chapels for the travelers.

As the city of contrasts where you may encounter the glory and poverty, as well as the chaos and simplicity, New Delhi serves as a capital gathering together all colors of India. The city’s most touristic spot, Red Fort remaining from the Mughal Empire, not only captivates the guests by its perfectly processed architectural details; but also offers a total visual feast by the light performances organized at certain hours during the day. Digambar Jain Temple dating back to 16th century right in front of the castle, and Jama Mosque, the largest mosque countrywide, are only a few of the sacred spots where you can witness the mosaic of religions India owns. Humayun’s Tomb, a rare stunning work of Mongolian history which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, is another fascinating must-see spot in Delhi. Apart from all these, Delhi hosts a large number of tourist attractions from the recent history as well; Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi is one of these crowd-pulling destinations in the recent history. Another worth-seeing spot, the India Gate of 42 meters, on the other hand, is situated in the center and serves as a memorial to 70 thousand Indian Soldiers who became martyrs during the World War I. If you are dreaming of a vacation to witness both the religious and architectural reflections of the old and the new, book your flight to New Delhi now to get started exploring this amazing city.

One of the most remarkable must-see destinations in India is certainly the Taj Mahal, regarded among the Seven Wonders of the World. As the largest sanctuary built worldwide in the name of love, Taj Mahal is an architectural masterpiece with its giant dome made of ivory-white marble. This magnificent palace is located in Agra city, which is very close to the capital New Delhi.

Another most populous and developed Indian country, Mumbai serves as the commercial hub of India, just like in the past. This port town, which used to be the sole entry point of the country when it is only possible to reach India by sea, is a home to many attractions, especially the remarkable Gateway of India, built in 1924 to commemorate King George V. of England. The British troops passed through this gateway to leave the country when India declared independence. Therefore, this giant gateway is regarded as a symbol of freedom today. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Mumbai University and Antilla Building are the other notable must-see spots in this beautiful town. Book your flight to Mumbai now to enjoy delightful holiday exploring this ancient port town.

The city of Varanasi in the northern India is situated on the banks of the River Ganges, as one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus. Varanasi is therefore regarded as the spiritual center of the country. For more than 2500 years, many believers go on pilgrimage to Varanasi, which has a significant role in the development of Buddhism. What makes the River Ganges so appealing to the tourists is the Aarti Ceremony; the spiritual ritual, serving to the belief and the holiness of the river. This ceremony, which stands for bathing the deceased and redemption, is performed twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

It is possible to reach Vanasi from the capital by railway transport of a couple of hours to set out on a spiritual journey witnessing the one of a kind Aarti ritual. You do not have to deal with the busy and complicated public transport system of India to get to the destinations like Varanasi and Agra which are close to the capital. You may set your own course by renting a car and save your time to see more magical spots during your stay.