India

India is a land of many paradoxes, a land of thousand fragrances, rich flavors, vivid colors and countless experiences. Whatever you may have heard about it a trip to India will be a unique lifetime experience that will widen your knowledge, wake up your consciousness and maybe even change your perspective on life. At Palmyra Tour we specialize in tours to the southern state of Kerala that is home to Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, peace and beautiful fauna and flora. Kerala at first glance differs significantly from other states of India. Travelers usually recall India's dry and heat-suffering areas that are more typical for the central and western part of the country but Kerala is different. It is known for its beautiful landscape dotted with tea plantations that create a refreshing green spectrum. They thrive here mainly thanks to tropical climate and seasonal monsoons. Speaking of nature, we should not forget the local exotic spice plantations, coconut trees, numerous jungle areas, hundreds of lakes, small waterfalls and long beaches.

Even the local culture is different and very peculiar. You will see the considerable influence of East Asian cultures that had an impact on local art and cuisine.You will also definitely want to explore the magical festivals of Kerala as well as the traditional Ayurveda that is recognised by experts and travelers from all over the world for its positive effects on body and soul. Kerale is in fact called the "Mecca of Ayurveda".

If you have doubts about the standard of local services don't worry. Kerala, unlike the rest of India, enjoys 100% literacy, high degree of education, minimal crime, top-level healthcare, the highest standard of living and last but not least it is the India's cleanest state.

Kerala is a federal state of India located on the southwestern tip of the country with a total area of 38 863 km² which could be considered rather small compared to other states of India. Due to the mountainous nature of the local landscape the altitude can reach up to 2 695 meters above the sea level making Kerala an ideal location for hikers. The entire western part of the state has access to the Arabian Sea and it is just an hour's flight from the capital Thiruvananthapuram to Colombo in Sri Lanka. Flight from Prague to Kerala via Dubai takes about 13 hours.

India is a vast and diverse country which is reflected in the great diversity of weather across the country. When it comes to Kerala it is worth mentioning that the climate here is of tropical nature and the monsoon seasons, which affect the weather in different parts of Kerala, play an important role here. During the year there is rainfall in approximately 130 days and therefore the weather is very humid. During summer (June - August) monsoons occur in the southwest of Kerala, while the northeast is affected by them in winter (September - December). During these periods approximately 65% of all rainfall occurs. The average annual rainfall is 2,923 mm, while in the drier lowlands it is only 1,250 mm.

The average annual temperatures are summarized in the table below. In general temperatures in the coastal lowlands reach about 26 ° C on average and around 21 ° C in eastern highlands.

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Average maximum	28	30	31	32	34	34	30	29	29	30	30	31
Average minimum	22	23	24	25	25	24	23	23	23	23	23	22

Area:	38 863 km²
Population:	33,4 milion
Capital city:	Thiruvananthapuram
Government:	federal state of India
Head of state:	governer
Currency:	rupee made of 100 painse, 100 INR = 33 Kč (12.1.2020)
Payment methods:	cash and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and car-rentals. Banks are open from 10AM till 2 AM on work days while on weekends they close at 12 PM already
Time zone:	in Kerala there is a 4,5 hours shift compared to the Czech Republic in winter, and in the summer this shift is one hour less, 3 hours and 30 minutes
Language:	malayalam and english
Religion:	More than half of the population of this Indian state is represented by Hindus, about a quarter is represented by Muslims and the remaining approximately 18% by Christians. A negligible population is a devotee of Sikhism.
Emergency contacts:	police 100, firemen 101, ambulance 102
Electricity:	220V with different sockets compared to the Czech Republic, thus an adapter is needed
Vaccination:	Vaccination against hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever and tetanus are recommended. Yellow fever vaccination may be required should you arrive from an endemic area.
Transporation:	The density and level of traffic in Kerala is several times higher than the national Indian average so you can expect good infrastructure. There are several motorways and railways in the state with all the major cities being directly connected. There are 3 international airports operating in Kerala, namely Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin and Kalikatu

Visa to India

If you are a foreign national let us know what passport you hold and we will inform you whether or not you are obliged to apply for visa to Seychelles.

All Czech citizens need a valid Indian visa to enter India, to transit and to travel from India. Since May 1, 2002, Czech citizens can apply for Indian visas at the Embassy of the Republic of India in Prague. The application usually takes up to 14 days to process, but in some cases it is necessary to count on a longer period. A faster way though is to apply online, just beware of false websites that pretend to be official government sites. Under no circumstances is it possible to obtain an Indian visa at a border crossing point at Delhi airport.

Upon arrival at the airport passengers are required to complete a form, the first part of which is used for statistical and accounting purposes and the second part is used for customs and foreign exchange declarations. The first part is taken at the passport control, the second part is handed over to the customs officers.

flight tickets including business and first class seats
top-notch luxury resorts
transfers by road or air
local trips and experiences
tailored holiday packages with the possibility of combining your stay with visit to other destinations
VIP airport lounges prior to and after your flights
multilingual assistance throughout your stay
team-building programes
golf in selected resorts
special packages for newlyweds, honeymooners and those celebrating anniversaries

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Visa to India

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Love at your feet

Ayurveda and Life