Welcome to My Secret Planet online guide to India and Nepal.

After more than 10 years of adventures and pains in India, Nepal and Thailand. I thought I should share some of the goodies, some of the good stuff about traveling in Asia. What's not in the guide books, not for the mass vacation tourist, the backdoor traveler - the secret stuff!

There is an art to travelling and nowhere else will you be so tested in the art as in India. India is art, it may simply look like a rubbish heap at times - there is vivid history all around you in India's rich heritage and cultures.

Smell the air - it's millions of years old. If you read the Bhagvagita, Ramayana and Gandhi autobiography you'll have a better idea than most Indians about the country.

India has changed now in 2010, ten years ago there was a lot less wealth in India; no one had cars, TV's or cellphones. Indians themselves have now become the dominate force in India's tourism market.  

Domestic Indian tourism numbers one to two hundred million per year versus just five million foreigners (that was just 1 million five years ago!) Most of the 5 million foreigners in India are in Pune, Goa, Mumbai or Rajasthan, some in North India and many in Tamil Nadu. Most tourists are from America or the UK, then Europe and Australia. There are about 50,000 Israeli in India they even have numerous chabba's houses built.

Ten years ago there where only a few domestic flights and they where very expensive about $400 from Delhi to Mumbai. Nowadays you can search cleartrip and find a flight for less than $80 to Mumbai -New Delhi (if you book in advance.)

Needless to say Indians attitude is starting to change towards foreigners. It is much easily for a local guest house to cater to local tourism than make an exception for foreign tourist. Foreign tourists expect certain 'things' and standard that often end up in a rude awakening in the middle of the night, may it be a bedbug bite or unscheduled maintenance in the vacant room next to yours - you may survive India. You may not. That's because over 100 foreigners die in India for various reasons, accidents, drugs, unknown causes.

This is community site intended to help newbie travellers, promote Zero Foot Print Travelling and DIY adventures. If you found the information useful don't forget to say thanks.  If you have some tips, complaints etc post em too.

If your coming to India you might try BA, i flew with them from Bangalore and was very impressed by there early morning departure versus the late night departure of Continental, means you stay up all day then go to sleep when your arrive. Beside the Heathrow is an amazing airport and the English are kinda cool.. sometimes.

There are four sections to the site India, Nepal, the Maps and Photo galleries. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

ENjoy INdia!

PS. If you haven't heard about the new visa rules, you'd better check it out.