History

The first permanent settlements in India emerged around 7000 before Christ. This resulted in the
Indus civilisation, which belongs to the oldest civilisations in the world, and from which Hinduism
originated. The first five hundred years after Christ, India was part of the Gupta empire, one of the
most progressive and prosperous civilisations in the world. From roughly 700 after Christ onward,
Islam became increasingly popular in India. Despite that the introduction of Islam was paired with
conquests and oppression, harmony between the adherents of the two faiths arose relatively
quickly.

Colonisation of India
During the seventeenth century, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and the British all tried to
gain a foothold in India. The Portuguese fleet arrived first in 1510 and established colonies in Bon
Bahia (current day Mumbai) and Goa (1510). In 1600, the British East India Company was created.
It struggled to gain a foothold in East Asia, and decided to focus primarily on India. The Dutch also
had an interest in India; in 1596, four Dutch merchant vessels reached India, and in 1602 the
Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC) was created. The Dutch established various trading
posts, and the French likewise controlled a number of trade colonies in Pondicherry. However, the
British, whom established trade posts in Surat (1612), Madras (now Chennai, 1639), Bombay (now
Mumbai, 1668) and Calcutta (1690) had the most power and influence.

A hundred years later, about 60% of Indian territory was under direct British rule. The Brits
increasingly took their power for granted; their rule become more and more authoritarian, and
intolerance towards local cultures and religious traditions of the native population increased. The
first major uprising against the colonial British rulers, and at the same time the largest uprising
against a colonial power in the 19th century, arose in 1957. The uprising, which lasted until 1858,
was put down by the English with barbaric punishments. However, the uprising did lead to the fall
of the East Indian Company. British-India was placed under the rule of the Crown; Indians became
subjects of queen Victoria, and the country remained a part of the British Empire from 1858 until
1947.

Independence
In the second half of the 19th century, the Indian people became more politically aware. During
the First World War, Great Britain received a lot of support from the Indians. They hoped that,
after the war ended, they would be given the status of "dominion", which would make them a fully
self-governing part of the British Empire. However, this did not happen. As a result, nationalism in
India continued to grow. In 1919, Mahatma Ghandi emerged as a leader of the Indian national
movement. Although the Brits once again tried to brutally put down the revolution, the continued
non-violence of the protestors under the guidance of Ghandi and other figures eventually led to
India's independence on 15 August 1947. British India was divied into India and Pakistan. This led
to several battles between the two, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
Trips

There are different airlines which fly to and from India. There is also a lot of domestic air traffic in
India. This is, of course, mainly due to the enormous size of the country, but also because of the
underdeveloped infrastructure across the country. The railway might be huge and more and more
modern trains are in operation, but trains in India are still regularly filled to the brim, difficult to
book, unsafe, slow and unreliable. Regardless, travelling by train is an unforgettable experience for
tourists. Indian trains often ride with the doors and windows open, which makes it possible to get
some fresh air by hanging from the window or door; a common sight in India.

Aside from trains, buses, rickshaws and tuk tuks are also frequently used in India. They offer a
cheaper method of transportation and can be easily hailed from the side of the road. Like cabs,
rickshaws and tuk tuks can generally take you safely from A to B, but especially at night, it’s
prudent to be extra alert. It is recommended to keep a close eye on your properties and to check
(with GPS) if the right route is being taken. Driving a car yourself in India is discouraged due to the
often hectic traffic situation. The unwritten rule is that large vehicles have (or take) the right of
way, and unexpected situations also happen on highways. A crossing donkey car or sudden
pothole does not surprise any Indian, but for tourists these can cause dangerous situations. Read
more about journeying through India.

Immigration Service
Travelling to India is only allowed with a visa. Travellers going on a holiday to India for less than
180 days, as well as business travelers staying in India for less than 180 days a year, can apply for
an online Indian visa through the application form on this website. Check before applying whether
you meet all of the visa requirements.