Western India

Flying in is convenient, and there are many airports in the West. Railway and sea links do exist, but are not recommended for a number of reasons.

By plane
By plane

By far the most convenient way to enter the west. There are many international airports and Mumbai is the busiest in the country.

Sahar Airport, Mumbai (http://www.mumbaiairport.com) is the gateway to India and serves over 40 international carriers. You can fly in from a number of important cities, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, New York, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

You could fly into Sardar Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (http://www.ahmedabadairpo...) from Kuwait, Dubai and Singapore.

Lohegaon Airport, Pune (http://www.puneairport.com) is quite small and it is a rather inconvenient option for entering India. None the less, it is served by Air India to Singapore and Dubai.

Senganer Airport, Jaipur (http://www.jaipurairport.com) has limited international flights to the Gulf and South East Asia.

Nagpur (http://www.nagpurairport.com) has a small international airport as well.

By ship
By ship

Cruises from the mediterranean ports can be organized and are generally very expensive, amounting to well over 500 € one-way. Mumbai is the busiest port in the country. Unless you have a lot of time to spare and a deep pocket, this option is not recommended. There are cheaper boats that ferry passengers from the UAE and Yemen to Mumbai.

By train
By train

International options are terribly limited given the length of the Rajasthan-Sindh border. The Thar Express connects Jodhpur, Rajasthan to Karachi in the Pakistani province of Sindh. However, the inconvenience and slow speed of the train do not make this a feasible option. You have to get off at the Attari/Wagah border, pass through security, get your visa stamped and change locomotives. Besides, it's an overnight journey and catching a flight to Pakistan from Mumbai or Delhi is a far better option.

Indian Railways (http://www.irctc.co.in) trains connect the West to many important cities in other parts of the country. Mumbai Churchgate, Victoria Terminus, Pune City, Jaipur, Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj Terminus and Ahmedabad are important junctions. The Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express is the fastest train to the West, connecting the capital to Mumbai in 18 hours. The Trivandrum Rajdhani also passes through the West and is the fastest way of travelling through some parts of Gujarat.