Passage to India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Cricket’s biggest prize, the ICC Cricket World Cup, is coming to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and cricket fever is gripping the region. The tournamentwill take place at 13 different venues between February 19 and April 2, 2011, with matches held in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mohali,Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi (all India), Colombo, Hambantota, Kandy (Sri Lanka), Chittagong and Dhaka (Bangladesh).

The match schedule is available from the Cricket Logistics Web site, and tickets, purchased by venue or team, are on sale from as low as $0.20(icccwc2011.kyazoonga.com/tickets/index/). The two semi-finals (March 29, Colombo and March 30, Mohali) and the final (April 2, Mumbai) will beannounced later.

Anticipating an influx of tourists, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has set up four hospitality schemes under The Great Indian Host umbrella: theNorthern Plains Package (for six matches in the northern Indian cities of New Delhi and Mohali), Southern Garden and Beaches (for six matches inBangalore and Chennai), City of Joy (for four matches in Kolkata) and Go West (for seven matches in Mumbai, Nagpur and Ahmedabad). The Great SriLankan Host scheme provides a similar service for fans heading to the Sri Lankan matches.

Many flights from Europe, North America and Australia arrive at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, and it is worth shopping around toget the best deal. A visit to the ICC's Web site may also help to determine the most suitable travel arrangements for your needs. Remember that packagetours can be expensive, but they cut out some of the hassle, so if that's a high priority for you they may be worth the price.

Once you get to India, you can either travel between cities by air or by train (and irctc.co.in), which, naturally, takes quite a bit longer! For local travel, taxisare reasonably priced and convenient. The ubiquitous rickshaw is also convenient, and comes in several varieties, including auto-rickshaws (half motorscooter with seats—it's important to agree a price before setting off!), larger versions called tempos, horse-drawn carriages called tongas, and thecommonly used cycle rickshaw (slower, but very convenient); in Kolkata, hand-drawn rickshaws are surprisingly popular.

Each destination and venue for the World Cup has its own government Web site. All the tourism Web sites are available here—they’re a great place to findaccommodation, from basic rooms to 5-star hotels.

Key Cricket Venues and Attractions.Mumbai (Formerly Known as Bombay)

Historic Mumbai is not only the cricket capital of India—it’s also the home of Bollywood, the country’s movie capitalWeb sitewww.mumbainet.comVenueWankhede Stadium

Transport & AccommodationMumbai’s international airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji. The city’s two 5-star hotels, Leela Kempinski and Royal Meridien, are a short bus ride away. Central,Southern and Eastern trains arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The Mumbai Central is the terminus for the Western Railway.

SightsThe Gateway of India, which commemorated the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The British also chose to stage their final departure fromthere. Other places worth visiting are the Mani Bavan Mahatma Gandhi Museum and Haji Ali’s Tomb. About 42 km out of Mumbai are the historic KanheriCaves, home to monks in the second to the ninth century AD.

New Delhi

India’s capital city, which is divided into Old and New Delhi Web siteswww.newdelhi.net and www.delhicapital.com VenueFeroz Shah Kotla

TransportInternational flights arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 2 while domestic Flights land at Terminal 1. The easiest way to get to Delhi isby taxi, although there is also a bus service. The two major railway stations, New Delhi Station and Old Delhi Station, are both connected to the city byautorickshaws and taxis. The Metrorail is also useful.

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SightsOld Delhi is the City of the Mughals, dating back to the 17th Century. The Red Fort (Lal Qila), built of red sandstone during the Mughal rule, is situated here.Nearby is the Museum of the Struggle for Independence, depicting resistance to the British Empire. New Delhi was built during the British Empire.Excursions are available to see the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz,tajmahal.org.uk.

Bangalore (Bendakalooru)

The town of boiled beans, previously known as the “Garden City”—currently India’s Silicon Valley.discoverbangalore.com bangalorebest.comVenueM Chinaswamy Stadium

TransportBangalore is well connected to all parts of the country by air, rail and road. The International Airport at Devanahalli became operational in 2008, and AirIndia operates direct flight to/from London, New York, Chicago and Paris.

SightsIt is worth paying a visit to Tipu’s Summer Palace, built by Tipu Sultan in 1537 as the “abode of happiness”. The spectacular Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens,built by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan and containing Lal Bagh Rock, an ancient rock formation believed to be 3000 million years old, are also a popularattraction.

For Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, their Web sites are listed in the links section. Keep safe, enjoy yourself, and may the team you’re supporting win the WorldCup.

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