India

Set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, India has the highest, youngest and still evolving mountain chain on the planet. The subcontinent touches three large water bodies and is immediately recognizable on any world map

India showcases nearly every kind of landscape conceivable. A large quantity of mountain ranges and national parks supply ample opportunity for eco-tourism and trekking, and its sheer size promises something for everyone.

Understanding the Geography

Regions of India

India is administratively divided into 28 states and 7 union territories. The states are broadly demarcated on linguistic lines. They vary in size; the larger ones are bigger and more diverse than some countries of Europe. The union territories are smaller than the states - sometimes they are just one city - and they have much less autonomy.

These states and union territories are grouped by convention into the following regions.

• Himalayan North - Mountainous and beautiful, a tourist destination for the adventurous and the spiritual. This region contains some of India's most visited hill-stations and religious places. Also includes the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir
• The Plains - India's Hindi-speaking heartland. The country's capital New Delhi is here. The rivers Ganga and Yamuna flow through this plain. Many of the events that shaped India's history took place here.
• The West - deserts and beautiful cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Goa, vibrant and biggest Indian city Bombay (now known as Mumbai), wonderful beaches and Bollywood (Indian film industry in Bombay)
• The South - colourful Hindu temples, tropical forests, Backwaters of Kerala, beaches and ghats of Karnataka and islands off the mainland.
• The East - India's mostly rural region, its largest city Calcutta (now known as Kolkata), the temple cities of Puri of Lord Jagannath fame and Bhubaneswar, both in Orissa.
• The North-East - remote and sensitive, the country's tribal corner, with beautiful landscapes and famous for Tea Gardens.

India –cities

• India has many large and famous cities, below is a list of the most well-known.
• New Delhi - the capital of ancient Bharat and modern India - The political capital of India
• Bangalore - The Garden City, Pub City, Silicon Valley of India, Land of Silk, Gold, Sandal Wood, Incense etc..
• Chennai (Madras) - Hub of South India, Ranks next only to Bangalore in the software exports in India, City of Temples, Cradle of Karnatic Music and Barathanatiyam, Home of famous Marina Beach, Automobile Capital of India.
• Bombay (Mumbai) - The financial capital of India, "Bollywood" (Indian Film Industry's hub)
• Calcutta (Kolkata) - Known as City of Joy.
• Hyderabad - Pearl city of India, and part of the Silicon Plateau with Bangalore
• Pune - is located in Western India and is Maharashtra's cultural capital
• Ahmedabad -is a City known as Textile Capital of India, is located in Gujarat, a state in the western part of India.

Climate Conditions

In India, it rains only during a specific time of the year. The season as well as the phenomenon that causes it is called the monsoon. There are two of them, the Southwest and the Northeast, both named after the directions the winds come from.

The Southwest monsoon is the more important one, as it causes rains over most parts of the country, and is the crucial variable that decides how the crops (and therefore the economy) will do. It lasts from June to September. It hits the west coast the most, as crossing the western ghats and reaching the rest of India is an uphill task for the winds. The western coastline is therefore much greener than the interior.

The Northeast monsoon hits the east coast between October and February, mostly in the form of occasional cyclones, which cause much devastation every year. The only region that gets rains from both monsoons is Northeastern India, which consequently experiences the highest rainfall in the world.

India experiences at least three seasons a year, Summer, Rainy Season (or "Monsoon") and Winter, though in the tropical South calling the 25°C (75°F) weather "Winter" would be stretching the concept.

The North experiences some extremes of heat in Summer and cold in Winter, but except in the Himalayan regions, snow is almost unheard of. November to January is the winter season and April and May are the hot months when everyone eagerly awaits the rains. There is also a brief spring in February and March, especially in North India.

Understanding the Culture

India has a rich diversity of culture and tradition. It's probably the only country where people of so many different origins, religious beliefs, languages and ethnic background coexist.

Whereas Indian men can be really eager to talk to travellers, women in India often refrain from contact with men. It is an unfortunate fact that if you are a man and you approach a woman in India for even an innocuous purpose like asking for directions, you are putting her on the defensive. It is better to ask a man if available, or be extra respectful if he is not.

It's not disrespectful for a woman to tell a man eager to talk to her that she doesn't want to talk, so if a man's behaviour makes you uncomfortable, say so firmly.

In mosques and temples it is obligatory to take off your shoes. It may also be customary to take off your footwear while entering into homes, follow other people's lead.

It is disrespectful to touch people with your feet. If done accidentally, you will find that Indians will make a quick gesture of apology that involves touching the offended person with the right hand, and then moving the hand to the chest and to the eyes. It is a good idea to emulate that.

Books and written material are treated with respect, as they are considered the concrete form of the Goddess of Learning. So a book should not be touched with the feet and if accidentally touched, the same gesture of apology as is made to people

The same goes with currency, or anything associated with wealth (especially gold). They are treated as Goddess Lakshmi (of Wealth) in human form, and ought not to be disrespected.

Any give or take of anything important should be done with the right hand only, or with the right hand supported with the left. This includes giving and taking of presents, and any transfer of a large amount of money.

Travellers should be aware of the fact that Indians generally dress conservatively and should do the same. Shorts, short skirts (knee-length or above) and sleeveless shirts are not appropriate off the beach

Keep in mind that Indians will consider themselves obliged to go out of the way to fulfil a guest's request and will insist very strongly that it is no inconvenience to do so, even if it is not true. This of course means that there is a reciprocal obligation on you as a guest to take extra care not to be a burden.

It is customary to put up a token friendly fight when paying bills at restaurant or while making purchases. The etiquette for this is somewhat complicated.

In a business lunch or dinner, it is usually clear upfront who is supposed to pay, and there is no need to fight. But if you are someone's personal guest and they take you out to a restaurant, you should offer to pay anyway, and you should insist a lot. Sometimes these fights get physical, with each side trying to snatch the bill away from the other, all the time laughing politely. If you don't have experience in these things, chances are, you will lose the fight the first time, but in that case, make sure that you pay the next time. (and try to make sure that there is a next time.) Unless the bill amount is very large do not offer to share it, and only as a second resort after they have refused to let you pay it all.

The same rule applies when you are making a purchase. If you are purchasing something for yourself, your hosts might still offer to pay for it if the amount is not very high, and sometimes, even if it is. In this situation, unless the amount is very low, you should never lose the fight. (If the amount is in fact ridiculously low, say less than 10 rupees, then don't insult your hosts by putting up a fight.) Even if by chance you lose the fight to pay the shopkeeper, it is customary to practically thrust (in a nice way, of course) the money into your host's hands.

These rules do not apply if the host has made it clear beforehand that it is his or her treat, especially for some specific occasion.

Things to See and Do

• Agra - Home of the Taj Mahal
• Ajanta and Ellora Caves - Maharashtra State - complexes of caves representing some of the best of early Buddhist art.
• Goa - is a state with some of the most beautiful beaches and sunsets on earth. It has everything from super-chilled out beaches, to all-night (and day) techno/dance/drug parties.
• Kerala - Also know as "God's own Country", is a state with green natural beauty, nice and warm beaches and hill stations. Contains popular destinations like Kovalam beach, Munnar, Thekkady, Thiruvananthapuram (aka Trivandrum) and Cochin
• Madurai - Also know as "City of Temples", is a city in Tamilnadu famous for its temples.
• Konark - temple on the East coast with erotic sculpture
• Nalanda, Bihar State - Site of an early Buddhist University/monastic centre
• Pondicherry - French colony in India
• Rajasthan - The desert state with palaces of former princes converted to heritage hotels. Contains popular destinations like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Pushkar
• Hampi - Monuments of the last great Hindu Empire to rule south India, in Karnataka.
• Pattadakal - Monuments of the great Chalukya Empire in Karnataka

• Belur and Halebidu - Monuments of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka

• Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh - is the site of a great Buddhist stupa.

• Shimla - The summer capital of former British India is a small jewel in the lush Himalayan foothills.

• Srinagar - Famous for Dal Lake, located in the picturesque Himalayas

• Auli - is a wonderful hill station in Uttaranchal. It is a popular skiing destination and looks like mini Switzerland.