Visit an impressive, natural, diverse and appealing land - visit incredible India...
India is a mystical land of seductive images. It is also India's vastness that challenges the imagination, being home to one sixth of the world's population. The most frequently visited part of India is the Golden Triangle. The unfairly maligned great cities of Mumbai and Kolkata have a bustling, colourful charm, while the holy city of Varanasi or the awe-inspiring temples of Tamil Nadu are worthy objects of pilgrimage.
For those who prefer more sybaritic pleasures, tackle the palm-fringed beaches of Goa. And for solitude, India ripples with mountains and hills, from the towering beauty of the Himalayas to pine forests, lakes and babbling streams.
One of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new; centuries of history rubbing shoulders with the computer age.
Local time: GMT/UTC +5.5 Currency: Indian Rupee
Climate: Generally, India's climate is defined by three seasons - the hot, the wet (monsoon) and the cool, each of which can vary in duration from north to south. The heat starts to build up on India's northern plains from around February, and by April or May it really heats up, peaking in June.
Most of the rain falls between July and September but they are not the tropical rains you'll experience in India's coastal cities
Language: Hindi and English are the official languages
Best time to visit: Climate plays a key factor in deciding when to visit India. The most pleasant time to visit most places is during the cooler period: November to around mid-February
Things to do: India is famous for its incredible Ayurveda and Yoga treatments. Meditation, Hiking, Cycling, or Trekking in India`s beautiful nature and wildlife
Things to know: In cities you can change most major foreign currencies and brands of travellers cheques - but you'll widen your options and save yourself hassles if you stick to US dollars, Euros or pounds Sterling and either Thomas Cook or American Express travellers cheques. Officially you're not supposed to take any Indian currency into or out of India, however carrying up to Rs5000 doesn't seem to be a problem
Insider tip: It's worth checking the dates of particular festivals - you may be attracted or repelled by the chaos (and jacked-up prices) that attend them. There are virtually no festivals in May/June
