Planning a trip to India? We are certain it will be a perfect holiday since India has everything a tourist can ask for, and more. A word of advice: Before you step out of your home, remember India holds many surprises. So, come mentally prepared.

In the following pages, we guide you to travelling in India along with some dos and don'ts that will make your holiday an experience of a lifetime. Let's get going.

India fascinates. At every step there is something new. It is a country where centuries-old traditions intermingle with the latest in the world. India has the power to drown you with its size and diversity. Add to it a liberal dose of the sensual and what you end up with is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth.

Nothing in the country is ever quite what you expect, and the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms. Nowhere on earth does humanity present itself in such a creative burst of cultures, religions, races and languages.

India's tourism resources are immense. There is a wide variety for those interested in history and culture, both of which are unique. India's civilisation is an amalgam of the Vedic, Islamic and Western streams, and the monuments, sculptures and paintings bear testimony to the national ethos for harmony in diversity.

India has to be experienced in its natural form or 'India as it is'. The country has to be viewed in its totality: as a 5,000-year-old civilisation besides being a modern nation. Once the visitor has an open mind to see India as it is with its diversities, the country will unfold its charm. And, what a variety! The country provides the widest possible range of attractions from snow-clad mountains to sun-drenched beaches, diverse cultures and an astonishing range of colours.

The rich architectural heritage is India's main strength where one can see a combination of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Mughal, British, French, Hellenic, Roman, Dutch and Portuguese architecture. It is like seeing the whole world in India. UNESCO has declared 16 monuments in India as heritage monuments - the largest congregation of heritage monuments in a country.

Festivals and fairs are key aspects of India's cultural heritage and there is a festival in every season. The festivities, spread over the year, offer an opportunity to see and experience the culture of the country.

Shopping in India is a real bargain. The good-humoured bargaining makes shopping an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. There is something for everyone. For ladies, handmade filigree silver necklaces, handloom tie and dye, silk dress materials, attar (perfumes), silk shoes with gold decoration, zari work and clutch bags. For men, light silk shirts, fashionable silk and rayon ties, well-stitched ready-to-wear suits, pure leather briefcases and matching shoes. In addition, there are whole wardrobes of elegant regional dresses and accessories for almost everyone.

Above all, India is a country, which has to be experienced from the first Namaste to the last good-bye!

Experience Diversity
India lies in South Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. On its northern borders is the world's highest mountain chain. The country's 28 states hold virtually every kind of landscape from snow-capped mountains to deserts and palm-fringed beaches. Recognisable on any world map, India is the thick, roughly triangular peninsula defined by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

From its northernmost borders with China, this huge country extends a good 3,200 km (2,000 miles) to its southern tip, nearing the island nation of Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Himalayas, the world's highest mountain chain, dominate India's northern border. Following the mountain to the northeast, India's borders narrow to a small channel that passes between Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh and Bhutan, then spreads out again to meet Myanmar in an area called the 'eastern triangle', or the Northeast. On the western borders, apart from the Arabian Sea, is Pakistan.

Because of India's size, its climate depends not only on the time of the year, but also the location. In general, temperatures tend to be cooler in the north, especially between September and March. The south is coolest between November and January. In June, winds and warm surface currents begin to move northward and westward, heading out of the Bay of Bengal into the Arabian Gulf. This creates a phenomenon known as the west monsoon, that brings heavy rains to the Indian plains in the north. Between October and December, cold winds blow from the north. As they pass over the Bay of Bengal they gather moisture, which is shed on the south-east coast of India. In addition to the two monsoons, there are two other seasons, spring and autumn.

Shopaholics Unite!
A shopper's paradise: that's what India is. The first thing that hits your eyes are the little shacks selling cigarettes and paan at every corner. These are not all. Almost every street has a tea stall or a roadside eatery and even the villages have their special market days at least once a week. While the metros are gearing up to accommodate world-class malls with fancy names, the small cities or towns are not far behind.

But, it is in the metros that you can have your heart's desires. From ethnic bric-a-brac to designer's collections of the latest clothes, you can have them all. To add to the ever-growing list of shopping merchandise available, there are silk and woolen carpets and rugs from Kashmir, rich silks in rainbow colours and vibrant designs, cottons in earthy colours, exquisite gold and silver jewellery, Rajasthani tie-and-dye skirts, Gujarati mirror-work, leather goods, statues in metal and stone, and even perfumes made from flowers.

Indian markets flourish with their bright reds, blues, yellows and greens. Each state of the country has its special handloom and handicrafts, each a prized possession. There is solid and intricately carved wooden furniture, metal and silver inlay work, Kanjeevaram and Benaras saris woven with golden threads, beads and bangles, brassware and bronze lamps, Darjeeling tea, coffee and spices, the list is endless. Most of the wonderful items are available in the government-owned handicrafts emporia in major metros - in fact, Delhi has outlets of all the states, handicrafts showrooms on Baba Karak Singh Marg just off Connaught Place. What is most important is that all the stuff is indeed value for money.