Population - 1.09 billion people (2nd most populous nation in the world behind China)
Total Area -  3,287,590 square kilometres
Capital - New Delhi (13.8 million people)
Time Zone - Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +5:30 hours

To view the current time in New Delhi, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication. Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people.

There are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.

Some common Hindi words/phrases handy for travellers include:

Hello = NA-MA-SKAR
Goodbye = ACH-HA
Please = KRIP-YA
Thank you = DHAN-YA-VAD
Nice to meet you = AAP SE MIL KE KHU-SHI HUI
Where is the bathroom = BATH-ROOM KID-HAR HAI
How much does this cost = YEH KIT-NE KA HAI
Help = MA-DAD
Street = SA-DAK
Left = BA-YEN
Right = DA-YEN
Water = PA-A-NEE

Click here to view a list of current public holidays for India.

On these are days you will find all the government and private establishment closed including banks and tourist spots:

Republic Day: 26th January. It was on this day in 1950, the constitution of Independent India became applicable to the country and so the republic became a legal entity.

Ambedkar Jayanti: 14th April. The birth anniversary of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the founder of the Indian constitution.

Independence Day: 15th August. The anniversary of unfurling of the Indian tricolor at the red fort ushering in the age of freedom from British rule in 1947.

Gandhi Jayanti: 2nd October. A grateful nation pays its heartfelt tribute to the Father Of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday.

India has a great number of holidays and festivals. Most follow either the Indian lunar calendar or the Islamic calendar, and therefore festival dates changes from year to year according to the calendar. Christmas Day is celebrated on 25th December. Local tourist offices should be able to provide specific dates. Most tourist attractions, such as museums and monuments, are closed on public holidays.

The history of India can be reconstructed using Vedic texts and archaeological data. It goes back earlier than 3,200 BC when Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism as we now know it, emerged and guided people in their day to day living. Later, offshoots of Hinduism such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism also emerged. India's innate tolerance also let Islam, Christianity and Zoroastrianism flourish.

India's rich maritime history influenced the country in varying degrees. The vestiges of ancient maritime trade with China (the silk route) can be seen in the Chinese fishing nets which are still used in Kerala. The abundance of spices in the country attracted the western world which came to India through the ‘spice route' and also influenced the north of India, evident from the terracotta figurines found there resembling Greek sculptures.

India with its diverse topography has varying climatic conditions across its breadth. In most places, except the hills and some places in the Deccan plateau, the summer months from May to August can be very oppressive. Temperatures are known to soar above 40° Celsius in the north of India. The north also has very cold winters. In the south, however, temperatures are not too extreme though winters are definitely cooler than the summers. The southern states have the best weather conditions from November to January.

The country gets a respite from the hot and dry summers with the onset of the monsoons. When the Indian subcontinent heats up during summer, the moisture laden winds from the Indian Ocean make its way to the subcontinent. They are drawn towards the Himalayan region, which acts as a wall to the winds. Because of the topology, winds come from the Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal into the Indian subcontinent. The south-west monsoon lasts from June through September while the north-east monsoon appears between October and December. Despite its torrential nature, the monsoon is a welcome sight in India as most of the Indian economy is heavily dependent on it. And the fresh, glistening landscape after a downpour is worth it all!

Click on this Weather link to view the current conditions in Goa.

India is well connected globally via a strong communication network. Local ISP providers have Internet Cafes at almost every nook and corner possible! Telephones and Public Payphones are easily accessible. You can also purchase Prepaid Calling cards at post offices, communication-provider shops and even at most larger general stores. Prepaid cellular phone cards are also available at most general stores.

Communication might be difficult in remote rural areas and cellular networks are often out of range at higher altitudes.

India has the largest postal network in the world and various options are available for people wanting to send mail/parcels overseas.

- Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter India, and be sure to check whether you visa becomes valid on the date of issue, or when you enter India.
- Bangladeshis and Pakistanis need to apply on special forms
- Regardless of the period of stay, 6 month multiple entry visas are now issued to most nationals as long as onward ticket is held by traveller.

Restricted Areas

- Certain states such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland are designated as restricted areas for foreign nationals.
- Special permits need to be procured with government authorisation to visit these places

The geography of India has influenced the clothing, architecture, food habits and lifestyle of its people. The south of India has been largely untouched by the various invasions. Hence art and culture has its own identity and has reached a high degree of perfection. The magnificent temples of south India with its impressive gopurams and aesthetic sculptures, the Carnatic music tradition and the graceful Bharathanatyam (a dance form) all point to a civilisation of dizzying heights.

The deserts of Kutch, on the other hand, have always challenged its inhabitants with its inhospitable nature. Hence the people here have spartan lifestyles. However, to brighten an otherwise bare landscape, Kutchis have perfected the art of jewellery making and embroidery to enliven their surroundings. There is another India different from the rest of the country when you visit the north eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Manipur. These states are home to several tribes who have excelled in crafts using local material such as bamboo, wood, metal and local silk. As opposed to the colourful tribal lives of the north east, the harsh mountain terrains far north have a more austere but elegant way of life. Ladakh in the remote Himalayas is heavily influenced by Buddhism and is largely untouched by modern living.

With nearly one-fourth of its mass under forest cover, India is endowed with incredible biodiversity. The varied topography also contributes to the richness in biodiversity. The Himalayan region has a wide variety of flora and fauna and together with the Western Ghats they have been named amongst the 25 biodiversity hot-spots of the world. The Himalayas are a repository of orchids, with nearly 750 species of the family found here. Nearly 980 bird species have been recorded in the Himalayan region. It is known to be the natural habitat for large birds such as the raven, pheasant, and the griffon vulture.

The rulers of the Indian plant and animal kingdom

National Animal - Panthera tigris (Tiger)
National Bird - Pavo cristatus (Peacock)
National Flower - Nymphaea lotus (Lotus)
National Fruit - Mangifera indica (Mango)
National Tree - Ficus bengalensis (Banyan)

The tiger has a pride of place in India and this majestic animal, which symbolises strength and speed, is also the national animal of the country. Post independence the tiger population had dwindled drastically because of hunting by the Maharajahs and the British. A tiger census in 1972 revealed that only 1827 tigers were left in India. This led to the launch of Project Tiger in the various national parks of the country. And thanks to this project, nearly sixty percent of the total world tiger population is now found in India. There are about 28 tiger reserves in India. Some of the popular tiger reserves visited by wildlife enthusiasts are the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh and Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. The Sunderban National Park, with its large mangrove forests, is also home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

The Kaziranga National Park offers an attraction in the form of the one-horned rhino. One of the most ideal territories for birds in the world is the Kaldeo National Park, Bharatpur, which is home to all kinds of birds from indigenous to migratory species, from waterside birds to land birds. Away from the mainland are the Andaman and Nicobar islands which have their rare, indigenous species of birds such as the Megapode, Narcondum hornbill, Andaman crake and the Andaman woodpecker.

Indian food is without doubt the highest evolved cuisine in the world. It is characterised by the subtle use of herbs and spices like turmeric, pepper, cardamom, and mustard, grown in India as early as 3000 B.C. With so many recipes, there is certainly no monotony at meal times. Preparation of Indian dishes can take a few minutes to a whole day depending on what you are making. Special food preparations dominate the festivals of India and some recipes are passed down generations as family heirlooms.

Food in India is defined by the geographical location. Coastal regions such as Bengal, Mangalore and Kerala use coconuts liberally in their cuisine. The number of recipes using fish is also mind boggling.  Rajma (kidney beans), known to be a heat producing food, is dominant in the cold regions of Kashmir and also in Punjab. The Muslim invasion of yore brought in the Mughlai influence with its pulaos, kebabs and rich gravies using dry fruits. The northern region of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab make a variety of breads such as rotis, nans, and poories out of wheat, maize and other cereals. Rice is the dominant cereal in the south and no self respecting Tamilian would give up his rasam - made from tamarind and curry powder - for anything. The masala dosa, which has its origins in Udupi in Karnataka, is found in roadside stalls to five-star hotels and is absolutely delectable.

The number of accompaniments to the main meal in Indian food is truly amazing. The Andhra range of pickles is legendary and is tongue tickling. Crispy papads and an assortment of salads are also part of a daily Indian meal.

The Indian cuisine is dynamic and is constantly evolving. Adapting foreign cuisines to local palates, chefs come up with unique recipes all the time. Urban India also boasts of a host of original Italian, Chinese and continental fare.

The following vaccines are recommended before your travel to India:

- Anti- Hepatitis A vaccine: Infection of this virus can occur through exposure to contaminated water/ice, fish harvested from contaminated water, fruits and vegetables washed in contaminated water
- Anti- Hepatitis B vaccine: Infection occurs through exposure to blood or body fluids infected by Hepatitis B virus
- Japanese encephalitis vaccine: Infection can occur through mosquito bites in rural farm areas
- Anti rabies vaccine: Transmission of this virus to humans can occur through bats, foxes, dogs and wolves. Take care when you are camping or hiking
- Anti Typhoid vaccine: Typhoid, caused by the bacteria Salmonella, is contracted through food and drinks handled by infected individuals. The emergence of antibiotic resistant stains of Salmonella has made vaccination against typhoid absolutely necessary

It is advisable to carry mosquito repellents and also basic medicines such as analgesics and anti-pyretic medicines. A medical card detailing any current medical conditions and allergies will be of help when you are travelling.

Cottons are ideal for an Indian summer. In southern India it is the ideal fabric to wear through the year. Winters in the north can be very cold, especially at night. The hilly regions are also cold and it is best if you carry warm clothes. Water proof clothing will also come in use in these places.

While sandals can be worn, it is advisable to carry shoes as they will protect your feet from the heat and dust. They are absolutely necessary if you are planning a trekking or cycling trip.

Government Offices: 10am - 5pm (Monday to Saturday, closed every second Saturday).

Banks: 10am - 2pm (Monday to Friday), 10am - noon (Saturdays). Some banks may be also open at night. Foreign exchange offices often have longer operating hours. Be aware you need to get there 1/2 hour before close if you want to cash travellers cheques.

Post Offices (usually called GPO's in major cities): open until 7pm.

Shops and Markets: times vary, but usually from 10am - 8pm (closed on Sundays and public holidays). There are still a number of shops open on Sundaysn though.