Location: South Asia.

Capital: New Delhi.

Area: 3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).

Religion: About 81% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

Government: Republic since 1947.

Overview: India, also referred as Bharat or Hindustan, the largest democracy in the world, is a land of unparalleled majesty, comparable in size to entire continent of Europe, and home of nearly 16% of the world population. Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of the British in the early 17th century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by her wealth. The achievements, history, culture and geography all are part of this richness. People throughout the ages admired the richness of India. French scholar Romain Rolland said: "If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India."

Climate
The Himalayan range in the north acts as the perfect meteorological barrier for the whole country. Despite the country's size and its varied relief, the seasonal rhythm of the monsoon is apparent throughout. Although much of northern India lies beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters.

Information about India
In India, the main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 30% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognized by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telegu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages are Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speak Urdu. India moment of glory finally arrived on the midnight of 15 August 1947. People delirious with joy flooded the streets to welcome the dawn of a new era. There was rejoicing everywhere. And within the Assembly Hall, Jawaharlal Nehru rose to make his famous "tryst with destiny" speech. By the early hours of morning, as the clouds sent a light drizzle to acknowledge the awakening, independent India was all set to transform a colonial society into a liberal polity. Travel in India is a mixed experience that will have you going through a gamut of emotions. The people, the attitudes, the roads, the bottlenecks, the poverty, the generosity, the sences will have you smiling in delight, mulling in thought and sighing in exasperation from one minute to the other! In the the bargain what you will get is a Kaleidoscopic display of breathtaking locales, fantastic architecture, exciting and exotic wildlife, magnificent beauty of the Himalayas, and unending friendliness and hospitality of the welcoming people. The Indian sub-continent can be picturised as a rough triangle, with the top formed by the mighty Himalayan mountain chain. Here you will find the intriguing Tibet influenced region of Leh and Ladakh and the amazingly beautiful mountainous areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab in the North West, past the capital city of Delhi and important tourist attractions like Agra ( Taj Mahal ), Khajuraho, Varanasi and the holy Ganges, to the Northern end of the Bay of Bengal, where you will find the teeming city of Kolkata ( Calcutta ), which seems to sum up all of India's problem.

The spirit of India has thus fascinated the world with its very mystique. A subcontinent with a 5000-year old history. A civilization united by its diversity - India has always been known as a land where history echoes itself with all its wonders in every piece of stone and every particle of dust. About the culture of India, every state has its own language with various dialects, its own unique cuisine that is distinctly different from that of the other states, art and craft, special fairs and festivals, teeming bazaars and customs that are peculiar to them. All in all, travel in India is a spectrum of experiences and activities that you can choose from. From having an idyllic holiday lying under the sun on the unmatchable beaches of Goa, to undertaking a harsh yet very romantic camel safari in the deserts of Rajasthan, treeking through the wild forests of Assam or visiting the splendid royal forts and palaces, India is a "total experience" tourist destination that is sure to leave an indelible impression on your thoughts. And with us, you can be sure that you will be treated to the very best of its colorful experiences, redoubtable sites and fascinating ways of life! The majority of the inhabitants of India are Hindus, their festivals dominate the calendar. The most colorful of all the festival is Deepawali or Diwali as it is commonly known, the festival of lights. The central figure in the Indian epic, Ramayana, is Rama who went into exile for fourteen years at his father's behest, accompanied by his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman. During their wanderings in the forests, Ravana, the king of Lanka, carried Sita away. It was only after an epic battle that Rama vanquished Ravana, rescued Sita and returned home to his kingdom of Ayodhya. The journey from Lanka in the south to Ayodhya in the north took twenty days. His triumphal return to Ayodhya brought great joy to his people who illuminated the whole city to celebrate the occasion. This joy and this illumination continues to this day as houses and cities throughout the India are lit up (traditionally with small earthenware cups or diyas filled with oil) to commemorate the anniversary.