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"India with all her infinite charm and variety began to grow upon me more and more, and yet, the more I saw of her, the more I realized how very difficult it was for me to grasp the ideas she had embodied. It was not her wide spaces that eluded me, or even her diversity, but some depth of soul which I could not fathom."

India's history goes back at least five thousand years, making it one of the oldest cultures in the world. Its chequered fortunes are reflected in the infinite variety of its monuments - forts, palaces, temples and mausolea.

The north eastern region of India is a true frontier region. It shares its border with China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh and is connected to the rest of India by a 20 km wide 'chicken neck' corridor of land. This beautiful area of rolling forested hills and lush green lowlands has its head amongst the snow capped peaks of the eastern Himalayas, with its feet touching the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Ranging from the cold desert of Ladakh and the green valleys of Himachal to the rain forests of the North East - the terrain is ideal for trekking, mountaineering and white water rafting. Horse and camel safaris transport travelers back in time to the magnificent palaces and forts in the desert regions of Rajasthan. Extensive sun-drenched beaches provide a marvellous escape from the mundane and Wildlife Sanctuaries afford opportunities to see varieties of Indian flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

The Indian tradition of hospitality together with the variety of Destinations and a well developed tourist infrastructure make India an ideal venue for holidays, business meetings and conventions.

India's glory does not merely rest on its past achievements. Here is a list of firsts in the various fields of independent India.

On the midnight of August 14, 1947, India became an independent nation, forging ahead towards a great future with dreams, hopes and aspirations.

Indians - young and old - have done the country proud with their talents and achievements. Here are some of the best, the bravest and the most talented of Indians and their achievements.

In the last decade, India has emerged as a global leader in Information Technology (IT). Currently, India produces around 68,000 professionals every year. The world is increasingly looking towards India for fulfilling its IT requirements.

Global presence:

Software industry growth and usage:

Seasons to Visit: India has such a wide range of climatic factors that it's impossible to pin down the best time to visit weather-wise with any certainty, though broadly speaking October to March tend to be the most pleasant months over much of the country. In the far south, the monsoonal weather pattern tends to make January to September more pleasant, while Sikkim and the areas of north-eastern India tend to be more palatable between March and August, and Kashmir and the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh are at their most accessible between May and September. The deserts of Rajasthan and the north-western Indian Himalayan region are at their best during the monsoon. The trekking season in the Indian Himalayas, runs roughly from April to November, though this varies widely depending on the trek, altitude and region. The ski season is between January and March.

Entry Requirements: Citizens of all countries, except Nepal and Bhutan require a valid national passport or valid travel documents and a valid visa granted by Indian Missions abroad for entering India. Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens need no passport or visa but should carry suitable documents for their identification when proceeding from their respective countries.

Dress: Travel as light as possible. Clothing and laundry are both quite inexpensive. Women should dress conservatively. Avoid tank tops or short skirts / shorts. The best outfit, especially during the hot summers, is a T-shirt worn with loose cotton trousers. These are comfortable, cool and easily washable. You can purchase them anywhere in India, at very reasonable rates, at any of the street shops. If you are adventurous, wear the Indian 'salwar-kameez'. It is comfortable and free sized, and you will be amazed at the change of attitude among the shopkeepers, pedestrians and taxicab drivers!

Do not forget to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship or mausoleum.

Food / Restaurants: Restaurants in India offer a variety of cuisines such as Continental and Chinese. Eat non-vegetarian food only in good restaurants. Vegetarian food is easily available, cheap, and of excellent quality. Curd or yoghurt is served with most meals. It is a natural aid to digestion and helps temper the spicy food. Of course Indian, Mughlai and Tandoori food are the speciality, with the time honoured ritual of hand pounding, grinding and marinating over special fires, this cuisine provides more than a meal, it opens a new avenue of experience; a journey into the Mughal past facilitated by culinary expertise. When ordering an Indian meal visitors should request dishes to be mildly spiced depending on their preference. Though the towns and cities are full of restaurants, some of the best restaurants are located in the five star hotels. Most restaurants are open for lunch from 12.00-15.00 and for dinner from 19.00-24.00.

Shopping: India is a shopper's paradise. The visitor can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia. The main industries - silks, cottons, and wool - rank among the best in the world. India has one of the world's largest carpet industries. Clothes are cheap to buy, and tailor-made in some shops, usually very quickly. Jewellery is traditionally heavy and stunningly elaborate. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems can be bought and mounted. Handicrafts include fine bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), cane work and pottery. Specialities include papier-mache, marble and alabaster inlay work, Indian leather sandals and slippers, sandalwood, walnut and rosewood carvings. Good buys are foods such as pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.

Transportation: About 97% of foreign visitors to India come by air. Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi are the major entry points. Others enter through Chennai (Madras), Calcutta and Bangalore. There are also a few other small international airports providing international flights, but the frequency is fairly limited. Among these are Varanasi and Patna (from Nepal), Hyderabad and Trivandrum, Cochin, Calicut and Goa (Charters from Europe). The four main international airports are served by over 50 international airlines.

Health risks: Cholera, malaria, hepatitis, meningitis (trekking areas only) and typhoid.

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