This guide tells you the basic facts you need to know about India, and explains how to visit India in the most enjoyable manner for you.

India is one of the world’s most varied travel experiences. Its geography ranges from snow-capped mountains, to idyllic beaches, to bustling cities. Its culture ranges from the glitz of Bollywood to the peaceful spirituality of ancient temples, and from the high-tech face of the world’s largest software industry to rural villages where life has seemingly changed little in hundreds of years.

India is the world’s seventh largest country, and is more than a third the size of the United States. It has the world’s second largest population after China, estimated to be over 1.15 billion people. It is also home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and by 2,500 BC there were already large cities in places such as Lothal.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html

Although India is so large that the climate in the far north has little in common with that of the extreme south, the general pattern for much of the country is that there are three seasons – the hot, the wet and the cool. Even the cool period from November to mid-February will seem like summer to visitors from a temperate climate, and this is the best time to visit much of the country. However it is also high season, and air fares and hotel rates will be at their peak during this period.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india

The Indian currency is the Rupee (rs), and it is divided into 100 paisa (p), but low value paisa coins are now becoming rare. The rupee is generally a stable currency, and at the time of writing rates are approximately 45-50 rupees to the US dollar.

It is essential to get a visa before visiting India, and these can be obtained from Indian missions and embassies all over the world. The regular tourist visa is ample for most needs, and currently costs $60 in the US and £30 in the UK. People of Indian heritage who are likely to visit India regularly can also obtain various special long-term visas.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india

Before visiting you should also check the current health advice, as you may need vaccinations from your physician. While vaccinations can be given in one large shot, it is often preferred to spread them out over a period of weeks, so if possible allow plenty of time for that.

The first step in planning any trip is to decide which places you want to visit. As India is so large and varied there are many different possibilities. A selection of India’s highlights are listed below.

Mumbai / Bombay

India’s largest city, Mumbai is the business capital and also the heart of the Indian movie industry, known as Bollywood. If you’ve seen the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire, you have a sense of this colorful, fast-paced, vibrant city of great contrasts.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/mumbai-bombay

Mumbai is also known by its former name, Bombay.

Goa

In contrast to Mumbai, the tropical beaches of Goa are slow-paced and ideal for chilling out. Over 2 million yearly visitors to this area mean that this part of India is well-developed and has many familiar Western style facilities.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/goa

Agra

Agra is home to the Taj Mahal, one of the greatest monuments in the world. It was built in 1631-48 by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife, and is therefore often considered one of the most romantic of buildings.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/uttar-pradesh/agrahttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252

Kanha National Park

The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the best place to see tigers in the wild. As well as tigers, the park is home to many other animals including leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, spotted deer and over 200 bird species.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/madhya-pradesh-and-chhattisgarh/kanha-national-park

India is easy to enter by land or air. Visitors from Europe or North America will usually fly to India, unless perhaps they are taking a wider tour of Asia and are already in a neighboring country. As mentioned earlier, it is vital to have a valid visa before traveling.

India has four major international gateway airports at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. It is worth knowing Mumbai was formerly known as Bombay, Kolkata as Calcutta and Chennai as Madras. Many other international airports also exist, for example in Bengaluru – also known as Bangalore – and Ahmedabad.

Air fares naturally vary greatly depending on the point of origin, the time of year and other factors. But from the US East Coast fares might be in the region of $1100.

Within India itself there are many options for getting around. Self-drive is not recommended however as the traffic conditions are difficult to cope with for those not used to them. Hiring a car with a driver is inexpensive however, and is often the option chosen by knowledgeable visitors.

For longer distance trips there are internal airlines, railways and buses. In cities the adventurous may wish to try the autorickshaw.

It is also possible to take organized tours, which will save you the difficulties of making your own transportation arrangements.

As a large and diverse country, India also has a wide variety of types of accommodation and eating experiences to offer. Accommodation can vary from basic backpacker hostels to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Accordingly it is possible to find places to stay to suit most budgets.

At the low end, backpackers may be able to manage on as little as $20-$30 a day, but for most visitors looking for comfortable hotels, pleasant dining and preferring to use taxis rather than public transport, a figure of $40-65 is more realistic.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/practical-information/money-costs

For those looking for more unique experiences, India also offers the opportunity to stay in the palaces and hunting lodges of kings, known in India as Maharajahs. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/india/3475020002.html

Indian food is now well known around the world. In India itself, the cuisines are far more varied than those represented in restaurants in the West. Moreover the eating opportunities range from fine restaurants to roadside stalls, and everything in between. India’s largest cities are also increasingly cosmopolitan, so in many places you will easily be able to find familiar Western and international foods. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/india/3475020002.html

One thing that is worth noting is that India has the largest proportion of vegetarians of any country in the world. There are many purely vegetarian restaurants, and almost all establishments will have a wide selection of vegetarian dishes available.