India's population is close to 1.1 billion. It is the second most populous country in the world (after China). India's land area is 1.3 million square miles (half of Australia; one-third of the US.
Stone Age rock paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of humans in India. The first permanent settlements appear to be 9,000 years old and made the Indus Valley Civilisation. In 1857, most of India came under the control of the British Empire. The struggle for independence was led by Mahatma Gandhi, regarded universally as the father of modern India. India gained full independence from British rule in 1947.
The main religions in India are Hinduism (80%) and Islam (13%).
The north of India is made up of the Himalayan Range. The center and east of India is the vast Indo-Gangetic plain. In the west of India, lies the Thar Desert. The south of India is almost completely the Deccan plateau. On that plateau' sides, there are two small mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. India gets most of its rains through the monsoons.
India has three distinct seasons:
Summer - from March to June
Rainy - from June to October
Winter - from November to March
India receives about three million visitors per year. Tourism is an important but under-developed source of national income.
There are many good reasons to travel to India. India has a rich cultural heritage, and has preserved its traditions throughout the centuries. See the Taj Mahal, but also holy cities like Amritsar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Hrishikesh, colorful Hindu temples. Major cities to travel to are New Delhi (capital), Agra (Taj Mahal), Bombay (a.k.a Mumbai - financial capital, film industry), Chennai (a.k.a. Madras - temples), Mysore (Royal Palace).
Indian Cuisine is superb. The rich, mughal style of cooking of the North is different from the spicy fish curries of the South. In India eating with your hands is very common. Use only your right hand. Don't put your hand into serving dishes: use the left hand to serve yourself with utensils.
India also offers travel opportunities for the nature lover. Travel to thick forests and tropical jungle and spot tiger, leopard, deer, elephant, monkey and other mammals in the wild. Lodges and resorts in wildlife sanctuaries offer mammal and bird watching in Corbett National Park, Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park etc.
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India's population is close to 1.1 billion. It is the second most populous country in the world (after 
The main religions in India are Hinduism (80%) and Islam (13%).
India also offers travel opportunities for the nature lover. Travel to thick forests and tropical jungle and spot tiger, leopard, deer, elephant, monkey and other mammals in the wild. Lodges and resorts in wildlife sanctuaries offer mammal and bird watching in Corbett National Park, Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park etc.