ENTERTAINMENT

For those seeking spiritual sustenance, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites and stirring philosophical epics, while history buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere from grand vestiges of the British Raj serenely peering over swarming spice bazaars, to crumbling fortresses looming high above plunging ravines. Meanwhile, aficionados of the great outdoors can paddle in the shimmering waters of one of many balmy beaches, scout for big jungle cats on a blood-pumping wildlife safari, or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk. And then theres the food! From squidgy South Indian idlis (fermented rice cakes) to zesty north Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savoring a seductive smorgasbord of specialties.

The weather is hot most of the year with variations from region to region. The coolest weather (2025 C /6877 F) lasts from around December to February, with fresh mornings and evenings and mostly sunny days. The really hot weather (50 C /122 F and higher), when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between March and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer anywhere between June and early October.

INDIA

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RELIGION
Religion, caste, and language are major determinants of social and political organization in India today. The government has recognized 18 official languages; Hindi, the national language, is the most widely spoken, although English is a national lingua franca. Although 81% of its people are Hindu, India also is the home of more than 138 million Muslims--one of the world's largest Muslim populations. The population also includes Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis.

HISTORY

INDIA
A LAND FOR ALL SEASONS The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it is bordered by the world's highest mountain chain, where foothill valleys cover the northernmost of the country's 26 states. Further south, plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy deserts are bordered by palm fringed beaches . New Delhi is the capital of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is 42.7 km.

The people of India have had a continuous civilization since 2500 B.C.E., when the inhabitants of the Indus River valley developed an urban culture based on commerce and sustained by agricultural trade. The Harappan Civilization, as it came to be known, declined around 1500 B.C.E., most likely due to ecological changes. Historical Events
August 15, 1947 - India achieves independence and incorporates West Bengal and Assam October 22, 1947-January 1, 1949 Undeclared war with Pakistan; ends with United Nations-arranged ceasefire October 20-November 21, 1962 - Border war with China

Cultural Events
Mamallapuram Dance Festival Bikaner festival Surajkund Fair