India is the only country which is known for its culture and heritage in all over the world. This is the country where thousands of Gods and Goddess are worshipped and above 50 languages are spoken. This country provides several states which consists several cities and every city has its own history and stories. Most of the population of this country is of Hindus.

India is the only country in all over world which is famous for its unique and unmatched heritage, ancient civilization, diverse cultures, different languages and dialects, unmatched palaces, forts, temples, beautiful sandy palm fringed beaches, green lagoons and backwaters, dense jungles and the Great Himalayas. This is the place which offers a perfect destination for every traveler. India is also famous and known for its unique treatment therapy which is called Yoga and Meditation.

Cities and States of India have their own significance in terms of landscapes, magnificent historical sites, culture and past. It is very essential to know about India before landing here for excursion. Trip to India is a pleasurable experience for all people. Trip to India provides its visitors multi options like lofty mountain ranges, beaches, backwaters, beautiful lakes, desert regions, temples, tropical rain forests, fertile plains, coastal areas etc. It is always said that trip to India is always a unique experience for a visitor.


India Historical Background - Boundaries and Physical features

India has rich and diverse natural resources of flora and fauna with different cultures, religions and languages. Yet India is economically a developing country mainly because of the teeming population, illiteracy, lack of infrastructural facilities on several fronts. For over 3,000 years, various outsiders invaded the sub-continent and the resources were ruthlessly exploited. It has a very ancient civilization of which the Indians are very proud of and will not miss an opportunity to express the same. Its civilization dates back to the middle of third millennium B.C. The Indus Valley civilization represented by excavations at Harappa and Mohanjodaro in the Indus Valley suggesting the existence of Dravidian race for about 600 years, may be between 2,500 - 1,900 B.C.

Records show that the first large invasion of the subcontinent was by Aryans who are said to have come from Russian side. By 6000 B.C. they had occupied the whole of North India. Hinduism took its roots during this period. Buddha and Mahavira introduced Buddhism and Jainism in the area. Alexander invaded around 327 B.C. but his occupation was short lived. Emperor Ashoka whose period of rule is always referred to, as the Golden period was around 274 B.C. and Buddhism flourished at that time and he sent religious ambassadors to neighboring countries to propagate Buddhism. Ashoka was also a great nature lover and his fifth edict speaks of wildlife conservation. After his rule, Buddhism declined and Hinduism started spreading and India began breaking into small kingdoms.

Greeks, the Sakas, the Parthans and the Kushans followed to rule the sub-continent. Guptas who ruled in the third century A.D. was the Golden period after Ashoka's when religions, arts, languages, and trade flourished. Their rule was followed by White Huns and Arab legions. By 16th Century the Muslim descendant of Mongol Genghizkhan, ascended to rule. It is said that his relative Tamerlane hunted Rhinoceros in Kashmir. The noteworthy ruler in the Muslim era was Akbar who ruled from 1556 to 1605 A.D. He was succeeded by Jehangir. Then came Shajahan the builder of Taj Mahal at Agra near Delhi in memory of his wife Noorjahan. Taj Mahal known for its architectural splendor apart from its sentimental value is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. His son Aurangazeb (1658-1707 A.D.) was anti Hindu and persecuted Hindus. Persians, Afghans and Marathas took over ruling in succession and among Marathas, Chatrapati Shivaji was powerful who ruled up to 1761. Europeans started landing from this time. First to land were the Portuguese on Malabar Coast followed by Dutch, British, French, the Danes and the Swedes. Christianity made its entry with them. Among these several Europeans, the British established themselves well in the Indian Sub-continent and they ruled India for almost 200 years. This long rule by British established a good civil service along with the development of basic infrastructure by way of roads, railways, etc.

If you want a trip to India then first of all you should know about India. India is divided into five parts which are North India, South India, West India, East India and Central India. All regions put their own significance and importance. It all depends on a visitor that from where he wants to start his trip to India.

If you want to design your trip to India according to your choice then you have lots of options through which you can decide where you want to go.

Adventure	Beaches
Backwaters	Desert
Fairs and Festivals	Forts and Monuments
Hill Stations	Pilgrimage Places
Rural Areas	Wildlife