India is a grand country. It is the seventh largest country in the world and the second most populated country in the world. Many see India as a sub-continent rather than a country. There exist in different parts of India, different cultures, languages, manners as well as different historical backgrounds and influences of the same historical events.

By area, India is the seventh largest country in the world. It consists of twenty-eight states and seven Union Territories. Area covered by India is 3.3 million sq. kms. Regarding the location of India, it lies in the northern hemisphere. The Indian mainland measures 3214 kms from north to south between extreme latitudes and about 2933 kms from east to west between extreme longitudes. Its land frontier is approximately 15200 kms.

India lies between 8º4' and 37º6' north of the Equator. Surrounding the country is the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south. In the neighborhood of India lie Bangladesh (in east), Pakistan (in west), Nepal (in north-east), China (in north-east) and Sri Lanka (in south). Separating India from Sri Lanka is the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Straits. Also a part of India is the Andaman and Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshwadeep in the Arabian Sea.

About Delhi

“Delhi is the symbol of old India and new? even the stones here whisper to our ears of the ages of long ago and the air we breathe is full of the dust and fragrances of the past, as also of the fresh and piercing winds of the present.
- Jawaharlal Nehru

Delhi is the third largest city in India. Its multi - layered existence is tantalizing, and can entice the curious traveller into a fascinating journey of discovery. Delhi is one of the most historic capitals in the world and two of its monuments- the Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb - have been declared World Heritage Sites. It is also one of the greenest capitals. For the visitor, it serves as a perfect introduction to the cultural wealth, the complexities and dynamism of India.

Delhi, the capital of India, has always occupied a strategic position in the country's histor. Delhi, is today, one of the fastest growing cities of India.

Delhi, besides being the seat of the Central Government, has an economy supported by agriculture, tourism, commerce and a growing industry. With the development of infrastructure facilities, Delhi plays host to a number of national and international events including sports - related events, conferences and seminars.

FAST FACTS

Distance

• New York, USA to Delhi : 7,318.6 miles (11778.2 km)
• Los Angeles, USA to Delhi : 8,790 miles (14,144 km)
• London, UK, to Delhi : 4,242.1miles (6,826.9km)

Name: India, also known as Bharat or Hindustan.

Area: 3.3 million sq. km

Population: 1027 million (as per 2001 Census)

Capital: New Delhi

Religion: India is a secular country where many religions co-exist. The major religions practiced are-

Hindu 80%

Muslim 14%

Christian 2.4%

Sikh 2%

Buddhist 0.7%

Jain 0.5%

Zoroastrian and others 0.4%

Location: Between latitudes 8 ° 4' and 37 ° 6 ' north and longitudes 68 ° 7 ' and 97 ° 25' east.

Coastline length: 7,600 km

Languages: 17 Major languages, 844 dialects. Hindi and English are most popular

Climate: India experiences three major seasons - winters, summers and Monsoon.

States and Union Territories: India has 28 states and 7 Union Territories

Government Democratic form of Government

Prime Minister: Mr. Manmohan Singh.

President: Mr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam

Currency: Rupees

National anthem: Jan Gana Mana, written by Rabindranath Tagore

National emblem: Replica of the Lion Capital of Sarnath

National flag: Horizontal tricolor in equal proportion of deep saffron on the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. In the center of the white band is a wheel in navy blue color.

National animal: Tiger

National bird: Peacock

National flower: Lotus

National tree: Banyan

National fruit: Mango

Time Zone: The Indian time zone, Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5.5 hours (5 hours and 30 minutes) ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Business Hours: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. (Monday to Friday)

Weights and Measures: India uses the Metric system where 100cm=1meter; 1000meters=1km, liquids are measured in liters and solids in kilograms.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50 hertz is the frequency at which electricity is available. If your laptop or phone charger has flat-pin plug then carry a combination plug that will feed into a round-pin socket: across the sub continent plug point sockets are round rather than flat.

Customs & Duties: For those who above 17 years may import the following in without attracting duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, a liter of alcoholic drink, 250 ml perfume, gifts up to a value of Rupees 750 (foreign passport holders), gifts up to a value of Rupees 6000 (Indian passport holders) and articles of personal use.

It is illegal to bring in drugs, gold and silver bullion, plants and coins that have gone out of use.

Diseases and Vaccinations for India Travelers

Vaccinations for Indian Travel:

Malaria

For Malaria, vaccination is recommended for all areas, except for areas at altitudes more than 2,000 m (6,561 ft).

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India.

Typhoid

All travelers are recommended to take Typhoid vaccination.

Polio

In case of Polio, one-time booster is recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult.

Yellow Fever

Vaccination for yellow fever is required only for travelers arriving from or transiting through any yellow-fever-infected area like Africa.

Japanese Encephalitis

This vaccine is recommended for travelers staying for more than 1 month and traveling to rural areas or travelers engaging in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk.

Hepatitis B

Travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents should take this vaccination, especially if their period of stay is more than 6 months.

Rabies

Any traveler who may have direct contact with animals should take this vaccination.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

If any person born after 1956 has not previously taken this vaccination, he/she should take two doses of the same.

Tetanus-Diphtheria

You need to take this revaccination every 10 years.

Major Diseases in India

Diarrhea

The most common ailment of travelers is diarrhea. The main cause of it is unclean food and water. It is advised to carry an antibiotic and an anti diarrhea drug if significant diarrhea occurs. In case of diarrhea, good amount of fluid intake is required. However, if diarrhea gets severe you should immediately call a doctor.

Malaria

Malaria is quite common in India in the summer months. So, make sure to take adequate insect protection measures.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness may occur in travelers ascending altitudes greater than 2500m. This specifically includes the mountain areas of northern India. Those with a history of heart disease, lung disease, or sickle cell disease are advised to avoid high altitudes.

Health Precautions for India

The quality of health services is amongst the best in India in New Delhi which has plenty of good hospitals, 24-hour chemists, highly competent doctors and top of the line medical services. Medicines are fairly cheap in India and chemist shops in Delhi are well stocked but it is always a good idea to take along prescription drugs.

Here are some health precautions for India you should follow if traveling to this country:

• Don’t drink water from tap or roadside vends. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Also, buy water from respectable and decent looking outlets. Check the seal before buying the water to make sure that it is intact.
• Never eat cut fruits sold by the roadside vendors. Always eat fruits you can peel. Wash the fruits properly with water well before eating them.
• It is advisable to keep a mosquito repellent ointment with you always.
• Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need. Especially medicines for upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc. Also, keep some band-aids, antiseptic ointments, etc with you.
• Avoid fountain drinks and ice cubes.
• Avoid eating food from the roadside vends. If, by chance, you are forced to eat from there, make sure that the food is well cooked and is served hot.
• Try to avoid spicy dishes, especially in the initial stages of your travel.
• For the first few days it might be advisable to clean your teeth in bottled water.
• Avoid eating salads, especially at small restaurants and small hotels.
• If you are visiting India in summer time, drink lots of water, cover your head with scarves or caps or hats, wear sunglasses and use sunscreen lotion. Try to stay indoors in the afternoon.
• If you fall very sick, it is better to visit a doctor. However, ask the hotel authorities or the people at whose house you are staying to refer a good doctor to you.
• Always carry sunscreen with minimum SPF 20 to escape sunburn.

Food Precautions for India

The food you eat, how it's cooked, stored and served is very important. Make it a rule to stick to freshly cooked food, made in clean and hygienic place. Here are some food precautions for India that need to be taken by you:

• The safest thing to eat is freshly cooked food. Food left sitting may attract flies and cause major health hazards.
• Always drink only bottled water.
• Salads and cut fresh fruits should be strictly avoided. Eat only unpeeled fruits.
• Avoid fresh fruit juice. If you want to have juice, go in for branded ones being sold in tetra packs.
• If you are a non-vegetarian, buy from decent shops. It is better not to eat from lower end restaurants or station platforms.
• Beef is not served in many parts of India. Pork is also not easily available.
• Never ever eat anything from the roadside vendors. There are high chances of the food being contaminated.

Indian Visa Guidelines

To get a visa for India, you need to submit a number of documents. Following is a list of important documents for Indian visa:

• Visa application form.
• Passport, having a minimum validity of six months on the date of application.
• Two identical passport sized photographs, black and white or colored.
• Supporting documents, depending upon the type of visa. 
• Visa fee.

There are a number of Indian visa types, suitable for different purposes of travel. Given below are the different types of Indian visas:

Tourist Visa:

If you are coming to India on a holiday to explore the country, then, tourist visa is for you.

Business Visa:

For a business related trip, you need to apply for the business visa.

Student Visa:

For study purpose in India is the student visa.

Transit Visa:

It is meant for transit passengers only, to enable them to travel through India to reach the ultimate destination. .

Missionaries Visa:

This visa is for people coming to India to act as missionaries.

Employment Visa:

Meant for skilled professionals or those people who have been appointed by Indian companies, organizations, firms, etc.

Journalist Visa:

Professional journalists and photographers visiting India should apply for the Journalist visa.

Conference Visa:

It is issued for attending conferences/seminars/meetings in India.

Research Visa:

For research purposes, a research visa is issu