India is different! Sights, sounds, smells, numbers... the sheer multiplicity of experience is a virtual assault on your senses. India is an intriguing country. It is an ancient land, with great cultural richness and a fascinating history. Both ancient and modern India coexist. Outsiders feel they are barely penetrating the surface, but even among Indians there are few experiences every person shares. The country and cultures within it are too diverse. India is many things to many people, and no one can claim to define its whole essence.

To some coming to India is a culture shock - to some it's like coming home. Nothing here is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms. India is a litmus test for many travelers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.

The country's glorious diversity includes a vide variety of sacred sites. There are immaculate Jain temples to Buddhist stupas. Here you will find a bit of history in every corner. Monuments, battle-scarred forts, abandoned cities and ancient ruins all having tales to tell are present in countless numbers. India has beautiful beaches, quiet deserts and grand mountains (The Himalayas) to impress the choosiest of travelers.
India is a delight for tourists interested in history and culture. Go for a conducted tour if your stay in a city is short. Most hotels, big and small, have arrangements with local tour operators. Use such arrangements. Carry enough bottled drinking water with you at the start your tour.
If your stay within a city is long, get a car with a driver from a rental firm and let him take you around at your pace. You can also strike a deal with a taxi driver for a day-long tour of the place you are in, but ask your hotel to get you a taxi driver they know and trust. Invite your driver to join you for the meals you have in the course of the tour. Tip him at the end of the tour.