It is the land of revered wisdom, it is the land of sheer craziness, you can lose yourself there, you can discover yourself there, it is the spring of hope, it is the winter of despair, you may appreciate the tradition, you may not appreciate the traditional practices – in short, it is magical, it is chaotic, it is mystical, it is modern, it is poverty-stricken, it is filthy rich, it is definitely worth paying a visit. It is India, a nation of more than one billion people. India’s stupefying diversity offers you everything you could ever crave for in a holiday. From the moment that you set foot in India to be greeted by a graceful ‘Namaste’, a gesture that denotes both welcome and respect, you are on the way to one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

Bounded by the awe-inspiring Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by a spectacular coastline surrounded by two seas and an ocean, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of picturesque landscapes, truly exquisite historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, misty mountain retreats, colourful people, rich cultures and ceremonious festivities.

Be it in the blistering summer or coldish winter India always has an enchanting array of destinations and experiences in store for you. There are tranquil retreats amidst the intoxicating beauty of the Himalayas, there are succulent heights of the Western Ghats with cool trekking trails, there are towering peaks to conquer, there are stretches of white water for adventure seekers – pick your choice in the scorching heat of the subcontinent. Cities come to life with cultural feasts of music and dance in the pleasant winter. The balmy weather is an ideal time for you to roll back the clock in romantic cities studded with medieval forts and palaces. The sun drenched beaches are absolutely captivating and wildlife sanctuaries with their abundance of flora and fauna are simply a buzz with the nurture of the young. Tasting the delights of the Indian monsoon is something every tourist dreams of.

A camel safari in the Thar desert in Rajasthan and the pleasure of witnessing a peacock’s dance, trekking amid the stark grandeur of mountain valleys lying in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, travelling along the west coast where the tireless slanting rain paints the countryside in dazzling green are just a few ways of experiencing Indian monsoon.

The ravishing Taj Mahal, opulent ambiance of royal forts and palaces which are now heritage hotels, serene allure of a coral island with its turquoise lagoon, ardor of a village fair or a colourful festival, daydreaming on a houseboat drifting down the palm-fringed backwaters, delight in the gracious presence of a dancer are bound to captivate you by their overwhelming charm and lure. Buying exquisite silks, carved figurines, brass and silver ware, marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, finely crafted jewellery, miniature paintings, carpets at unbelievable prices is an added bonus. If you are one of those food lovers, you have got a multitude of gastronomic delights to choose from. Spicy, mild, vegetarian, non-vegetarian – you name it, India caters for all types of gastro-tourists.

India, always warm and inviting, is a place of infinite variety - one that favours you with a different facet of its fascination every time you come on a visit. They say, ‘Variety is the spice of life.’ So if you are interested in spicing up your life, come to the land of spices.