India is a highly diverse country with over 1 billion people spread across 29 states who speak over 30 languages and follow over 15 religions. It experiences diversity in climate as well, ranging from tropical weather in the south to cooler temperatures in the north. While October to March is generally the most pleasant time to visit overall, specific regions have their own ideal seasons. India places great value on family and respect for elders and guests. Religious and social customs vary significantly between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jains regarding foods and practices. Visitors can expect warm and welcoming people alongside potential challenges from infrastructure and poverty.

1. Welcome !

2. Reality of India

3. India at a glance

4. A land of Contrasts

5. Diversity in India
India experiences diversity at
various levels due to religious
as well as regional
differences.
India has 1,173,108,018
people spread over 29 states,
over 30 languages and
dialects, over 15 religions,
several festivals, cuisines,
dressing styles, rites, rituals,
and superstitions.

6. Climate
• India has such a wide range of climatic factors that it's impossible to pin
down the best time to visit weather-wise.
• Broadly speaking October to March tends to be the most pleasant
months over much of the country.
• In the far south, the monsoonal weather pattern tends to make January
to September more pleasant, while areas of northeastern India tend to be
more palatable between March and August, and the mountainous regions
of Himachal Pradesh are at their most accessible between May and
September.
• The trekking season in the Himalaya runs roughly from April to November
• The ski season is between January and March.

7. National Insignia
The Indian National Flag: The saffron color in the flag stands for
courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for
purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility.
National Emblem: The motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed
below the emblem in Devanagari script means ‘Truth Alone
Triumphs’.
The National Game: Hockey is the National Game of India.
The Game of Cricket – A Religion in India . A phenomenon that
unites the nation .
National Flower - In India, the sacred lotus is legendary and much
folklore and religious mythology is woven around it.

8. India: Values and Attitudes
Family: Indians recognize a wide variety of relatives as immediate family, and it is
common for different generations of the same family to live in a property together
Relationships: Expect people to ask you a lot of personal questions: Indians are
emotional, and they appreciate seeing the human side of the people they deal with.
Guest is God: Indians show great politeness and consideration to guests, and they
extend this courtesy to foreigners.
Religious and Social Outlook: Indians are devout and belong to a variety of different
religions with different religious preferences.
• Hindus eat no beef and venerate the cow.
• Muslims will not touch pork or ham.
• Sikh men wear long hair under turban and many carry a ceremonial knife.
• Followers of Jain eat no root vegetables, such as onions, garlic and potatoes.
• Most Indians follow a mainly vegetarian diet with meat eaten occasionally.
Respect: Indians hold respect for older people, people in authority and the foreigners
hold a special position in Indian society.

9. What you can expect from India
•Warm and welcoming people. Our culture teaches us to treat guests with respect
and love.
•People who are street smart even though they may not hold a college degree
•Opportunities for travel and entertainment are endless.
•People who are culturally or religiously driven.
•A lot of color, liveliness, beautiful places, awe inspiring incidents, a lot of learning,
an opportunity to affect people and create real impact, a unique experience, and
memories to last you a lifetime!

10. What you can not expect from India
•Do not expect everyone to understand English
•India has its unique flavors. You may have to adjust to the food. Do not expect
international dishes to taste authentic.
•When in the country, do not expect strong infrastructure. Our transport system is
made for the masses and may seem uncomfortable
•There maybe transgender individuals and beggars on the road that might bother
you. Their plight is pitiful.
•Civic Amenities such as water and electricity may be dismissed for a couple of
hours a day in some areas.

11. "If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of
living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man
began the dream of existence, it is India!"
French scholar Romaine Rolland
"India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human
speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the
great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most
astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India
only!“
Mark Twain