With over 800 dialects and fifteen key languages, several religions including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism, various genres of art, architecture, literature, music and dance, and lifestyles sweeping from urban and pastoral to tribal, India is characterized by a multifarious culture. For the traveler, this cultural feast is the country's primary draw.

Whether you're after adrenalin-pumping adventure, historical sightings or pristine beaches, scaling a mountainous peak or nightlong clubbing, India is a front-line tourist destination. Geographically speaking, there are few countries where you can go from tropical jungle to rugged mountains in less than 100 miles; the landscaped ranges from southern plains, riverside resorts, and beaches to vast deserts and snow-capped peaks. Bordered in the north by the Himalayan mountain range, the peninsula narrows down to Cape Comorin, its southernmost point. In the west, it is kissed by the Arabian Sea while to the east lies the Bay of Bengal.

Key attractions include the country