Indian Sarus Crane
males can attain
a maximum height
of approximately
6.6 ft, with a
wingspan of 8.5 ft,
making them the
world's tallest living
flying bird







The Indian Cobra is
one of the most
venomous snakes
in the world







In India, the most
common role of
a donkey is for
transport, whether
riding, pack transport,
or pulling carts







The Brahman cow has
a distinct large hump
over the top of the
shoulder and neck,
and a loose flap of
skin hanging from the
neck. Their ears are
large and floppy. They
weigh about 1000 to
1400 pounds







Situated at an
altitude of 6,358 feet
above sea level,
Nainital, is set in a
valley containing
a pear-shaped lake,
and surrounded
by mountains







The Golden Temple
was contructed
to build a place of
worship for men and
women from all walks
of life and all religions to
come and worship
God equally


More things to know



Do's and Don'ts in India:
Visiting India is an eye-opening experience. The Indian culture can be mysterious and delightful. As a guest in the country, you may not want to unintentionally offend your hosts. Here are some guidelines you may want to follow:

Appropriate Attire – In India, your attire will often signal your status, and casual dress will make it more difficult for you to elicit respect. Women should wear loose, cool clothing that covers up as much as possible. Exposed flesh suggests that you're too poor to dress properly, or that you're shameless about flaunting your body. Tight clothes are also considered shameless; the more you can disguise your shape, the better. Men should avoid shorts, which are considered bizarre. Women visiting public beaches should be as discreet as possible and avoid sunbathing on empty beaches. In mosques you need to make sure your shoulders are covered – it's worth purchasing a scarf for this and keeping it in your bag at all times –and in Sikh gurudwaras you need to keep your head covered. In certain Hindu temples – particularly in South India – a man may be required to wear a lungi (a long piece of cloth worn like a kilt) and remove his shirt. Always check what others are wearing before venturing in, and approach slowly so that someone can intervene before you offend the sanctity of the holy sanctuary.

Shoes – Shoes are never worn in places of worship – you are even required to remove your shoes when entering certain churches. It makes good sense to wear a pair of comfortable, cool, and cheap sandals, like flip-flops – they're easy to remove and unlikely to be stolen; leaving a pair of expensive shoes outside a temple or mosque is not a good idea. Some museums and historical monuments may also require you to remove your shoes, and you should extend a similar courtesy when entering someone's home. In Sikh gurudwaras you are expected to wash your feet after removing your shoes.

Touching –Public physical contact between men and women is far less acceptable in India than in other parts of the world. Some Indians – particularly those who live in the larger cities and have traveled –understand that Western men and women may shake hands (or even kiss) as expressions of social friendship, but you should be cautious of casually touching an Indian woman in small towns and villages. Even the slightest touch can have a sexual connotation. Remember that it is not unusual to encounter someone who has never seen a foreign face; attempting to shake hands with such a person may prove overwhelming. Traditionally, Indian people use the left hand as part of their toilet routine. Consequently, the left hand is considered unclean, and you should only offer your right hand when greeting someone. Don't touch a religious object with your feet or left hand.

Avoiding Offense – Indians love to discuss all manner of subjects, and more educated individuals will readily get into a wonderfully heated debate – which may be one of your most memorable moments in India. Do exercise discretion, however, when trying to understand the enigma of India's overwhelming poverty and the caste system. Don't harshly judge or criticize things you don't understand fully; Indians can be quite passionate about their nation and will defend it unequivocally. Words are seldom enough to offend an Indian, but avoid strong swear words in the context of an argument or insult. And always be considerate and humble when entering a place of worship.

Eating & Drinking – When eating at someone's home, remember that it is not unusual for the woman to cook and spend the entire evening serving. Don't interfere with this custom, and don't try to lend a hand by venturing into the kitchen – especially if you're a man. Foreign women will generally be treated as "honorary men" and should dine at the table unless an alternative suggestion is made. Use only your right hand when eating (unless knives and forks are used), and follow the lead of your host when you're unsure. Don't be afraid to ask about the food, but you must be quite firm about not drinking water (unless it's bottled) and being mindful of salads and cut fruit. Consider bringing your own bottled water with you.

Eating Etiquette – Eating with your hands: Indians generally eat with their hands, and although very few do so in five-star Westernized restaurants, the majority will in most other places. Even the simplest restaurant will be able to provide a spoon as cutlery, but if you really want to experience your meal in an authentic manner, follow suit. Note that you should ideally only use your right hand (though in places where tourists go, people are unlikely to be offended if you use your left). In the North, where the food is "drier," you are traditionally not supposed to dirty more than the first two digits of your hand. In the South, where the food is much "wetter," you may use the whole hand to eat.

Sharing your food:  It is typically Indian to share food or drinks, even if you don't really want to. Sharing food at a restaurant is an Indian norm; menus are set up to cater to this style of dining. So, for example, if two or more of you go to a Mughlai restaurant, you would order perhaps two kinds of kebabs, two kinds of meat/vegetable entrees, one rice, and several breads (rotis). It's a good way to try a range of items.

The hygiene of jootha – While sharing is good manners, jootha is considered offensive in many parts. This refers to drinking from the same glass, eating with the same spoon, taking a bite out of someone's sandwich, or "double dipping." To share a bread or snack, break off a piece; when sharing a bottle of water, don't put your mouth to it but tilt your head back and pour. Although there are no definite rules about what is permissible or not, just make sure that you use common courtesy when sharing a meal with others.

Mind Your Temper – When confronted with bureaucracy and IST (Indian "Stretchable" Time), maintain your cool. Schedules are bound to go awry and government offices are notoriously inefficient, so there's simply no point in losing your temper. You'd be well advised to adopt a similar attitude with wealthy and "important" Indian men who, as a matter of course, jump the line. Rather than fly into a rage, point out the lack of consideration firmly and earnestly, or better still, just smile and chalk it up to local culture.

Photography –Photography at airports or military installations is strictly forbidden, as it is at all burning ghats (crematorium sites) in Varanasi. Note that carrying a camera to attractions throughout India will add significantly to your entry fee, and you will be expected to pay for camera and video fees.

Language:
Languages spoken in India are different in each state. The national language is Hindi. Most people in bigger cities speak English. Hindi is widely spoken throughout North India, while many of the states are divided linguistically and there are literally hundreds of local dialects. Do not assume that everyone in India understands or speaks English. Also don't feel affronted when you run into locals who seem to smile in acknowledgement, only to reveal much later that they haven't the foggiest notion what you're talking about; they are simply trying to make you feel more at home.

Time:
Despite India's vastness, the entire country operates according to the same time zone which is 10 ½  hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York). There is no daylight savings time.

Voltage:

The electric current is 230 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travelers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit.

Safety and Security:
Travelers should be especially wary when walking in crowded markets, tourist sites and bus or train stations. Pickpockets can be very adept, and women have reported having their bags snatched, purse-straps cut or the bottom of their purses slit without their knowledge.Theft of U.S. passports is quite common, particularly in major tourist areas. Violent crimes against foreigners have traditionally been at relatively low levels; these attacks have mainly been directed at women traveling alone, but men have also been victimized. U.S. citizens, particularly women, are cautioned not to travel alone in India.  U.S. Citizens should avoid crowds in large cities and street demonstrations and maintain a low profile. It is unwise to walk alone at night outside the immediate grounds of city hotels.  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local authorities and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  The pamphlet “A Safe Trip Abroad” provides useful information on personal security while traveling abroad. It is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs  or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

Medical Facilities:
Adequate to excellent medical care is available in the major population centers, but is usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.

Internet Links:
You may find some of the following web sites helpful in your search for more information on the destination, culture, history and general travel information.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1139.html

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/in.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/india

For great information on using telephones and electronics worldwide, as well as many useful links to great travel information sites, go to http://kropla.com/. Particularly helpful is the “Useful Travel Links” section.