In a country where religion is such an important part of daily life, one can be blown away by the size, diversity, and what often seems to be sheer chaos in the country's cities. With the mass number of people and the crowded streets, it is often surprising for visitors to see that amidst the bustle there are still signs of India's long-standing culture, such as countless number of cows wandering the streets amongst the speeding traffic and holy men sit along the curbside.

Culture
Religion seeps into every facet of Indian life. Despite being a secular democracy, India is one of the few countries on earth in which the social and religious structures that define the nation's identity remain intact, and has continued to do so for at least 4000 years despite invasions, persecution, European colonialism and political upheaval. Change is inevitably taking place as modern technology reaches further and further into the fabric of society but essentially rural India remains much the same as it has for thousands of years.

India's major religion, Hinduism, is practiced by approximately 80% of the population. In terms of the number of adherents, it's the largest religion in Asia and one of the world's oldest extant faiths. Buddhism was founded in northern India in about 500 BC, spread rapidly when emperor Ashoka embraced it but was gradually reabsorbed into Hinduism. Today Hindus regard the Buddha as another incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. There are now only 6.6 million Buddhists in India. The Jain religion also began life as an attempt to reform Brahminical Hinduism. It emerged at the same time as Buddhism, and for many of the same reasons. The Jains now number only about 4.5 million and are found predominantly in the west and southwest of India.

There are more than 100 million Muslims in India, making it one of the largest Muslim nations on earth. Islam is the dominant religion in the neighboring countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and there is a Muslim majority in Jammu & Kashmir. Muslim influence in India is particularly strong in the fields of architecture, art and food.

Indian art is basically religious in its themes and developments, and its appreciation requires at least some background knowledge of the country's faiths. The highlights include classical Indian dance, Hindu temple architecture and sculpture (where one begins and the other ends is often hard to define), the military and urban architecture of the Mughals, miniature painting, and mesmeric Indian music.

History
An Aryan invasion about 1500 B.C. was the first trace of civilization in India. The merger of the Aryan tribes with other early inhabitants created the classical Indian culture that is still found today. By the end of the 5th century Asiatic tribes established control over northern India, which was held together by Hinduism. On the other hand, the Southern portion of India had its own dynasties and maritime trade relations. This separation of the north and the south in the early years of the country's development explains the marked difference between North and South that is prevalent even today.

Due to Arab excursions and European traders, the cultural landscape of India became very eclectic. By the late 19th century the British assumed control of the majority of India and in 1876 Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India. For the first time a single authority ruled over India, which at that time included Pakistan and Bangladesh. Due to the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, 1947 proved to be the year of independence for India.

Attractions
Delhi
Your first impression of Delhi is unlikely to be a good one, particularly if it's also your first impression of India. You'll most likely notice the pollution, the crowds, the smell, the noise and the ceaseless hassles long before you notice the city's charms. But it's worth persevering as the history of this city is fascinating, and it's all around you: the bazaars of Paharganj are a wonderful introduction to India's backpacker trail; the city's monuments are among the most architecturally striking in the country; and the food here is great.

Mumbai
Mumbai is the glamour of Bollywood cinema, cricket on the Maidans on weekends, bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty and red double-decker buses. It is also the infamous cages of the red-light district, Asia's largest slums, communalist politics and powerful mafia dons. This tug of war for the city's soul is played out against a Victorian townscape more reminiscent of a prosperous 19th century English industrial city than anything you'd expect to find on the edge of the Arabian Sea.

Kolkata
The capital of West Bengal sprawls shapelessly along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. Once the glorious capital of British India, its urban horror story of squalor and starvation only began with Partition and a resulting massive influx of refugees. This plucky city, however, is keen to promote itself as the 'City of Joy' and, given half a chance, it reveals itself to be one of the country's most fascinating and congenial cities, the intellectual capital of the nation, and a thriving political and arts arena.

Agrahe
Taj Mahal, described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, has become the de facto tourist emblem of India. Emperor Shah Jahan constructed this poignant Moghul mausoleum in memory of his second wife Mumtaz Mahal, whose death in childbirth in 1631 left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned gray overnight.

Varanasi
For over 2000 years, Varanasi, the 'eternal city', has been the religious capital of India. The easternmost city in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is an important seat of learning, and is the home of novelists, philosophers and grammarians.