The first problem for anyone who wants to visit India is deciding precisely what to see of this amazing nation. India is huge - about two-fifths the size of Australia – and encompasses wildly differing landscapes including glaciers and soaring mountain peaks, sweltering deserts and arid plains, palm-fringed islands, sprawling cities, lush rain valleys and verdant rainforests. It is also home to a sixth of the world's population – a staggering mix of peoples, religions and cultures. It is a country with a fascinating history and some of the most recognised architectural treasures on the planet, such as the Taj Mahal and Lake Palace at Udaipur. So where to begin?

A simple way to plan an India holiday is to pick a theme and organise your trip around it. Many India travel agents divide the country up according to geography and this can be a great way to start. A North India Tour may take you to places like Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur and other Rajasthan jewels, whilst a South India package may include Mumbai, Madras, Maduri, Bangalore and Mysore.

Taking this idea and streamlining it even further, some India package tours focus on visiting just one state, so giving tourists a chance to really experience that one destination fully. Goa, with its beautiful sandy beaches, exotic blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, and gorgeous temples, entices thousands of travellers from both home and abroad each year. Rajasthan is the India of fairy tales with dramatic forts and palaces rising from its deserts whilst the colours, art and vibrancy of cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Amber stay in the memories of visitors for decades after their trip. Kerala is a stunning combination of 3 quite different landscapes; rugged mountains ease into verdant hillsides which roll into the Kerala Backwaters, which is a complex system of lakes, canals and rivers – perfect for a few days on a houseboat or recharging the batteries with some Ayurveda therapy.

Another way to see India is to frame your tour around a leisure activity. India is a wonderful destination for trekking tours and many people go to climb the glorious Himalayas from Kashmir and Ladakh through to Kinnaur and Sikkim, or to trek in the hill stations of Darjeerling, Dharmshala and Shimla.

Other people see an Indian holiday as a chance to explore the more spiritual side of life and for decades people have journeyed to this fascinating country to absorb its many religions, be it in an ashram, a spiritual retreat or simply on the streets of its thriving cities. Another hugely popular activity is spending time at an Indian health retreat. Many India tour operators offer Ayurveda packages where you can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments, often combined with yoga and meditation sessions.

India has an extensive and reliable train service and one of the best ways to see it is to use the railway system to travel the length and breadth of the land, stopping off anywhere that appeals to you along the way. Indian train tours can be arranged through specialist travel agents, many of whom will tailor itineraries to specific needs, or planned via the Internet from the comfort of your home, if you wish to travel independently.

In the following pages we will give some suggestions of places that you may like to go and things that you may wish to see on this enthralling country.