India

India is the second most populous country on the planet with over 1.2 billion permanent inhabitants. This has produced a nation with a great wealth divide with as many slums and impoverished areas as there are magnificent palatial compounds. This huge country also has beach and mountain resorts, enormous cities and countless monuments to visit. The most popular cities include the capital New Delhi, the largest city Mumbai and the historical Jaipur, Kolata (Calcutta) and Chennai. Among the historical highlights are the Taj Mahal, the ancient paintings of the Ajanta Caves, and a number of spectacular temples such as the Mahabodhi and Golden temples.

With India being such a huge country the climate varies from region to region and the geography includes the deserts of the west, mountains and glaciers of the north and the tropical rainforests the south west. Generally the country has four distinct seasons with March to May seeing the height of summer, followed by the monsoon season from June to September. The level of accommodation varies throughout the country but the larger cities are home to some superb serviced apartments in India. India also has a number of islands and beach resorts such as Goa, for those who prefer to get away from the big cities and hustle and bustle.