Archeologists have traced the origins of the people of India back to the Indus Valley Civilizations. The first agricultural settlements date back to 7000 BC, though people had been living in the area since 250,000 BC. This urbanized northern Indian society persisted for over 5000 years.

The Vedic Age arose when Aryans from central Asia moved into the Indus region about 1500 BC. From this society arose the Sanskrit prayers of the Rig Veda as well as the epic war story of the Mahabharata. Early nature worship was replaced later by more complex gods and the philosophies that led to the caste system by which society was ordered.

Buddhism and Jainism came next during the 6th century BC. Their philosophies of nonviolence and equality attracted many people away from the rigid structure of the Vedic religion, and several rulers become followers of the new faiths in the centuries that followed.

Meanwhile, the southern part of the subcontinent saw the rise and fall of many civilizations that grew rich from exporting their exotic goods to Rome. Until the arrival of the Muslims, India consisted of large kingdoms ruled by a dizzying number of dynasties, each leaving behind ornate temples and palaces that still speak today of both their technological advancement and their artistic and spiritual refinement.

Starting around the 11th century, political troubles throughout central Asia, combined with rumors of India’s many riches, added up to invasions by Muslim Turkic armies. Despite their best attempts, rulers of the new Islamic dynasties that were created as a result were unable to hold together their vast territories, so new kingdoms continued to spring up and the north and south were never successfully united. One lasting change that did result from the invasion was the Islamic faith that spread throughout the country and is still very visible today.

It was not until 1526 that one ruling family was able to get hold of a large part of India—and keep it. It was in this year that the Mughal dynasty began when an outsiders from central Asia marched into India and set the stage for a reign of over 200 years, slowly annexing more and more of the country under its rule. As can be imagined, a lot happened during those two centuries. Because of the relative political peace during the era, and the fact that the Mughals were patrons of the arts, India underwent a period of prolific cultural development. Beautiful architecture, literature and decorative arts of all kinds flourished under the Mughals as Islamic and Hindu traditions intermixed.

The decline of the Mughal dynasty in the 18th century allowed competing politicians to create independent kingdoms, but the development of these new nation states was halted by the arrival of the British. Europeans had been coming to India to trade (and take a bit of land where they could) since the 16th century, but by the 19th century the British had won out over the Portuguese, Dutch and French, leaving them only small enclaves that still exist (culturally if not politically).

Over the years the British acquired more and more territory until much of the country was under the rule of its East India Company. With the birth of the Industrial Revolution, the plentiful raw materials found in India were sent to English factories, but only the English benefited. The first major rebellion against British rule came in 1857 but was quickly put down. After the rebellion, control of India was taken from the East India Company and the Raj, or British colonial rule, began.

Calls for independence continued, heightened by the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885. The fight for civil rights and liberty was taken up by many, most famously Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, whose campaign of non-violence rallied the nation. After World War II, England did not have the resources to enforce its rule, and India gained its independence in 1947. At that time the colony was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan, an independent state created for India’s Muslim population. This created chaos as mass migrations divided the countries along religious as well as geographical lines. The creation of Pakistan also stirred conflict over which nation should control the shared Kashmir area, a struggle that continues to this day.

Post-independence governments focused on establishing a democracy and modernizing the country. Political conflicts did arise over the years, one of which led to the creation of a third nation, Bangladesh, from what was East Pakistan. But India continues to work to improve its situation. The technological revolution has played an especially big role in shaping modern India. Literacy, poverty and civil rights are all improving under economic and social reforms and the country remains a vibrant and lovely place filled with the riches of the past as well as of the future.

India was a cultural and religious melting pot long before global colonization in the modern era led to the creation of the term. The fertile valleys of the subcontinent have attracted countless people over the centuries, making Indian society very good at absorbing outside influences into local culture. It is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Christianity arrived approximately 2,000 years ago, and today India has the third largest Muslim population in the world. Smaller sects like the Zoroastrians settled in India to escape persecution in their homelands.

The majority of the population is Hindu, but even within the common faith exist countless variations as each region has its own calendar of celebrations and local deities found nowhere else. Historically, this open attitude about religion has not also been applied to social status. Caste is a system developed by early Aryan settlers by which society was very strictly ordered, with priests at the top, followed by rulers, warriors, farmers, and so on down the line. Though illegal now, its presence still works its way into the social order of the country after being ingrained for thousands of years.

The country is also very diverse linguistically. Though Hindi is the most common language, there exist 17 regional languages and hundreds of dialects, most of which are derived from Sanskrit. Hindustani, the language common in north and central India, is a combination of Hindi and the Persian Urdu language, embodying the cultural mixing of the area itself.

English is often used as a common language between different parts of the country. It is the language of the educated upper classes and a necessary language for anyone looking to move up in society; thanks to the end of the caste system and colonial rule, such movement is now possible. Modern India enjoys sports and movies, embraces its political rights, and has an emerging middle class thanks to the IT revolution that is changing lifestyles across the country, creating new jobs and bringing technological advances to even the smallest of villages.

Northern India stretches from the Greater Himalayan Range to the upper parts of the Deccan Plateau. The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers all originate in the Himalayas. Two-thirds of the population live in the northern region, mostly in the plains. The Himalayan area is cool all year, and snow-covered in winter, but things heat up in the Gangetic Plains south of the mountains. The north gets more seasonal variety than the tropical south. Spring and fall, though short, are considered the most beautiful.

Southern India consists of a triangular peninsula bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The rest of the Deccan Plateau is flanked by the wooded hills of the Eastern and Western Ghats. High temperatures persist year round and this area is affected by the monsoon season from July to September, though not as much as even hotter and wetter coastal areas. The Western Ghats, Kutch and Rajasthan areas are drier. Most visitors to India go between October and March, avoiding the worst heat and all of the (very) rainy season.

Classical music and dance still thrive in India despite the infiltration of Western culture. What began as religious art forms soon became secular practices when rich emperors started hiring the dancers for public performances. Dance styles vary quite a bit by region but there are two main styles of traditional music—Hindustani in the north and Carnatic in the south. In addition to colorful costumes, dancers around the country paint striking red designs on their hands and feet to draw attention to their subtle movements. Visitors to Mumbai in February can see traditional dances performed alongside other performing arts at the annual Kala Ghoda Festival. The Nishagandhi dance festival in Thiruvanan is another important event that displays a number of classical styles.

Dance and music are not the only traditional art forms in India. Handicrafts made with ancient techniques still do big business in India despite modernization. Brilliantly colored fabrics and gold and silver jewelry are easy to find in the bazaars of every city and town. People for the most part dress in traditional garb, women in saris and men in dhoti-kurta—long shirts worn over a wrap folded into pants.

Literature is also a very important part of Indian culture. The prayers of the Rig Veda are still recited daily, both in and out of church. Two famous epic poems, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, recount military battles, family conflict and heroes’ journeys. They were composed around 500 BC but continue to shape how people think today about religion, emotion, family and morality. The Dussehra is a festival that for 10 days reenacts important scenes from the Ramayana. Though celebrated all over India in September and October, it is especially important in Delhi, where the festivities last an entire month.

Today Bollywood is the giant of the art world in India. Don’t miss a trip to a movie theater for one of the spectacular, epic melodramas filled with music and dance that make Bollywood an international phenomenon.

The sky is the limit when it comes to the food of India. Every region has its own special way of combining exotic spices. The large Hindu population means that vegetarian cuisine has been raised to an art form, but high quality lamb and chicken dishes are readily available as well. Though curry is a popular export well known around the world, no two curries in India are the same. Cinnamon, cumin, coriander, chili, mint, saffron, cardamom and more spill out of markets and onto your plate. Different types of flatbread are the main utensil, usually roti or naan. The general rule is that the food gets spicier the farther south you go. Fiery tongues can be cooled with fresh yogurt or sweet mango, the king of Indian fruits. By sampling whatever the specialty is in each place you visit, you will be guaranteed not only a full belly, but a head full of memories taken to sensual new heights.

* It is considered overly forward to use a person’s first name soon after meeting them. Referring to all new acquaintances as Mr., Mrs., Miss, or “Ji” (a general term of respect) will get you on everyone’s good side. 

* Dress conservatively throughout the country—even on the beach. Swimsuits are fine, just not overly revealing ones. 

* Feet are seen as offensive—try not to flaunt them. For example, when asked to sit on the floor, tuck them underneath you to avoid offending your companions. 

* Rules and dress codes for visiting temples can be specific to different locations. In general, cover your head and remove your shoes before you go in, ask before taking photos, and don’t be surprised if men and women are separated inside the temple itself. 

* In restaurants (after you have tucked your feet away), remember never to eat with your left hand. 

* Check for a service charge added to your bill before giving a tip. 10% is normal, but the rules are fluid and left to an individual’s discretion, in restaurants and elsewhere. 

* Avoid dehydration in hotter parts of the country by always bringing lots of water and adding salt to food. And don’t forget the sun block. 

* Anti-malarial tablets are recommended for travelers headed to tropical areas.

* DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: India.

* India Unveiled by Robert Arnett. The third revised edition was published by Altman Press in 2002.

* Tales of Ancient India, translated by J.A.B. van Buitenen, published by the University of Chicago.

* The Royal Palaces of India by George Michell, photographs by Antonio Martinelli. Published by Thames and Hudson in 1999.

* Culture Smart! India: A Quick Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Nicki Grihault (2003).

* India and the Mughal Dynasty by Valerie Berinstain.