India will sideswipe you with its size, clamor and diversity. Nothing in the country is ever quite what you expect, and the only thing to expect is the unexpected which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travelers and some visitors are only too happy to get on an aircraft and fly away, but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then India is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth.

Warning
In light of the escalating dispute over Kashmir and the possibility of war between India and Pakistan, many governments are urging against travel to both countries and advising their citizens who are already there to leave as soon as possible. The US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan and Iran are all warning their nationals to depart from India immediately, including family members of government workers and non-essential embassy staff. Even the United Nations is evacuating the families of its personnel in the region. The warning applies to all of India, not just the Kashmir region. Those who choose to stay despite the warnings are urged to register with their embassy.

The long-running dispute intensified in May after the shelling of an Indian army base in Kashmir killed more than 30 people. Since then, the two sides have been shelling each other and trading gunfire across the border on a daily basis Both sides have threatened more substantial military action, and have massed nearly a million troops at the border. India accuses Pakistan of backing Islamic guerrillas in the region. Pakistan denies the charges, but vows to defend itself from any attack by India.

Full country name: Republic of India
Area: 3,287,590 sq km (1,229,737 sq mi)
Population: 1,014,003,817
Capital city: New Delhi
People: 72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian, 3% other
Language: Hindi
Religion: 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other
Government: Federal Republic
President: Kocheril Raman Narayanan

GDP: US$2.2 trillion
GDP per head: US$2200
Annual growth: 5.4%
Inflation: 5.4%
Major industries: Textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
Major trading partners: US, Hong Kong, UK, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia