Incredible India

The Indian tourism department has adopted “Incredible India” as its slogan for a few years now. I came across an old article ina book published before Independence, and even then, the author seemed to allude to India as Incredible India. Here it is.

There is no region in, all the world so full of vivid colour, of populous cities, of diverse race? and of monuments designed by master architects as India a geographical, cultural, historical and political Mosaic. India calls to everyone — statesman, true lover of nature sportsman, mountaineer or businessman all will find life surging past in a picturesque procession India forms a great triangle stretching out into the Indian Ocean from about the middle of the south coast of Asia. It is divided from Asia on the north by the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. To the north-west, it is separated from Afghanistan and Persia, by the Hindu-kush and other mountain ranges, Its area is more than twenty times that of Great Britain and three-fifths that of the United States.

India is one of the most fertile and thickly populated countries in the world. The population is nearly 400 millions, or about one-fifth of that of the whole world. It is inhabited by different races The people speak many different languages and they are divided into many different castes. Their habits, dress and religions, too, all differ; but they are all under one Government and obey the same laws. Although they speak different languages and each section naturally loves its own language yet the educated classes can all speak English.

The Indian Empire is part of the British Empire. The administration of the Indian Empire in England is under a member of the British Cabinet called the Secretary of State, who has a Council to assist him. The supreme authority in India is the Viceroy-in-Council. The Provincial Governments now number eleven, each with a Governor-in-Council Sind was recently separate ed from Bombay and Orissa from Bihar, Besides, there are 675 Native States in India, each governed by its own ruler.

How to Visit India
Although it is possible to enter through any of the several ports along the coast visitors from Europe and the West prefer to begin their tour in Bombay, which has been rightly called the Gateway of India. Others find Calcutta, Madras or the route via Colombo in the south more convenient.

Season in India
India is a land of sunshine and colour. The best season for a pleasant visit is from November to March, when the days are pleasantly cool. In Bombay from December to February the climate is cool. In Calcutta the cold lasts from December till the middle of January. In Northern India it is extremely cold during this part of the year and frost is not uncommon, while in Madras there is a bracing and cold climate on the Hill Stations.

Clothing
Every traveller should equip himself with clothes suitable for both cold and warm weather. Rugs and overcoats are necessary. During the day Solar topees should always be worn to prevent sun-stroke. Plenty of light underclothes are necessary. In India illness is contracted more from chills than from the heat. During winter the cold of the nights and the mornings is sharp and the traveller should carefully cover himself, especially when he is travelling m trains, etc. Thin or tropical clothing should be worn during midday, when it is warm. Every traveller should also use glare glasses and umbrellas, whenever he is out in the sun.