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Practically everything about India surprises. Most are wonderful or amusing, some are whacky and weird. Festivals and events are often the best part of travelling and we offer you a cornucopia from ancient to modern, from reserved to raucous, and from significant to just plain silly.

Visitors can carry home a slice of India's multi faceted culture that thrives on its pulsating streets and malls. This explosion of colour and pageant is sure to take the breath away. This is an entirely different world, a magical world full of sights that offers over 101 things to do - once you have seen Taj Mahal, of course!

A sight exclusive to Mumbai is its legendary dabbawallahs, an army of staff that supplies lunch boxes to Mumbaiites. To see them in action drop by Mumbai's Churchgate Station or the suburban section of Chhtrapati Shivaji Station (also known as Victoria Terminus) between 11 a.m. - 12 noon on any working day.
This unique system works a little like the Internet. Each lunch container has a code which directs its routing. The simple colour coded instructions determine not only packet routing but packet prioritization as launches transfer from train to bicycle to foot. Thousand of lunch boxes are delivered everyday.

The racing season at Mahalakshmi Racecourse, Lala Lajpatrai Road, in Mahalaxmi runs from November to April. The highlight is the Indian Derby in February. The elegant stands provide first-class viewing of the racing on the flat, oval track; entry fees range from Rs. 12 to Rs 200. The racecourse is a popular place for people to visit, to jog or simply take in the fresh air.

The Osho Ashram, Pune, better known as the ashram of Bhagwan Rajneesh, attracts thousands of western visitors every year. It boasts of modern facilities and offers numerous courses. Walk around this beautiful edifice and take a course in meditation.

A shrine in Shivapur, near Pune, named after Sufi Qamar Ali witnesses an unusual event. In the courtyard, visitors to the temple are asked to assist in a demonstration of Qamar Ali's divine presence. The experiment involves a large boulder and lightly touch it with a single forefinger and chant in unison, the phrase, 'Qamar Ali Dervish' the stone rises. If the changing stops or just one person removes his finger from the stone, the stone instantly falls.

Goa is the ideal place to head for December. For, the state comes alive during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Carnivals, music, partying, it's all happening at Goa in December. Make sure to do prior bookings. Once here, you can hire bikes and ride through this picturesque state, stopping over to look at the great architecture of some of the most amazing churches from the Portuguese era.

Sorpotel, Goa's prized dish, is served mainly on feast days. It is made up of diced pieces of liver, heart and kidney, served in a thick gravy. The gravy is sopped up with sannas, steamed coconut rice pucks that have an intoxicating hint of toddy. The marriage between sannas and sorpotel, at least so say the Goans. Sorpotel keeps fresh for several days, and is actually considered to taste better if left for three to fours days before being reheated.

The yearly Kingfisher sea Bird race from Mumbai to Goa has become a major sailing event of the year. At the Royal Bombay Yacht Club and Colaba Sailing Club, one can learn sailing or just sail.

Mandu in Madhya Pradesh is a celebration of life, a tribute to the tender love of the poet-prince, Baz Bahadur for his consort, Rani Roopmati. The balladeers of Malwa still sing of their love. Roopmati's pavilion gazes upon Baz Bahadur's palace, an outstanding example of Afghan Architecture. The other structures of interest are the massive Jama Masjid and Hoshang Shah's Tomb, which served as models for master-builders of Taj-Mahal, centuries later.
The magic of Mandu lives on in its palaces, mosques, and in its ballads. Mandu comes to life in the monsoon season. But anytime is a good time to see this spectacular place.

While many people come to Khujuraho to see the erotic sculpture, this is a spectacular place for those interested in art and sculpture. Khajuraho is a must for students of art.

Visit the quiet little village of Bodhgaya on Bihar. It is here that the Buddha is said to have attained Nirvana. Once here, you can visit the Bodhi Tree (the fifth in succession of the original tree) under which the Buddha had attained Enlightenment. Other places of interest are the spectacular Mahabodhini Temple, Vajrasana and the ancient railings that surround the temple.

Take a cruise around the untouched evergreen forests of mangrove, the Sunderbans, the largest mangrove forests in the world.
The vast spaces of densely wooded islands of wild beaches are sprinkled with barking deer and wildlife sanctuaries. Little wonder then that at Sunderbans, tranquility, peace and serenity get their meaning. It has the largest species of mangroves, Royal Bengal tigers, estuarine crocodiles and is one of the few large coastal wetlands left in the world.

Check out the Howrah Bridge. See the New Market where everything from needles, textile to squirrels is available. The Jewish street is a delight.
Here they continue to have their own courts that follow Jewish law.

The soft, spongy and syrupy ultimate delicacy, Rosogolla, can claim the status of national dish. Pop one in your mouth and feel the sweet liquid surge down your throat. As a fun thing try to saying 'Rasogolla' with a Rosogolla in your mouth.

Take a tour to Kolkota's fish markets and see the numerous varieties of fish from the lively koi (climbing perch), the wriggling catfish family of tangra, magur, shingi and the pink-bellied Indian butter fish, the pabda. Among the larger fish, are rui (rohu) and bhetki, weigh upto eight kilograms. Baskets of pink and silvery ilish (hilsa) match the shine on the glistening blade of the fishmonger.
Top this with a true Bengali meal of fish curry and rice.