Tourists should seek permission from the authorities concerned before taking photographs of places of military importance, railway stations, bridges, airports, military installations, metro trains, tribal areas and sensitive border regions. It is prohibited to take photographs in some of the temples, historical monuments, forts, palaces, tombs and monasteries. Visitors are required to take special permits from the Archaeological Survey of India for photographing monuments with tripods and artificial lights. Camera fee is charged extra in some historical monuments.

The Indian Whiterumped Vulture is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture though less so than it was long believed to the White backed Vulture. Its alternate name, Oriental White backed Vulture, is a leftover from that time.

It breeds on crags or in trees in northern and central India, Pakistan and southeast Asia, laying one egg. Birds may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident.

Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation. It often moves in flocks.

The White rumped Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail. It is much smaller than European Griffon. It has a white neck ruff. The adult's whitish back, rump and underwing coverts contrast with the otherwise dark plumage. Juveniles are largely dark.

This is the smallest of the Gyps vultures, with 75-85 cm in length, and 4.75 kg in weight.

This species, as well as the Indian and Slender billed Vultures have suffered a 99 percent population decrease in India due to poisoning by diclofenac, the veterinary drug non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that causes kidney failure in birds eating the carcasses of treated cattle. Meloxicam has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute. In March 2006 diclofenac is still being used for animals throughout India and the changes in Indian legislation are awaited. It is hoped that meloxicam will be as cheap as diclofenac when it is mass produced.

To maintain a stock of the vultures which have already completely diappeared from most areas for reintroduction, a captive breeding program was instated. Two chicks, which were apparently the first captive bred Indian White-rumped Vultures ever, hatched in January, 2007, at a facility at Pinjore. However, they died after a few weeks, apparently because their parents were an inexperienced couple breeding for the first time in their lives a fairly common occurrence in birds of prey.

Chandigarh is the best-planned city in India, with architecture which is world-renowned, and a quality of life, which is unparalleled. As the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh it is a prestigious city. The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed.

Serenity and a city are two diametrically opposite concepts, which however, get belied in the 'City Beautiful'. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature's preservation. It is here that the trees and plants are as much a part of the construction plans as the buildings and the roads. India's first planned city, is a rich, prosperous, spic and span, green city rightly called "THE CITY BEAUTIFUL".

India is still well-known for "shopper paradise" for enterprising good deal with the shopkeeper. However, before you buy, it is improved to compare prices with the neighboring shop. With tourists, bargaining is almost a practice. Emporiums run by State Government are a secure place to buy because the quality is standardized; the UPS normally lower then the fixed prices.Ensure that you are fully fulfilled with your purchases and that you get a proper receipt. Return of goods is not entertained, even less, once you have returned to your country because Indian customs have strict regulations against this. Should your shopping weight be too much to escort you by air, it can be sent as unaccompanied luggage.

Usually, Handicraft shops can also ships it to your address, but persist on a comprehensive, insurance it is recommended that expensive goods like carpets etc., be brought from recognized government recognized' shops.

Except on antiques requires prior permission of the archaeological survey of India which can be agreed from the shop where you buy. Most shops that put up for sale to tourists welcome the major credit cards. Some of them even accept personal cheques.

This festival is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India conducted in during mid December to mid January in the famous city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The festival is held at a number of areas around the city by a variety of 'sabhas' or organizations. Besides the auditoriums, well-known temple location and tradition bungalows are being used as venues. The month long dance and music show will have Perform by the famous artistes from various parts of India.

The 'Margazhi festival of Dance and Music origin in the early back in 1927, to memorialize the anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, afterward adopted by various organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city. The Tamil month of 'Margazhi' (December) is a blessed month of the Hindus. South Indian classical music (Carnatic Music) which has its heredity in devotion to the gods has been a traditional appearance of worship from time immemorial.

The city comes alive with the festival which has now urbanized into a cultural variety with more than 2000 artists participating in over 300 concerts. The festivals also known as 'December Season' are a focus for émigré Indians and scholars from around the world as well. Performances include Vocal and Instrumental music, Dance - solo and group, both by junior and senior artistes. Even upcoming artists get a opportunity to perform along with well-established artists. The music include classical vocal renditions in various South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu and Kannada and instruments like Flute, Goottuvadyam (similar to Veena but without frets), Veena (a large string instrument), 'Thavil' (percussion instrument), 'Mridangam' (drum), 'Nagaswaram' (pipe), and even 'Ghatam' (a mud pot). The season goes on till mid January when the scene shifts to Tiruvaiyaru, near Tanjore, where 'Thyagaraja Aradhana' a week long music festival is held to celebrate the birth of one of the greatest Carnatic composers and one among the trinity of music - Thyagaraja. Information about the tickets and the venues can be had from the tourist office, Chennai. The weather is cool and pleasant at this time of the year. November- December is the best season to visit the city.

It is located in Trichy in Tamil Nadu and it's popular for A Pilgrimage Centre. As the name suggests, it is located on 83 m high outcrops. This temple was build by the Pallavas as a small cave temple, but the Nayaks made use of its obviously equipped position. It is a rigid climb, up the 437 steps cut into the stone to the top.

The Rock Fort Temple complex in Tiruchirappalli or Trichy is a fine grouping of three temples, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil at the top of the hill, the Manikka Vinayakar temple at the foot of the hill, and the Taayumaanavar Koyil Shivastalam on the hill. Shivastalam is a rock cut temple on a hill and the most obvious landmark in Tiruchirappalli, reach by a flight of steps on the way to the well-known Ucchi Pillayar temple.

There is a rock cut Pallava temple called Lalitankura Pallaveswaram in this hill temple complex, with more than a few inscriptions here credited to Mahendravarma Pallavan. In addition the Cholas, the Vijayanagar rulers and the Nayaks of Madurai have made widespread contributions here. The two storeyed Taayumaanava temples, built on a hill is a work of art of construction.

Six worship services are accessible each day here. This well equipped temple celebrates the yearly Brahmotsavam in Chithirai. Aadi Pooram and the float festival in Panguni are also of important here. Built by the Nayaks of Madurai, it holds two temples devoted to Shiva and Ganesha.

Rock Fort Temple This rock also contains excavated cave temples dating to the 7th century A.D, well-known for the fine sculptures.

Non-Hindus are not allowed into the Vinayaka Temple at the peak and at the bigger Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple devoted to Siva, halfway up. The monument is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm. Shoes have to be left at the way near the temple elephant which passes each droning day blessing devotees in exchange for money.