India, a place where nowhere is like. If you want a culture shock, and an experience everyday, this is the place to go. If you have never been to Asia, this may be habit of a jump in the deep end, as it is a very densely populated country, and there is a lot of beggars, which will touch you when asking for money which I have never experienced in other Asian Locations.
As for beggars, its better to give children Chocolate, or food as you don't know where the money is going to, I will not go into detail, however there is many articles and education on this issue online.
India is a very very hot country, where you will need to take a lot of cover ups as many places you go you will need to be fully covered.
There are many differences here to other countries with a stand out one being, men and women are separated on the trains. This was a scary experience when going as a child.
Transport is cheap, however when I went we travelling 5 hours in a taxi, and for a couple minutes of this journey the taxi driver took us the wrong way down the motor way with oncoming traffic coming right at us.It is defiantly a place you need to read about and understand fully before going, as some areas can get very stressful.
If you are looking for culture, this is defiantly the place to go as there is so many places which you will be the only tourist there, and feel like you are living and breathing the life and culture.
