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InDIA towns and are very inexpensive. If hot food disagrees with you stick to tandoori-style dishes which don't have hot spices, or chicken cooked Muslim-style after being lightly spiced and added to a casserole with dried fruits. For entertainment, most major hotels feature dinner and dancing and most of the big cities have nightclubs and bars. Traditional entertainment can be enjoyed at special evenings for visitors at some hotels or at concerts. Activities Hockey, cricket, polo, football, volleyball and basketball are all played by Indians and in the hill stations ponies can be hired for excursions to the glaciers' edge. Ski resorts at Gulmarg in Kashmir and Auli in the state of Uttaranchal are popular for snow skiing and heli skiing, and on some of the Himalayan snowfields to the northeast and near Shimla. The season runs from December to January. There's whitewater canoeing on the Ganges' tributaries and on the Zanskar, Indus, Chenab and Lidder rivers in Kashmir. Ballooning has become popular with a club at Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. Other activities include camel safaris, trekking and hang-gliding in the Himalayas, or exploring woodlands and orchards of the Western Ghats or Aravali hills. Shopping Shopping is an experience in itself in India, be prepared to bargin for the best price in the many bazzars and emporiums. There are many wonderful handicrafts from Kashmir's hand-loomed rugs, furs, papier-mâché utensils and pashmina shawls, jewels and brassware from Jaipur, and silks from Varanasi and Bangalore. You can see a multitude of handicrafts at Connaught Place in New Delhi. Also at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath Rd and nearby, along Baba Kharak Singh Marg in New Delhi, are various state emporia each run by their state governments. Currency Indian rupee—divided into 100 paise. Tipping is appreciated as wages are low by Western standards. Climate There are three major seasons: winter, summer and the monsoon. The winter, from November to March, is pleasant with bright sunny days in the south and east, but in December and January in the north, the temperature drops and there is snow in the hills. In summer, April to June, it is very hot and humid, and many head to the cool hill resorts. The southwest monsoon breaks about early June and continues until September. The south-eastern areas receive rainfall between October and December. Wear cool, light, cotton clothes in the south and northern plains from April to September. Warmer clothes are advisable for the north during winter. In New Delhi an overcoat may be required during December and January. www.paradisesonline.com 21