I travelled three weeks in India, without a tourist assist.   I found my first stop indicative of the three weeks.   People were most helpful, speaking English, and I was most grateful.   Certainlty apprehensive, as I'm not too thorough on my investigation, but, more of a "jump in and see what happens".   I travelled with the people and what a fun trip.   Many family's were picking up their children from a holiday with the grandparents (in the country, seems this is common) and bringing them back to schooling.   Note, they go to school 305 days a year, young children are schooling in their national language, Hindi; the state language, and English (wow).    There Railway Stations are with instructions in English too.   It's scary, because you have to know where to look, or who to ask, certainly different.

If you fail to include a trip to India, in your life time,  you have done yourself a disservice.  If you are strong and courageous, go like I did, I went with the people, and I did have air conditioning, a triced up seat served as my bunk and the bathrooms are very basic (not for the weak.   However, you get what you paid for and I was on an economy minded trip.   Mumbai to Bogatty Isles in or around Kerala; back to Mumbai, to New Dehli to Agra (the Taj Mahal; back to Dehli; thence, The Pink City of Jaipier and returning to Mumbai.   I stayed in 250 year old converted palace  to suites of around 2000sf, granite/marble gold trimmed bathrooms.......and with meals.   Note, my agreement with them was, don't tell what I'm eating, and don't season it too hot, and we'll get along fine ($60 a day).   A treat was a Flea Market (me the only white) in New Dehli, I had a great great time.    Note, I love my USA, but, it was a treat, no forced safety programs.   I was hanging off a train taking pictures, almost like something out of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".     Not having a safety agency interfering with my fun was nice, like a motorcycle without a helmut.