BEAM ME DOWN, SCOTTY

This week's random co-ordinates chosen by the computer are:

20 53' N

75 17' E

FIRST REACTION

Hey, look. Cows.

COUNTRY AND REGION

You have landed in the state of Maharashtra, to the south-west of central India.

NEAREST HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

This is generally an intensively farmed area. You are about 6km (3 3/4 miles) south-west of the village of Erandol, and 35km south-west of the city of Jalgaon.

NATURE OF TERRAIN

You are not far south of the steamy, lush Tapi river valley. The landscape comprises very green undergrowth and quite a scattering of trees.

ALTITUDE

About 250 metres.

POSSIBLE HAZARDS

Heat stroke and stomach disorders are always a distinct possibility in rural India, outside of the winter months.

USEFUL LANGUAGES

Hindi and English will be enough, though there are occasional pockets of Dravidian speakers around here too.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.

LIKELY WEATHER CONDITIONS

The Indian summer is at hand, as the monsoon rains clear away. Expect very hot sunshine with temperatures above 30C (90F).

REASONS FOR HANGING AROUND

You are not far from two of the greatest Buddhist sites in India. Less than 100km to the south are the fabulous cave temples of Ellora, where you can see large-scale Buddhist (and Hindu) statuary and paintings dating back to the sixth century AD. Even closer, 50km to the south-east, lie the Buddhist caves of Ajanta.

GETTING THE HELL OUT OF THERE

Your best bet is to walk the short distance to Erandol and then flag down a bus to Jalgaon. This is quite a major railway junction, from where you can get to almost anywhere in India. Bombay is just seven hours away.