How do I allocate $300,000?

I recently got a chunk of cash, $300,000 to be precise. How do I invest this amount? Here are some other points:

1. I have set aside $20,000 to spend on myself, take a vacation, etc.

2. What percentage do I invest in the bank, as it is supposed to be the safest?

3. How much do I invest in Mutual Funds that have a good reputation?

4. Is it wise to open a recurring deposit account? If so, how much should I allocate for that?

5. Some of my friends told me that investing in gold / silver is always safe. Is that true and if yes, how much should I invest in guilt edged securities?

6. I don’t need any part of this money to meet daily expenses. They are taken care of by other finances, so this is just for investment purposes.

7. Charity is not something I would like to do with this money at this point of time. Maybe later, but definitely not now.

8. Any other areas where I can invest a certain percentage?

Thanks a lot!