One region of India is so different from the other that many visitors have difficulty knowing from where to begin. This book helps to narrow the options, with opinionated assessments of what to see and do. The itinerary includes towns, palaces and museums of every description; a guide to India’s countless colors and an introduction to exploring the country’s mountains, jungles and national parks. There are also dozens of hotels and restaurant recommendations.

A vast subcontinent of complexity of contradiction and of green natural beauty, India pulses with the past while simultaneously embracing the modern era. Home to one of the world’s great civilizations and birthplace of two major religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, India’s history can be traced back thousand of years, long before that of Europe, although it was not until the last century that it developed an independent government.

Always elusive - an attempt has been made to capture the quintessential spirit of India within the pages of this book. Discover the subcontinent in these pages and find out for yourself.