India is a riot of color, activity and history and will appeal to the imagination and senses of every true Asia traveler. The stark, dramatic landscapes of the Thar Desert, the rich colors of the Kerala spice hills and tranquil backwaters, the towering forts of Rajasthan, the sunswept beaches of Goa, the tantalising aroma of a fresh biryani or a steaming mug of chai, the awesome sight of the Taj Mahal at dawn, the bustle of a local bazaar…all of these are part of the magical mix of culture, landscapes and people that make an India experience so rewarding and unique.

It demands that the traveller be prepared for its own strange forms of tourism offerings - the crowds at Pushkar, for pushy mendicants at Haridwar, for high commercialism at spiritual retreats. But equally, it means that he be prepared for an overwhelming warmth in the people, ease of conversation, and to be stunned into speechlessness by the beauty, sometimes the manmade and often the natural.