India

India's sheer diversity, its wealth of culture, history and spectacular geography cannot fail to impress even the most seasoned traveller. Ancient forts and palaces, spice markets, cities teeming with people, the sweeping dunes of Rajasthan, vast plains carved up by the Ganges and its tributaries and the lush green south, flanked by superb beaches, all contrast with the majestic grandeur of the mighty Himalayas.

The people, customs, language, landscape and architecture change dramatically between regions. If history is your interest, a tour around India will satisfy even the most enquiring mind. There are forts, abandoned cities, ruins, battlefields, palaces and monuments in abundance, while religious intrigue is fuelled by the Ganges and myriad temples, ranging from ancient to modern with everything in-between. The Himalayas afford some of the most breath taking walking country on the planet and one could take a tour to the local villages or visit the monasteries set among beautiful terraced hillsides; while Goa and Kerala in the south offer excellent beaches, palm-groves, crumbling forts, lush vegetation and stunning backwaters: a vast network of lakes, lagoons, rivers and canals.

Famed for its colourful cities, Rajasthan is home to grand forts and breath taking palaces. Geographically divided, the southeast is rugged and hilly, while to the north-west, lies the barren Thar Desert. The 'pink city' of Jaipur, the 'blue city' of Jodhpur, the golden desert city of Jaisalmer and the 'white city' of Udaipur are possibly the most romantic cities in the world. Also well worth a visit are Pushkar, the beautiful temple town built around a lake and Ranthambore National Park, a wildlife reserve that is home to the elusive tiger.

To the east, the ornate temples of Khajuraho and Orcha lead to the holy city of Varanasi. Situated on the banks of the Ganges, it is visited by hordes of Hindu pilgrims who come to bathe in the sacred waters, a ritual believed to wash away all sin.

As capital and India's third largest city, Delhi has much to offer and is the starting point for the famous 'Golden Triangle' tour; here you will find the Red Fort (Delhi's monumental Moghul fortress) and Humayun's Tomb (the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal) among other sights. However, India's most exquisite highlight is undoubtedly the Taj Mahal at Agra; constructed in 1631 by Shah Jahan for his wife, it is the greatest monument ever built for love and one that is utterly beautiful and breath taking. Agra, the capital of India in the 16th and 17th centuries, also boasts the vast Agra Fort which affords spectacular views of the Taj Mahal.