India is a both beautiful and bamboozling place, where holy cows bask on heavenly beaches next to modern hotels, and ancient temples sit perfectly at home besides shiny offices. Glittering trains pass through rural villages where life hasn't changed for hundreds of years, and through it all teems one sixth of the world's population. India is vast, varied and, above all, unforgettably beautiful.

India's intoxicatingly rich history has spawned a number of exquisite palaces, temples and monuments. The most frequently visited part of India is the Golden Triangle, comprised of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The people-packed cities of Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) have a bustling, colourful charm, while the holy city of Varanasi and the awe-inspiring temples of Tamil Nadu are rewarding places of pilgrimage.

Goa and Kerala's palm-fringed beaches await those in search of tropical bliss. And for fresh air and serenity, India ripples with pristine mountains and hills, from the towering beauty of the mighty Himalayas to a bevy of beautiful pine forests, orchards and babbling streams.