FoodFood lovers will be impressed with the culinarydelights on offer in this region. India boasts themost famous and varied cuisine of the region -with Indian restaurants found in most cities andtowns in the Western world - but there areinteresting dishes to be found all across theSubcontinent. When in Nepal you willundoubtedly encounter the delicious momo - a dumpling stuffed with minced meat, vegetables,or potato and cheese. In Bhutan, Emadatse, thenational dish, is a whole green chilli cooked in a cheese sauce. The food in Sri Lanka is verysimilar to that found in South India, wherecoconut plays a key role as well as delicious,locally-caught seafood.WildlifeIndian National Parks are home to the largestpopulation of Royal Bengal tigers still found in thewild today. But India offers so much more, fromthe few remaining Asiatic lions, to the elusiveGangetic dolphin. Northeast India and Nepal areboth home to the one-horned rhino, and SouthIndia and Sri Lanka are well known for thepopulation of Asian Elephant. Yala National Parkin Sri Lanka is home to the largest population ofleopards in Asia and the south coast of this islandis probably one of the best places in the world to see blue and sperm whales. The black-neckedcranes of Bhutan attract bird lovers from all over the world.MountainsNorth India, Nepal and Bhutan offer some of themost spectacular mountain scenery in the worldand these areas have attracted outdoorenthusiasts for decades. Whether you areinterested in gentle day walks, slightly longervillage walks or if you would like to venture a bithigher and deeper into the Himalayan MountainRange, our specialists know the area well and are able to make suggestions based on yourpreferences and level of fitness. Tibet is a hiddengem, easily accessible from Nepal and offering aninsight into a unique culture and even morespectacular landscapes.BeachesIndia itself has surprisingly few good beach areas,the most obvious exceptions being Goa andsome of the beaches of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Not visited by many, but part of India, are theAndaman and Lakshadweep Islands found off theeast and southwest coasts respectively. Moretraditional beach destinations are Sri Lanka, withits popular beaches along the west and southcoast, and for those preferring true escapism,there are the palm-fringed islands set in thecrystal-clear waters of the Maldives.01993 838 300 ?Introduction5

the reality of everyday life - rich traditions,history, religion and culture maintainingtheir places in a rapidly modernising andvibrant democracy. A spectacular destinationfor the first-time visitor, it is a place peoplefind themselves drawn back to time aftertime. India caters to every type of traveller. You can relax in a rural hideaway tryingyour hand at chapatti making with yourhost family, trek through one of the stunningmountain ranges and step back in time tocolonial hill-station life, or shop to yourheart's content in a colourful Rajasthanibazaar before retiring to an opulent palacefor the night. Catch site of the elusive tigerwhilst staying in a beautiful tented camp orrelax with a steaming masala chai and agood book in a beautiful heritage hotel.India is a place that dazzles and inspires. In reality a continent more than simplya country, its majestic mountains, sweepingplains, verdant plantations, vast deserts and palm-fringed beaches combine in a magnificent and ever-changingkaleidoscope of incredible diversity. Just asawe-inspiring is the extent to which theancient and the modern are integrated in6India