This Is India

Wherever you go in India, the country is vibrantly alive, with thousands of years of history existing side-by-side with the modern world. From the snow-capped mountains of the north to the tropical beaches of the south, there are innumerable sights to delight the huge, bustling cities; remote tribal villages; soaring temples; stupendous forts and palaces; deserts, forests, hills, plains, and wildlife -- and above all the many peoples that make up India. This superbly illustrated book takes the reader on a fascinating and illuminating journey around this vast country. The journey starts in the Himalayan foothills of the north-western regions, before heading south through the extraordinarily varied and vibrant regions of the western states. From the beautiful coastline around India's southern tip, the route continues inland through forested hills, where some of the rarest species in the world are protected in parks and sanctuaries, and up the east of India to the remote, mysterious hill states of the north-east. Journey's end is reached after a spectacular pilgrimage along the holiest of India's rivers, the Ganges, and up to its source in the glaciers of the Himalayas. The introduction tells the story of this huge its long history as one of the cradles of civilization; its religions, myths, culture and arts; its periods of invasion and the dynasties that ruled the different regions and left their legacy in forts, palaces, temples and monuments; and its struggle towards independence and a place in the modern world. Throughout the book, stunning images by some of the world's leading photographers provide a glorious visual accompaniment that brings the wealth of color, tradition, and vitality of India to life.