Crowned by the Himalayas, crossed by sacred rivers, and coveted by empires from the Persians to the British Raj, India is vast and unfathomable, a kaleidoscope of cultures and the birthplace of at least three of the world’s great religions. Countless civilizations have risen and fallen among its paddy fields, deserts, mountains, and jungles, but India still endures. Asia’s most colorful country has its problems – overcrowding, pollution, poverty, religious tensions, environmental degradation, and grinding bureaucracy – but this is all part of life’s tapestry in this vivid and complex country, and for all the cacophony, there are captivating moments of serenity – dawn breaking through sacred temples, sunsets that set fire to snow-capped mountains and temple bells reverberating through sprawling cities.
