Shimla was developed by the British in the 19th century as the summer capital of India. The town has continued to grow and now covers a much larger area, but at its heart remains the Mall, lined with colonial era buildings. It is a perfect place to stroll around to appreciate Shimla's past and to make excursions to the countryside around whilst enjoying the salubrious air and scenic views.

Travel by road through wonderful mountain scenery to Kurseong, home to world famous tea gardens which produce the most delicate aromas of all black teas known to mankind. From Kurseong you travel by toy train to Darjeeling. Spread on a high ridge with stunning views of the Kanchenjunga and surrounded by tea plantations on all sides, Darjeeling really is a fascinating town.

Kutch has a rich variety of semi-nomadic pastoral communities whose life-styles have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Their dress is colourful and ornate and the women are often laden with jewelry. Their unique and beautiful mud houses have walls decorated with interesting textured patterns.

Strewn with rivers, lagoons and meandering backwaters, covered in coconut groves and flanked by sunny, palm fringed beaches, Kerala truly is a small slice of paradise. Explore Periyar Wildlife Reserve by boat or on foot, unwind aboard your private traditional kettuvallam houseboat (a converted rice barge) as you sail through quiet backwaters, and laze on the beach of Marari.

Srinagar is centred around the idyllic Dal and Nagin Lakes, where you'll find one of Kashmir's favourite attractions - its houseboats. During the Raj period the Kashmir Maharaja refused to grant the British permission to own land here. Instead, they built houseboats - each one a little piece of England afloat on the lakes, and still Kashmir's most delightful accommodation option.

Carved out of Assam in 1972, Meghalaya means `Abode of the Clouds', and they rarely go away. It is a cool, pine-fresh contrast to the warm Assam plains. Meghalaya boasts the delightful hill station of Shillong, as well as one of the wettest places on earth, Cherrapunji. Most of this precipitation falls April to September, creating some very impressive waterfalls.