India : essential encounters

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher* 650+ colour photographs, 44 destinations, 23+ years in the making.

India is one of the most exotic, diverse, colourful, exciting, challenging, welcoming and beautiful countries on the planet, and consequently has been capturing the imagination of travellers for centuries. In India: essential encounters, internationally renowned photographer Richard I'Anson presents more than 650 colour photographs, featuring 44 of India's most captivating destinations, in a stunning photographic essay that encompasses the entire country and took over 23 years to complete.

Each 'encounter' is concisely introduced with evocative and informative text by acclaimed travel writer Sarina Singh. Since his first visit in 1986, Richard I'Anson has returned to India more than 30 times.

His vivid images faithfully capture this truly remarkable destination, taking the reader on an epic journey that reveals and celebrates all that India has to offer. Throughout these pages Richard brings to life sacred sites, grand and ancient monuments, panoramic mountain landscapes, palm-fringed beaches and waterways, and shows close encounters with India's famous wildlife.

But most compellingly, he captures the colour and infinite variety of the crowded bazaars, frenetic festivals and ethnically diverse people that for most visitors provide the warmth, mystery and fascination of India. Highlights include: Agra, Allahabad Kumbh Mela, Amritsar, Anjuna & Goa's Coast, Bengaluru, Bodhgaya, Darjeeling, Delhi, Ellora & Ajanta Fort Cochin, Goecha La Trek, Hampi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur Kauri Pass Trek, Kerala's Backwaters, Khajuraho, Kisama Hornbill Festival Kolkata, Konark, Kullu Valley, Lamayuru, Leh, Madurai, Mamallapuram, Mumbai Munnar, Mysore, McLeod Ganj, Puri, Pushkar Mela, Ranthambore National Park, Shatrunjaya, Shimla, Srinagar, Tawang, Thiksey, Thrissur Pooram Udaipur, Valley of Flowers, Varanasi, Villages of Kutch Authors: Richard I'Anson, Sarina Singh About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community.

Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places where they travel. TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2012 and 2013 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.'- New York Times 'Lonely Planet.

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