India is an explosion of colour and culture and home to some of the most sacred sites in the world.
It also has a vast and varied terrain, from stunning lakes to soaring snow-capped mountains and from epic deserts to heavenly beaches.
Here MailOnline Travel presents a selection of jaw-dropping images that capture the country’s diverse charm, including the iconic Taj Mahal, Kerala’s mesmerising tea plantations, The Ajanta Caves and more…
The Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya in north-eastern India is one of the country’s tallest waterfalls. The water cascades 1,115 feet – from an elevation of just over 4,000 feet
The Taj Mahal in Agra is the world’s most famous mausoleum. It was the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Workers spent around 20 years constructing the jaw-dropping white marble building – from 1632 to 1653. It is now a symbol of everlasting love
Here’s a picture of the Taj Mahal from a more unusual angle taken, according to the photographer, ‘from a hidden place that just the locals know’
A tea plantation valley in Munnar, Kerala. This region is undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching tea-making areas in the country
The famous Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri, Rajasthan. It is one of the largest stepwells in the world. The oldest parts of the structure date back to the 8th century
The confluence of the mighty Indus and Zanskar rivers near Leh in the Ladakh region of northern India, where their colours merge in mesmerising fashion. The Indus, at 1,975 miles, is one of the longest in Asia
Adventure tourists pay attention, because when the Zanskar river freezes (pictured), it becomes the route for the arduous Chadar trek – a 65-mile walk in temperatures as low as -35C
Dal Lake – or, the ‘Lake of Flowers’ – in Srinagar in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s popular with tourists – and no wonder
The Ajanta Caves are a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples in Ajanta, some of which date from the 2nd century BC
Hawa Mahal, situated in Jaipur, is a palace made of pink sandstone that rises five storeys. It has a distinctive honeycomb shape and intricately carved windows
Tropical: The vibrant rainbow-coloured wooden bungalows on Palolem beach in southern Goa
Marvel of nature: In the state of Meghalaya in northeastern India, people make living ‘root bridges’ from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees
The Lotus Temple, located in Delhi, is a famous monument known for its flower-like shape. The temple consists of 27 independent marble petals
Pictured is The Rann of Kutch, a salt marsh in the Thar Desert in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is often referred to as India’s ‘Wild West’
This stunning image was captured from a boat as the sun set on the River Ganges in Varanasi
Bloomin’ marvellous: The Valley of Flowers National Park in North Chamoli, in the state of Uttarakhand. It’s an area rich in Alpine flowers
The Pangong Lake, on the border with India and China, is situated at 4,350m (14,271ft) above sea level in the Himalayas
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai is one of the busiest railway stations in India – and this 19th-century Unesco World Heritage site is one of the most visually arresting railway stations in the world
The imposing Thiruvalluvar Statue – a 133ft-tall stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher Valluvar on a small island near the coastal city of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu
Shimla, pictured, which sits 7,467ft up in the Himalayan foothills, used to be the summer capital of British India. Now it’s the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. And where the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway terminates
This is Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in India. Its sits at an elevation of 10,000ft in the Tibetan border, with views of dramatic ravines and snow-capped peaks
A daily street scene in Jodhpur, the second-largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. This area is known as the ‘Blue City’ as most houses are painted a striking blue colour
A hot balloon over Manali, a popular mountain town in Himachal Pradesh
Chitrakote Falls, also known as The Niagara Falls of India, on the Indravati River, west of Jagadalpur. It is common to see beautiful rainbows here during the rainy season
This photo shows an elephant being ridden up to the renowned Amber Fort in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan
Agatti Island, pictured, is a 3.7-mile-long slice of paradise that lies on a coral atoll in the territory of Lakshadweep
The 15th-century stepwell of Adalaj is where you can release your inner Lara Croft…
There are some truly epic railway journeys available in India as this picture of the Mumbai-Pune line shows
The Golden Temple in Amritsar in the state of Punjab is the most important shrine of the Sikh religion
There is a vast, stunning network of tranquil backwater canals and lagoons in the city of Alappuzha. A wonderful watery world awaits…
The Sundarbans Unesco World Heritage Site is where you’ll find the world’s largest coastal mangrove forest. There are 102 islands here, 54 of which are inhabited. And it’s home to around 400 Royal Bengal tigers
The city of Mandawa is known for its richly decorated historic buildings, many of which are covered in beautiful frescoes and murals
The 15th-century Vittala Temple in Hampi is nothing short of spectacular. Wow-factor architecture includes a stone chariot and a 100-pillared hall
Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. This impressive 16th-century building was designed by Persian architects chosen by Humayun’s first wife, Empress Bega Begum
The mesmerising view from Diskit Monastery in Leh, in the far north of the country, which sits at an elevation of 10,300 feet
Photographer Atharva Tulsi captured this incredible slice of forested scenery near the city of Pune
Palm-fringed Palolem Beach in Goa was ranked the 20th best beach in Asia by TripAdvisor
Photographer Abhay Singh took this shot of Mumbai from a plane window just after take-off, saying ‘it gave me a whole new perspective on the city’
The scenery near Bengaluru – which some say is India’s drinking capital – is breathtaking
Taj Lake Palace in Rajasthan is said by some to be the most romantic hotel in the world
Built in 1680, Basgo Monastery is famous for its Buddha statue and murals – and for its photogenic location in the Himalayan foothills near the city of Leh
A beautiful image of the epic 300ft four-tiered Dudhsagar Falls and railway bridge in Goa
The Himachal Pradesh region in the Himalayas is peppered with picturesque towns, Buddhist temples and monasteries and ski resorts
The Yumthang Valley, pictured, which sits at an elevation of over 11,000ft, is the place to go if you want the following on your itinerary – rhododendrons (24 types), hot springs, yaks, rolling meadows and a bubbling river