The country's glorious diversity means there's an astonishing array of sacred sites, from immaculately kept Jain temples to weathered Buddhist stupas; there's history around every corner, with countless monuments, battle-scarred forts, abandoned cities and ancient ruins all having tales to tell; and there are beaches to satiate the most avid sun worshipper.
The gardens and palaces in the southern part of the subcontinent are contributions of the nawabs and other dynasties like the Cholas and Chalukyas. Some of the monuments have turned to ruins while others have been revamped and given a new lease on life in the form of luxury hotels, while some others are preserved and maintained for their architectural, cultural and historical values.
