The old capital of the Ladakh kingdom, at about 3,500 m, ringed by monasteries and bare mountains.

A geothermal valley of hot springs, sulphur and borax deposits, steaming in the middle of the cold desert.

A high-altitude lake at around 4,500 m in the Changthang wetlands, a protected Ramsar site.

The high plateau of eastern Ladakh — home to Changpa nomads and the goats that give pashmina.

A small settlement on the Indus in Changthang, on the way to Hanle.

A remote village with some of the darkest skies in India — part of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve.

A mountain town at the head of the Kullu valley, on the Beas river.

A Tibetan settlement in the Kangra valley, best known as a paragliding spot with Billing above it.

Where I work — home of the WanderOn office.

Krishna's birthplace on the Yamuna, one of the oldest cities in India.

A temple town where Krishna is said to have spent his childhood.

The Mughal capital on the Yamuna, home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The city of Nawabs — tehzeeb, kebabs and grand Awadhi architecture.

Where I grew up. A city where everyone has a story for you — you just need to ask.

A pilgrimage town on the Mandakini, where Ram, Sita and Lakshman are said to have spent years of their exile.

The Pink City, laid out in 1727 and now a UNESCO World Heritage city.

A city on the Chambal, now best known for coaching institutes.

The City of Lakes, built around Lake Pichola by the Mewar rulers.

A village near Gandhinagar famous for its five-storey stepwell, built in 1498.

India's first UNESCO World Heritage city, on the banks of the Sabarmati.

An old city at the foot of Mount Girnar, layered with Mauryan, Buddhist and Nawabi history.

The last wild home of the Asiatic lion.

A holy city on the Godavari — and India's wine country.

The city that doesn't stop, built on seven islands.

Beaches, Portuguese churches and long, slow afternoons.

A coastal city of temples, Carnatic music and one of the world's longest urban beaches.

A former French colony — mustard-yellow streets and a seaside promenade.

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India, built around its great temple.

The southern tip of mainland India, where three seas meet.