India

Less than 50 years ago, India was home to just a handful of national parks; but with the introduction of Project Tiger in 1972, a government-launched tiger conservation program, that number has grown to 166 national parks, with over 500 wildlife sanctuaries to protect India’s beautiful, exotic, endangered creatures.

Being a large international hub, visitors who have been to India have most likely traversed through Mumbai, either staying for a couple of days or just a quick visit in between flights.

I visited Kashmir just as tourism became safe once again. And here, I discovered a place of breathtaking beauty, with several can’t-miss spots…

Always in search of the most authentic experiences in the most remote regions, the unique and colorful Hornbill Festival in India’s little-known Nagaland region has been on my bucket list for the last 14 years…

Varanasi is a shock to the senses, and is pure India at “full speed ahead” mode. It is crowded, dirty, bizarre and 100 other adjectives.

Imagine a festival in which every American from Denver to the Pacific, from Seattle to Phoenix and from Cheyenne to San Diego was in attendance – between 80 to 100 million living souls. India’s Kumbh Mela is indeed such a festival.

This is one of the most ancient civilizations on Earth, with over 5,000 years of history. And this is a part of it – Jaisalmer — in the Rajasthan region of the country.