This is the Andaman Islands chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

With shimmering turquoise waters fringed by primeval jungle, fantastic diving, and sug-ar-white, sun-toasted beaches melting under flame-and-purple sunsets, the far-flung Andaman Islands are the perfect Indian escape. With splendid beaches and diving, Havelock (Swaraj) is by far the most popular.

• dive, snorkel, sun-soak, socialise, and feast on fresh seafood on dreamy, jungle-cloaked Havelock Island
• maps
• ease into a blissfully mellow pace of life and cycle between beaches and rice paddies on Neil Island
• transport
• experience the wilds of North Andaman in Kalipur and see nesting turtles while is-land-hopping to pristine sands and coral reefs
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Port Blair & Around, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), Middle & North Andaman, Little Andaman.

This is the Goa chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

Pint-sized Goa is much more than beaches and trance parties. A kaleidoscopic blend of In-dian and Portuguese cultures, sweetened with sun, sea, sand, seafood and spirituality, there’s nowhere in India quite like it.

• explore Panaji’s historic Latin Quarter, and shop and eat well in India’s most laid-back state capital
• maps
• drop in to a yoga or cooking class at Assagao, Anjuna, Arambol or Mandrem
• transport
• haggle for a bargain at touristy but fun Anjuna Flea Market
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Panaji & Central Goa, Panaji, Old Goa, North Goa, Mapusa, Candolim, Calangute & Baga, Anjuna, Assagao, Vagator & Chapora, Morjim, Asvem, Mandrem, Arambol (Harmal), South Goa, Margao, Colva, Benaulim, Agonda, Palolem, Pat-nem.

This is the Karnataka chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

A stunning introduction to southern India, Karnataka is a prosperous, compelling state loaded with a winning blend of urban cool, glittering palaces, national parks, ancient ruins, beaches, yoga centres and legendary travellers’ hang-outs.

• soak up the surreal landscapes, sociable travellers’ scene and epic ruins of magical Ham-pi
• maps
• tour civilised Mysuru’s remarkable palace, then explore its famous bazaar district
• transport
• search for the perfect beach cove in low-key Gokarna, then tour its atmospheric tem-ples
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Bengaluru (Bangalore), Southern Karnataka, He-saraghatta, Mysuru (Mysore) & Around, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Ko-dagu (Coorg) Region, Hassan, Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola, Karnataka Coast, Mangaluru (Mangalore), Dharmasthala, Udupi, Malpe, Gokarna, Central Karnataka, Hampi, Anegundi, Hosapete (Hospet), Hubballi (Hubli), Northern Karnataka, Badami & Around, Vijapura (Bijapur), Bidar.

This is the Kerala chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

For many travellers, Kerala is South India’s most serenely beautiful state. It is defined by its landscape: almost 600km of glorious Arabian Sea coast and beaches; a languid network of glis-tening backwaters; and the spice- and tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats.

• cruise the backwaters from Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kollam (Quilon) or Kumarakom
• maps
• spot wild elephants and walk the spice-carpeted hills of Wayanad
• transport
• unravel Kochi’s history at Fort Cochin, or laze in its art-filled cafes
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Southern Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) & Around, Kovalam, Varkala, Kollam (Quilon) & Around, Alappuzha (Alleppey), Marari & Kattoor, Kottayam, Kumarakom, Kerala’s Western Ghats, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Munnar & Around, Cen-tral Kerala, Kochi (Cochin) & Around, Thrissur (Trichur) & Around, Northern Kerala, Kozhikode (Calicut), Wayanad Region, Kannur & Around, Bekal & Around, Lakshadweep.

This is the Maharashtra chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

India’s third-largest and second-most populous state, Maharashtra is showcase of many of India’s iconic attractions. There are palm-fringed beaches; lofty, cool-green mountains; Unesco World Heritage Sites; and bustling cosmopolitan cities (and gorgeous vineyards in which to es-cape them).

• be amazed by the intricate beauty in the Ellora temples
• maps
• wander through ancient cave galleries and admire sublime ancient Buddhist art at Ajan-ta
• transport
• search for big cats inside Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Northern Maharashtra, Nashik & Around, Auranga-bad, Ellora, Ajanta, Jalgaon, Nagpur & Around, Southern Maharashtra, Konkan Coast, Matheran, Lonavla, Pune & Around, Kolhapur, Mahabaleshwar.

This is the Mumbai (Bombay) chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

If Mumbai is your introduction to India, prepare yourself for its furious energy. It contains some of the world’s grandest colonial-era architecture, but explore a little more and you’ll uncover unique bazaars, hidden temples, hipster enclaves and India’s premier restaurants and night-life.

• marvel at the magnificent Unesco-listed colonial-era architecture, including monumental Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
• maps
• wage war on your senses at Sassoon Docks, Mumbai’s cinematic fishing docks
• transport
• dine like a maharaja at one of India’s best restaurants, such as Peshawri
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: History, Sights, Activities, Courses, Tours, Sleeping, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

This chapter contains the Welcome to South India & Kerala, South India & Kerala’s Top 12, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, Booking Trains, Yoga, Spas & Spiritual Pursuits, Volunteering, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

Your journey to South India & Kerala starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on travel with children.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about yoga, spas and spiritual pursuits
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to South India & Kerala, South India & Ker-ala’s Top 12, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like: Beaches, Temples & Ruins, Forts & Palac-es, Meditation & Yoga, Bazaars, Nature, Hill Stations, City Sophistication, Traveller Enclaves, Boat Trips, Local Festivals, Month by Month, Itineraries, Booking Trains, Yoga, Spas & Spiritual Pursuits, Volunteering, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance.

This is the Tamil Nadu chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

Tamil Nadu is the homeland of one of humanity’s living classical civilisations, stretching back uninterrupted for two millennia and very much alive today in the Tamils’ language, dance, poetry and forms of Hinduism.

• soak up unique Franco-Indian flair in Puducherry
• maps
• escape the heat at Kodaikanal or Ooty’s Hill Stations
• transport
• admire the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture, the Brihadishwara Temple, in Thanjavur
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Chennai (Madras), Northern Tamil Nadu, East Coast Road, Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry (Pondicher-ry), Auroville, Central Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram, Tharangambadi (Tranquebar), Kumbakonam, Thanjavur (Tanjore), Trichy (Tiruchirappalli), Southern Tamil Nadu, Chettinadu, Madurai, Rame-swaram, Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), The Western Ghats, Kodaikanal (Kodai), Coimbatore, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park).

This is the Telangana & Andhra Pradesh chapter from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

Hyderabad, one of Islamic India’s greatest cities, is reason enough on its own to visit this re-gion. Its skyline is a sight to behold, defined by the great domes and minarets of ancient mosques, mausoleums and palaces of once-mighty dynasties.

• explore Hyderabad’s Old City and its unique markets, architectural marvels and hidden shrines
• maps
• absorb the meditative ambience at beautiful Sankaram, as well as Bavikonda, Thotlakonda and Guntupalli, all destinations on the 2300-year-old monastic trail
• transport
• revel in the genius of Kakatiya sculptors at the temple near Palampet
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Telangana, Hyderabad, Bhongir, Warangal, Palampet, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada, Amaravathi, Nagarjunakonda, Visakhapatnam & Around, Tirumala & Tirupati.

This chapter contains the South India Today, History, The Way of Life, Spiritual India, Deli-cious India, The Great Indian Bazaar, The Arts, Architectural Splendour, Wildlife & Landscape, Scams, Women & Solo Travellers, Directory A-Z, Transport, Health, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s South India & Kerala guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, wildlife and architecture to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and les-bian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on the best South Indian cuisine
• info for solo and women travellers
• full coverage of the history of the region, from ancient empires to independence to the modern-day south
• details on arts, crafts and markets

Coverage includes: South India Today, History, The Way of Life, Spiritual India, Delicious India, The Great Indian Bazaar, The Arts, Architectural Splendour, Wildlife & Landscape, Scams, Women & Solo Travellers, Directory A-Z, Transport, Health, and Lan-guage.