Kerala

From a boat in Kerala's peaceful backwaters, it's hard to imagine the exhaust of Mumbai, street beggars, or people six-deep hanging off a public bus. Some of India's southern  states and union territories give a feel of Europe with five-star hotels, beautiful beaches, and upscale houseboat trips. 

Don't get me wrong. There is plenty of disastrous inequity and a chronically impoverished population across the country. India is like no place else on earth when it comes to population density and living conditions. If you want a taste of the real India, you don't have to venture far from your well-swept hotel lobby to find it. 

But whatever it is you're expecting in India, you can generally pay for comfort. As far as Indian cuisine goes, you may not find beef on the menu in a highly rated restaurant, or even silverware in some cases, but the culinary experience is extraordinary.  

What you will definitely find in India is diversity - of social, geography, languages, religion, race, climate, and politics.

On the River Ganges, the Ganga Aarti evening ritual is a sight to behold with thousands of people joining to offer a prayer ritual to the river. Cremation fires burn continuously in Varanasi next to the river. On a casual daytime walk, you can witness dead bodies thrown onto fires and burned to ashes before being shoveled into the river in order to liberate their souls. And while this rive has been described as diluted sewage, devotees continue to bathe in it and drink the water, believing it is both pure and purifying.