The terraced hillsides of Nepal nestle against the Himalayas, offering amazing panoramic views. Southern Nepal includes the small town of Lumbini, birthplace of the original Buddha. A deeply religious and aesthetic people, the Nepalese ornament their buildings and temples with extraordinary carvings and paintings. The magnificent Chitwan National Park contains exotic fauna, including elephants, leopards, and the legendary Bengal tiger.

Bhutan, which means "Land of the Thunder Dragon," lies between India and China. It is a remote paradise of rich fertile valleys and snow-capped mountains. The countryside is dotted with amazing monasteries that attract pilgrims from all over the world. Tourism has now only begun to reach Bhutan; a visit to the country offers a rare opportunity to view unspoiled natural beauty and to enjoy the hospitality of a people to whom a foreign visitor is still a welcome novelty.

India is a richly diverse country, comprising twenty-two states and the region of Kashmir. It supports a population of nearly one billion. Despite more than fifty years as a democratic nation, Indian states still retain their unique cultural and religious heritage.

In the Punjab lies the Golden Temple, an amazingly ornamented edifice constructed in the middle of Lake Amritsar. Its name comes from the patina of gold covering its top two-thirds. The Golden Temple is the holiest of Sikh shrines. Devotional scriptures are sung daily, beginning early in the morning and lasting long past sunset. The waters and the lyrical chanting induce a deep peace in visitors and pilgrims alike.