Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a small numbers of elusive tigers. Easier to spot are the vast herds of wild elephants that come to drink at the lake. The best ways to explore are by raft or on a guided jungle walk.

Tiger, leopard, Indian wild dog, sloth bear and Indian bison are some of the main animal attractions at Pench - Pench is one of India's lesser-known wildlife sanctuaries and is said to have been the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book.

Charing Cross Road and St Stephen's Church are just two of the many reminders of Ooty's colonial past. But it's the narrow-guage railway from Coonoor, with its charming toy train, that attracts most visitors to Ooty.

Mysore's impressive Maharaja's City Palace is its main landmark whilst the temple-topped Chamundi Hill offers good views of the city. For wildlife buffs, Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary and Bandipur NP are not too far away.

The hills of the Western Ghats that surround Munnar are carpeted with lush fields of tea and numerous good walking trails. Several bird and wildlife sanctuaries in the area, add to the interest.

Once a hill station, picturesque Manali is now a high altitude centre for outdoor activities including trekking in the surrounding mountains and valleys. The scenic Manali-Leh highway links it to Ladakh.

The star attraction of bustling Madurai is the stunning Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple. Its soaring towers (gopuras) display multicoloured carvings of Hindu gods whilst the temple's many festivals and ceremonies are attended by thousands of pilgrims.

Situated just to the north of the Indus Valley, high in the arid heart of the great Karakoram Mountain range, Leh sits at the crossroads of High Asia. For centuries it looked to the north, towards Tibet and Central Asia, for its influences and from the town's main bazaar, yak trains would set out over the Karakoram La to Yarkand and Kashgar. In recent years, as a part of India, its focus has shifted from that of trade to a military nature, sitting as it now does close to the borders of Pakistan and China. The town itself is dominated by the nine-storey Leh Palace, ancient home to the Ladakhi royal family, beneath which twist and turn a labyrinth of narrow alleyways. Beyond that to the south lies modern Leh. From the Padma Guesthouse - a lovely family run hotel at which all WF tours stay - there are many lovely walks to nearby stupas and palaces, curiosity shops or to watch a game of polo.

Kovalam is Kerala's most popular beach resort comprising four crescent-shaped sandy beaches backed by an array of accommodation, cafes and restaurants.

Kolkata was the capital of the former Raj and there are many grand remnants of its colonial past to discover. It is now an artistic and cultural centre with many music festivals, galleries and performance art.