In India, captivated by the infectious magic of southern Hyderabad

Temples carved as if the stone were wood or metal. Lush forests and gardens teeming with hundreds of bird species, endless beaches gently lapped by the Indian Ocean. Festivals and rituals enlivened by colourful costumes, alternating with moments of profound spirituality and states of asceticism to be attained through meditation in ancient and evocative places, alone or in groups. Travelling through southern India, leaving Hyderabad behind, perhaps heading towards the southernmost tip of Cape Comorin, now known as Kanyakumari, one realises how this part of India continues to ‘captivate’ like an acrobat who holds the spectator’s gaze with a repertoire that is both ever-the-same and yet ever-changing. From mountain treks to marshland crossings, from hidden villages to teeming cities, whether taking part in religious celebrations or finding oneself caught up in more secular events, one is inevitably spellbound by the charm of the subcontinent.