Cruising along India’s Malabar Coast is the perfect introduction to this land of wonders, and offers a new perspective on the country for return visitors, too. Bustling Mumbai, with its colonial monuments and temples, is a highlight of any Indian tour, while further south, the former Portuguese enclave of Goa, now famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, and cosmopolitan Cochin, once a major spice-trading centre, are a joy to explore. Sri Lanka, lying off the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, is renowned for its rich Buddhist heritage and lush tea plantations, and a visit to Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth is an unforgettable experience.