The Rough Guide Snapshot to Tamil Nadu is the ultimate travel guide to this beautiful part of India. It guides you through the state with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from the teeming metropolis of Chennai to the sacred temples at Mamallapuram and Thanjavur, and from the former French colony of Puducherry to the wild elephants of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, hostels and shops ensuring you have the best trip possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to India, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around Tamil Nadu, including transport, food, drink, costs, health, activities and tips for travelling with children. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to India. Full coverage: Chennai (Madras), Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry, Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbakonam, Darasuram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Western Ghats, Kodaikanal, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Coimbatore, Coonoor, Udhagamandalam, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. (Equivalent printed page extent 142 pages).

Bharat. Son of Kaikeyi. Brother of Rama. Reluctant king of Kosala. Bharat’s carefree life in Kekeya is turned upside down by the death of his father Raja Dashratha and the exile of his brother and crown prince Rama. Untrained in statecraft and unsure of himself, Bharat begins his rule over Kosala by tackling an audacious rakshasa attack on Ayodhya. There’s more trouble brewing. As the magic that sustains the kingdom starts weakening and a drought looms over Kosala, Ayodhya’s citizens begin to disappear mysteriously. Ambitious aristocrats manipulate the inexperienced king to their ends, while fickle allies seize the opportunity to assert their independence. And unknown to Bharat, the Lord of Lanka has put a cunning plan into action that will break the back of Ayodhya’s resistance. Beset by challenges, will Bharat lose Ayodhya so early in his reign? Crackling with characters overlooked and forgotten by the Ramayana, The Warlord of Ayodhya is a thrilling spinoff by bestselling fantasy author Shatrujeet Nath. SHATRUJEET NATH is the creator of the runaway national bestselling series Vikramaditya Veergatha, and the upcoming alternative mythology series Warlord of Ayodhya. Described as “a new face to Indian mythology” by DNA, Shatrujeet writes for movies and web shows as well.

On yoginīs, minor form of Hindu goddesses belonging to tantric tradition.

The town of Badami, the nearby villages of Aihole and Pattadakal, and the pilgrimage site of Mahakuta, in the Malprabha valley of central Karnataka, are celebrated for their magnificent rock-cut shrines and structural temples. These Hindu and Jain monuments are associated with the Early Chalukyas who reigned over this part of the Deccan during the 6th-8th centuries. Together with a profusion of magnificent sculptures, mostly found in situ, these shrines and temples may be considered among the earliest, best preserved vestiges of temple art in India. This guidebook, the first ever for the Badami region, is authored by a scholar whose PhD was on Early Chalukya architecture. The text is illustrated with regional and town maps, building plans, and more than 130 splendid color photographs.