Enlarge Photo

The imagination of the Western world has long been captivated by Indian style—the country’s craftsmanship and colors are vivid and timeless. Legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland once famously quipped that pink is India’s navy blue; more recently fashion designer Matthew Williamson called the place “a creative assault on the sense.”

Lavish details, bold patterns and exquisite craftsmanship can be seen everywhere, from the gold-threaded edge of a sari to the hand-painted ceiling of a maharaja’s palace; some of the latter have been turned into the country’s most spectacular hotels.

Plotting out an itinerary to this—the world’s seventh-largest country—can be challenging. But those focused on style have to include time in Delhi, the capital; in colorful Jaipur and lakeside Udaipur, in Rajasthan; and in buzzing, massive Mumbai.

India Sweepstakes: Win a six-night trip to India, including airfare, co-sponsored by Qatar Airways, Greaves Travel and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts. Read more about the prize and enter: India Sweepstakes.

To get inspired and start dreaming of India—and the wares to bring back—read these articles:

• Mumbai: Neighborhood Shopping Walk
• Jaipur: Shopping for Gems
• Delhi: Behind the Scenes

Mark Twain, who visited India in 1895, said it best: “It’s the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined.”

Read destination reports about Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai.