<p>In "Passages Through India" in the November/December 2006 issue of <em>National Geographic Traveler</em>, we commissioned renowned photographers to capture the real India, the essence of this richly exotic country. Their travels took them to the far corners of the country—from Tamil Nadu to Ladakh, Kolkata to Mumbai. Here are just a sampling of their photographs. For more, see our magazine. And to plan your own Indian adventure, see our special India Trip Planner.<br><br><strong>India: Jewels of the East</strong><br><br>A Kolkata street vendor sells colorful furry animals. With a metropolitan population of more than 13 million, Kolkata—formerly known as Calcutta—is a hive of constant activity. Crowding can extend to the home, prompting young people to seek privacy in public spaces. "When it gets dark," says the photographer, "couples emerge to spend some private time together away from the prying eyes of their families."<br><br>Read more about India in "Passages Through India," a special section in the November/December 2006 issue of <em>National Geographic Traveler</em>.</p>