The author buys an elephant named Tara and rides her over six hundred miles across India to the Sonepur Mela, the world's oldest elephant market. From Bhim, a drink-racked mahout, Shand learned to ride and care for her. From his friend Aditya Patankar he learned Indian ways. And with Tara, his new companion, he fell in love.
The author describes his 600 mile journey to the world's oldest elephant market, the Sonepur Mela, riding his Indian elephant, Tara.