Theroux uses India as a backdrop for three novellas in this brilliant collection, The Elephanta Suite. In Monkey Hill, an American couple, Audie and Beth Bluden, have traveled to a holistic spa for relaxation, mediation and renewal. They expect luxury and adornment, but soon venture into exploitation of their Indian staff to meet their needs.

Dwight Huntsinger, lawyer and businessman, is traveling through India in The Gateway to India. His local colleagues instruct him on customs. He is a cautious traveler, focused on maintaining good hygiene and staying in close proximity to his hotel. But after being approached by a woman couple on the street, Dwight is drawn into a tangled web of power, subordination, and manipulation. He accepted the India assignment after a recent divorce. He experiments with his dark desires through his romantic encounters, and learns that romance can be bought for a very steep price.

After a spat with her travel companion, recent college graduate Alice embarks on a solo journey in The Elephant God. She seeks solace in a simple ashram, and accepts teachings from the ashram swami. But, after running low on cash funds, Alice accepts a job at a call center, where she trains workers on their American accents. She is conflicted by her contributions to their success, and struggles with her influence on their behavior. Alice meets a local boy, Shan, on a train ride. He soon becomes enraptured with Alice, and stalks her relentlessly. A tragic turn of events shatters her existence, yet the ending proves Alice is more powerful than her circumstances.

Many Western travelers head to India to explore their lives, to seek reflection and clarity. One can experience an explosion of sensations and emotions while traveling through the exotic country. Theroux exposes the underbelly of this spiritual haven and the characters that breathe its routine daily.