Places of Interest
Delhi
A city of great character, of contrasts and convolutions - this is Delhi, the capital city of India. A city with antiquity dating back over 2,000 years, it is also a modern metropolis with fast cars and neon lit shopping malls. So varied are the shades of Delhi's different faces, it is difficult to grasp it in a short span of time.
Home to over 10 million people, the sights of Destination Delhi range from the ruins of the seven historical cities built over time, monuments that testify to its position as a central hub of commerce and government, to symbols of an ever-growing prosperity in the southern parts that has engulfed a multitude of old villages. Even a cursory glance at a Delhi destination guide will reveal that here is a city that is simply packed with important sights that include the historical, cultural and the religious. This is the home of the Qutub Minar and India Gate, Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort, the Lotus Temple and Jama Masjid. Delhi is the city of the mythological Pandavs and the mythical Indraprastha, of the medieval Sultanate and of the great Mughal, Shah Jahan.
The large number of important sightseeing venues and the expanse of the city together make Delhi actually quite a difficult city to "do" in a short span of time. North Delhi, which is Old Delhi, is the area where the Mughals left behind some of the greatest architectural delights in all of India. In the southern parts of New Delhi are more remnants from bygone eras: forts, mausoleums and other sundry monuments.
But it is central Delhi where much of the action happens; this is Lutyen's Delhi, where the corridors of power are located and only the most successful companies can afford the real estate. Tourists flock to central Delhi with the intuition of homing pigeons. Budget accommodation abounds in Paharganj, from where the New Delhi railway station is just a short walk, a brief auto-rickshaw ride will get one to the atmospheric lanes of Old Delhi, and the pleasures of Connaught Place are right there. Only a small distance from "CP" are Delhi's most important museums.
If your India travel plans restrict your stay in Delhi to a day then Connaught Place is where you want to be: airline offices, tourist information kiosks, footpath Delhi City Guide hawkers, restaurants, pubs, monuments like the Jantar Mantar observatory, shopping streets like Janpath, chaos, clutter, colour - this place packs in all that's best about Delhi in both its older and newer avatars. If you're spending only two days in Delhi, then too you'd want to be located in this area, give one day to the action at Connaught Place and reserve the other for a well-organised guided city tour, most of which originate from Connaught Place.
A repository of India's culture and heritage, Delhi is famous for its many museums, art galleries and crafts expositions that are a mirror to the entire country. It is also the center of most important cultural festivals, where performers from the classical arts to modern pop stars, artists, sculptors, dramatists, film-makers, all come to present their works. Charting phenomenal growth over five decades after India's independence in 1947, Delhi has now become a heterogeneous mixture of all religious groups, linguistic communities, social segments and economic brackets. While the city is bustling with activity that holds out a promise for everyone, it can brutally stamp out the vulnerable, leaving no ripples on the surface. Delhi - here you can feel the pulse of India beating to the rhythm of rapidly changing times.
Chandigarh
Serenity and a city are two diametrically opposite concepts, which however, get belied in the 'City Beautiful'. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature's preservation. It is here that the trees and plants are as much a part of the construction plans as the buildings and the roads.
Thanks to the creative genius of Le Corbusier, the city retains its inherent character even today, as conceived by him in his Master Plan. Corbusier's architectural ingenuity endowed with uniform and standardized structure designs. Wide roads, sector wise divisions, tree-lined avenues, land scaping and a wide piazza, lends the city a special character and a unique orderliness.
The grid-iron plank forms the basis of the tranquil ambience that pervades the city. The sector neighbourhoods with their self sufficient markets and other infrastructural facilities, contain activities within their bounds. The segregated traffic system reduces the noise pollution. Each house has its own share of nature's bounty with verdant open spaces, play - grounds and mini front lawns.
Numerous picturesque spots dotting the city enable its residents and the visitors to get away from the daily grind and tensions and to merge with nature. Whether it is a morning or an evening walk through the salubrious Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj the Leisure Valley, the Lake, the tree lined avenues or the open Piazza, all provide an invigorating experience.
The City Centre-or 'Seventeen', as it is popularly called, offers an organized arrangement of square building blocks and open spaces. The Piazza livens up in the afternoon with the office crowds out to recharge themselves. In the evenings shoppers and tourists, enjoying an icecream or popcorns, sit on the steps of the "dove of peace" sput, where water cascades down from one level to another in geometrically shaped tanks, amidst the delightful play of colourful lights.
The Leisure Valley, the Fitness Trails, the Botanical and terraced gardens, the hibiscus and topiary parks and other gardens along the green belt, that pass through the city, offer a quiet retreat at all hours of the day, orchestrating life's subtler impulses and heightening the spiritual experience and contribute to its serene character.
Even a drive through the city is a lively experience with its pleasant sites, green rolling belts, attractively designed facades of residential areas, the landscaped roundabouts with their own structural elements, and floral layouts and, of course, the majestic view of the Shivalik hill range.
No wonder the residents of Chandigarh are so attuned to quality of life, that this city has to offer, that they find their short forays to other metros a night - marish experince.
For its residents, Chandigarh is the most lovable city to live in and is a near addiction. The visitors view it as their most cherished experience, where one can lose oneself in its sauve serenity and gain spiritual insight.
Punjab
Punjab, a vibrant state in North West India, is home to the Sikh people who are known for their zest for life, martial ethos, dynamism in agriculture, trade and industry, wholesome cuisine, rhythmic music, and adherence to the principles of Sikhism founded by Guru Nanak.
Punjab has a long history. It is the land of five rivers, on the banks of which sites that date back to the Indus Valley civilization have been found. Punjab has faced the wrath of invaders for centuries, from the invasion of Alexander the Great in 326 B.C. to the Muslim invasions in the medieval period. In the 19th century Punjab was unified under Ranjit Singh and later came under British rule. During India's independence Punjab was divided between India and Pakistan. The Indian state of Punjab is the richest and most industrialized of Indian states. Known for its record agricultural production, Punjab is considered the breadbasket of India.
Amritsar
The Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion and a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs worldwide is situated in Amritsar. The Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das began the construction of the Golden Temple and in his lifetime the holy city of Amritsar developed into an important town. The next Guru, Guru Ram Das, began the construction of the holy lake that surrounds the temple. Guru Arjan Dev conceived the sanctum sanctorum or Harmandir Sahib, which stands today as a hallowed symbol of the Sikh faith. The holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib was given pride of place in the Harmandir Saheb in 1604.
Wagah Border Crossing
Crowds gather every evening to watch the lowering of the flags ceremony at the Wagan Border crossing and to cheer the troops who carry out the daily ceremony. This ritual is accompanied by crisp marching by Indian and Pakistani border guards, accompanied by bugle calls and the closing of the gates.
Ludhiana
Known as the Manchester of India, Ludhiana is famous for its spinning mills and exports finished garments worldwide. Ludhiana is also known for its agricultural university an important center of the Green Revolution and its factories where motorcycles and machine tools are manufactured.
Kila Raipur
The village of Kila Raipur, near Ludhiana, is known for its rural Olympics. Various sports and feats of strength are performed at the annual rural games held at this village.
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is famous for being a center of sports, particularly hockey, in India and is a leading center for the production of sports goods in the world.
Uttaranchal Uttaranchal is a 'paradise' for nature lover's and adventure sports enthusiasts.
Mussorie, the 'Queen of Hills';Nainital, the 'Lake District'; Almora, the 'Switzerland of India';Ranikhet ,Pithoragarh, pauri and Munsyari are just few highlights for the nature lovers. For adventure and excitement, one may choose Mountaineering (Bhagirathi, Chowkhamba, Nanda Devi Kamet, Pindari, Sahastrataal, Milam, Kafni, Khatling, Gaumukh), Trekking, Skiing (Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Munsyari, Mundali), Skating, Water Sports like rafting, boating and angling and Aero Sports like Hand Gliding, Paragliding (Pithoragarh,Jolly Grant, Pauri).
DevPrayag
DevPrayag is set on the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers and is considered to be one of the 'Panch prayag'. When they flow out of here, they are together called the Ganga. There are suspension bridges on the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda. It is also the seat of the pandas (priests) of the Badrinath Dham.
Nainital
The beautiful lake resort nestles amidst seven hills in a lush valley at an altitude of 1938 metres. In 1841, the British first discovered Nainital as a holiday resort. Today, the town has emerged as one of the most important hill resorts of India. Also known as Dev Bhumi, Uttaranchal is a boon for the pilgrim tourists. The Maha Kumba Mela, the Char Dham Yatra and the kailash Mansarovar yatra give Uttaranchal an international recognisance. The major pilgrim places include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Devprayag, Nandadevi and Poornagiri. The State is also a treasure house of exotic flora and fauna and is an ideal location for eco-tourism, as well as wildlife tourism. The world-famous Corbett National Park is the pride of Uttaranchal. Other important sanctuaries are, Rajaji National Park, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Asan Barrage, Chilla etc. Last but not the least, the rich cultural traditions and the cool and invigorating climate of Uttaranchal sums up for a perfect holiday destination to relax and unwind
Himachal Pradesh
After independence of India, Himachal was declared as Union territory but later on its status was raised to part 'C' state till 1966 when some hilly areas of Punjab were merged in this due to re-organzation of Punjab state. However, it was declared a fullfledged state on 25.1.71 with 12 districts. It is larger in area than Punjab, Haryana and Kerala. It is located in the north-west of India in the lap of Himalaya. It is surrounded by Jammu-Kashmir in the north, Uttar Pradesh in the south-east, Haryana in the south and Punjab in the south-west. In the east it has borders with Tibet. It has an elevation from 450 to 6800 mts. and can be divided into southern and northern regions. Southern region is warm in summer and the northern is extremly cold with heavy snow.
Himachal Pradesh has been on the path of progress since Independence. The literacy rate of the state is 63% now and is improving every decade. The population has almost stabilized at about 5 million, thanks to high literacy and effective family planning programs. Every village in the state has electricity and drinking water now.
Himachal is literally a power house when it comes to hydro-electricity. The state has many dams that harness the hilly rivers to generate electric power. The electricity is used by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and by the industries in the northern plains.Many young men from Himachal serve the Indian Army and have played significant role in the National defense. Dharamsala has a war memorial dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives for their country.
Himachal has five mighty snow-fed rivers flowing through it - the Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna. Climatically, this state is divisible into two regions - the south which is as warm as the plains, and the north where the summers are temperate and winters are extremely cold.
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir, (often abbreviated as Kashmir), is the northern-most state of Republic of India, lying mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with Himachal Pradesh to the south, Pakistan to the west and People's Republic of China to the north and the east. Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
Literally Kashmir means "land desiccated from water" (Sanskrit: Ka = water, shimeera = desiccate). According to Hindu mythology, Sage Kashyapa drained the erstwhile lake to produce the land. The earliest recorded history of Kashmir as an area begins with Ashoka Maurya who is often credited with founding the city of Srinagar as part of vast expanding empire. Kashmir was once a Buddhist seat of learning, perhaps with the Sarvastivadan school dominating. East and Central Asian Buddhist monks are recorded as visiting the kingdom.
The State is rich in flora and fauna. In Jammu, the flora ranges from the thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes. Of the broad leaf trees there are maple, horse chest nuts, silver fir etc. At the higher altitudes there are birch, rhododendron, Berbers and a large number of herbal plants.
Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32.17 degree and 36.58-degree north latitude and 37.26 degree and 80.30-degree east longitude; the total area of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is 22,22,236 square kilometers. The geography of the Kashmir valley, stretches for about 84 miles from the northeast to the southwest and is approximately 20 to 25 miles broad. Its height above the sea level is over 5,000 feet.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a vibrant, exotic state where tradition and royal glory meet in a riot of colors against the vast backdrop of sand and desert. It has an unusual diversity in its entire forms- people, customs, culture, costumes, music, manners, dialects, cuisine and physiography. The land is endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palace havelis, rich culture and heritage, beauty and natural resources. It is a land rich in music, Dance, Art & Craft and Adventure, a land that never ceases to intrigue & enchant. There is a haunting air of romance, about the state, which is palpable in its every nook and corner.
This abode of kings is one of the most exotic locales for tourist world over. The state has not only survived in all its ethnicity but owes its charisma and color to its enduring traditional way of life. It is one of the 26 states that, along with seven union territories, form the republic of India. So rich is the history of the land that every roadside village has its own tales of valour and sacrifice, the winds sing them and the sands shift to spread them. Rajasthan is Spicy, but then, what is life after all without little bit of spice, Rajasthan provides abundant scope to explore it.
The panoramic outlook of the state is simply mesmerizing, with lofty hills of Aravali's - one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world and the golden sand dunes of the Great Indian Desert - the only desert of the sub-continent. No other region in the country is a conglomeration of so many paradoxes. It is a land of superlatives, everything over here is breathtakingly beautiful, impressive and fascinating! The state is well connected with other parts of the country and can be easily approached from Delhi and Bombay. Fast trains, direct bus and air connections make travel easy and comfortable. A visit to this wonderland will leave a lasting spell on your mind. In fact, one visit is not enough to capture the real essence of this magical land. You will, we assure you, keep coming back for more.
Rajasthan is a destination that defies definition.
Udaipur
Set in a valley of the Aravalli Hills, the city of the kingdom of the Ranas of Mewar, presents a tranquil portrait of white marble palaces, placid blue lakes, and green hills, and defiantly colorful in an avid landscape. It is a walled city, with five impressive gates. Lake Pichola, is a not to be missed site, fringed with hills, gardens, havelis, ghats and temples. The lake Palace, is a magical monument set amidst the lake, and recalls, the grandeur and romance of Rajputana.
Jaisalmer
A medieval town on the western fringe of India, with its beautiful buildings, and narrow street and golden sandstone walls. The approach is across the scorching desert. The Golden Fort dominates the town. This town is famous for its camel safaris.
Bharatpur
Bharatpur in Rajasthan is set in the Jat land replete with old forts and palaces. The Bharatpur Palace has large number of ancient exhibits dating to 15th century. Deeg with it's pleasure palace is often visited. Proximity to Agra adds to its attraction. But it is best known for its bird sanctuary. The Koladeo National Park with it's rich variety is perhaps the best in Asia. Every year the rare Siberian Cranes migrate here to spend winters in the warm climate of Bharatpur. The nearest airport is Agra. Regular trains connect Bharatpur with other cities on Delhi_ Mumbai trunk route and it has a very good network of buses.
Jaipur
The 'pink' city, first used in 1853, when this welcoming color was painted, to honour Prince Albert, is the capital of Rajasthan, and is around 275 years old. Tourist attractions are varied. The Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, built in pink sandstone, is the most famous building, and built for ladies of the harem. The City Palace, occupies the centre of Jaipur, and should not be skipped. The Jantar Mantar is a grand observatory, built by Jai Singh, after whom Jaipur is named.
Ajmer
The burial place or Dargah of Moinuddin Chisti, a Muslim saint, his tomb became a world famous place of pilgrimage, and at Id and Muharram, pilgrims converge from all over. Mosques, pavilions and other tombs were subsequently erected.
Pushkar
Pushkar Lake is a sacred place for Hindus, since at the end is the only Brahma (one of the famous trinity, apart from Vishnu & Shiva) temple in the country, and marks the place where Brahma was incarnated. At the Kartik Poornima (full moon in November), is a spectacular fair, of cattle and camels, and a must on a tourist's calendar.
Jodhpur
This was once the Capital of Marwar, and stretches around the Meherangarh Fort, and is on the edge of the Thar Desert. This was an ancient trading centre, on the Delhi-Gujarat route, and generated wealth for the military might. The Umaid Bhawan Palace, and Museum, and nearby Chhatris, besides the fort, are worth visiting.
Bikaner
The city was founded by Rao Bikaji and was an important center in the ancient caravan trade route. The most famous of all structures is the massive fort with its 986 mtr. Long wall, 37 bastions, 2 entrances and exquisite quality of stone carving seen on the palaces and havelis inside the fort. Lalgarh palace made of red sandstone is 3 kms from the town; the 16th century Bhandsagar temple complex is only 5 kms away. The government managed camel breeding farm , perhaps the only of its kind in Asia, is only 10kms away. The Karni Mata Temple is famous for its profusion of rats as they are considered sacred and worshipped, is 33kms Bikaner. The temple has huge silver gates and exquisite marble carvings.
Chittorgarh
The town is full of Rajput legends and history. It was built in the 8th century by Bappa Rawal. The attraction here is the Chittorgarh fort that has been besieged thrice in the past each time resulting in "Jauhar" , mass suicide by women and children. The best way to visit Chhitorgarh would be to make Udaipur once base and take a day's excursion to the for