India

India Tourism

Glance at some of the great cities and tourist spots in India.

Agra

The land of the Taj Mahal, Agra was the capital of India at the time of the Moghuls in the 16th & 17th centuries. However Shah Jahan is the Moghul Emperor inevitably connected with Agra. He built the Jama Masjid, most of the palace buildings inside the Agra Fort and most importantly the Taj Mahal. Built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj has been described as the most extravagant monument ever built to love. The Taj Mahal is almost synonymous with India.

Other places of interest in & around Agra are the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, a city built by the Emperor Akbar as his capital, but soon abandoned, due to an acute scarcity of water.

Aurangabad

Aurangabad is a good base for visiting the Ajanta and the Ellora caves.

Ellora Caves - The caves of Ellora are about 30 kms from Aurangabad. In all there are 34 caves at Ellora: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. The Hindu Caves are the most dramatic and impressive of the Ellora cave temples. In size, design and energy they are in a totally different league from the Buddhist or Jain caves. The Jain caves mark the final phase of Ellora. There are only five Jain temples, several hundred meters north of the last Hindu temple. Cave 32 - The Indra Sabha is the finest of the Jain cave temples.

Ajanta Caves - Unlike the Ellora caves, Ajanta Caves are all Buddhist. These caves are famous for their magnificent paintings. Five of the caves are chaitayas or temples while the other 24 are viharas or monasteries.

Bangalore

Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in India, attracting industry and commerce from all over. Some of the largest industrial plants in India like Hindustan Aeronautics, Hindustan machine Tools and Bharat Electronics are located here. The city is studded with beautifully laid out gardens, wide tree lined avenues, imposing buildings and lively bazaars. The Vidhana Soudha is one of India's most spectacular buildings, built of granite in the neo Dravidian style of architecture. Cubbon Park, covering an area of 120 hectares, is full of flowering trees and beautifully landscaped. Some of the other attractions in Bangalore are the Lalbagh Gardens, Tipu Sultan's Palace and the Bull Temple.

Belur

This was a flourishing city under the Hoysala Kings, 800 years ago. The modern town hosts only one reminder of their grandeur. The Chinnakesava Temple stands, almost as perfectly preserved as on the day it was completed. A fabulous tribute to the genius and skill of medieval craftsmen. The friezes of animals, riders, Gods and Goddesses, carved with a minute elaboration of detail, are one of the most marvellous exhibitions of human labour to be found even in the patient East.

Cochin

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Cochin set on a cluster of islands and peninsulas is a blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village. Here you can see the oldest church in India, winding streets crammed with 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, a 16th century synagogue and a palace built by the Portuguese and given to the Raja of Cochin. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Cochin raja, Veera Kerala Varma (1537-61), as a gesture of goodwill. It was substantially renovated by the Dutch after 1663, hence its other name, the 'Dutch Palace'. The most important feature of this palace, however, is the astonishing murals in the bedchambers and other rooms, which depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranic legends connected with Siva, Vishnu, Krishna, Kumara and Durga. These murals are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful and extensive to be seen anywhere in India.

Goa

The former Portuguese enclave of Goa, one of India's gems, has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers` lexicon for many years. The main reason for this is its magnificent palm-fringed beaches and renowned 'travellers' scene'.It is a heady blend of serenity and excitement down a 100 km coastline studded with some of the world's most beautiful beaches - Calangute, Colva, Baga, Dona Paula, Bogmalo and Aguada.Goa’s magnificent palm fringed beaches are a great place to relax and switch off. Besides, Goa has a character quite distinct from the rest of India. Despite more than three decades of ‘liberation’ from Portuguese colonial rule, Roman Catholicism remains the predominant religion, skirts far outnumber saris, and the people display an easy-going tropical indulgence, humour and civility.

Gleaming whitewashed churches with Portuguese style facades pepper the hillsides, rice paddies and dense coconut palm groves, while crumbling forts guard rocky capes and estuary entrances. Markets are lively colourful affairs, and siesta is widely observed during the hot afternoon hours. Carnival explodes onto the streets for four riotous days and nights prior to Lent.

The Goa extension can be used with all of the Indian itineraries. There are daily flights to Goa from Delhi & Bombay.

Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital city of the state of Rajasthan popularly also known as the Pink City. The city owes its name and foundation to the great warrior astronomer king Maharaja Jai Singh II.

The most impressive fort in and around Jaipur is the Amer Fort, located 11 kms out of Jaipur. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hill side and over looking a lake.

The other places worth a visit are the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and the Observatory.

Jaisalmer

Located on the ancient, strategic camel train routes between India, Central Asia, Jaisalmer seems to be straight out of the Tales of Arabian Nights. The Jaisalmer Fort, is teeming with activity as almost a quarter of the old city's population resides here. Within the fort walls are a group of exquisitely carved Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

The other places worth a visit are the beautiful mansions or Havelies which are still in good condition, as well Lake Gadesar. A visit to Jaisalmer will not be complete without a trip to the sand dunes at Sam.

Jodhpur

Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert and is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. The main attraction is the Meherangarh Fort, one of the most impressive forts in Rajasthan. Inside the fort, there is a whole series of court yards and palaces. They house a fantastic collection of the trappings of Indian royalty, including an amazing collection of elephant howdahs, miniature paintings, superb folk music instruments, furniture and costumes.

Other places of interest are Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mandore Gardens.

Khajuraho

In the temple architecture of India, the Khajuraho complex remains unique.These temples were built during the Chandella period, a dynasty which survived for five centuries before falling to the onslaught of Islam. Almost all the temples date from one century long burst of creative genius from 950 - 1050 AD.

The carvings on the temples of Khajuraho signify the union of the physical self and the soul with the Divine. Of the 85 original temples, 22 still remain in their erotic splendour. Externally the temples consist of successive waves of higher & higher towers culminating in the soaring "Shikara" which tops the sanctum. While the lower towers may be pyramid shaped, the Shikkara is taller & curvilinear. The ornate design of all these vertical elements is balanced by an equally ornate horizontal element from the bands of sculpture that run around the temples. Although the sculptures are superbly developed in their own right, they are also a carefully integrated part of the overall design.

Mysore

Mysore, capital of the erstwhile princely state of that name, is famous for its silk, sandalwood, palaces and its leisurely way of life. About eight miles from Mysore is the battle scarred town of Shrirangapattana, once Tipu Sultan's capital. It was here that the Tiger of Mysore, as Tipu was called, fought and died. Outside the ruins of the old fort is Daria Daulat (Splendour of the Sea). Tipu's summer palace, set in an exquisite garden is still in good shape. About 30 miles from Mysore is the temple of Somnathpur - the third temple built by the Hoysala dynasty.

Trivandrum

Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, is a charming town with an undulating landscape where large public buildings are surrounded by wide avenues and lovely gardens. The most fascinating attractions are the Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, built in the Dravidian style. The fabulous beach at Kovalam is just 11 km away from the city. 55 km south of Trivandrum on the Cape Road, is the fabulous Palace of Padmanabhapuram, set in the wild and beautiful landscape backed by hills.

Udaipur

Udaipur rivals any of the world famous creations of the Mughuls with its Rajput love of the whimsical and its superbly crafted elegance. The city was founded by Maharaja Udai Singh in 1568 following the final sacking of Chittorgarh by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Udaipur is full of palaces, temples and havelies ranging from the modest to the extravagant. It is also proud of its heritage as a centre for performing arts, painting and crafts. The most famous of these is the Lake Palace located in the centre of Lake Pichola. Other places of interest are Jagmandir Island, City Palace and Museum, Jagdish Temple & Bagore Ki Haveli.

An interesting excursion from Udaipur would be a day trip to the Kumbalgarh fort and the Jain temples at Ranakpur.

At Ranakpur see one of the most impressive Jain temples in India. The CHAUMKHA temple, built in 1439 is very beautiful, with 29 halls and 1444 carved pillars, no two of which are alike. Perhaps the finest example of Jain architecture, anywhere in India.

The Kumbalgarh fort built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha is located on top of the Aravalli ranges at a height of 1100 ms. It was here that the rulers of Mewar retreated it time of danger. The walls of the fort stretch some 12 kms and enclose many temples and palaces.

Varanasi

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Varanasi is one of the most important pilgrimage sights in India. Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganga, Varanasi has been a centre of learning and civilisation for over 2000 years and it is claimed that it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It was at Sarnath only 10 kms away that the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment, 25 centuries ago.

Varanasi's principal attraction is the long string of bathing ghats which line the west banks of the Ganges. An early morning river cruise is a must.

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