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Top Things To See
Beautiful Kashmir
Wonder at Kashmir's flower-spangled meadows, icy mountain peaks and clear rivers. Jammu is the railhead for Srinagar, the ancient Mughal capital. Lake Dal has houseboats where visitors can live surrounded by scenery so beautiful it is known as ‘paradise on earth'. Bollywood and Bombay Escape Indian stereotypes in Mumbai (Bombay), the capital of Maharashtra, a bustling port and the country's commercial hub, with plate-glass skyscrapers and modern industry jostling alongside ramshackle bazaars and a hectic street life. The city is also the home of the prolific film industry. Welcome to 'Bollywood'! Experience Delhi Encounter the two sides of Delhi: New Delhi is a modern city, offering Lutyens' architecture; ‘Old' Delhi is several centuries old, with narrow, winding streets, ancient shrines and rambunctious bazaars. See the Red Fort, the nearby Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque) and the Qutab Minar's soaring tower. Explore Kolkata Go east to Kolkata (Calcutta), capital of West Bengal and India's second most populous city (after Mumbai/Bombay), with its impressive colonial buildings. It is a major business centre with many markets and bazaars. Central Kolkata contains the Maidan, the central parkland. Golden Triangle Discover the area known as the ‘Golden Triangle' with its many stunning attractions. Delhi sits at the heart of the area with Agra in the southeast with the iconic Taj Mahal. To the southwest, in Rajasthan, is Jaipur, the vibrant ‘Pink City'. Visit the Amber Fort and the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). To the southeast of the triangle lies Khajuraho with its famous erotic friezes. Hill Stations Enjoy the cool Hill Stations as a retreat from the heat of the plains. Some of the most renowned hill stations include Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Ooty (Tamil Nadu) and Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu). Holy temples Orissa state is famous for temples. Bhubaneswar has some particularly notable temples, including the Lingaraj Temple. The city of Puri, a holy Hindu place of pilgrimage, stages Rath Yatra in June/July, where icons of gods are drawn on massive chariots. Konarak is known for its striking ‘Sun Temple '. India's beaches Mumbai (Bombay) has Juhu and Chowpatty, while Goa offers some of the nation's most sublime beaches and resorts. Marina Beach in Chennai (Madras) is the second largest in the world. The lush state of Kerala includes the famous beach at Kovalam. River Ganges Gaze at the sacred River Ganges. Along its bank is the wondrous city of Varanasi, one of India's holiest Hindu locations with its ghats which, at dawn, are thronged with pilgrims and holy men performing ritual ablutions and prayers. Romantic Rajasthan Visit the most romantic city in Rajasthan, Udaipur, built around the lovely Lake Pichola and famed for its breathtaking Lake Palace Hotel, and dubbed the ‘Venice of the East'. Temples of Ajanta Observe stunning rock-cut temples, such as the Buddhist cave temples at Ajanta, which date back at least 2,000 years. The caves at Ellora depict religious stories and are Hindu, Buddhist and Jain in origin. Wildlife and parks Check out the wildlife in over 93 national parks, 486 wildlife sanctuaries and 14 biosphere reserves. The Indian tiger and the Asiatic elephant are still found in certain regions. Among the best known reserves are Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Rajasthan), Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan), Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand) and Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal). See Contact Addresses for further tourist information. |
