India Travel Guide

Red Fort

The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Quila, is Delhi's signature attraction, rising high above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Mogul empire. The massive sandstone walls were built in the 17th century to keep out marauding invaders and still dominate the skyline today. Inside are an array of exquisite buildings, which once provided the living quarters for Shah Jehan, his courtiers, family and staff of three thousand. Visitors can marvel at the intricate decoration and only imagine the scenes here at the empire's height when the walls were studded with precious stones and a 'stream of paradise' drove an ingenious air conditioning system. The fort was the scene of the Indian uprising of 1857 and the mighty Lahore Gate, on the west side of the fort, remains a potent symbol in the fight for Independence.

Jama Masjid

Shah Jehan, the architect of the Red Fort and much of Old Delhi, built Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. This grand structure is situated on a hill a few hundred yards west of the Red Fort and towers over the mayhem of Old Delhi's sprawling streets. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and can hold 25,000 worshipers at one time. Wide red sandstone steps lead to entrances on the north, south and east sides of the mosque. Inside, is the massive courtyard dominated by two red and white striped sandstone minarets that cap the main prayer hall on the west side (facing Mecca). There are smaller towers at each corner of the mosque; energetic visitors can climb the 122 narrow steps of the southern one to be rewarded with magnificent views of Old and New Delhi. Those wearing shorts or skirts can hire a lunghito cover their legs, women wearing T-shirts should bring a scarf to cover their shoulders.

Qutb Minar

The Qutb Minar is a mammoth tower that was built between 1193 and 1369 to symbolise Islamic rule over Delhi and commemorate the victory by Qutab-ud-din over the city's last Hindu kingdom. Standing 238ft (72m) tall, the tower is decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran and tapers from a 50ft (15m) diameter at the base to just 8ft (2.5m) at the top. There are five distinct stories each encircled with a balcony, the first three are built of red sandstone, and the upper two are faced with white marble. At the foot of the minhar, stands Quwwat-ul-Islam, India's oldest mosque, which is built largely from the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples that were destroyed by the new Muslim rulers of India. The cloisters that flank the nearby courtyard are supported by pillars that were unmistakably pilfered from Hindu temples. Faces of the decorative figures have been removed to conform to Islamic law, which strictly forbids iconic worship. Incongruously, in the corner of the mosque stands an Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions of the Gupta period attributing it to the memory of King Chandragupta II (373-413). It is said that anyone who can encircle it with their hands while standing with their back to it will have their wishes fulfilled.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful examples of Mogul architecture in Delhi and is often seen as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Building started on the tomb in 1564 after the death of Humayun, the second Moghul emperor; it was overseen by Haji Begum, his senior widow and the mother of Akbar. The tomb is an octagonal structure capped by a double dome that soars 125ft (38m) into the sky and is set in a formal Persian garden. In the grounds are some other monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

After his visit in 1911 the Emperor of India, King George V of England, decreed that the capital should be moved from Calcutta to Delhi. Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan the new government center, which he focused around Rajpath, the grand, tree-lined boulevard that runs between the Secretariat Buildings and India Arch, the war memorial built in 1921. Rashtrapati Bhavan was built by Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, between 1921 and 1929, on the gentle slope of Raisina Hill, flanked by the Secretariat Buildings. This immense palace, larger than Versailles, was created for the Viceroy and is now the residence of the President of India. With the exception of the central copper dome there are few concessions to Indian architectural style; despite its classical columns the building is unmistakably British and, like most great Indian monuments, is a potent symbol of imperial power. Every Saturday morning between 9.35am and 10.15am, guards parade before the iron grille gates in Delhi's answer to London's Changing of the Guard. The gardens are open to the public every year in February and March.

Chandni Chowk

No trip to Delhi would be complete without a visit to one of the bazaars that surround Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square), in Old Delhi, where shops and stalls display a wonderful array of goods and offer a pungent and colorful insight into Delhi life. Chandni Chowk has a large number of galis (lanes) and each one is different, with its own atmosphere and smells. Naya Bazaar, on Khari Baoli, is the spice market that displays a wonderful selection of foodstuff in neat, colorful piles. The nearby Gadodia Market is the wholesale spice market. Hundreds of spices and condiments can be found including aniseed, ginger, pomegranate, saffron, lotus seeds, pickles and chutneys, to name just a few. Chor Bazaar sits behind the ramparts of the Red Fort and comes to life on Sundays to trade a collection of 'second hand' goods. Chawri Bazaar was once notorious for the ladies who beckoned men from the arched windows and balconies above street. Today, these houses have made way for shops specializing in brass and copper Buddhas, Vishnus and Krishnas. Some of the busiest galis house the poultry and fish markets, east of Kalan Mahal, but most tourists wisely avoid them.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most recognizable and evocative sights and a visit here does not disappoint. Set overlooking the River Yamuna, visible from Agra Fort in the West, the Taj was built by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favorite wife who died giving birth to her 14th child, in 1631. This story of this great monument to love is given an added poignancy by the fate of Shah Jahan himself. When his devout and austere son Aurangzeb seized power, Shah Jahan was interned in Agra Fort where he lived out his final years gazing wistfully at the Taj Mahal in the distance. When he died there in January 1666, with his daughter Jahanara Begum at his side, his body was carried across the river to lie alongside his beloved wife in his peerless tomb. Completed in 1653, the Taj Mahal is set in a large walled garden, between two mini-Tajs (one of which is a mosque), in front of a long reflective pond. Close up the craftsmanship is as spectacular as at a distance; the inside of the vast double-dome is inlaid with verses from the Koran and semi-precious stones. Visitors should aim to visit it at dawn and dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the color of the dome from white to shades of pink. Note that there can often be smog and fog in the mornings. Two days before and after the full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for moonlight viewing but tickets must be booked at the Archaeological Survey of India's offices in Agra 24 hours in advance.

Agra Fort

Not far from the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairytale palaces such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace), which, inlaid with thousands of mirrors was once the harem dressing room. There are also two beautiful mosques including Shah Jahan's Pearl Mosque (sadly currently out-of-bounds). The Octagonal Tower is an exquisitely carved tower where Shah Jahan spent the last seven years of his life. The tower was considered to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today the pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower, and much of the Agra Fort, is in bad shape but blank spaces and the empty inlay works give an idea of how this building must have looked in its prime.

Amber Palace

Situated on the crest of a hill seven miles north of Jaipur is Amber, capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1037 to 1728. The city-palace is protected by towering outer walls, a further wall runs for miles along the hills surrounding the palace. For many, the most memorable part of a trip to Jaipur is the journey up the palace ramparts, through a succession of vast gates, on the back of a painted elephant - Maharaja style. Inside are the ruins of a once great palace, a wonderful example of Rajput architecture, with Mogul influences. Visitors will be able to see the remains of the Maharajas quarters surrounded by the rooms of his many wives and concubines, each linked to his bedroom by secret steps and passageways to avoid jealousy. Although much of the complex is closed to the pubic, there is still a large area to explore. Visitors are advised to spend at least a few hours here and ideally hire a guide who will explain the architecture and history of the palace.

Jaipur City Palace

The magnificent City Palace is in the center of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since Jai Singh built it in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The Palace was built during the glory days and the exhibits and interior have lost none of their splendor; the doors and gateways preserve their flamboyant decoration and royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances. Chandra Mahal is the private palace of the current ruler and is approached through a number of courtyards. Mubarak Mahal, in the first courtyard, was once a guesthouse and is now a textile museum. There are number of other museums displaying old costumes and uniforms, carpets, mementos, elephant 'saddles' and an armory containing a fascinating array of fearsome and inventive weapons dating back to the Mogul era. A beautifully carved marble gate with brass doors leads to the second courtyard where Diwan-I-Khas, the hall of private audiences, is found. On display here are two gigantic silver urns used by Madho Singh II to carry water from the holy Ganges when he traveled to London in 1902 on board an ocean liner - he was reluctant to trust the water in the west! These are the largest silver vessels in the world - 243 kilograms of silver was required to cast each urn, which can contain 8,182 gallons of water.

Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)

The Palace of the Winds is Jaipur's most acclaimed attraction. Built in 1799, it is situated on the edge of the City Palace complex overlooking one of the city's main streets and was constructed to offer the women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below. The five-story building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head and contains over five hundred finely screened windows and balconies. The building, however, is smaller than one might imagine. Although the primary appeal is the finely carved pink façade, visitors can go inside to see where the women once sat and view the intricate honeycombed stonework close-up.

Udaipur City Palace

The white walls of the City Palace soar above the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola topped by ornamental battlements and turrets. The sprawling palace has been developed by successive maharanas since the foundation of Udaipur in 1559. Part of the palace is home to the current maharana, a section of it is a first-class hotel (with the best restaurant in the city) and the remainder is a museum. The approach to the City Palace is through the Elephant Gate, Hati Pol. The Great Gate, (Bara Pol) leads to the first court, where eight carved arches mark the spot where the rulers were once weighed against gold or silver, the equivalent value of which was then distributed among the poor. Beyond the Tripolia Gate is the arena where the elephant tug-of-war competitions were staged, past which are a series of courtyards, overlapping pavilions, terraces, corridors and hanging gardens. The Krishna Vilas honors a 19th century Udaipur princess who poisoned herself to avoid the dilemma of choosing a husband from the two rival households of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Its walls display miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and hunting parties. Further along, a glass mosaic gallery contains superb portraits and stained glass, and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city below. Set into the walls of the 17th century Mor Chowk are brilliant mosaics of three peacocks showing the three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon. Perhaps the most splendid rooms in the palace are the women's quarters, Zenana Mahal ,with their ornate alcoves, balconies and colored windows.

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

Forty miles (60km) north of Udaipur is the Jain temples of Ranakpur. It is the largest of its kind in India and boasts some staggering marble work, on a par with any in Asia. The main temple was built in 1439 and is dedicated to the first tirthankara Adinath, whose image is enshrined in its central sanctuary. The temple is two or three storys high in parts, and its roof, topped with five large shikharas, undulates with tiny spires that crown the small shrines to Jain saints lining the temple walls. Within are 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique and intricate designs, and dissecting the 29 halls. The carving on the walls, columns and the domed ceilings is superb. Friezes depicting the life of the tirthankara are etched into the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. Visitors may see Jaina monks walking about with masks on their faces to avoid eating insects; the most important teaching of Jainism is 'Ahimsa', meaning non-violence, and this is applied to all sentient beings. Many monks also carry a brush to sweep surfaces to avoid standing on bugs. Ranakpur's isolated position means it is not on the major tourist trail, but it makes a good stop for those traveling between Jaipur and Udaipur.

The Ghats

There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps') at Varanasi but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation. Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.

Fort Area

The magnificent Gothic Victorian buildings in the Fort area highlight the power and wealth of the British Empire at its might and are reminiscent of many of the great public buildings in London or Glasgow. The Victoria Terminus (known as CST), was opened in 1888 and is one of the world's grandest railway stations, on a par with New York's Grand Central Station or London's St Pancras. Built in the Italian Gothic style, it looks more like a lavishly decorated cathedral than a railway station; massive arches soar splendidly above the scurrying crowd and carved into the pillars and buttresses are images of monkeys, peacocks, elephants and lions. The station is topped by a tall dome crowned with a statue representing 'Progress'. The nearby St Thomas' Cathedral was built between 1672 and 1718 and is witness to almost the entire history of the British in Bombay. Its whitewashed interior contains poignant colonial memorials, including one to Henry Robertson Bower, Lieutenant of the Royal Indian Marine, who lost his life returning from the South Pole with Captain Scott. The epicenter of the Fort area is the Horniman Circle, surrounded by curved, arcaded terraces. The lush and leafy garden in the center offers a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Colaba

The southernmost peninsula, known as Colaba, is where most travelers gravitate to as it has a good range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Gateway to India was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit to India of King George V and Queen Mary. The archway is built from honey-colored basalt in a style derived from Gujarati architecture of the sixteenth century. In the days of the steam liner, the Gateway was for many visitors their first and last sight of India but today it acts purely as a colorful tourist stop, and attracts hawkers, snake charmers, and beggars. The neighboring Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1902 by JN Tata, after he was allegedly refused entry to one of the city's European hotels on account of being 'a native'. It has since turned into a bit of an institution, and the streets behind it have become a Mecca for travelers, the Colaba Causeway is the main street with a melee of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes. Unfortunately Colaba was also the site of two of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks and tourists are recommended to remain vigilant when visiting the area. To the north of the causeway, set in beautiful lush gardens, is the fascinating Prince of Wales Museum displaying a collection of ancient and medieval sculpture and Indian decorative arts, nearby the new National Gallery of Modern Art showcases Indian modern art. To the south is the Sassoon Dock, which at dawn becomes an area of intense and pungent activity as fishing boats arrive to unload their catch.

Marine Drive

Built in the 1920s, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare and a favorite spot for watching the sunset. Lined on the landward side by a crescent of crumbling Art Deco buildings, it is lit up at night prompting travel agents to dub it the Queen's Necklace. At the top end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach, the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. Though not ideal for sunbathing or swimming, it is a popular, though hectic place to spend an afternoon, surrounded by beach traders, entertainers and beggars. It is the best place to watch the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival (during August/September) when vast models of Lord Ganesha are immersed into the sea.

Crawford Market

The colorful indoor Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) is where locals of central Mumbai go shopping for their fruit, vegetables and (for the brave) meat. Rudyard Kipling was born just south of the market in 1865 and an ornate fountain designed by his father, Lockwood Kipling, sits between old fruit boxes at the market's center. He also designed the frieze depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields which hangs above the main entrance. The animal market at the rear sells everything from poodles to parrots in small cages. North of the market are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi. This predominantly Muslim area is a seething mass of people and traffic and is the location of several markets selling jewelry, textiles and leather goods. The most famous is the Chor Bazaar, Mumbai's 'thieves' market', which sells 'antiques' and miscellaneous junk - don't place too much faith in authenticity of anything here. This area is also home to the Jama Masjid and the Mumbadevi Temple, which is dedicated to the patron goddess of the island's original Koli inhabitants.

Anjuna Flea Market

Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums, the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka, dressed in their traditional garb, sell colorful, elaborately woven clothes, Kashmiri stalls display silver and papier-mâché boxes and Tibetans preside over orderly rows of sundry Himalayan curios. Even if not planning to haggle for anything the market is a great place to watch the world go by and mingle with bands of musicians, snake charmers, beggars and the inevitable juggling hippies. The market takes place every Wednesday.

Panaji

For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of state capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 when the harbor at Old Goa had silted up and disease had driven its inhabitants out. The best way to explore the town is by foot, wandering around the old cobbled alleyways, colonial villas, red-roofed houses, taverns and cafes, much like any small Portuguese town. There are some wonderful old government buildings, dating back to before colonization and some elegant Catholic churches. Most memorable is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1541; it is topped with a huge bell that sits between two delicate Baroque-style towers.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Situated on a hilltop at the southern tip of the state, and India, is Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram (still commonly known as Trivandrum). For most visitors the capital is simply a transit point on their way to Kovalam, the popular beach resort a few miles to the south. However it is worth lingering for a day in this easy-going city to explore the narrow backstreets, old gabled houses and parks that break up the modern center. The most fascinating part of Trivandrum is the Fort area, around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple (closed to non-Hindus) and Puttan Malika palace, seat of the Travancore rajas. Some of the palace has been turned into a museum and displays a collection of heirlooms and artifacts, however the highlight is the typically understated, elegant Keralan architecture. Beneath sloping red-tiled roofs, hundreds of wooden pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandas projecting onto the surrounding lawns. When it gets too hot at sea level, Ponmudi makes a welcome excursion. This enchanting hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, forty miles to the north of the capital, offers a lot to travelers with a passion for trekking or those who'd prefer a gentle wander along narrow, winding pathways, through cool green, wooded environs and among a variety of beautiful mountain flowers full of exotic butterflies. The hill resort is surrounded by tea-estates and mist-covered valleys, peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Another easy excursion from Trivandrum is Padmanabhapuram, the site of a magnificent palace.

Kochi (Cochin)

The port city of Kochi (long known as Cochin) is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas half way up the Goan coast. The majority of tourists stay in the Ernakulam district but the old section of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin is the main focus of interest. All linked by a series of ferries and bridges, these districts are an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Near the waterfront are St Francis Church (India's oldest), a 16th century Portuguese palace and a synagogue dating back 450 years. Set among all this is spice markets and a village green that could have been transported from rural England. The architecture follows the history of European influence. Kochi came to prominence in 1405 when the royal family moved here and the city became an important harbor attracting Christian, Jewish and Arab settlers from the Middle East. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and later the English. One of Kochi's main attractions is the Kathakali dance, which can be seen at one of many special tourist theaters, or, more authentically one performed by a temple-based company. The best way to explore the town is on bicycle, which can be hired from a number of companies.

Old Goa

Old Goa was the State Capital until 1843 when it moved down river to Panaji. Once a byword for splendor, with a population of several hundred thousand, Old Goa was virtually abandoned from the 17th century as the river silted up and a series of malaria and cholera epidemics drove out the inhabitants. It takes some imagination to picture the once-great capital as it used to be. The maze of twisting streets, piazzas and grand Portuguese villas have long gone; all that remains are a score of extraordinarily grandiose churches and convents. Old Goa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today is the state's main cultural attraction. Tourists take a break from the beach resorts to come and admire the massive facades and beautiful interiors of the city's well-preserved churches. The Tuscan St Catherine's Cathedral is the largest church in India and took eighty years to build, finally being consecrated in 1640. The scale and detail of the Corinthian-style interior is overwhelming; huge pillars divide the central nave from the side aisles, and no less than fifteen altars are arranged around the walls. An altar to St Anne treasures the relics of the Blessed Martyrs of Cuncolim, whose failed mission to convert the Moghul emperor Akbar culminated in their murder, while a chapel behind a highly detailed screen holds the Miraculous Cross, which stood in a Goan village until a vision of Christ appeared on it. Said to heal the sick, it is now kept in a box; a small opening on the side allows devotees to touch it. Other sights worth seeing include the Arch of the Viceroys, built in 1597 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, and the distinctive domed Church of St Cajetan (1651), modeled on St Peter's in Rome. Old Goa is a major draw for Christian pilgrims from all over India who come to visit the tomb of St Francis Xavier, the renowned 16th century missionary whose remains are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors.

The park lies 75 miles southeast of Cochin at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. Ironically the park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favorite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centers on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state.

Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.

The Backwaters of Kerala

One of the most memorable experiences for travelers in Kerala is a boat journey on the backwaters of Kerala. The best known is the area known as Kuttanad, situated between the hills in the west and the Arabian Sea, stretching for 50 miles south of Cochin. This extraordinary maze of rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery, and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend; narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and through the trees can be seen churches, mosques and temples, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Buffalos are used for plowing the fields and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this area but are almost entirely linked by manually operated ferries rather than bridges. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish population; a massive increase in the population has resulted in much illegal land reclamation and use of harmful fertilizers, which have damaged the ecosystem.

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar; he was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help. Soon a son was born and, impressed and overjoyed, he started building on the site where he had met the saint. However, due to a severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved; a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25 mile (40km) journey west of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.

Haji Ali Dargah

The Haji Ali Dargah is both a mosque and tomb located in south-western Mumbai on an islet off the coast of Worli. The dargah(tomb) was built in memory of Muslim preacher, Syed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in 1431, who was inspired to change the course of his life after embarking on the Hajj to Mecca. Haji Ali is only accessible by a 1500-foot (457m) long walkway during low tide. The walkway is generally lined with beggars and vedors, Thursdays and Fridays see thousands of pilgrims flocking to Haji Ali to receive blessings from the dead saint.

Nehru Center

The exciting Nehru center, which looks like a UFO, features a planetarium, an art gallery, a culture wing and a discovery center which features 14 galleries highlighting human sciences and the evolution of man. The Discovery of India building, which looks like a honeycomb, features historical exhibits and is bound to captivate all who visit.

Prince of Wales Museum

The Prince of Wales Museum, now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was founded in the early 20th century to commemorate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. The museum houses over 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as artifacts from other lands, pertaining to art, archaeology or natural history.

Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum

The former home of Mahatma Gandhi, the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum is a Gujarati-style house featuring three floors for visitors to explore. The museum houses a library full of Gandhi-related works, photographs, posters and even Gandhi's old charkha(spinning wheel).

Dhobi Ghat

Known as the world's largest Laundromat, the Dhobi Ghat is a scene many travelers might have already seen in movies. Every day, thousands of 'dhobis'collect dirty laundry and descend upon the concrete washing areas, all fitted with their own flogging stones, to wash the garments. To the dhobis themselves, the washing and drying of clothes is their daily work, but to inquisitive tourists, this practice is fascinating.

Elephanta Caves

Located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must for visitors in Dubai. The caves feature Shaivistic(the oldest of the four sects of Hindusm) stone sculptures of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. Many of the sculptures in the caves were unfortunately defaced by the Portuguese who, in the 17th century, used the sculptures as target practice.

Titwala

Titwala is a sacred and ancient town which is home to one of the most respected temples of Ganesha. The Siddhivinayaka Temple is also located here in Titwala and is a highly popular temple with Pilgrims flooding in lakhs here on the Holy Hindu day of 'Angarika Chaturthi'. A visit to this religious and sacred town is a must for all culture vultures and anyone with an interest in Hinduism.

Great Banyan Tree

The Indian Botanical Gardens has many floral treasures but none as impressive as the 250-year-old Great Banyan tree which covers nearly 5,300 square feet (500 sq/m). What at first seems like a forest of narrow trunks is in fact 1,573 drop-roots from a single banyan tree - by some margin the largest in the world. The rest of the gardens are certainly worth exploring, containing 12,000 living plants from every corner of the globe.

Victoria Memorial

This astounding marble building is probably the most impressive colonial structure in India. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and completed after 20 years of work in 1921. Inside is a fascinating museum of Indian history including some wonderful sculptures. The monument is situated on 64 acres of land including lakes, gardens and walking paths.

Indian Museum

With 60 galleries of art, archaeology and anthropology this is India's largest museum and possibly its most attractive, housed in a stunning colonnaded palace. The natural-history collection is one of the world's finest. A visit here is mandatory for those wanting a snap-shot view of India's past. Plus, it's an ideal all-day excursion in rainy season! Five guided tours are available each day.

Motherhouse

This humble and touching temple to Mother Theresa's life and work within the city of Calcutta is worth a visit. Upstairs is a small museum and her bedroom is preserved as it was when she lived here in remarkable simplicity.

Kalighat Temple

This 350-year-old temple dedicated to Kali is Calcutta's holiest site attracting a throng of excited pilgrims every day. You'll need to tip one of the priests in order to get inside through the mêlée of devotees. Goats are ritually slaughtered inside the temple perimeter and the meat is used to feed the poor. Stalls selling votive items and various artifacts surround the temple. If you want to avoid crowds then the best days to visit the temple are Wednesdays and Thursdays and tourists are advised to take ample change (in Rs 10 denominations) to tip various priests and ushers.

Marble Palace

One of Calcutta's most unusual sites, this palace was built by a local member of the 19th century gentry in a marvelous patchwork of classical architectural styles. Lavish use is made of Italian marble and the lawns contain an eclectic pantheon of statues including Christopher Columbus and the Buddha. The Marble Palace is a place of drama and dilapidation and unsurprisingly has frequently been used as a movie set, but it is also used as a private residence making viewing arrangements strict.

Shopping For Kids

Children will love a shopping trip in Goa; there are a number of great stores in Panaji selling a variety of toys and games for kids. Totally Toys is a vast toys and games arcade, and Archies Gallery offers gorgeous giant-sized teddy bears. Children's sports equipment is available from Nilesh Stores, while Pinakin Enterprises sells toy walkie-talkies and binoculars.

Child-Friendly Beaches

There are a couple of great beaches to take kids to in Goa. The fishing village of Benaulim, near Colva has a few quiet spots with soft sand and beautiful clean water. A family favorite are the Mandrem beaches, which offer shallow waters for kids to play in and beach beds for folks to relax on. Between the beach and the dunes, there's a little wooden bridge crossing a river that kids love to play on.

Bondla Forest

Take the kids on a trip to Bondla Forest, in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where they can see exotic animals like sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs and maybe even leopards! There are also elephant rides available at the wildlife sanctuary to entertain children. The botanical gardens are also a lovely attraction.

Beaches

Goa has some amazing beaches. In the north, Anjuna Beach once played host to hordes of hippies and is now home to a number of trendy beach bars as well as the Wednesday Market. The new hippy haven is Arambol beach, also good for dolphin viewing and paragliding. With its white sand beaches Vagator is gaining in popularity, however the sea is not safe for swimming because of rip tides. The busiest, most commercial beach is Calangute, and neighboring Baga Beach has great nightlife spots, including Tito's and Café Mambo with its hip-hop and salsa nights themed nights. In the south, Agonda is a quiet stretch of beach with a few souvenir stalls and restaurants, while Benaulim Beach, south of Colva, is known for its fishing and laid-back atmosphere. In recent years Benaulim has become popular with tourists wanting to get away from Goa's party reputation and just lay back, jog along the long stretch of beach and indulge in the city's fresh and healthy culinary fare. The shady palm trees and soft sands of Palolem Beach, also known as Paradise Beach, are backpacker territory; however it's a great place for a dolphin cruise or picturesque sundowner at one of the many beach bars lining the water. Nearby Patnem has some lovely beach huts options.

Dudhsagar Waterfall

A great outing in Goa is a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfall. The falls are located in a tropical jungle near the Goa-Karnataka border and are surrounded by a network of gently flowing streams. Swimming, hiking and picnicking are popular pastimes at the falls. The waterfalls are among the 100 highest in the world and visitors who take the difficult climb to the top will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Western Ghats' wooded mountains.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is host to around 400 species of birds, both local and migratory. Here visitors can expect to see kingfishers, pintails, coots and egrets, as well as a few crocodiles, jackals and foxes, inhabiting the mangroves. Although this is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa, it is among the most famous in India. The best time to see the migratory birds is after the monsoons, from October to March.

Bugle Hill

Bugle hill is home to the Bull Temple which houses a black granite 16th century statue of Shiva's sacred bull coated in fresh lashings of coconut oil. Less pleasant on the nose is the nearby temple to Ganesh that houses a statue of the deity made from 100 kilograms of butter. Every four years the statue is remade and the by-now rancid butter distributed to devotees. Few westerners join the queue for a portion.

Cubbon Park

This is the city's Central Park, a place of relaxation, open space and some worthwhile attractions. In and around the park are the State Central Library, two municipal museums, an art gallery and the Government Aquarium, which is best avoided. The intensely red Attara Kacheri is unmistakable; particularly for criminals as it houses the regional high court. The State Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest in India and has artifacts dating back 5,000 years and is well worth a visit to get some historical context in this relentlessly modern city. The handsome and photogenic Seshadri Memorial library is another distinctly red building on the fringes of the park.

Lal Bagh

This splendid botanical garden, laid out by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, contains over 1,000 species of rare flora over its enormous grounds. The name Lal bagh, means 'red garden' in tribute to its celebrated red roses. The centerpiece of Lal Bagh is the Glass House, which hosts a yearly flower show and is modeled after London's Crystal Palace.

Vidhana Soudha

This impressive and imposing building at the northern edge of Cubbon Park is home to the State Legislature and Secretariat. The massive sandalwood doors to the Cabinet are a notable feature of this handsome colonial structure, built in neo-Dravidian style. The edifice is notably secular, incorporating elements from the many cultures that influenced the region. The construction work was done by over 5,000 prisoners who were set free once building work was finished in 1956.

Galta Monkey Temple (Galtaji)

Situated between two granite cliffs, this temple is part of a much larger temple complex. The complex has a three sacred pools which the monkeys enjoy swimming in. This Hindi temple is slightly dilapidated but definitely worth the trip out of the city. The best time to see the temple is at sunset when the monkeys appear for their evening swim.

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder that tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Situated in the middle of a sacred lake fed by an underground spring, the golden structure is a unique blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Within the temple is the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, displayed on a jewel-studded platform.

Visitors to the Golden Temple can enjoy the serene and spiritual atmosphere, with the sound of Sikh hymns being accompanied by flutes, drums and stringed instruments. Next to the lake are the enormous pilgrims' dormitories, and at the gate is the information desk, where helpful and friendly staff will answer your questions and provide free booklets on the temple and Sikh religion.

The best time to visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar is at night when the Palki Sahib ceremony takes place. Dozens of devotees act as a human conveyor belt to carry the Granth Sahib (containing the Adi Grantha) from the main shrine to the sanctum, where it is kept until the opening ceremony the following morning. Visitors may participate in the ceremony, taking their turn to shoulder the weight of the enormous shrine.

Visitors to the Golden Temple should be respectful of the Sikh culture. Smoking and alcohol is forbidden throughout the complex, and visitors must remove their shoes. Heads must be covered at all times; vendors will push Rs 10 bandanas on you as you near the temple, but if that's not the souvenir you want there are coverings to borrow at the entrance.

Red Fort

The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Quila, is Delhi's signature attraction, rising high above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Mogul empire. The massive sandstone walls were built in the 17th century to keep out marauding invaders and still dominate the skyline today. Inside are an array of exquisite buildings, which once provided the living quarters for Shah Jehan, his courtiers, family and staff of three thousand. Visitors can marvel at the intricate decoration and only imagine the scenes here at the empire's height when the walls were studded with precious stones and a 'stream of paradise' drove an ingenious air conditioning system. The fort was the scene of the Indian uprising of 1857 and the mighty Lahore Gate, on the west side of the fort, remains a potent symbol in the fight for Independence.

Jama Masjid

Shah Jehan, the architect of the Red Fort and much of Old Delhi, built Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. This grand structure is situated on a hill a few hundred yards west of the Red Fort and towers over the mayhem of Old Delhi's sprawling streets. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and can hold 25,000 worshipers at one time. Wide red sandstone steps lead to entrances on the north, south and east sides of the mosque. Inside, is the massive courtyard dominated by two red and white striped sandstone minarets that cap the main prayer hall on the west side (facing Mecca). There are smaller towers at each corner of the mosque; energetic visitors can climb the 122 narrow steps of the southern one to be rewarded with magnificent views of Old and New Delhi. Those wearing shorts or skirts can hire a lunghito cover their legs, women wearing T-shirts should bring a scarf to cover their shoulders.

Qutb Minar

The Qutb Minar is a mammoth tower that was built between 1193 and 1369 to symbolise Islamic rule over Delhi and commemorate the victory by Qutab-ud-din over the city's last Hindu kingdom. Standing 238ft (72m) tall, the tower is decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran and tapers from a 50ft (15m) diameter at the base to just 8ft (2.5m) at the top. There are five distinct stories each encircled with a balcony, the first three are built of red sandstone, and the upper two are faced with white marble. At the foot of the minhar, stands Quwwat-ul-Islam, India's oldest mosque, which is built largely from the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples that were destroyed by the new Muslim rulers of India. The cloisters that flank the nearby courtyard are supported by pillars that were unmistakably pilfered from Hindu temples. Faces of the decorative figures have been removed to conform to Islamic law, which strictly forbids iconic worship. Incongruously, in the corner of the mosque stands an Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions of the Gupta period attributing it to the memory of King Chandragupta II (373-413). It is said that anyone who can encircle it with their hands while standing with their back to it will have their wishes fulfilled.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful examples of Mogul architecture in Delhi and is often seen as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Building started on the tomb in 1564 after the death of Humayun, the second Moghul emperor; it was overseen by Haji Begum, his senior widow and the mother of Akbar. The tomb is an octagonal structure capped by a double dome that soars 125ft (38m) into the sky and is set in a formal Persian garden. In the grounds are some other monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

After his visit in 1911 the Emperor of India, King George V of England, decreed that the capital should be moved from Calcutta to Delhi. Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan the new government center, which he focused around Rajpath, the grand, tree-lined boulevard that runs between the Secretariat Buildings and India Arch, the war memorial built in 1921. Rashtrapati Bhavan was built by Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, between 1921 and 1929, on the gentle slope of Raisina Hill, flanked by the Secretariat Buildings. This immense palace, larger than Versailles, was created for the Viceroy and is now the residence of the President of India. With the exception of the central copper dome there are few concessions to Indian architectural style; despite its classical columns the building is unmistakably British and, like most great Indian monuments, is a potent symbol of imperial power. Every Saturday morning between 9.35am and 10.15am, guards parade before the iron grille gates in Delhi's answer to London's Changing of the Guard. The gardens are open to the public every year in February and March.

Chandni Chowk

No trip to Delhi would be complete without a visit to one of the bazaars that surround Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square), in Old Delhi, where shops and stalls display a wonderful array of goods and offer a pungent and colorful insight into Delhi life. Chandni Chowk has a large number of galis (lanes) and each one is different, with its own atmosphere and smells. Naya Bazaar, on Khari Baoli, is the spice market that displays a wonderful selection of foodstuff in neat, colorful piles. The nearby Gadodia Market is the wholesale spice market. Hundreds of spices and condiments can be found including aniseed, ginger, pomegranate, saffron, lotus seeds, pickles and chutneys, to name just a few. Chor Bazaar sits behind the ramparts of the Red Fort and comes to life on Sundays to trade a collection of 'second hand' goods. Chawri Bazaar was once notorious for the ladies who beckoned men from the arched windows and balconies above street. Today, these houses have made way for shops specializing in brass and copper Buddhas, Vishnus and Krishnas. Some of the busiest galis house the poultry and fish markets, east of Kalan Mahal, but most tourists wisely avoid them.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most recognizable and evocative sights and a visit here does not disappoint. Set overlooking the River Yamuna, visible from Agra Fort in the West, the Taj was built by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favorite wife who died giving birth to her 14th child, in 1631. This story of this great monument to love is given an added poignancy by the fate of Shah Jahan himself. When his devout and austere son Aurangzeb seized power, Shah Jahan was interned in Agra Fort where he lived out his final years gazing wistfully at the Taj Mahal in the distance. When he died there in January 1666, with his daughter Jahanara Begum at his side, his body was carried across the river to lie alongside his beloved wife in his peerless tomb. Completed in 1653, the Taj Mahal is set in a large walled garden, between two mini-Tajs (one of which is a mosque), in front of a long reflective pond. Close up the craftsmanship is as spectacular as at a distance; the inside of the vast double-dome is inlaid with verses from the Koran and semi-precious stones. Visitors should aim to visit it at dawn and dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the color of the dome from white to shades of pink. Note that there can often be smog and fog in the mornings. Two days before and after the full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for moonlight viewing but tickets must be booked at the Archaeological Survey of India's offices in Agra 24 hours in advance.

Agra Fort

Not far from the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairytale palaces such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace), which, inlaid with thousands of mirrors was once the harem dressing room. There are also two beautiful mosques including Shah Jahan's Pearl Mosque (sadly currently out-of-bounds). The Octagonal Tower is an exquisitely carved tower where Shah Jahan spent the last seven years of his life. The tower was considered to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today the pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower, and much of the Agra Fort, is in bad shape but blank spaces and the empty inlay works give an idea of how this building must have looked in its prime.

Amber Palace

Situated on the crest of a hill seven miles north of Jaipur is Amber, capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1037 to 1728. The city-palace is protected by towering outer walls, a further wall runs for miles along the hills surrounding the palace. For many, the most memorable part of a trip to Jaipur is the journey up the palace ramparts, through a succession of vast gates, on the back of a painted elephant - Maharaja style. Inside are the ruins of a once great palace, a wonderful example of Rajput architecture, with Mogul influences. Visitors will be able to see the remains of the Maharajas quarters surrounded by the rooms of his many wives and concubines, each linked to his bedroom by secret steps and passageways to avoid jealousy. Although much of the complex is closed to the pubic, there is still a large area to explore. Visitors are advised to spend at least a few hours here and ideally hire a guide who will explain the architecture and history of the palace.

Jaipur City Palace

The magnificent City Palace is in the center of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since Jai Singh built it in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The Palace was built during the glory days and the exhibits and interior have lost none of their splendor; the doors and gateways preserve their flamboyant decoration and royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances. Chandra Mahal is the private palace of the current ruler and is approached through a number of courtyards. Mubarak Mahal, in the first courtyard, was once a guesthouse and is now a textile museum. There are number of other museums displaying old costumes and uniforms, carpets, mementos, elephant 'saddles' and an armory containing a fascinating array of fearsome and inventive weapons dating back to the Mogul era. A beautifully carved marble gate with brass doors leads to the second courtyard where Diwan-I-Khas, the hall of private audiences, is found. On display here are two gigantic silver urns used by Madho Singh II to carry water from the holy Ganges when he traveled to London in 1902 on board an ocean liner - he was reluctant to trust the water in the west! These are the largest silver vessels in the world - 243 kilograms of silver was required to cast each urn, which can contain 8,182 gallons of water.

Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)

The Palace of the Winds is Jaipur's most acclaimed attraction. Built in 1799, it is situated on the edge of the City Palace complex overlooking one of the city's main streets and was constructed to offer the women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below. The five-story building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head and contains over five hundred finely screened windows and balconies. The building, however, is smaller than one might imagine. Although the primary appeal is the finely carved pink façade, visitors can go inside to see where the women once sat and view the intricate honeycombed stonework close-up.

Udaipur City Palace

The white walls of the City Palace soar above the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola topped by ornamental battlements and turrets. The sprawling palace has been developed by successive maharanas since the foundation of Udaipur in 1559. Part of the palace is home to the current maharana, a section of it is a first-class hotel (with the best restaurant in the city) and the remainder is a museum. The approach to the City Palace is through the Elephant Gate, Hati Pol. The Great Gate, (Bara Pol) leads to the first court, where eight carved arches mark the spot where the rulers were once weighed against gold or silver, the equivalent value of which was then distributed among the poor. Beyond the Tripolia Gate is the arena where the elephant tug-of-war competitions were staged, past which are a series of courtyards, overlapping pavilions, terraces, corridors and hanging gardens. The Krishna Vilas honors a 19th century Udaipur princess who poisoned herself to avoid the dilemma of choosing a husband from the two rival households of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Its walls display miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and hunting parties. Further along, a glass mosaic gallery contains superb portraits and stained glass, and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city below. Set into the walls of the 17th century Mor Chowk are brilliant mosaics of three peacocks showing the three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon. Perhaps the most splendid rooms in the palace are the women's quarters, Zenana Mahal ,with their ornate alcoves, balconies and colored windows.

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

Forty miles (60km) north of Udaipur is the Jain temples of Ranakpur. It is the largest of its kind in India and boasts some staggering marble work, on a par with any in Asia. The main temple was built in 1439 and is dedicated to the first tirthankara Adinath, whose image is enshrined in its central sanctuary. The temple is two or three storys high in parts, and its roof, topped with five large shikharas, undulates with tiny spires that crown the small shrines to Jain saints lining the temple walls. Within are 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique and intricate designs, and dissecting the 29 halls. The carving on the walls, columns and the domed ceilings is superb. Friezes depicting the life of the tirthankara are etched into the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. Visitors may see Jaina monks walking about with masks on their faces to avoid eating insects; the most important teaching of Jainism is 'Ahimsa', meaning non-violence, and this is applied to all sentient beings. Many monks also carry a brush to sweep surfaces to avoid standing on bugs. Ranakpur's isolated position means it is not on the major tourist trail, but it makes a good stop for those traveling between Jaipur and Udaipur.

The Ghats

There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps') at Varanasi but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation. Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.

Fort Area

The magnificent Gothic Victorian buildings in the Fort area highlight the power and wealth of the British Empire at its might and are reminiscent of many of the great public buildings in London or Glasgow. The Victoria Terminus (known as CST), was opened in 1888 and is one of the world's grandest railway stations, on a par with New York's Grand Central Station or London's St Pancras. Built in the Italian Gothic style, it looks more like a lavishly decorated cathedral than a railway station; massive arches soar splendidly above the scurrying crowd and carved into the pillars and buttresses are images of monkeys, peacocks, elephants and lions. The station is topped by a tall dome crowned with a statue representing 'Progress'. The nearby St Thomas' Cathedral was built between 1672 and 1718 and is witness to almost the entire history of the British in Bombay. Its whitewashed interior contains poignant colonial memorials, including one to Henry Robertson Bower, Lieutenant of the Royal Indian Marine, who lost his life returning from the South Pole with Captain Scott. The epicenter of the Fort area is the Horniman Circle, surrounded by curved, arcaded terraces. The lush and leafy garden in the center offers a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Colaba

The southernmost peninsula, known as Colaba, is where most travelers gravitate to as it has a good range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Gateway to India was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit to India of King George V and Queen Mary. The archway is built from honey-colored basalt in a style derived from Gujarati architecture of the sixteenth century. In the days of the steam liner, the Gateway was for many visitors their first and last sight of India but today it acts purely as a colorful tourist stop, and attracts hawkers, snake charmers, and beggars. The neighboring Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1902 by JN Tata, after he was allegedly refused entry to one of the city's European hotels on account of being 'a native'. It has since turned into a bit of an institution, and the streets behind it have become a Mecca for travelers, the Colaba Causeway is the main street with a melee of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes. Unfortunately Colaba was also the site of two of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks and tourists are recommended to remain vigilant when visiting the area. To the north of the causeway, set in beautiful lush gardens, is the fascinating Prince of Wales Museum displaying a collection of ancient and medieval sculpture and Indian decorative arts, nearby the new National Gallery of Modern Art showcases Indian modern art. To the south is the Sassoon Dock, which at dawn becomes an area of intense and pungent activity as fishing boats arrive to unload their catch.

Marine Drive

Built in the 1920s, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare and a favorite spot for watching the sunset. Lined on the landward side by a crescent of crumbling Art Deco buildings, it is lit up at night prompting travel agents to dub it the Queen's Necklace. At the top end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach, the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. Though not ideal for sunbathing or swimming, it is a popular, though hectic place to spend an afternoon, surrounded by beach traders, entertainers and beggars. It is the best place to watch the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival (during August/September) when vast models of Lord Ganesha are immersed into the sea.

Crawford Market

The colorful indoor Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) is where locals of central Mumbai go shopping for their fruit, vegetables and (for the brave) meat. Rudyard Kipling was born just south of the market in 1865 and an ornate fountain designed by his father, Lockwood Kipling, sits between old fruit boxes at the market's center. He also designed the frieze depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields which hangs above the main entrance. The animal market at the rear sells everything from poodles to parrots in small cages. North of the market are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi. This predominantly Muslim area is a seething mass of people and traffic and is the location of several markets selling jewelry, textiles and leather goods. The most famous is the Chor Bazaar, Mumbai's 'thieves' market', which sells 'antiques' and miscellaneous junk - don't place too much faith in authenticity of anything here. This area is also home to the Jama Masjid and the Mumbadevi Temple, which is dedicated to the patron goddess of the island's original Koli inhabitants.

Anjuna Flea Market

Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums, the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka, dressed in their traditional garb, sell colorful, elaborately woven clothes, Kashmiri stalls display silver and papier-mâché boxes and Tibetans preside over orderly rows of sundry Himalayan curios. Even if not planning to haggle for anything the market is a great place to watch the world go by and mingle with bands of musicians, snake charmers, beggars and the inevitable juggling hippies. The market takes place every Wednesday.

Panaji

For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of state capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 when the harbor at Old Goa had silted up and disease had driven its inhabitants out. The best way to explore the town is by foot, wandering around the old cobbled alleyways, colonial villas, red-roofed houses, taverns and cafes, much like any small Portuguese town. There are some wonderful old government buildings, dating back to before colonization and some elegant Catholic churches. Most memorable is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1541; it is topped with a huge bell that sits between two delicate Baroque-style towers.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Situated on a hilltop at the southern tip of the state, and India, is Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram (still commonly known as Trivandrum). For most visitors the capital is simply a transit point on their way to Kovalam, the popular beach resort a few miles to the south. However it is worth lingering for a day in this easy-going city to explore the narrow backstreets, old gabled houses and parks that break up the modern center. The most fascinating part of Trivandrum is the Fort area, around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple (closed to non-Hindus) and Puttan Malika palace, seat of the Travancore rajas. Some of the palace has been turned into a museum and displays a collection of heirlooms and artifacts, however the highlight is the typically understated, elegant Keralan architecture. Beneath sloping red-tiled roofs, hundreds of wooden pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandas projecting onto the surrounding lawns. When it gets too hot at sea level, Ponmudi makes a welcome excursion. This enchanting hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, forty miles to the north of the capital, offers a lot to travelers with a passion for trekking or those who'd prefer a gentle wander along narrow, winding pathways, through cool green, wooded environs and among a variety of beautiful mountain flowers full of exotic butterflies. The hill resort is surrounded by tea-estates and mist-covered valleys, peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Another easy excursion from Trivandrum is Padmanabhapuram, the site of a magnificent palace.

Kochi (Cochin)

The port city of Kochi (long known as Cochin) is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas half way up the Goan coast. The majority of tourists stay in the Ernakulam district but the old section of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin is the main focus of interest. All linked by a series of ferries and bridges, these districts are an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Near the waterfront are St Francis Church (India's oldest), a 16th century Portuguese palace and a synagogue dating back 450 years. Set among all this is spice markets and a village green that could have been transported from rural England. The architecture follows the history of European influence. Kochi came to prominence in 1405 when the royal family moved here and the city became an important harbor attracting Christian, Jewish and Arab settlers from the Middle East. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and later the English. One of Kochi's main attractions is the Kathakali dance, which can be seen at one of many special tourist theaters, or, more authentically one performed by a temple-based company. The best way to explore the town is on bicycle, which can be hired from a number of companies.

Old Goa

Old Goa was the State Capital until 1843 when it moved down river to Panaji. Once a byword for splendor, with a population of several hundred thousand, Old Goa was virtually abandoned from the 17th century as the river silted up and a series of malaria and cholera epidemics drove out the inhabitants. It takes some imagination to picture the once-great capital as it used to be. The maze of twisting streets, piazzas and grand Portuguese villas have long gone; all that remains are a score of extraordinarily grandiose churches and convents. Old Goa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today is the state's main cultural attraction. Tourists take a break from the beach resorts to come and admire the massive facades and beautiful interiors of the city's well-preserved churches. The Tuscan St Catherine's Cathedral is the largest church in India and took eighty years to build, finally being consecrated in 1640. The scale and detail of the Corinthian-style interior is overwhelming; huge pillars divide the central nave from the side aisles, and no less than fifteen altars are arranged around the walls. An altar to St Anne treasures the relics of the Blessed Martyrs of Cuncolim, whose failed mission to convert the Moghul emperor Akbar culminated in their murder, while a chapel behind a highly detailed screen holds the Miraculous Cross, which stood in a Goan village until a vision of Christ appeared on it. Said to heal the sick, it is now kept in a box; a small opening on the side allows devotees to touch it. Other sights worth seeing include the Arch of the Viceroys, built in 1597 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, and the distinctive domed Church of St Cajetan (1651), modeled on St Peter's in Rome. Old Goa is a major draw for Christian pilgrims from all over India who come to visit the tomb of St Francis Xavier, the renowned 16th century missionary whose remains are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors.

The park lies 75 miles southeast of Cochin at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. Ironically the park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favorite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centers on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state.

Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.

The Backwaters of Kerala

One of the most memorable experiences for travelers in Kerala is a boat journey on the backwaters of Kerala. The best known is the area known as Kuttanad, situated between the hills in the west and the Arabian Sea, stretching for 50 miles south of Cochin. This extraordinary maze of rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery, and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend; narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and through the trees can be seen churches, mosques and temples, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Buffalos are used for plowing the fields and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this area but are almost entirely linked by manually operated ferries rather than bridges. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish population; a massive increase in the population has resulted in much illegal land reclamation and use of harmful fertilizers, which have damaged the ecosystem.

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar; he was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help. Soon a son was born and, impressed and overjoyed, he started building on the site where he had met the saint. However, due to a severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved; a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25 mile (40km) journey west of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.

Haji Ali Dargah

The Haji Ali Dargah is both a mosque and tomb located in south-western Mumbai on an islet off the coast of Worli. The dargah(tomb) was built in memory of Muslim preacher, Syed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in 1431, who was inspired to change the course of his life after embarking on the Hajj to Mecca. Haji Ali is only accessible by a 1500-foot (457m) long walkway during low tide. The walkway is generally lined with beggars and vedors, Thursdays and Fridays see thousands of pilgrims flocking to Haji Ali to receive blessings from the dead saint.

Nehru Center

The exciting Nehru center, which looks like a UFO, features a planetarium, an art gallery, a culture wing and a discovery center which features 14 galleries highlighting human sciences and the evolution of man. The Discovery of India building, which looks like a honeycomb, features historical exhibits and is bound to captivate all who visit.

Prince of Wales Museum

The Prince of Wales Museum, now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was founded in the early 20th century to commemorate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. The museum houses over 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as artifacts from other lands, pertaining to art, archaeology or natural history.

Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum

The former home of Mahatma Gandhi, the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum is a Gujarati-style house featuring three floors for visitors to explore. The museum houses a library full of Gandhi-related works, photographs, posters and even Gandhi's old charkha(spinning wheel).

Dhobi Ghat

Known as the world's largest Laundromat, the Dhobi Ghat is a scene many travelers might have already seen in movies. Every day, thousands of 'dhobis'collect dirty laundry and descend upon the concrete washing areas, all fitted with their own flogging stones, to wash the garments. To the dhobis themselves, the washing and drying of clothes is their daily work, but to inquisitive tourists, this practice is fascinating.

Elephanta Caves

Located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must for visitors in Dubai. The caves feature Shaivistic(the oldest of the four sects of Hindusm) stone sculptures of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. Many of the sculptures in the caves were unfortunately defaced by the Portuguese who, in the 17th century, used the sculptures as target practice.

Titwala

Titwala is a sacred and ancient town which is home to one of the most respected temples of Ganesha. The Siddhivinayaka Temple is also located here in Titwala and is a highly popular temple with Pilgrims flooding in lakhs here on the Holy Hindu day of 'Angarika Chaturthi'. A visit to this religious and sacred town is a must for all culture vultures and anyone with an interest in Hinduism.

Great Banyan Tree

The Indian Botanical Gardens has many floral treasures but none as impressive as the 250-year-old Great Banyan tree which covers nearly 5,300 square feet (500 sq/m). What at first seems like a forest of narrow trunks is in fact 1,573 drop-roots from a single banyan tree - by some margin the largest in the world. The rest of the gardens are certainly worth exploring, containing 12,000 living plants from every corner of the globe.

Victoria Memorial

This astounding marble building is probably the most impressive colonial structure in India. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and completed after 20 years of work in 1921. Inside is a fascinating museum of Indian history including some wonderful sculptures. The monument is situated on 64 acres of land including lakes, gardens and walking paths.

Indian Museum

With 60 galleries of art, archaeology and anthropology this is India's largest museum and possibly its most attractive, housed in a stunning colonnaded palace. The natural-history collection is one of the world's finest. A visit here is mandatory for those wanting a snap-shot view of India's past. Plus, it's an ideal all-day excursion in rainy season! Five guided tours are available each day.

Motherhouse

This humble and touching temple to Mother Theresa's life and work within the city of Calcutta is worth a visit. Upstairs is a small museum and her bedroom is preserved as it was when she lived here in remarkable simplicity.

Kalighat Temple

This 350-year-old temple dedicated to Kali is Calcutta's holiest site attracting a throng of excited pilgrims every day. You'll need to tip one of the priests in order to get inside through the mêlée of devotees. Goats are ritually slaughtered inside the temple perimeter and the meat is used to feed the poor. Stalls selling votive items and various artifacts surround the temple. If you want to avoid crowds then the best days to visit the temple are Wednesdays and Thursdays and tourists are advised to take ample change (in Rs 10 denominations) to tip various priests and ushers.

Marble Palace

One of Calcutta's most unusual sites, this palace was built by a local member of the 19th century gentry in a marvelous patchwork of classical architectural styles. Lavish use is made of Italian marble and the lawns contain an eclectic pantheon of statues including Christopher Columbus and the Buddha. The Marble Palace is a place of drama and dilapidation and unsurprisingly has frequently been used as a movie set, but it is also used as a private residence making viewing arrangements strict.

Shopping For Kids

Children will love a shopping trip in Goa; there are a number of great stores in Panaji selling a variety of toys and games for kids. Totally Toys is a vast toys and games arcade, and Archies Gallery offers gorgeous giant-sized teddy bears. Children's sports equipment is available from Nilesh Stores, while Pinakin Enterprises sells toy walkie-talkies and binoculars.

Child-Friendly Beaches

There are a couple of great beaches to take kids to in Goa. The fishing village of Benaulim, near Colva has a few quiet spots with soft sand and beautiful clean water. A family favorite are the Mandrem beaches, which offer shallow waters for kids to play in and beach beds for folks to relax on. Between the beach and the dunes, there's a little wooden bridge crossing a river that kids love to play on.

Bondla Forest

Take the kids on a trip to Bondla Forest, in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where they can see exotic animals like sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs and maybe even leopards! There are also elephant rides available at the wildlife sanctuary to entertain children. The botanical gardens are also a lovely attraction.

Beaches

Goa has some amazing beaches. In the north, Anjuna Beach once played host to hordes of hippies and is now home to a number of trendy beach bars as well as the Wednesday Market. The new hippy haven is Arambol beach, also good for dolphin viewing and paragliding. With its white sand beaches Vagator is gaining in popularity, however the sea is not safe for swimming because of rip tides. The busiest, most commercial beach is Calangute, and neighboring Baga Beach has great nightlife spots, including Tito's and Café Mambo with its hip-hop and salsa nights themed nights. In the south, Agonda is a quiet stretch of beach with a few souvenir stalls and restaurants, while Benaulim Beach, south of Colva, is known for its fishing and laid-back atmosphere. In recent years Benaulim has become popular with tourists wanting to get away from Goa's party reputation and just lay back, jog along the long stretch of beach and indulge in the city's fresh and healthy culinary fare. The shady palm trees and soft sands of Palolem Beach, also known as Paradise Beach, are backpacker territory; however it's a great place for a dolphin cruise or picturesque sundowner at one of the many beach bars lining the water. Nearby Patnem has some lovely beach huts options.

Dudhsagar Waterfall

A great outing in Goa is a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfall. The falls are located in a tropical jungle near the Goa-Karnataka border and are surrounded by a network of gently flowing streams. Swimming, hiking and picnicking are popular pastimes at the falls. The waterfalls are among the 100 highest in the world and visitors who take the difficult climb to the top will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Western Ghats' wooded mountains.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is host to around 400 species of birds, both local and migratory. Here visitors can expect to see kingfishers, pintails, coots and egrets, as well as a few crocodiles, jackals and foxes, inhabiting the mangroves. Although this is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa, it is among the most famous in India. The best time to see the migratory birds is after the monsoons, from October to March.

Bugle Hill

Bugle hill is home to the Bull Temple which houses a black granite 16th century statue of Shiva's sacred bull coated in fresh lashings of coconut oil. Less pleasant on the nose is the nearby temple to Ganesh that houses a statue of the deity made from 100 kilograms of butter. Every four years the statue is remade and the by-now rancid butter distributed to devotees. Few westerners join the queue for a portion.

Cubbon Park

This is the city's Central Park, a place of relaxation, open space and some worthwhile attractions. In and around the park are the State Central Library, two municipal museums, an art gallery and the Government Aquarium, which is best avoided. The intensely red Attara Kacheri is unmistakable; particularly for criminals as it houses the regional high court. The State Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest in India and has artifacts dating back 5,000 years and is well worth a visit to get some historical context in this relentlessly modern city. The handsome and photogenic Seshadri Memorial library is another distinctly red building on the fringes of the park.

Lal Bagh

This splendid botanical garden, laid out by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, contains over 1,000 species of rare flora over its enormous grounds. The name Lal bagh, means 'red garden' in tribute to its celebrated red roses. The centerpiece of Lal Bagh is the Glass House, which hosts a yearly flower show and is modeled after London's Crystal Palace.

Vidhana Soudha

This impressive and imposing building at the northern edge of Cubbon Park is home to the State Legislature and Secretariat. The massive sandalwood doors to the Cabinet are a notable feature of this handsome colonial structure, built in neo-Dravidian style. The edifice is notably secular, incorporating elements from the many cultures that influenced the region. The construction work was done by over 5,000 prisoners who were set free once building work was finished in 1956.

Galta Monkey Temple (Galtaji)

Situated between two granite cliffs, this temple is part of a much larger temple complex. The complex has a three sacred pools which the monkeys enjoy swimming in. This Hindi temple is slightly dilapidated but definitely worth the trip out of the city. The best time to see the temple is at sunset when the monkeys appear for their evening swim.

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder that tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Situated in the middle of a sacred lake fed by an underground spring, the golden structure is a unique blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Within the temple is the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, displayed on a jewel-studded platform.

Visitors to the Golden Temple can enjoy the serene and spiritual atmosphere, with the sound of Sikh hymns being accompanied by flutes, drums and stringed instruments. Next to the lake are the enormous pilgrims' dormitories, and at the gate is the information desk, where helpful and friendly staff will answer your questions and provide free booklets on the temple and Sikh religion.

The best time to visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar is at night when the Palki Sahib ceremony takes place. Dozens of devotees act as a human conveyor belt to carry the Granth Sahib (containing the Adi Grantha) from the main shrine to the sanctum, where it is kept until the opening ceremony the following morning. Visitors may participate in the ceremony, taking their turn to shoulder the weight of the enormous shrine.

Visitors to the Golden Temple should be respectful of the Sikh culture. Smoking and alcohol is forbidden throughout the complex, and visitors must remove their shoes. Heads must be covered at all times; vendors will push Rs 10 bandanas on you as you near the temple, but if that's not the souvenir you want there are coverings to borrow at the entrance.

Red Fort

The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Quila, is Delhi's signature attraction, rising high above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Mogul empire. The massive sandstone walls were built in the 17th century to keep out marauding invaders and still dominate the skyline today. Inside are an array of exquisite buildings, which once provided the living quarters for Shah Jehan, his courtiers, family and staff of three thousand. Visitors can marvel at the intricate decoration and only imagine the scenes here at the empire's height when the walls were studded with precious stones and a 'stream of paradise' drove an ingenious air conditioning system. The fort was the scene of the Indian uprising of 1857 and the mighty Lahore Gate, on the west side of the fort, remains a potent symbol in the fight for Independence.

Jama Masjid

Shah Jehan, the architect of the Red Fort and much of Old Delhi, built Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. This grand structure is situated on a hill a few hundred yards west of the Red Fort and towers over the mayhem of Old Delhi's sprawling streets. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and can hold 25,000 worshipers at one time. Wide red sandstone steps lead to entrances on the north, south and east sides of the mosque. Inside, is the massive courtyard dominated by two red and white striped sandstone minarets that cap the main prayer hall on the west side (facing Mecca). There are smaller towers at each corner of the mosque; energetic visitors can climb the 122 narrow steps of the southern one to be rewarded with magnificent views of Old and New Delhi. Those wearing shorts or skirts can hire a lunghito cover their legs, women wearing T-shirts should bring a scarf to cover their shoulders.

Qutb Minar

The Qutb Minar is a mammoth tower that was built between 1193 and 1369 to symbolise Islamic rule over Delhi and commemorate the victory by Qutab-ud-din over the city's last Hindu kingdom. Standing 238ft (72m) tall, the tower is decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran and tapers from a 50ft (15m) diameter at the base to just 8ft (2.5m) at the top. There are five distinct stories each encircled with a balcony, the first three are built of red sandstone, and the upper two are faced with white marble. At the foot of the minhar, stands Quwwat-ul-Islam, India's oldest mosque, which is built largely from the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples that were destroyed by the new Muslim rulers of India. The cloisters that flank the nearby courtyard are supported by pillars that were unmistakably pilfered from Hindu temples. Faces of the decorative figures have been removed to conform to Islamic law, which strictly forbids iconic worship. Incongruously, in the corner of the mosque stands an Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions of the Gupta period attributing it to the memory of King Chandragupta II (373-413). It is said that anyone who can encircle it with their hands while standing with their back to it will have their wishes fulfilled.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful examples of Mogul architecture in Delhi and is often seen as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Building started on the tomb in 1564 after the death of Humayun, the second Moghul emperor; it was overseen by Haji Begum, his senior widow and the mother of Akbar. The tomb is an octagonal structure capped by a double dome that soars 125ft (38m) into the sky and is set in a formal Persian garden. In the grounds are some other monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

After his visit in 1911 the Emperor of India, King George V of England, decreed that the capital should be moved from Calcutta to Delhi. Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan the new government center, which he focused around Rajpath, the grand, tree-lined boulevard that runs between the Secretariat Buildings and India Arch, the war memorial built in 1921. Rashtrapati Bhavan was built by Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, between 1921 and 1929, on the gentle slope of Raisina Hill, flanked by the Secretariat Buildings. This immense palace, larger than Versailles, was created for the Viceroy and is now the residence of the President of India. With the exception of the central copper dome there are few concessions to Indian architectural style; despite its classical columns the building is unmistakably British and, like most great Indian monuments, is a potent symbol of imperial power. Every Saturday morning between 9.35am and 10.15am, guards parade before the iron grille gates in Delhi's answer to London's Changing of the Guard. The gardens are open to the public every year in February and March.

Chandni Chowk

No trip to Delhi would be complete without a visit to one of the bazaars that surround Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square), in Old Delhi, where shops and stalls display a wonderful array of goods and offer a pungent and colorful insight into Delhi life. Chandni Chowk has a large number of galis (lanes) and each one is different, with its own atmosphere and smells. Naya Bazaar, on Khari Baoli, is the spice market that displays a wonderful selection of foodstuff in neat, colorful piles. The nearby Gadodia Market is the wholesale spice market. Hundreds of spices and condiments can be found including aniseed, ginger, pomegranate, saffron, lotus seeds, pickles and chutneys, to name just a few. Chor Bazaar sits behind the ramparts of the Red Fort and comes to life on Sundays to trade a collection of 'second hand' goods. Chawri Bazaar was once notorious for the ladies who beckoned men from the arched windows and balconies above street. Today, these houses have made way for shops specializing in brass and copper Buddhas, Vishnus and Krishnas. Some of the busiest galis house the poultry and fish markets, east of Kalan Mahal, but most tourists wisely avoid them.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most recognizable and evocative sights and a visit here does not disappoint. Set overlooking the River Yamuna, visible from Agra Fort in the West, the Taj was built by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favorite wife who died giving birth to her 14th child, in 1631. This story of this great monument to love is given an added poignancy by the fate of Shah Jahan himself. When his devout and austere son Aurangzeb seized power, Shah Jahan was interned in Agra Fort where he lived out his final years gazing wistfully at the Taj Mahal in the distance. When he died there in January 1666, with his daughter Jahanara Begum at his side, his body was carried across the river to lie alongside his beloved wife in his peerless tomb. Completed in 1653, the Taj Mahal is set in a large walled garden, between two mini-Tajs (one of which is a mosque), in front of a long reflective pond. Close up the craftsmanship is as spectacular as at a distance; the inside of the vast double-dome is inlaid with verses from the Koran and semi-precious stones. Visitors should aim to visit it at dawn and dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the color of the dome from white to shades of pink. Note that there can often be smog and fog in the mornings. Two days before and after the full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for moonlight viewing but tickets must be booked at the Archaeological Survey of India's offices in Agra 24 hours in advance.

Agra Fort

Not far from the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairytale palaces such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace), which, inlaid with thousands of mirrors was once the harem dressing room. There are also two beautiful mosques including Shah Jahan's Pearl Mosque (sadly currently out-of-bounds). The Octagonal Tower is an exquisitely carved tower where Shah Jahan spent the last seven years of his life. The tower was considered to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today the pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower, and much of the Agra Fort, is in bad shape but blank spaces and the empty inlay works give an idea of how this building must have looked in its prime.

Amber Palace

Situated on the crest of a hill seven miles north of Jaipur is Amber, capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1037 to 1728. The city-palace is protected by towering outer walls, a further wall runs for miles along the hills surrounding the palace. For many, the most memorable part of a trip to Jaipur is the journey up the palace ramparts, through a succession of vast gates, on the back of a painted elephant - Maharaja style. Inside are the ruins of a once great palace, a wonderful example of Rajput architecture, with Mogul influences. Visitors will be able to see the remains of the Maharajas quarters surrounded by the rooms of his many wives and concubines, each linked to his bedroom by secret steps and passageways to avoid jealousy. Although much of the complex is closed to the pubic, there is still a large area to explore. Visitors are advised to spend at least a few hours here and ideally hire a guide who will explain the architecture and history of the palace.

Jaipur City Palace

The magnificent City Palace is in the center of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since Jai Singh built it in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The Palace was built during the glory days and the exhibits and interior have lost none of their splendor; the doors and gateways preserve their flamboyant decoration and royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances. Chandra Mahal is the private palace of the current ruler and is approached through a number of courtyards. Mubarak Mahal, in the first courtyard, was once a guesthouse and is now a textile museum. There are number of other museums displaying old costumes and uniforms, carpets, mementos, elephant 'saddles' and an armory containing a fascinating array of fearsome and inventive weapons dating back to the Mogul era. A beautifully carved marble gate with brass doors leads to the second courtyard where Diwan-I-Khas, the hall of private audiences, is found. On display here are two gigantic silver urns used by Madho Singh II to carry water from the holy Ganges when he traveled to London in 1902 on board an ocean liner - he was reluctant to trust the water in the west! These are the largest silver vessels in the world - 243 kilograms of silver was required to cast each urn, which can contain 8,182 gallons of water.

Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)

The Palace of the Winds is Jaipur's most acclaimed attraction. Built in 1799, it is situated on the edge of the City Palace complex overlooking one of the city's main streets and was constructed to offer the women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below. The five-story building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head and contains over five hundred finely screened windows and balconies. The building, however, is smaller than one might imagine. Although the primary appeal is the finely carved pink façade, visitors can go inside to see where the women once sat and view the intricate honeycombed stonework close-up.

Udaipur City Palace

The white walls of the City Palace soar above the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola topped by ornamental battlements and turrets. The sprawling palace has been developed by successive maharanas since the foundation of Udaipur in 1559. Part of the palace is home to the current maharana, a section of it is a first-class hotel (with the best restaurant in the city) and the remainder is a museum. The approach to the City Palace is through the Elephant Gate, Hati Pol. The Great Gate, (Bara Pol) leads to the first court, where eight carved arches mark the spot where the rulers were once weighed against gold or silver, the equivalent value of which was then distributed among the poor. Beyond the Tripolia Gate is the arena where the elephant tug-of-war competitions were staged, past which are a series of courtyards, overlapping pavilions, terraces, corridors and hanging gardens. The Krishna Vilas honors a 19th century Udaipur princess who poisoned herself to avoid the dilemma of choosing a husband from the two rival households of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Its walls display miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and hunting parties. Further along, a glass mosaic gallery contains superb portraits and stained glass, and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city below. Set into the walls of the 17th century Mor Chowk are brilliant mosaics of three peacocks showing the three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon. Perhaps the most splendid rooms in the palace are the women's quarters, Zenana Mahal ,with their ornate alcoves, balconies and colored windows.

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

Forty miles (60km) north of Udaipur is the Jain temples of Ranakpur. It is the largest of its kind in India and boasts some staggering marble work, on a par with any in Asia. The main temple was built in 1439 and is dedicated to the first tirthankara Adinath, whose image is enshrined in its central sanctuary. The temple is two or three storys high in parts, and its roof, topped with five large shikharas, undulates with tiny spires that crown the small shrines to Jain saints lining the temple walls. Within are 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique and intricate designs, and dissecting the 29 halls. The carving on the walls, columns and the domed ceilings is superb. Friezes depicting the life of the tirthankara are etched into the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. Visitors may see Jaina monks walking about with masks on their faces to avoid eating insects; the most important teaching of Jainism is 'Ahimsa', meaning non-violence, and this is applied to all sentient beings. Many monks also carry a brush to sweep surfaces to avoid standing on bugs. Ranakpur's isolated position means it is not on the major tourist trail, but it makes a good stop for those traveling between Jaipur and Udaipur.

The Ghats

There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps') at Varanasi but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation. Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.

Fort Area

The magnificent Gothic Victorian buildings in the Fort area highlight the power and wealth of the British Empire at its might and are reminiscent of many of the great public buildings in London or Glasgow. The Victoria Terminus (known as CST), was opened in 1888 and is one of the world's grandest railway stations, on a par with New York's Grand Central Station or London's St Pancras. Built in the Italian Gothic style, it looks more like a lavishly decorated cathedral than a railway station; massive arches soar splendidly above the scurrying crowd and carved into the pillars and buttresses are images of monkeys, peacocks, elephants and lions. The station is topped by a tall dome crowned with a statue representing 'Progress'. The nearby St Thomas' Cathedral was built between 1672 and 1718 and is witness to almost the entire history of the British in Bombay. Its whitewashed interior contains poignant colonial memorials, including one to Henry Robertson Bower, Lieutenant of the Royal Indian Marine, who lost his life returning from the South Pole with Captain Scott. The epicenter of the Fort area is the Horniman Circle, surrounded by curved, arcaded terraces. The lush and leafy garden in the center offers a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Colaba

The southernmost peninsula, known as Colaba, is where most travelers gravitate to as it has a good range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Gateway to India was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit to India of King George V and Queen Mary. The archway is built from honey-colored basalt in a style derived from Gujarati architecture of the sixteenth century. In the days of the steam liner, the Gateway was for many visitors their first and last sight of India but today it acts purely as a colorful tourist stop, and attracts hawkers, snake charmers, and beggars. The neighboring Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1902 by JN Tata, after he was allegedly refused entry to one of the city's European hotels on account of being 'a native'. It has since turned into a bit of an institution, and the streets behind it have become a Mecca for travelers, the Colaba Causeway is the main street with a melee of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes. Unfortunately Colaba was also the site of two of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks and tourists are recommended to remain vigilant when visiting the area. To the north of the causeway, set in beautiful lush gardens, is the fascinating Prince of Wales Museum displaying a collection of ancient and medieval sculpture and Indian decorative arts, nearby the new National Gallery of Modern Art showcases Indian modern art. To the south is the Sassoon Dock, which at dawn becomes an area of intense and pungent activity as fishing boats arrive to unload their catch.

Marine Drive

Built in the 1920s, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare and a favorite spot for watching the sunset. Lined on the landward side by a crescent of crumbling Art Deco buildings, it is lit up at night prompting travel agents to dub it the Queen's Necklace. At the top end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach, the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. Though not ideal for sunbathing or swimming, it is a popular, though hectic place to spend an afternoon, surrounded by beach traders, entertainers and beggars. It is the best place to watch the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival (during August/September) when vast models of Lord Ganesha are immersed into the sea.

Crawford Market

The colorful indoor Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) is where locals of central Mumbai go shopping for their fruit, vegetables and (for the brave) meat. Rudyard Kipling was born just south of the market in 1865 and an ornate fountain designed by his father, Lockwood Kipling, sits between old fruit boxes at the market's center. He also designed the frieze depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields which hangs above the main entrance. The animal market at the rear sells everything from poodles to parrots in small cages. North of the market are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi. This predominantly Muslim area is a seething mass of people and traffic and is the location of several markets selling jewelry, textiles and leather goods. The most famous is the Chor Bazaar, Mumbai's 'thieves' market', which sells 'antiques' and miscellaneous junk - don't place too much faith in authenticity of anything here. This area is also home to the Jama Masjid and the Mumbadevi Temple, which is dedicated to the patron goddess of the island's original Koli inhabitants.

Anjuna Flea Market

Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums, the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka, dressed in their traditional garb, sell colorful, elaborately woven clothes, Kashmiri stalls display silver and papier-mâché boxes and Tibetans preside over orderly rows of sundry Himalayan curios. Even if not planning to haggle for anything the market is a great place to watch the world go by and mingle with bands of musicians, snake charmers, beggars and the inevitable juggling hippies. The market takes place every Wednesday.

Panaji

For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of state capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 when the harbor at Old Goa had silted up and disease had driven its inhabitants out. The best way to explore the town is by foot, wandering around the old cobbled alleyways, colonial villas, red-roofed houses, taverns and cafes, much like any small Portuguese town. There are some wonderful old government buildings, dating back to before colonization and some elegant Catholic churches. Most memorable is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1541; it is topped with a huge bell that sits between two delicate Baroque-style towers.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Situated on a hilltop at the southern tip of the state, and India, is Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram (still commonly known as Trivandrum). For most visitors the capital is simply a transit point on their way to Kovalam, the popular beach resort a few miles to the south. However it is worth lingering for a day in this easy-going city to explore the narrow backstreets, old gabled houses and parks that break up the modern center. The most fascinating part of Trivandrum is the Fort area, around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple (closed to non-Hindus) and Puttan Malika palace, seat of the Travancore rajas. Some of the palace has been turned into a museum and displays a collection of heirlooms and artifacts, however the highlight is the typically understated, elegant Keralan architecture. Beneath sloping red-tiled roofs, hundreds of wooden pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandas projecting onto the surrounding lawns. When it gets too hot at sea level, Ponmudi makes a welcome excursion. This enchanting hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, forty miles to the north of the capital, offers a lot to travelers with a passion for trekking or those who'd prefer a gentle wander along narrow, winding pathways, through cool green, wooded environs and among a variety of beautiful mountain flowers full of exotic butterflies. The hill resort is surrounded by tea-estates and mist-covered valleys, peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Another easy excursion from Trivandrum is Padmanabhapuram, the site of a magnificent palace.

Kochi (Cochin)

The port city of Kochi (long known as Cochin) is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas half way up the Goan coast. The majority of tourists stay in the Ernakulam district but the old section of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin is the main focus of interest. All linked by a series of ferries and bridges, these districts are an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Near the waterfront are St Francis Church (India's oldest), a 16th century Portuguese palace and a synagogue dating back 450 years. Set among all this is spice markets and a village green that could have been transported from rural England. The architecture follows the history of European influence. Kochi came to prominence in 1405 when the royal family moved here and the city became an important harbor attracting Christian, Jewish and Arab settlers from the Middle East. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and later the English. One of Kochi's main attractions is the Kathakali dance, which can be seen at one of many special tourist theaters, or, more authentically one performed by a temple-based company. The best way to explore the town is on bicycle, which can be hired from a number of companies.

Old Goa

Old Goa was the State Capital until 1843 when it moved down river to Panaji. Once a byword for splendor, with a population of several hundred thousand, Old Goa was virtually abandoned from the 17th century as the river silted up and a series of malaria and cholera epidemics drove out the inhabitants. It takes some imagination to picture the once-great capital as it used to be. The maze of twisting streets, piazzas and grand Portuguese villas have long gone; all that remains are a score of extraordinarily grandiose churches and convents. Old Goa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today is the state's main cultural attraction. Tourists take a break from the beach resorts to come and admire the massive facades and beautiful interiors of the city's well-preserved churches. The Tuscan St Catherine's Cathedral is the largest church in India and took eighty years to build, finally being consecrated in 1640. The scale and detail of the Corinthian-style interior is overwhelming; huge pillars divide the central nave from the side aisles, and no less than fifteen altars are arranged around the walls. An altar to St Anne treasures the relics of the Blessed Martyrs of Cuncolim, whose failed mission to convert the Moghul emperor Akbar culminated in their murder, while a chapel behind a highly detailed screen holds the Miraculous Cross, which stood in a Goan village until a vision of Christ appeared on it. Said to heal the sick, it is now kept in a box; a small opening on the side allows devotees to touch it. Other sights worth seeing include the Arch of the Viceroys, built in 1597 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, and the distinctive domed Church of St Cajetan (1651), modeled on St Peter's in Rome. Old Goa is a major draw for Christian pilgrims from all over India who come to visit the tomb of St Francis Xavier, the renowned 16th century missionary whose remains are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors.

The park lies 75 miles southeast of Cochin at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. Ironically the park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favorite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centers on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state.

Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.

The Backwaters of Kerala

One of the most memorable experiences for travelers in Kerala is a boat journey on the backwaters of Kerala. The best known is the area known as Kuttanad, situated between the hills in the west and the Arabian Sea, stretching for 50 miles south of Cochin. This extraordinary maze of rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery, and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend; narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and through the trees can be seen churches, mosques and temples, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Buffalos are used for plowing the fields and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this area but are almost entirely linked by manually operated ferries rather than bridges. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish population; a massive increase in the population has resulted in much illegal land reclamation and use of harmful fertilizers, which have damaged the ecosystem.

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar; he was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help. Soon a son was born and, impressed and overjoyed, he started building on the site where he had met the saint. However, due to a severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved; a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25 mile (40km) journey west of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.

Haji Ali Dargah

The Haji Ali Dargah is both a mosque and tomb located in south-western Mumbai on an islet off the coast of Worli. The dargah(tomb) was built in memory of Muslim preacher, Syed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in 1431, who was inspired to change the course of his life after embarking on the Hajj to Mecca. Haji Ali is only accessible by a 1500-foot (457m) long walkway during low tide. The walkway is generally lined with beggars and vedors, Thursdays and Fridays see thousands of pilgrims flocking to Haji Ali to receive blessings from the dead saint.

Nehru Center

The exciting Nehru center, which looks like a UFO, features a planetarium, an art gallery, a culture wing and a discovery center which features 14 galleries highlighting human sciences and the evolution of man. The Discovery of India building, which looks like a honeycomb, features historical exhibits and is bound to captivate all who visit.

Prince of Wales Museum

The Prince of Wales Museum, now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was founded in the early 20th century to commemorate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. The museum houses over 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as artifacts from other lands, pertaining to art, archaeology or natural history.

Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum

The former home of Mahatma Gandhi, the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum is a Gujarati-style house featuring three floors for visitors to explore. The museum houses a library full of Gandhi-related works, photographs, posters and even Gandhi's old charkha(spinning wheel).

Dhobi Ghat

Known as the world's largest Laundromat, the Dhobi Ghat is a scene many travelers might have already seen in movies. Every day, thousands of 'dhobis'collect dirty laundry and descend upon the concrete washing areas, all fitted with their own flogging stones, to wash the garments. To the dhobis themselves, the washing and drying of clothes is their daily work, but to inquisitive tourists, this practice is fascinating.

Elephanta Caves

Located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must for visitors in Dubai. The caves feature Shaivistic(the oldest of the four sects of Hindusm) stone sculptures of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. Many of the sculptures in the caves were unfortunately defaced by the Portuguese who, in the 17th century, used the sculptures as target practice.

Titwala

Titwala is a sacred and ancient town which is home to one of the most respected temples of Ganesha. The Siddhivinayaka Temple is also located here in Titwala and is a highly popular temple with Pilgrims flooding in lakhs here on the Holy Hindu day of 'Angarika Chaturthi'. A visit to this religious and sacred town is a must for all culture vultures and anyone with an interest in Hinduism.

Great Banyan Tree

The Indian Botanical Gardens has many floral treasures but none as impressive as the 250-year-old Great Banyan tree which covers nearly 5,300 square feet (500 sq/m). What at first seems like a forest of narrow trunks is in fact 1,573 drop-roots from a single banyan tree - by some margin the largest in the world. The rest of the gardens are certainly worth exploring, containing 12,000 living plants from every corner of the globe.

Victoria Memorial

This astounding marble building is probably the most impressive colonial structure in India. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and completed after 20 years of work in 1921. Inside is a fascinating museum of Indian history including some wonderful sculptures. The monument is situated on 64 acres of land including lakes, gardens and walking paths.

Indian Museum

With 60 galleries of art, archaeology and anthropology this is India's largest museum and possibly its most attractive, housed in a stunning colonnaded palace. The natural-history collection is one of the world's finest. A visit here is mandatory for those wanting a snap-shot view of India's past. Plus, it's an ideal all-day excursion in rainy season! Five guided tours are available each day.

Motherhouse

This humble and touching temple to Mother Theresa's life and work within the city of Calcutta is worth a visit. Upstairs is a small museum and her bedroom is preserved as it was when she lived here in remarkable simplicity.

Kalighat Temple

This 350-year-old temple dedicated to Kali is Calcutta's holiest site attracting a throng of excited pilgrims every day. You'll need to tip one of the priests in order to get inside through the mêlée of devotees. Goats are ritually slaughtered inside the temple perimeter and the meat is used to feed the poor. Stalls selling votive items and various artifacts surround the temple. If you want to avoid crowds then the best days to visit the temple are Wednesdays and Thursdays and tourists are advised to take ample change (in Rs 10 denominations) to tip various priests and ushers.

Marble Palace

One of Calcutta's most unusual sites, this palace was built by a local member of the 19th century gentry in a marvelous patchwork of classical architectural styles. Lavish use is made of Italian marble and the lawns contain an eclectic pantheon of statues including Christopher Columbus and the Buddha. The Marble Palace is a place of drama and dilapidation and unsurprisingly has frequently been used as a movie set, but it is also used as a private residence making viewing arrangements strict.

Shopping For Kids

Children will love a shopping trip in Goa; there are a number of great stores in Panaji selling a variety of toys and games for kids. Totally Toys is a vast toys and games arcade, and Archies Gallery offers gorgeous giant-sized teddy bears. Children's sports equipment is available from Nilesh Stores, while Pinakin Enterprises sells toy walkie-talkies and binoculars.

Child-Friendly Beaches

There are a couple of great beaches to take kids to in Goa. The fishing village of Benaulim, near Colva has a few quiet spots with soft sand and beautiful clean water. A family favorite are the Mandrem beaches, which offer shallow waters for kids to play in and beach beds for folks to relax on. Between the beach and the dunes, there's a little wooden bridge crossing a river that kids love to play on.

Bondla Forest

Take the kids on a trip to Bondla Forest, in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where they can see exotic animals like sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs and maybe even leopards! There are also elephant rides available at the wildlife sanctuary to entertain children. The botanical gardens are also a lovely attraction.

Beaches

Goa has some amazing beaches. In the north, Anjuna Beach once played host to hordes of hippies and is now home to a number of trendy beach bars as well as the Wednesday Market. The new hippy haven is Arambol beach, also good for dolphin viewing and paragliding. With its white sand beaches Vagator is gaining in popularity, however the sea is not safe for swimming because of rip tides. The busiest, most commercial beach is Calangute, and neighboring Baga Beach has great nightlife spots, including Tito's and Café Mambo with its hip-hop and salsa nights themed nights. In the south, Agonda is a quiet stretch of beach with a few souvenir stalls and restaurants, while Benaulim Beach, south of Colva, is known for its fishing and laid-back atmosphere. In recent years Benaulim has become popular with tourists wanting to get away from Goa's party reputation and just lay back, jog along the long stretch of beach and indulge in the city's fresh and healthy culinary fare. The shady palm trees and soft sands of Palolem Beach, also known as Paradise Beach, are backpacker territory; however it's a great place for a dolphin cruise or picturesque sundowner at one of the many beach bars lining the water. Nearby Patnem has some lovely beach huts options.

Dudhsagar Waterfall

A great outing in Goa is a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfall. The falls are located in a tropical jungle near the Goa-Karnataka border and are surrounded by a network of gently flowing streams. Swimming, hiking and picnicking are popular pastimes at the falls. The waterfalls are among the 100 highest in the world and visitors who take the difficult climb to the top will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Western Ghats' wooded mountains.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is host to around 400 species of birds, both local and migratory. Here visitors can expect to see kingfishers, pintails, coots and egrets, as well as a few crocodiles, jackals and foxes, inhabiting the mangroves. Although this is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa, it is among the most famous in India. The best time to see the migratory birds is after the monsoons, from October to March.

Bugle Hill

Bugle hill is home to the Bull Temple which houses a black granite 16th century statue of Shiva's sacred bull coated in fresh lashings of coconut oil. Less pleasant on the nose is the nearby temple to Ganesh that houses a statue of the deity made from 100 kilograms of butter. Every four years the statue is remade and the by-now rancid butter distributed to devotees. Few westerners join the queue for a portion.

Cubbon Park

This is the city's Central Park, a place of relaxation, open space and some worthwhile attractions. In and around the park are the State Central Library, two municipal museums, an art gallery and the Government Aquarium, which is best avoided. The intensely red Attara Kacheri is unmistakable; particularly for criminals as it houses the regional high court. The State Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest in India and has artifacts dating back 5,000 years and is well worth a visit to get some historical context in this relentlessly modern city. The handsome and photogenic Seshadri Memorial library is another distinctly red building on the fringes of the park.

Lal Bagh

This splendid botanical garden, laid out by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, contains over 1,000 species of rare flora over its enormous grounds. The name Lal bagh, means 'red garden' in tribute to its celebrated red roses. The centerpiece of Lal Bagh is the Glass House, which hosts a yearly flower show and is modeled after London's Crystal Palace.

Vidhana Soudha

This impressive and imposing building at the northern edge of Cubbon Park is home to the State Legislature and Secretariat. The massive sandalwood doors to the Cabinet are a notable feature of this handsome colonial structure, built in neo-Dravidian style. The edifice is notably secular, incorporating elements from the many cultures that influenced the region. The construction work was done by over 5,000 prisoners who were set free once building work was finished in 1956.

Galta Monkey Temple (Galtaji)

Situated between two granite cliffs, this temple is part of a much larger temple complex. The complex has a three sacred pools which the monkeys enjoy swimming in. This Hindi temple is slightly dilapidated but definitely worth the trip out of the city. The best time to see the temple is at sunset when the monkeys appear for their evening swim.

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder that tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Situated in the middle of a sacred lake fed by an underground spring, the golden structure is a unique blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Within the temple is the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, displayed on a jewel-studded platform.

Visitors to the Golden Temple can enjoy the serene and spiritual atmosphere, with the sound of Sikh hymns being accompanied by flutes, drums and stringed instruments. Next to the lake are the enormous pilgrims' dormitories, and at the gate is the information desk, where helpful and friendly staff will answer your questions and provide free booklets on the temple and Sikh religion.

The best time to visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar is at night when the Palki Sahib ceremony takes place. Dozens of devotees act as a human conveyor belt to carry the Granth Sahib (containing the Adi Grantha) from the main shrine to the sanctum, where it is kept until the opening ceremony the following morning. Visitors may participate in the ceremony, taking their turn to shoulder the weight of the enormous shrine.

Visitors to the Golden Temple should be respectful of the Sikh culture. Smoking and alcohol is forbidden throughout the complex, and visitors must remove their shoes. Heads must be covered at all times; vendors will push Rs 10 bandanas on you as you near the temple, but if that's not the souvenir you want there are coverings to borrow at the entrance.

Red Fort

The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Quila, is Delhi's signature attraction, rising high above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Mogul empire. The massive sandstone walls were built in the 17th century to keep out marauding invaders and still dominate the skyline today. Inside are an array of exquisite buildings, which once provided the living quarters for Shah Jehan, his courtiers, family and staff of three thousand. Visitors can marvel at the intricate decoration and only imagine the scenes here at the empire's height when the walls were studded with precious stones and a 'stream of paradise' drove an ingenious air conditioning system. The fort was the scene of the Indian uprising of 1857 and the mighty Lahore Gate, on the west side of the fort, remains a potent symbol in the fight for Independence.

Jama Masjid

Shah Jehan, the architect of the Red Fort and much of Old Delhi, built Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. This grand structure is situated on a hill a few hundred yards west of the Red Fort and towers over the mayhem of Old Delhi's sprawling streets. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque and can hold 25,000 worshipers at one time. Wide red sandstone steps lead to entrances on the north, south and east sides of the mosque. Inside, is the massive courtyard dominated by two red and white striped sandstone minarets that cap the main prayer hall on the west side (facing Mecca). There are smaller towers at each corner of the mosque; energetic visitors can climb the 122 narrow steps of the southern one to be rewarded with magnificent views of Old and New Delhi. Those wearing shorts or skirts can hire a lunghito cover their legs, women wearing T-shirts should bring a scarf to cover their shoulders.

Qutb Minar

The Qutb Minar is a mammoth tower that was built between 1193 and 1369 to symbolise Islamic rule over Delhi and commemorate the victory by Qutab-ud-din over the city's last Hindu kingdom. Standing 238ft (72m) tall, the tower is decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran and tapers from a 50ft (15m) diameter at the base to just 8ft (2.5m) at the top. There are five distinct stories each encircled with a balcony, the first three are built of red sandstone, and the upper two are faced with white marble. At the foot of the minhar, stands Quwwat-ul-Islam, India's oldest mosque, which is built largely from the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples that were destroyed by the new Muslim rulers of India. The cloisters that flank the nearby courtyard are supported by pillars that were unmistakably pilfered from Hindu temples. Faces of the decorative figures have been removed to conform to Islamic law, which strictly forbids iconic worship. Incongruously, in the corner of the mosque stands an Iron Pillar, bearing fourth-century Sanskrit inscriptions of the Gupta period attributing it to the memory of King Chandragupta II (373-413). It is said that anyone who can encircle it with their hands while standing with their back to it will have their wishes fulfilled.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is one of the best-preserved and most beautiful examples of Mogul architecture in Delhi and is often seen as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Building started on the tomb in 1564 after the death of Humayun, the second Moghul emperor; it was overseen by Haji Begum, his senior widow and the mother of Akbar. The tomb is an octagonal structure capped by a double dome that soars 125ft (38m) into the sky and is set in a formal Persian garden. In the grounds are some other monuments, including the Tomb of Isa Khan.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

After his visit in 1911 the Emperor of India, King George V of England, decreed that the capital should be moved from Calcutta to Delhi. Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan the new government center, which he focused around Rajpath, the grand, tree-lined boulevard that runs between the Secretariat Buildings and India Arch, the war memorial built in 1921. Rashtrapati Bhavan was built by Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, between 1921 and 1929, on the gentle slope of Raisina Hill, flanked by the Secretariat Buildings. This immense palace, larger than Versailles, was created for the Viceroy and is now the residence of the President of India. With the exception of the central copper dome there are few concessions to Indian architectural style; despite its classical columns the building is unmistakably British and, like most great Indian monuments, is a potent symbol of imperial power. Every Saturday morning between 9.35am and 10.15am, guards parade before the iron grille gates in Delhi's answer to London's Changing of the Guard. The gardens are open to the public every year in February and March.

Chandni Chowk

No trip to Delhi would be complete without a visit to one of the bazaars that surround Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square), in Old Delhi, where shops and stalls display a wonderful array of goods and offer a pungent and colorful insight into Delhi life. Chandni Chowk has a large number of galis (lanes) and each one is different, with its own atmosphere and smells. Naya Bazaar, on Khari Baoli, is the spice market that displays a wonderful selection of foodstuff in neat, colorful piles. The nearby Gadodia Market is the wholesale spice market. Hundreds of spices and condiments can be found including aniseed, ginger, pomegranate, saffron, lotus seeds, pickles and chutneys, to name just a few. Chor Bazaar sits behind the ramparts of the Red Fort and comes to life on Sundays to trade a collection of 'second hand' goods. Chawri Bazaar was once notorious for the ladies who beckoned men from the arched windows and balconies above street. Today, these houses have made way for shops specializing in brass and copper Buddhas, Vishnus and Krishnas. Some of the busiest galis house the poultry and fish markets, east of Kalan Mahal, but most tourists wisely avoid them.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most recognizable and evocative sights and a visit here does not disappoint. Set overlooking the River Yamuna, visible from Agra Fort in the West, the Taj was built by Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favorite wife who died giving birth to her 14th child, in 1631. This story of this great monument to love is given an added poignancy by the fate of Shah Jahan himself. When his devout and austere son Aurangzeb seized power, Shah Jahan was interned in Agra Fort where he lived out his final years gazing wistfully at the Taj Mahal in the distance. When he died there in January 1666, with his daughter Jahanara Begum at his side, his body was carried across the river to lie alongside his beloved wife in his peerless tomb. Completed in 1653, the Taj Mahal is set in a large walled garden, between two mini-Tajs (one of which is a mosque), in front of a long reflective pond. Close up the craftsmanship is as spectacular as at a distance; the inside of the vast double-dome is inlaid with verses from the Koran and semi-precious stones. Visitors should aim to visit it at dawn and dusk when the reflection of the sun changes the color of the dome from white to shades of pink. Note that there can often be smog and fog in the mornings. Two days before and after the full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for moonlight viewing but tickets must be booked at the Archaeological Survey of India's offices in Agra 24 hours in advance.

Agra Fort

Not far from the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 1.5 mile-long (2.5km) enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairytale palaces such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace), which, inlaid with thousands of mirrors was once the harem dressing room. There are also two beautiful mosques including Shah Jahan's Pearl Mosque (sadly currently out-of-bounds). The Octagonal Tower is an exquisitely carved tower where Shah Jahan spent the last seven years of his life. The tower was considered to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today the pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower, and much of the Agra Fort, is in bad shape but blank spaces and the empty inlay works give an idea of how this building must have looked in its prime.

Amber Palace

Situated on the crest of a hill seven miles north of Jaipur is Amber, capital of the Kuchwaha Rajputs from 1037 to 1728. The city-palace is protected by towering outer walls, a further wall runs for miles along the hills surrounding the palace. For many, the most memorable part of a trip to Jaipur is the journey up the palace ramparts, through a succession of vast gates, on the back of a painted elephant - Maharaja style. Inside are the ruins of a once great palace, a wonderful example of Rajput architecture, with Mogul influences. Visitors will be able to see the remains of the Maharajas quarters surrounded by the rooms of his many wives and concubines, each linked to his bedroom by secret steps and passageways to avoid jealousy. Although much of the complex is closed to the pubic, there is still a large area to explore. Visitors are advised to spend at least a few hours here and ideally hire a guide who will explain the architecture and history of the palace.

Jaipur City Palace

The magnificent City Palace is in the center of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since Jai Singh built it in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The Palace was built during the glory days and the exhibits and interior have lost none of their splendor; the doors and gateways preserve their flamboyant decoration and royal retainers, clothed in turbans and full livery, still guard the principal halls and entrances. Chandra Mahal is the private palace of the current ruler and is approached through a number of courtyards. Mubarak Mahal, in the first courtyard, was once a guesthouse and is now a textile museum. There are number of other museums displaying old costumes and uniforms, carpets, mementos, elephant 'saddles' and an armory containing a fascinating array of fearsome and inventive weapons dating back to the Mogul era. A beautifully carved marble gate with brass doors leads to the second courtyard where Diwan-I-Khas, the hall of private audiences, is found. On display here are two gigantic silver urns used by Madho Singh II to carry water from the holy Ganges when he traveled to London in 1902 on board an ocean liner - he was reluctant to trust the water in the west! These are the largest silver vessels in the world - 243 kilograms of silver was required to cast each urn, which can contain 8,182 gallons of water.

Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)

The Palace of the Winds is Jaipur's most acclaimed attraction. Built in 1799, it is situated on the edge of the City Palace complex overlooking one of the city's main streets and was constructed to offer the women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below. The five-story building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head and contains over five hundred finely screened windows and balconies. The building, however, is smaller than one might imagine. Although the primary appeal is the finely carved pink façade, visitors can go inside to see where the women once sat and view the intricate honeycombed stonework close-up.

Udaipur City Palace

The white walls of the City Palace soar above the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola topped by ornamental battlements and turrets. The sprawling palace has been developed by successive maharanas since the foundation of Udaipur in 1559. Part of the palace is home to the current maharana, a section of it is a first-class hotel (with the best restaurant in the city) and the remainder is a museum. The approach to the City Palace is through the Elephant Gate, Hati Pol. The Great Gate, (Bara Pol) leads to the first court, where eight carved arches mark the spot where the rulers were once weighed against gold or silver, the equivalent value of which was then distributed among the poor. Beyond the Tripolia Gate is the arena where the elephant tug-of-war competitions were staged, past which are a series of courtyards, overlapping pavilions, terraces, corridors and hanging gardens. The Krishna Vilas honors a 19th century Udaipur princess who poisoned herself to avoid the dilemma of choosing a husband from the two rival households of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Its walls display miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and hunting parties. Further along, a glass mosaic gallery contains superb portraits and stained glass, and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city below. Set into the walls of the 17th century Mor Chowk are brilliant mosaics of three peacocks showing the three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon. Perhaps the most splendid rooms in the palace are the women's quarters, Zenana Mahal ,with their ornate alcoves, balconies and colored windows.

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

Forty miles (60km) north of Udaipur is the Jain temples of Ranakpur. It is the largest of its kind in India and boasts some staggering marble work, on a par with any in Asia. The main temple was built in 1439 and is dedicated to the first tirthankara Adinath, whose image is enshrined in its central sanctuary. The temple is two or three storys high in parts, and its roof, topped with five large shikharas, undulates with tiny spires that crown the small shrines to Jain saints lining the temple walls. Within are 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique and intricate designs, and dissecting the 29 halls. The carving on the walls, columns and the domed ceilings is superb. Friezes depicting the life of the tirthankara are etched into the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. Visitors may see Jaina monks walking about with masks on their faces to avoid eating insects; the most important teaching of Jainism is 'Ahimsa', meaning non-violence, and this is applied to all sentient beings. Many monks also carry a brush to sweep surfaces to avoid standing on bugs. Ranakpur's isolated position means it is not on the major tourist trail, but it makes a good stop for those traveling between Jaipur and Udaipur.

The Ghats

There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps') at Varanasi but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts, known as chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in cloth. At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of firewood, each log will have been weighed on giant scales to calculate the price of the cremation. Tourists are welcome to watch the cremations but should dress conservatively and leave their camera behind. The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat or the 'ghat of ten sacrificed horses' is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice to pave the way for the return of Shiva after the period of banishment. Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the best ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but to do yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or do their karma good by giving money to beggars. It is also a good place to arrange a dawn boat trip to view the beauty of Varanasi unfold as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats are numerous temples, the highlight being the Golden Temple with its stunning golden towers.

Fort Area

The magnificent Gothic Victorian buildings in the Fort area highlight the power and wealth of the British Empire at its might and are reminiscent of many of the great public buildings in London or Glasgow. The Victoria Terminus (known as CST), was opened in 1888 and is one of the world's grandest railway stations, on a par with New York's Grand Central Station or London's St Pancras. Built in the Italian Gothic style, it looks more like a lavishly decorated cathedral than a railway station; massive arches soar splendidly above the scurrying crowd and carved into the pillars and buttresses are images of monkeys, peacocks, elephants and lions. The station is topped by a tall dome crowned with a statue representing 'Progress'. The nearby St Thomas' Cathedral was built between 1672 and 1718 and is witness to almost the entire history of the British in Bombay. Its whitewashed interior contains poignant colonial memorials, including one to Henry Robertson Bower, Lieutenant of the Royal Indian Marine, who lost his life returning from the South Pole with Captain Scott. The epicenter of the Fort area is the Horniman Circle, surrounded by curved, arcaded terraces. The lush and leafy garden in the center offers a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Colaba

The southernmost peninsula, known as Colaba, is where most travelers gravitate to as it has a good range of hotels and restaurants and two of the city's best landmarks, the Gateway to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. The Gateway to India was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit to India of King George V and Queen Mary. The archway is built from honey-colored basalt in a style derived from Gujarati architecture of the sixteenth century. In the days of the steam liner, the Gateway was for many visitors their first and last sight of India but today it acts purely as a colorful tourist stop, and attracts hawkers, snake charmers, and beggars. The neighboring Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1902 by JN Tata, after he was allegedly refused entry to one of the city's European hotels on account of being 'a native'. It has since turned into a bit of an institution, and the streets behind it have become a Mecca for travelers, the Colaba Causeway is the main street with a melee of street vendors, shops, stalls and cafes. Unfortunately Colaba was also the site of two of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks and tourists are recommended to remain vigilant when visiting the area. To the north of the causeway, set in beautiful lush gardens, is the fascinating Prince of Wales Museum displaying a collection of ancient and medieval sculpture and Indian decorative arts, nearby the new National Gallery of Modern Art showcases Indian modern art. To the south is the Sassoon Dock, which at dawn becomes an area of intense and pungent activity as fishing boats arrive to unload their catch.

Marine Drive

Built in the 1920s, Marine Drive runs along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill. It is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare and a favorite spot for watching the sunset. Lined on the landward side by a crescent of crumbling Art Deco buildings, it is lit up at night prompting travel agents to dub it the Queen's Necklace. At the top end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach, the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. Though not ideal for sunbathing or swimming, it is a popular, though hectic place to spend an afternoon, surrounded by beach traders, entertainers and beggars. It is the best place to watch the annual Ganesh Chaturthi Festival (during August/September) when vast models of Lord Ganesha are immersed into the sea.

Crawford Market

The colorful indoor Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) is where locals of central Mumbai go shopping for their fruit, vegetables and (for the brave) meat. Rudyard Kipling was born just south of the market in 1865 and an ornate fountain designed by his father, Lockwood Kipling, sits between old fruit boxes at the market's center. He also designed the frieze depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields which hangs above the main entrance. The animal market at the rear sells everything from poodles to parrots in small cages. North of the market are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi. This predominantly Muslim area is a seething mass of people and traffic and is the location of several markets selling jewelry, textiles and leather goods. The most famous is the Chor Bazaar, Mumbai's 'thieves' market', which sells 'antiques' and miscellaneous junk - don't place too much faith in authenticity of anything here. This area is also home to the Jama Masjid and the Mumbadevi Temple, which is dedicated to the patron goddess of the island's original Koli inhabitants.

Anjuna Flea Market

Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums, the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka, dressed in their traditional garb, sell colorful, elaborately woven clothes, Kashmiri stalls display silver and papier-mâché boxes and Tibetans preside over orderly rows of sundry Himalayan curios. Even if not planning to haggle for anything the market is a great place to watch the world go by and mingle with bands of musicians, snake charmers, beggars and the inevitable juggling hippies. The market takes place every Wednesday.

Panaji

For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of state capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 when the harbor at Old Goa had silted up and disease had driven its inhabitants out. The best way to explore the town is by foot, wandering around the old cobbled alleyways, colonial villas, red-roofed houses, taverns and cafes, much like any small Portuguese town. There are some wonderful old government buildings, dating back to before colonization and some elegant Catholic churches. Most memorable is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1541; it is topped with a huge bell that sits between two delicate Baroque-style towers.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Situated on a hilltop at the southern tip of the state, and India, is Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram (still commonly known as Trivandrum). For most visitors the capital is simply a transit point on their way to Kovalam, the popular beach resort a few miles to the south. However it is worth lingering for a day in this easy-going city to explore the narrow backstreets, old gabled houses and parks that break up the modern center. The most fascinating part of Trivandrum is the Fort area, around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple (closed to non-Hindus) and Puttan Malika palace, seat of the Travancore rajas. Some of the palace has been turned into a museum and displays a collection of heirlooms and artifacts, however the highlight is the typically understated, elegant Keralan architecture. Beneath sloping red-tiled roofs, hundreds of wooden pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandas projecting onto the surrounding lawns. When it gets too hot at sea level, Ponmudi makes a welcome excursion. This enchanting hill station, tucked away in the Western Ghats, forty miles to the north of the capital, offers a lot to travelers with a passion for trekking or those who'd prefer a gentle wander along narrow, winding pathways, through cool green, wooded environs and among a variety of beautiful mountain flowers full of exotic butterflies. The hill resort is surrounded by tea-estates and mist-covered valleys, peppered with little stone cottages painted violet, pink and white. Another easy excursion from Trivandrum is Padmanabhapuram, the site of a magnificent palace.

Kochi (Cochin)

The port city of Kochi (long known as Cochin) is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas half way up the Goan coast. The majority of tourists stay in the Ernakulam district but the old section of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin is the main focus of interest. All linked by a series of ferries and bridges, these districts are an unlikely blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English architecture. Near the waterfront are St Francis Church (India's oldest), a 16th century Portuguese palace and a synagogue dating back 450 years. Set among all this is spice markets and a village green that could have been transported from rural England. The architecture follows the history of European influence. Kochi came to prominence in 1405 when the royal family moved here and the city became an important harbor attracting Christian, Jewish and Arab settlers from the Middle East. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and later the English. One of Kochi's main attractions is the Kathakali dance, which can be seen at one of many special tourist theaters, or, more authentically one performed by a temple-based company. The best way to explore the town is on bicycle, which can be hired from a number of companies.

Old Goa

Old Goa was the State Capital until 1843 when it moved down river to Panaji. Once a byword for splendor, with a population of several hundred thousand, Old Goa was virtually abandoned from the 17th century as the river silted up and a series of malaria and cholera epidemics drove out the inhabitants. It takes some imagination to picture the once-great capital as it used to be. The maze of twisting streets, piazzas and grand Portuguese villas have long gone; all that remains are a score of extraordinarily grandiose churches and convents. Old Goa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today is the state's main cultural attraction. Tourists take a break from the beach resorts to come and admire the massive facades and beautiful interiors of the city's well-preserved churches. The Tuscan St Catherine's Cathedral is the largest church in India and took eighty years to build, finally being consecrated in 1640. The scale and detail of the Corinthian-style interior is overwhelming; huge pillars divide the central nave from the side aisles, and no less than fifteen altars are arranged around the walls. An altar to St Anne treasures the relics of the Blessed Martyrs of Cuncolim, whose failed mission to convert the Moghul emperor Akbar culminated in their murder, while a chapel behind a highly detailed screen holds the Miraculous Cross, which stood in a Goan village until a vision of Christ appeared on it. Said to heal the sick, it is now kept in a box; a small opening on the side allows devotees to touch it. Other sights worth seeing include the Arch of the Viceroys, built in 1597 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's arrival in India, and the distinctive domed Church of St Cajetan (1651), modeled on St Peter's in Rome. Old Goa is a major draw for Christian pilgrims from all over India who come to visit the tomb of St Francis Xavier, the renowned 16th century missionary whose remains are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Cardamom hills region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. It is home to a great variety of game including elephant, sambar, wild pig, mongoose, the Malabar flying squirrel and almost 300 species of bird. Leopards and dwindling numbers of tigers are also here but are rarely glimpsed by visitors.

The park lies 75 miles southeast of Cochin at cool altitudes, between 900 - 1800m. Ironically the park was created by the royal family of Travancor to preserve their favorite hunting grounds from the encroachment of tea plantations, and centers on a vast artificial lake that was created by the British in 1895 to supply water to the drier parts of the state.

Most people view Periyar from the lake, however many visitors prefer to explore by foot. Local guides take small groups on treks of various lengths, however visitors should avoid the weeks immediately following the monsoon, when leeches make hiking virtually unbearable. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the dry weather draws animals from the forest to drink at the lakeside. Periyar is also a good base for day-trips to visit the local tea and spice plantations, and see the waterfalls and views within the Cardamom hills.

The Backwaters of Kerala

One of the most memorable experiences for travelers in Kerala is a boat journey on the backwaters of Kerala. The best known is the area known as Kuttanad, situated between the hills in the west and the Arabian Sea, stretching for 50 miles south of Cochin. This extraordinary maze of rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery, and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend; narrow tree covered canals open into dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and through the trees can be seen churches, mosques and temples, and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the modern world. Buffalos are used for plowing the fields and women bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this area but are almost entirely linked by manually operated ferries rather than bridges. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish population; a massive increase in the population has resulted in much illegal land reclamation and use of harmful fertilizers, which have damaged the ecosystem.

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar; he was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help. Soon a son was born and, impressed and overjoyed, he started building on the site where he had met the saint. However, due to a severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved; a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25 mile (40km) journey west of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.

Haji Ali Dargah

The Haji Ali Dargah is both a mosque and tomb located in south-western Mumbai on an islet off the coast of Worli. The dargah(tomb) was built in memory of Muslim preacher, Syed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in 1431, who was inspired to change the course of his life after embarking on the Hajj to Mecca. Haji Ali is only accessible by a 1500-foot (457m) long walkway during low tide. The walkway is generally lined with beggars and vedors, Thursdays and Fridays see thousands of pilgrims flocking to Haji Ali to receive blessings from the dead saint.

Nehru Center

The exciting Nehru center, which looks like a UFO, features a planetarium, an art gallery, a culture wing and a discovery center which features 14 galleries highlighting human sciences and the evolution of man. The Discovery of India building, which looks like a honeycomb, features historical exhibits and is bound to captivate all who visit.

Prince of Wales Museum

The Prince of Wales Museum, now known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was founded in the early 20th century to commemorate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. The museum houses over 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as artifacts from other lands, pertaining to art, archaeology or natural history.

Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum

The former home of Mahatma Gandhi, the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum is a Gujarati-style house featuring three floors for visitors to explore. The museum houses a library full of Gandhi-related works, photographs, posters and even Gandhi's old charkha(spinning wheel).

Dhobi Ghat

Known as the world's largest Laundromat, the Dhobi Ghat is a scene many travelers might have already seen in movies. Every day, thousands of 'dhobis'collect dirty laundry and descend upon the concrete washing areas, all fitted with their own flogging stones, to wash the garments. To the dhobis themselves, the washing and drying of clothes is their daily work, but to inquisitive tourists, this practice is fascinating.

Elephanta Caves

Located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must for visitors in Dubai. The caves feature Shaivistic(the oldest of the four sects of Hindusm) stone sculptures of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. Many of the sculptures in the caves were unfortunately defaced by the Portuguese who, in the 17th century, used the sculptures as target practice.

Titwala

Titwala is a sacred and ancient town which is home to one of the most respected temples of Ganesha. The Siddhivinayaka Temple is also located here in Titwala and is a highly popular temple with Pilgrims flooding in lakhs here on the Holy Hindu day of 'Angarika Chaturthi'. A visit to this religious and sacred town is a must for all culture vultures and anyone with an interest in Hinduism.

Great Banyan Tree

The Indian Botanical Gardens has many floral treasures but none as impressive as the 250-year-old Great Banyan tree which covers nearly 5,300 square feet (500 sq/m). What at first seems like a forest of narrow trunks is in fact 1,573 drop-roots from a single banyan tree - by some margin the largest in the world. The rest of the gardens are certainly worth exploring, containing 12,000 living plants from every corner of the globe.

Victoria Memorial

This astounding marble building is probably the most impressive colonial structure in India. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria and completed after 20 years of work in 1921. Inside is a fascinating museum of Indian history including some wonderful sculptures. The monument is situated on 64 acres of land including lakes, gardens and walking paths.

Indian Museum

With 60 galleries of art, archaeology and anthropology this is India's largest museum and possibly its most attractive, housed in a stunning colonnaded palace. The natural-history collection is one of the world's finest. A visit here is mandatory for those wanting a snap-shot view of India's past. Plus, it's an ideal all-day excursion in rainy season! Five guided tours are available each day.

Motherhouse

This humble and touching temple to Mother Theresa's life and work within the city of Calcutta is worth a visit. Upstairs is a small museum and her bedroom is preserved as it was when she lived here in remarkable simplicity.

Kalighat Temple

This 350-year-old temple dedicated to Kali is Calcutta's holiest site attracting a throng of excited pilgrims every day. You'll need to tip one of the priests in order to get inside through the mêlée of devotees. Goats are ritually slaughtered inside the temple perimeter and the meat is used to feed the poor. Stalls selling votive items and various artifacts surround the temple. If you want to avoid crowds then the best days to visit the temple are Wednesdays and Thursdays and tourists are advised to take ample change (in Rs 10 denominations) to tip various priests and ushers.

Marble Palace

One of Calcutta's most unusual sites, this palace was built by a local member of the 19th century gentry in a marvelous patchwork of classical architectural styles. Lavish use is made of Italian marble and the lawns contain an eclectic pantheon of statues including Christopher Columbus and the Buddha. The Marble Palace is a place of drama and dilapidation and unsurprisingly has frequently been used as a movie set, but it is also used as a private residence making viewing arrangements strict.

Shopping For Kids

Children will love a shopping trip in Goa; there are a number of great stores in Panaji selling a variety of toys and games for kids. Totally Toys is a vast toys and games arcade, and Archies Gallery offers gorgeous giant-sized teddy bears. Children's sports equipment is available from Nilesh Stores, while Pinakin Enterprises sells toy walkie-talkies and binoculars.

Child-Friendly Beaches

There are a couple of great beaches to take kids to in Goa. The fishing village of Benaulim, near Colva has a few quiet spots with soft sand and beautiful clean water. A family favorite are the Mandrem beaches, which offer shallow waters for kids to play in and beach beds for folks to relax on. Between the beach and the dunes, there's a little wooden bridge crossing a river that kids love to play on.

Bondla Forest

Take the kids on a trip to Bondla Forest, in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where they can see exotic animals like sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs and maybe even leopards! There are also elephant rides available at the wildlife sanctuary to entertain children. The botanical gardens are also a lovely attraction.

Beaches

Goa has some amazing beaches. In the north, Anjuna Beach once played host to hordes of hippies and is now home to a number of trendy beach bars as well as the Wednesday Market. The new hippy haven is Arambol beach, also good for dolphin viewing and paragliding. With its white sand beaches Vagator is gaining in popularity, however the sea is not safe for swimming because of rip tides. The busiest, most commercial beach is Calangute, and neighboring Baga Beach has great nightlife spots, including Tito's and Café Mambo with its hip-hop and salsa nights themed nights. In the south, Agonda is a quiet stretch of beach with a few souvenir stalls and restaurants, while Benaulim Beach, south of Colva, is known for its fishing and laid-back atmosphere. In recent years Benaulim has become popular with tourists wanting to get away from Goa's party reputation and just lay back, jog along the long stretch of beach and indulge in the city's fresh and healthy culinary fare. The shady palm trees and soft sands of Palolem Beach, also known as Paradise Beach, are backpacker territory; however it's a great place for a dolphin cruise or picturesque sundowner at one of the many beach bars lining the water. Nearby Patnem has some lovely beach huts options.

Dudhsagar Waterfall

A great outing in Goa is a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfall. The falls are located in a tropical jungle near the Goa-Karnataka border and are surrounded by a network of gently flowing streams. Swimming, hiking and picnicking are popular pastimes at the falls. The waterfalls are among the 100 highest in the world and visitors who take the difficult climb to the top will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Western Ghats' wooded mountains.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is host to around 400 species of birds, both local and migratory. Here visitors can expect to see kingfishers, pintails, coots and egrets, as well as a few crocodiles, jackals and foxes, inhabiting the mangroves. Although this is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa, it is among the most famous in India. The best time to see the migratory birds is after the monsoons, from October to March.

Bugle Hill

Bugle hill is home to the Bull Temple which houses a black granite 16th century statue of Shiva's sacred bull coated in fresh lashings of coconut oil. Less pleasant on the nose is the nearby temple to Ganesh that houses a statue of the deity made from 100 kilograms of butter. Every four years the statue is remade and the by-now rancid butter distributed to devotees. Few westerners join the queue for a portion.

Cubbon Park

This is the city's Central Park, a place of relaxation, open space and some worthwhile attractions. In and around the park are the State Central Library, two municipal museums, an art gallery and the Government Aquarium, which is best avoided. The intensely red Attara Kacheri is unmistakable; particularly for criminals as it houses the regional high court. The State Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest in India and has artifacts dating back 5,000 years and is well worth a visit to get some historical context in this relentlessly modern city. The handsome and photogenic Seshadri Memorial library is another distinctly red building on the fringes of the park.

Lal Bagh

This splendid botanical garden, laid out by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, contains over 1,000 species of rare flora over its enormous grounds. The name Lal bagh, means 'red garden' in tribute to its celebrated red roses. The centerpiece of Lal Bagh is the Glass House, which hosts a yearly flower show and is modeled after London's Crystal Palace.

Vidhana Soudha

This impressive and imposing building at the northern edge of Cubbon Park is home to the State Legislature and Secretariat. The massive sandalwood doors to the Cabinet are a notable feature of this handsome colonial structure, built in neo-Dravidian style. The edifice is notably secular, incorporating elements from the many cultures that influenced the region. The construction work was done by over 5,000 prisoners who were set free once building work was finished in 1956.

Galta Monkey Temple (Galtaji)

Situated between two granite cliffs, this temple is part of a much larger temple complex. The complex has a three sacred pools which the monkeys enjoy swimming in. This Hindi temple is slightly dilapidated but definitely worth the trip out of the city. The best time to see the temple is at sunset when the monkeys appear for their evening swim.

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Considered one of the most beautiful temples in the world and the heart of the Sikh religion, it's no wonder that tourists come from all over the globe to see the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Situated in the middle of a sacred lake fed by an underground spring, the golden structure is a unique blend of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. Within the temple is the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, displayed on a jewel-studded platform.

Visitors to the Golden Temple can enjoy the serene and spiritual atmosphere, with the sound of Sikh hymns being accompanied by flutes, drums and stringed instruments. Next to the lake are the enormous pilgrims' dormitories, and at the gate is the information desk, where helpful and friendly staff will answer your questions and provide free booklets on the temple and Sikh religion.

The best time to visit the Golden Temple of Amritsar is at night when the Palki Sahib ceremony takes place. Dozens of devotees act as a human conveyor belt to carry the Granth Sahib (containing the Adi Grantha) from the main shrine to the sanctum, where it is kept until the opening ceremony the following morning. Visitors may participate in the ceremony, taking their turn to shoulder the weight of the enormous shrine.

Visitors to the Golden Temple should be respectful of the Sikh culture. Smoking and alcohol is forbidden throughout the complex, and visitors must remove their shoes. Heads must be covered at all times; vendors will push Rs 10 bandanas on you as you near the temple, but if that's not the souvenir you want there are coverings to borrow at the entrance.