TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN INDIA

NORTH Delhi is the ideal place to start your exploration of northern India. The capital of India and a city of fascinating contrasts, Delhi's monuments and structures take you through the centuries past seven older cities that existed here.  So go sight seeing - Qutub Minar, the tall victory tower built in 1199, the splendid Red Fort and the majestic Jama Masjid with its striped domes and tall minarets. Other architectural delights include the Humayun's Tomb, the Jantar Mantar, the Purana Qila and the magnificent government complex on Raisina Hill the Rashtrapati Bhavan framed by the Secretariats and the circular Parliament House. Delhi is a marvellous place for shopping. So visit its hustling bazaars and don't forget to have a taste of the best of Indian cuisine at its fine restaurants. Take off then on the golden triangle trail on to Agra and Jaipur for glimpse of historic India At Agra, view the pristine poetry of the Taj Mahal - a memorial to immortal love and the imposing Red Fort. Meander through the amazing ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, perfectly preserved, built by the Emperor Akbar in red sandstone.  Jaipur imprints itself on your memory in the most vivid of colours. You could stay in one of its many palaces or mansions for a royal experience and wander off on elephantback to view the Amber Fort majestically located up on a hill. Do not miss the Hawa Mahal, the tall facade with delicately filigreed red sandstone. Beyond Jaipur, in Rajasthan are fabulous towns with magnificent forts and palaces that still reflect a feudal spirit Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Udaipur. Off the beaten track, discover the beauty of the desert on a camel safari. Wander past colourful villages in the desert and sleep under a brilliant starlit sky.  Feel like heading for the hills? There is an entire panorama of magical retreats for you along the Himalayan ranges. Beautiful resorts in Himachal Pradesh include Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Sarahan and a whole range of scenic spots Kufri, Naldehra, Chail and Narkanda around Shimla and Manikaran, Naggar, and Brighu Lake near Kullu and Manali. The heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, has an entire range of new experiences for you - medieval cities like Gwalior, Orchha, Mandu, marvellously carved temples at Khajuraho, little hill stations and the forests that Kipling so faithfully described in his 'Jungle Book'. Lucknow, the tine capital of Uttar Pradesh and an entire pilgrimage trail along the holy river Ganga - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad, Varanasi, complete your circuit of northern India. SOUTH Chennai (Madras), the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu is a marvellous place to start your voyage of discovery. It is a town steeped in tradition though it was created by the British 350 years ago! So visit the Fort St. George, the St. Mary's Church, the splendid Marina Beach, the beautiful Kapaleeswarar Temple, the St. Thomas Mount, where St. Thomas the Apostle was martyred, the National Art Gallery, the San Thome Cathedral, the Parthasarathy Temple, Valluvar Kottam, Cholamandalam, the artist's village and Kalakshetra. Tamil Nadu has fascinating towns with magnificent temples - Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, and Rameswaram. Mamallapuram close to Chennai, is a marvellous open air museum set along a fabulous beach with an array of sculptured edifices, cave temples and bas reliefs. Further down the coast, Pondicherry displays its French heritage in its seaside villas and the French names of its streets.  Want a break from the heat? Not too far away are Ooty (Udhagamandalam) and Kodaikanal - picturesque hill towns. The splendid cities of Bangalore and Mysore reflect the royal heritage of Karnataka. Bangalore, the state capital is a lively cosmopolitan city noted for its fine climate and extensive gardens. Visit the exquisite Hoysala temples at Halebid and Belur not far from Bangalore.  Mysore is another charming city with its beautiful palaces and royal traditions. Up on a hill overlooking the city is the temple to Chamundeswari, its patron goddess. Interesting trips around Mysore include the Brindavan Gardens, Srirangapatna, the Ranganathittoo Bird Sanctuary, the ornate Hoysala temple at Somnathpur and the Nagarhole National Park - all within easy reach of the city. Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is exciting with its domes and minarets, palaces and colourful bazaars spilling over with silks, pearls, perfumes, antiques and glittering glass bangles. The imposing Char Minar and the Golconda Fort looming in the distance are two well known landmarks. Take time off to visit the unusual museum at Nagarjunakonda where an ancient Buddhist site has been relocated on an island in the reservoir of the Nagarjunakonda Dam. The state of Kerala along the west coast of the peninsula is a lush green escape with beautiful beaches, historic port towns and pretty retreats in the hills. Visit Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.  The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the unusual Napier Museum and the Chitra Art Gallery are some of its attractions.  The delightful beach resort at Kovalam and the famous Padmanabhapuram Palace are closeby. Explore the port town of Kochi. See the old Jewish Synagogue, the Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church - the oldest European church in the subcontinent and the Chinese
 fishingnets.  Visit Kumarakom set in the scenic backwater country and drift along the serene waterways vaulted by coconut palms for a delightful break from routine. The coral islands of Lakshadweep are easily accessible from Kochi. Laze on its pristine beaches and go snorkelling in its crystal lagoons. Visit:Kerala.com, Keralatraveldesk.com for more details on Kerala. EAST Calcutta is a good starting point for your travels in eastern India. [Image]  The capital of the state of West Bengal, Calcutta has a charm all its own. Imperial edifices, teeming bazaars, clubs and golf courses, museums and elegant hotels and the River Hooghly winding through the city are all part of its fascination. A good time to visit Calcutta is during the Durga Puja in October/ November when Calcutta is decked and decorated and is alive with good cheer and celebration.  Many of Calcutta's imperial buildings are located around the maidan, a large expanse of lawns that forms the heart of the city. They include the Victoria Memorial, an imposing structure in white marble that has a collection of paintings, manuscripts and memorabilia, the Fort William, the Raj Bhawan, the St. Paul's Cathedral and the Town Hall built in the Doric style. Calcutta has a lively cultural life and fine clubs. So see an art exhibition or two or go to the theatre. [Image] Take a toy train to the magnificent hill station of Darjeeling for an unusual travel experience. Admire a panorama of some of the highest peaks in the Himalayan ranges. Go onwards to Gangtok, the attractive capital of Sikkim. Travel further north to the lush Brahmaputra Valley to Assam. Explore the verdant unspoilt beauty of the hill states of the north east Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur. There are exciting trekking trails and colourful cultures to encounter and enjoy. Guwahati, set along the banks of the Brahmaputra, Shillong, a pretty hill station in Meghalaya with its grassy downs and lakes are special destinations. [Image] From Calcutta you can wander off in the south eastern direction for a fantastic break to the spectacular Andaman Islands - 300 odd islands in the Bay of Bengal with their lush rain forests and sparkling beaches. You could go by air or take a slow boat to the islands! Along the coastline, south of Calcutta is the magical state of Orissa. Splendid temples in the Nagara style with tall shikaras or temple towers embellished with exquisite carving are the main attractions of this state. The temple towns of Bhubaneswar and Puri with Konark noted for its unusual Sun Temple, make a marvellous circuit close to Calcutta. Go west to the state of Bihar for a gentle trail in the path of the Buddha. Ancient settlements- Bodhgaya, the remains of the university town of Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh evoke the life of the Enlightened One. WEST In Western India, you will find uncommon destinations & experiences that delight. Mumbai, [Image] a major metropolis and the financial capital of India, is a logical start to your perambulations. Mumbai is dynamic and exciting. There are marvellous shopping arcades, fine restaurants and art galleries. The Gateway of India, built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to the Delhi Durbar, is a major landmark as also the imposing Taj Mahal Hotel close by. The Prince of Wales Museum, the Jehangir Art Gallery, the various churches, temples and shrines including the one of Haji Ali out on an island linked by a causeway, are worth a glimpse. Take a boat ride out to the Elephanta Island to see the marvellous rock cut caves noted for their huge sculpted panels. Other interesting destinations close by include - the Kanheri Caves, the beach resorts at Madh Island and Manori and the charming little hill station of Matheran, all within easy reach. Not [image] far from Mumbai is the lovely hill resort of Mahabaleshwar, picturesque during the monsoons with its lakes, waterfalls and wild flower strewn landscapes. Pune is another exciting town located on the Deccan Plateau, once the capital of Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler. Within easy reach are splendid forts up on the fastness of hill tops well worth seeing. Another treat is the charming Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum. It has exhibits that include traditional brassware, utensils, carved doorways and pillars. [Image] Aurangabad, a historic city with various monuments from the time of the Mughals, is a good base for visits to the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora Caves, dating from about 200 BC to 800 AD. Many of these rock cut caves are embellished with exquisite paintings and carvings. Goa is a fabulous getaway with its beautiful beaches. Picturesque villages along the coast with white washed churches and red tiled houses set amidst groves of coconut add charm to the landscape. Near Panaji, is the old Portuguese capital of Velha Goa noted for its fine churches in the baroque style. These include the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the magnificent Se Cathedral and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. [Image] The state of Gujarat offers interesting destinations the ancient port of Lothal built about 4000 years ago, Ahmedabad, with its fine old residences and museums; Vadodara, a centre for the arts and once the royal capital of Gujarat; Palitana - an entire hill top encrusted in finely carved temples; Somnath with its old temple and the picturesque little island retreat of Diu close to the beach resort of Ahmedpur Mandvi.