INDIA Kaleidoscope

AN ABC of the most popular destinations in India. Please indicate the places of your choice and we will be happy to tailor - make an itinerary for you.

AGRA : (Uttar Pradesh)

Taj Mahal

Immortalized by the Taj Mahal, the world's most famous monument of love, Agra also boasts of other magnificent monuments from the Mughal Kings.

What to See:

  • The Taj Mahal
  • The Agra Fort
  • Fatehpur Sikri.

JAIPUR : (Rajasthan)

Indian classical dance

Called the pink city, it is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. The Rajputs, the Hindu warrior class of India built this palace city during the reign of Maharaja Jai Singh (1699-1744). The unique flavour of Rajasthani culture and tradition is irresistible. The city is also well know for its tourist curio shops.

What to see:

  • Hawa Mahal
  • City Palace
  • Jantar Mantar
  • Central Museum

DELHI :

The capital city of India. Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India contains many mosques and monuments from the 12th to the 19th centuries. New Delhi, built by the British is a colourful cosmopolitan city. All the administrative and Governmental buildings are here. The city is also one of the cleanest cities of India.

What to See:

  • Red Fort
  • Qutab Minar
  • Humayun's Tomb
  • Chandini Chowk
  • Jantar Mantar
  • Delhi Gate
  • Rastrapathi Bhavan
  • National Museum
  • Parliament Building

VARANASI : (Uttar Pradesh)

Banks of River Ganges

Built on the banks of the sacred Ganges, this is considered to be the holiest city in India. A dip in the Ganges is supposed to cleanse one of all sins. Today the city is the center for learning Sanskrit as it was 2000 years ago.

What to See:

  • Golden Temple Aurangzeb's Mosque
  • The River Ghats Hindu University
  • Durga Temple Ramnagar Fort
  • Museum.

BELUR-HALEBID : (Karnataka)

222 kms from Bangalore, Belur was built by king Vishnuvardhan around 1116 A.D. The Belur temple dedicated to Lord Chennakesava is an architectural marvel embellished with carvings of an intricacy, beauty and finish with few equals in the world.

Another specimen from the same era is the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, 14 kms from Belur.

KOVALAM : (Kerala)

Kovalam

Situated 13 kms south of Trivandrum, it is one of the best beaches in India. This peaceful health resort has a beauty of its own with small palm fringed bays separated by rocky headlands, pale sands, gentle surf and lush greenery.

MYSORE : (Karnataka)

Lalith Mahal palace

The 'sandalwood city' of India, 139 kms south of Bangalore. Retaining the quiet aura and grandeur of the Wodeyar royalty which ruled from here. The most resplendent time in Mysore being the Dusserah festival during Navarathri.

What to see:

  • Maharaja Palace
  • Chamundi Hills
  • Brindavan Gardens
  • Chamarajendra Art Gallery
  • Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

BANGALORE : (Karnataka)

Vidhana Soudha

Founded by Kempe Gowda in 1537A.D, the city gets its name from Banga-Lur meaning the 'village of boiled beans'. Well planned gardens, cool avenues, shopping arcades, pubs and discotheques are its hallmarks. Not to speak of the pleasant climate.

What to see:

  • Lalbagh Gardens
  • Vidhana Soudha
  • Tipu's Palace
  • Bull Temple

BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK

This South Karnataka tiger reserve and national park is noted for its open grassy woodlands which facilitate wildlife watching.

MADURAI : (Tamil Nadu)

One of the most ancient cities in India dating back to the 6th century B.C, it is renowned for the Meenakshi temple. A seat of Tamil learning and Tamil Sangams(Academies), Madurai was the capital of the Pandyan Empire till the 14th century A.D.

What to See:

  • Meenakshi Temple (Including the hall of the thousand pillars and the golden lotus tank)
  • Thirumalai Nayak Palace
  • Koodal Azhagar Temple

MAHABALIPURAM : (Tamil Nadu)

Mahabalipuram Shore Temple

This 7th century city was the flourishing port and second capital of the Pallava Kings. "Arjuna's Penance", one of the finest bas reliefs in the world, the five rathas and the Shore Temple are some of the most beautiful edifices to ancient architecture at Mahabalipuram.

What to See:

  • Shore Temple
  • Five Rathas
  • Arjuna's Penance
  • Krishna Mandapam
  • Mahishasuramardhini Mandapam
  • Varaha Mandapam

CHENNAI : (Tamil Nadu)

A bastion of the British East India Company in 1639 A.D. Now the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, it is the fourth largest city in India. This metropolis combines its traditional heritage with all the aspects of modernity.

What to See:

  • Kapaleeswarar Temple
  • Parthasarathy Temple
  • Marina Beach
  • San Thome Cathedral
  • Kalakshethra Cultural Center

COCHIN : (Kerala)

Scenic beauty of Cochin

The Queen of the Arabian Sea, it has an ancient maritime history linking the Arabs, the Chinese, the Dutch, the British and the Portuguese. Now the commercial capital of Kerala, the city is famous for its natural harbour.

What to see:

  • Bolgatty Island
  • Dutch Palace
  • Jewish Synagogue (1567 A.D.)
  • St. Francis's Church
  • Chinese Fishing Nets
  • Backwater Cruises

KANYAKUMARI: (Tamil Nadu)

Swami Vivekananda Rock

The coloured sands of Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari is the land's end of mainland India. The holy confluence of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The only place in India where you can watch the magnificence of simultaneous sunset and moonrise on a full moon day.

What to See:

  • Kanyakumari Temple
  • Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial
  • Gandhi Memorial

THEKKADY: (Kerala)

Thekkadi

The sancturay was initiated by the Maharajah of Travancore in 1934. It has a wonderful collection of animals and birds, especially elephants. Watching them while cruising on lake Periyar can be a tremendously close-to-nature experience.

GOA

The smallest of the southern states, the Portuguese influence is very much evident in the white-washed churches and the attendant ruins. Famous for its beaches and the colourful Goa Carnival held four days prior to Lent.

HYDERABAD: (Andhra Pradesh)

The Charminar

The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad form this capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. A former seat of the Nizams, under whom it had developed into a centre of Islamic art and culture.

What to see:

  • Golconda Fort Ruins
  • Tombs Of The Qutab Shahi Kings
  • Salar Jung Museum
  • The Charminar

TRIVANDRUM: (Kerala)

Padmanabha Temple

Literally meaning the place of the sacred serpent Anantha on which Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu) reclines, this capital city is shorn of hard core commercialism.

What to See:

  • Sri Padmanabha Temple
  • Napier Musuem
  • Padmanabhapuram Palace (58km) South of Trivandrum on way to Kanyakumari

Mumbai (Bombay) : (Maharashtra)

The capital city of the state of Maharashtra, it is the commercial capital of the country. It is the busiest metropolis in India and has an intriguing mixture of extremes: richness and poverty, tradition and modernity, urban and suburban.

What to See

  • Gateway of India
  • Prince of Wales Museum
  • Jehangir Art Gallery
  • Mahalakshmi Temple