Aditya Khanna
The first impression in your tryst with the colourful and diverse country of India will be awe-inspiring, flabbergasting, intoxicating, overwhelming and peaceful. You will be astonished with the immense diversity of natural beauty, the mixed potpourri of rich cultural heritage and the hospitality of the humble people. The culture and art rich India holds a significant treasure trove of fantastic pieces of craftsmanship.
Ancient architecture has left its indelible mark on the face of India. There are innumerable monuments of leviathan stature that can leave any newcomer who is visiting India for the first absolutely open-mouthed and speechless.
Some of the monumental glory can be identified as the emblem of beauty and wonder --- the Taj Mahal at Agra; the majestic Agra Fort, the dignified and royally beautiful Red Fort; the awe-inspiring Qutab Minar; the glorious Dilwara Temple carved out of a single rock; the world famous man-made marvels of Ajanta and Ellora Caves off the coast of Maharashtra; the Somnath Temple; the mystic temples of Kedarnath and Badrinath; and the ancient, magnanimous monasteries of Dharamshala, Leh and Ladakh and Sikkim.
The bedazzling beauty of the mighty Himalayas are sharply contrasted with the beauty of the lush green emerald paradise of Kerala backwaters or the lush mountain valleys of heavily rained terrains of Meghalaya and Sikkim. India has the stark beauty of the Thar Desert of Rajasthan with its adventurous camel rides and magnificent forts and also the white glistening beauty of the Rann of Kutch of Gujarat with its salt meadows.
The high and gushing waterfalls such as Kempty Falls in Mussoorie, the Dudhsagar Falls in Karnataka and Goa, Soochipara Falls in Kerala, Hundru Falls in Ranchi are all absolutely brilliant to watch and experience.
The dark deep forests of India, the wildlife sanctuaries and natural reserves such as Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, Ranthambhor National Park in Rajasthan, Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Sariska National Park, Rajasthan, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Sunderbans in West Bengal are famous worldwide.
Since ancient times, the culture and tradition of Indian society have been intricately woven with the fibre of temple culture in India. The entire length and breadth of India is dotted with innumerable exotic and astounding temples that are not merely architectural marvels, they are also a book of learning about India’s past and how glorious India’s heritage was right from the ancient times.
Some of the magnificent temples of India that deserve a visit are the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the intricately carved edifices of Khajuraho, the rock-cut Sun Temple of Konark in Bhubaneshwar and clusters of exquisitely constructed pure white Jain temples made of marble found in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Temples in Southern India are glorious and overwhelmingly towering, with multi-tiered gopuram towers. Some stunning examples can be found at the towns of Hampi, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Tiruvannamalai.
India is the land of some of the most pristine beaches that provide ample relaxation along with a bustling nightlife and sumptuous mix of Indian and continental food to gorge into. These beaches make for complete holiday experience. The heady intoxication of street food of Mumbai starting with bhelpuri and sevpuri, which are nothing else than a rightful and delightful mixture of puffed rice, noodles, green mango and a tangy sauces and masala, the pav bhaji and vada pao are titillating.
Mumbai’s happening beaches of Juhu and Chowpatty, Aksa and Versova and Madh Island are enjoyable. Drift towards a bit south to the splendour of sea, sand and sun in Goa. Throng the top picks among Goan beaches such as the Arambol, Baga, Candolim, Mobor, Vagator and Palolem. Go further south to Kerala to experience the wondrous maze of backwaters mixing into the seas and oceans and relax on the black sand beaches of Kovalam, Alleppey and Varkala. Ride the houseboat and canoe and drift into the backwaters and get lost in the simplicity and greenery.
The North too is not less in entertaining the guests and overwhelm them with beauty and majesty. The hill towns of Shimla, Kasauli, Auli, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie, Leh and Ladakh presents the dazzling beauty of snow-capped mountains and green valleys. Kashmir and Srinagar are there to take your breath away with the scintillating beauty of the magnificent gardens and panoramic hillscapes.
The serenity and profound beauty of Dal Lake in Srinagar will forever remain unmatched. Similarly, after Himachal Pradesh, second in line comes the iconic hill stations of Uttaranchal and Uttarakhand. We have the hill slopes and the serene lakes of Nainital, Bhimtal, Saattal, Naukuchiatal, the pristine meadows of Almora, Ranikhet, Binsaar and Kausani to give you a warm welcome.
The Golden Triangle forms a very popular and frequented tour package for guests who come to visit India from abroad. This tour package comprises visiting the three main destinations of India. It presents a bright face of India which is a correct balance of India’s rich cultural heritage, some major works of art and also the proud Wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal. Three major cities of India, including the capital city of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur are covered in a span of a week’s vacation.
Visit the major monuments and tourist attractions of Delhi after you land here such as Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, Old Fort and the Red Fort. Then move on to Agra for a look at the marvellous marble structure in white, the Taj Mahal, along with Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Then proceed on to Jaipur to explore the famous Pink City and get awed by Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Palace and Jal Mahal Palace. Return to Delhi to its wonderful bazaars for an exciting shopping spree before you say goodbye to India.
