delhi has no shortage of history, but my favourite part of it is new delhi, or lutyens delhi. this part of the town was the city that the brits built and is full of unique architecture, broad tree lined roads and fancy houses. take a drive and i guarantee it will be fun.
the lidder river flows through pahalgam, among a few rocks. just head up the city, where you can turn your back on the town and have an unrestricted view of the icy river flowing down from the himalayas. just dont dip anything into the water lest you like deep freeze.
goa is all about the sun, sand and the shacks, but beyond all that is a gem of a capital. panjim (panaji officially) has a charming old town, with remnants of portugese architecture. head to the fontainhas district for cobblestone streets, bright pastel walls and taverns ringing with fados.
this is calcutta's very own champs de elysees. lined with raj era buildings, cool eating joints, excellent stores, the short park street and its surrounds are a peek into an era when calcutta was the paris of the british empire...
malls in india generally mean glass and air conditioning. not so with this one. india's most famous architect charles correa was hired to design this unique marketplace, a sort of contemporary bazzar. you are not enclosed in a glass atrium with escalators and 'capsule lifts'. here, you hava very indian shopping experience as you meander through its lanes looking at a tope range of shops. head here for shopping and architecture.
although hampi in itself as hugely atmospheric, the riverside is another experience altogether. the boulders converge with the waters of the tungabhadra and you can see old pillars anc colonnades along the riverbank. its almost like tomb raider meets mills and boon meets exotica.
amusement parks in india are not worth talking about, even this one. but when put into perspective, its a different story.
bombay is a city that i find 'business only'. there is little history, little culture, dirty beaches and an incredibly cramped feel to the place. the only saving grace is the sea.
however, bombay remains one of the two gateways to india, and if you do have the misfortune of having to spend time here, i recommend you escape to essel world, or even better, its adjoining water park, water kingdom. a full day devoted to fun, in clean and green surroundings. dont expect six flags or disneyland, but just expect a nice time.
the desert is a drab golden yellow, and the sky bright blue... in between it all, bhanda shah jain mandir, bikaner's oldest structure, is a complete rainbow riot. the unassuming white exterior leads to a richly frescoed interior which will succesfully take your breath away.
rajgarh by itslef is no great place, as are much of shekhawati towns... shekhawati implies a lot of day trips, and its a good idea to make it to one village... thats why i put this place forward
