Delhi
A city of great character, of contrasts and convolutions - this is Delhi, the capital city of India. A city with antiquity dating back over 2,000 years, it is also a modern metropolis with fast cars and neon lit shopping malls. So varied are the shades of Delhi's different faces, it is difficult to grasp it in a short span of time.
A city of great character, of contrasts and convolutions - this is Delhi, the capital city of India. A city with antiquity dating back over 2,000 years, it is also a modern metropolis with fast cars and neon lit shopping malls. So varied are the shades of Delhi's different faces, it is difficult to grasp it in a short span of time. Jammu & Kasmir
Jammu,the second largest city in Jammu & Kashmir and the summer capital of the state, sits on a hill next to the Tawi River. Jammu is a predominantly Hindu town, with many temples and shrines dotting its landscape. It is also the base camp for pilgrims going up to the cave shrine of Vaishno DeviArea - 20.36 square kms.
Population - 2,23,361 (estimated)
State - Jammu & Kashmir
Religion - Majority Hindus
Language - Dogri, Hindi, Urdu
Agra
Agra - the first impression is of a chaotic, overcrowded, polluted mess that can offer nothing of interest.But wait, hold your breath, for hiding behind the heat and the chaos is the stunning monument of cool white marble, the wonder that is called the Taj Mahal.Population - 11,11,086
Language - Hindi, Urdu & English
Religion - Majority are Hindus, 16% Muslims
Calcutta
Calcutta-culture capital of India; Calcutta- communist stronghold; cricket crazy Calcutta; Calcutta- Lapierre and Collin's City of Joy and Mother Teresa's karmbhoomi is overcrowded, vibrant, volatile, exciting, snobbish, academic, erudite. All that and it still has a charisma thats unbeatable and a personality that is hard to resist.State - West Bengal
Area - 187 sq. km
Population - 12 million
Language - Bengali, English, Hindi
Population - 12 million
Language - Bengali, English, Hindi
Goa
Hedonistic Goa. Heavenly Goa. Tropical Goa. Happy-go-lucky Goa. Cool Goa. Laid back Goa. Goa is a witch casting a spell on all who step onto its silver sands and golden beaches. Travellers are trapped forever in an enchanted world of fiesta and siesta, of fun and feni.Area - 3702 sq km
Population - 1,343,998 (2001)
Capital City - Panaji
Language - Konkani, Marathi,Hindi, English & Portuguese
Religion - Hindu, Christian, and Muslim
Districts - 2 (North Goa, South Goa)
Thanjavur 
Thanjavur, or Tanjore as the Britishs called it, is a lush paddy district. Now a small city in the state of Tamil Nadu, it rose to glory during the Chola period from the 10th century to the 14th, when it came to be the centre of art and education. The Cholas built extensively during this period and 74 of their temples are still standing. As the centre of cultural development Thanjavur attracted master craftsmen, and it still continues to produce attractive handcrafted ware.
The legacy of the days of glory endures. Its heritage as a centre of learning, culture and craft is reflected in the variety of handicraft work that goes on here. Thanjavur is still famous for its bejewelled, gold leaf Tanjore paintings, fine silk carpets, bell metal work, musical instruments, pith work and bronze sculptures.
The Brihadiswara Temple built by Raja Raja Chola in the 10th Century dominates the town. Its dimensions are huge: the Vimana, which peculiarly is bigger than the Gopuram is 65 meters tall, the lingam is called the Mahalingam to suggest its greatness and the Nandi Bull guarding the temple is 3.7 meters tall. The frescoes compare well with those in Ajanta. The South Zone cultural Center organizes a programme on 2nd and 4th Saturdays at the Brihadiswar Temple for which entry is free.
Thanjavur, or Tanjore as the Britishs called it, is a lush paddy district. Now a small city in the state of Tamil Nadu, it rose to glory during the Chola period from the 10th century to the 14th, when it came to be the centre of art and education. The Cholas built extensively during this period and 74 of their temples are still standing. As the centre of cultural development Thanjavur attracted master craftsmen, and it still continues to produce attractive handcrafted ware.
The legacy of the days of glory endures. Its heritage as a centre of learning, culture and craft is reflected in the variety of handicraft work that goes on here. Thanjavur is still famous for its bejewelled, gold leaf Tanjore paintings, fine silk carpets, bell metal work, musical instruments, pith work and bronze sculptures.
The Brihadiswara Temple built by Raja Raja Chola in the 10th Century dominates the town. Its dimensions are huge: the Vimana, which peculiarly is bigger than the Gopuram is 65 meters tall, the lingam is called the Mahalingam to suggest its greatness and the Nandi Bull guarding the temple is 3.7 meters tall. The frescoes compare well with those in Ajanta. The South Zone cultural Center organizes a programme on 2nd and 4th Saturdays at the Brihadiswar Temple for which entry is free.
Bangalore
As the story goes Bangalore was named after an old woman who served a wandering king a meal of boiled beans. There's little chance now of finding boiled beans anywhere in Bangalore, the mecca of IT in India. This former retirement town is now anything but. Spearheading in India all things 21st century, Bangalore is abuzz with energy and is really quite groovy in a tech miracle-big business school-arts and theatre kind of way.
Kanyakumari
The sea is fairly rough, so it is entertaining to watch it beat itself against the rocks and then subside, before it gathers itself up for another attack. With long stretches of sands of many hues, the beach offers a welcome change. A variety of shells are on sale on the Kanyakumari beach.The beach is a beautiful sight with multi-coloured sand, but it does not really offer one the opportunity to sunbathe on soft golden sands, or to frolic in the waves either. The seashore is rocky and dangerous, and there is a manmade wall running along it. People are warned to stay off the rocks, and when if someone ventures out of bounds, he or she is quickly and severely reprimanded by a watchful policeman. There is a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view. Kanyakumari is famous for Vivekananda's rock, a huge stone rising out of the sea, on which Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated. It now houses the statue of Vivekananda and is a memorial to him. Not surprisingly, Kanyakumari is a popular destination for Vivekananda's followers, so there are many Bengalis here, and some Bengali hotels and restaurants are available too. Cochin
Kochi, or more familiarly, Cochin is a city of many parts. Around for a long, long time, Kochi played a pivotal role in the development of shipping and trade in the region. Kochi's prime location on the west coast, its fine bay and protected harbour made it popular with seafarers and merchant ships who made frequent stops to stock up on spices, coffee and wood enroute to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre. Its seafront is still extremely relevant to Cochin and to India: it houses a Naval Base and one of India’s busiest ports. It’s twin city, Ernakulum, is an important railhead and industrial centre.