Tour in the Famous Cities of India
If you ever visit the country of India, you will understand how very different the cities are in the same nation. If the countries were people, they would be their own people. Even though they belong to the same country, they have a history of their own, a culture of their own, a language of their own, traditions of their own, all in all, a name of their own. It will be unfair to assess this nation’s beauty by just visiting one city, you will need to travel to all of the famous and celebrated cities of this country to truly understand what defines India.
While the Hawa Mahal of Jaipur is mesmerizing to look at for its excellent architectural display, the Howrah Bridge of Kolkata is another beauty you would not be able to keep your eyes off. Where Hyderabad’s biryani gets you drooling, Mumbai’s vada pav will leave you wanting for more. Delhi surely stands out with its elaborate Mughal structures (Red Fort and Jama Masjid), but have you visited the gigantic statue of Lord Buddha in Bihar, Bodhgaya? You can be a great fan of Jaipuri shoes embedded with colourful shiny stones, but have you seen the excellence of Lucknawi Chikankari work, so very delicately woven and designed by factory workers?
There are so many places you ought to visit and we assure you one trip would never be enough for that, but, what we can help you with is give you a gist of all the places you can choose from depending on your preference. This country of wonder has much more to offer than it shows. Have a read below to know more!
Bangalore
Did you know that based on a recent survey depending upon the quality of life in India, Bangalore has been found to be the ideal city in the country to settle in? History tells us that the city was earlier referred to as the ‘Garden City of India’ and the ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’. This is so because of the very warm and welcoming vibe the city has for its visitors.
The city is also laced with greenery and on the outskirts, you have hilly areas to visit for a vacation, places like Coorg are a must-visit for short getaways and for the splendid homemade wines it serves. The coffee beans produced here are one of the best across the country, make sure you buy the coffee powder when you are at Coorg. You would not want to miss out on the various exciting stuff being sold at Bangalore’s Commercial Street, if you are confident with your bargaining skills, go ahead with your shopping spree.
Also do not forget to visit places like Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Iskcon Temple Bangalore, Koramangala, and more such exciting locales. Bangalore is also known as the new ‘Silicon Valley’ of India because of the developing IT sector in the city, providing multiple options to youngsters and making the city youth-friendly accommodation wise.
Mysore
Mysore has always been described as one of the most well-planned cities in the country of India. It is located in the Southern portion of India and happens to be the capital of Karnataka. It is also the second cleanest city in the country of India. To all the yoga enthusiasts out there, know that Mysore is a very famous place for yoga centres and ‘Ashtanga’ yoga originated in this city. If you are looking for ideal yoga schools across India, The Gokulam Suburb would be the best option to go ahead with.
Mysore is also known to harbour some of the very famous schools in the country, such as the famous S.K. Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. It is known for its year-long practises and the name it has built for itself over the years. It will not only prove to be the ideal place for your vacation, but it would also help you learn a lot about various meditations, therapies and other health-related stuff.
Kolkata
If for your tour in India you are looking for some peaceful time and happiness around you, you should ideally visit the ‘city of joy’ called Kolkata. Did you know that the first university that was established in India was in Kolkata called the University of Calcutta? Established in the year 1857, the university in itself is a beauty to visit. Before Delhi was the capital of India, it was Kolkata. Kolkata is perhaps the only city in India that has yet not given in to the rapid urbanisation happening in the country (and the world).
If you visit this city, you will feel and understand that Kolkata is still somewhat lurking in the past. The history of the city is yet to let go of Calcutta. The glimpses of the ruined-yet-afresh architectural structures, the evergreen culture, the people, they still board the tram, the hand pulling rickshaws and everything still speaks a little of Kolkata's past legacy. This place ushers with cries of literature and famous film directors and poets have been born in this city. Two very spectacular facts about Kolkata is that one of the largest flower markets in the whole of Asia happens to be in Kolkata called the ‘Malik Ghat Flower Market’.
If you visit this city, do pay a visit to the beautiful flower market of Kolkata. Not just this, the largest book market also happens to be in Kolkata called the ‘College Street’, this is also the place where the University of Calcutta is located. Now, you can understand where the city gets its literary juices going.
Some famous places that are a must-visit in this city are the Victoria Memorial which also has a museum inside displaying the queen’s clothes and jewellery, The Writers’ Building, Fort William, Lord Dalhousie port, Belur Math, Shantiniketan, Indian National Museum, Putul Bari, St Paul's Cathedral, and if you are in the mood for some good pocket-friendly street shopping, you should head to Esplanade for such endeavours. Other then the places mentioned, it is suggested that you board the trams that’ll help you explore the city better and the ride in itself is quite enjoyable.
We also recommend you for a boat ride on the river Hooghly, preferably in the evening. It is a delight to see the glittering lights of the city against the opaque darkness of the sky under the magnificent Howrah bridge. Many of the Indian films have also showcased this specific boat ride scene where the actors enjoy their time with each other on the river.
Varanasi
If you wish to visit a place that is deeply associated with spiritual practices, is beautiful to look at and holds historical significance, then the city of Varanasi located in Northern India is the place you are looking for. The first-ever recorded settlements in the region date back to the 11th century BC, which makes the place one of the oldest inhabited places in the world.
The place is known for sacred pilgrimages made by Hindus and Jain all year round and the visits sometimes intensify in certain sacred months of the year. If you visit this place, you will find several priests, sadhus, vendors, pilgrims and various Indian families occupying the riverside of the city for worship. People perform extravagant pujas, offer prayers and devote themselves to the deities of the temples.
The glittering diyas and the various forms of light that surround the beautifully crafted temples against the background of an opaque sky serves greatly for the scenic beauty of the place. You will see various photographs on the internet of the worshippers performing rituals in the temple, the sight is something that will be etched in your mind forever.
Delhi
While Delhi is the capital of India, serving as the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of the Government of India, it is also the prime location for tourists to visit. Delhi has some of the finest markets in India, namely, Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Janpath and more. Locals and even International tourists swarm to the capital of India for shopping purposes. Besides this, Delhi inhabits some of the most-visited Mughal structures that still add to the beauty of India, The Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Purana Qila, Safdarjung Tomb, Humayun's tomb, Zafar Mahal and many other monuments of historical significance.
Feels like Delhi has always been a favourite even during the times of Mughals. The capital of Delhi is also very famous for all the mouth-watering street food delicacies it has to serve, starting from Chhole Bhature to ghugni to rolls, to chats and pakodas, all of these delicacies are very easy to find as you move around in the city, in fact when you go for street shopping you will find that these vendors are located at regular intervals in the market for a quick snack.
While the city has very progressively urbanised itself for easy commutation and to serve the purpose of IT hubs employing many, it still has a part of it that lingers in the past and upholds the history of the place.
Udaipur
Udaipur is the most famous location for wedding destinations that happen in India. The place encircles towering forts, incredibly beautiful lakes, stunning temples with ancient architecture, kingly palaces and the whole vibe of Udaipur calls for exploration. The city is located in Rajasthan and you cannot afford to miss this beauty while you are in India.
It is known for being the lovers' hub. People find themselves and each other in this city which eventually culminates into grand marriages. Every part of this city has a story to offer, we assure you if you travel to this place you would not be bored for even a moment. The well-maintained gardens, the blunt hills, the palaces, the authenticity of Rajasthani culture and the multipurpose bazaars of Udaipur will surely take your heart away.
Many famous films including ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' have been shot in this location. You might be surprised to know that James Bond's ‘Octopussy' has a scene from the city of Udaipur. The entire city is always glittering with colours and light, it is a very happy-go-lucky atmosphere for the travellers who visit the place.
Jaipur
The city goes by the name ‘Pink City’ because of the colour of most of its historical monuments being painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in the year 1876. If you ever visit this city, you will notice how the natives have carried on with the oink tradition by splashing a bit of that colour in every corner of the city. Even the auto-rickshaws of the city have embraced the legacy of the colour.
Jaipur also happens to be the biggest city in the state of Rajasthan. Along with the cities of Agra and Delhi, this famous city has become a part of the famous ‘Golden triangle’, encompassing the aesthetics of all the places combined. This triangle is a major hub of tourist gathering, both local and international tourists swarm to this location to get a glimpse of India’s rich cultural history. The swarming is higher in the month of December to February since the temperature shoots to quite high degrees during summer.
The top places to visit in this city would be the iconic Hawa Mahal which has 365 latticed windows. These windows are referred to as ‘jharokhas’ in Hindi and were built for various clever purposes such as, spying on one's enemies, royal women peeking in to see what’s happening in the outside world without being visible and many such reasons.You can also visit the city palace, Albert Hall Museum, Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort, Birla Mandir and above all, do not forget to try the local cuisine called the ‘thali’ which is a gigantic plate loaded with a variety of servings. Pretty sure you would not be able to finish the plate all by yourself. Also, try and make a visit to the marketplace to land yourself good deals in handicraft items, Jaipuri Kurtis, shoes, jewellery, house decors, and much more!
Mumbai
This city is where the film industry of India primarily resides, often referred to as ‘the city of dreams'. The city is situated by the sea and is one of the most well-developed metropolitan cities in India which makes it the core financial centre of the country, also the most expensive city to live in. The city's sea link is one of the most spectacular arts of engineering you will witness in India. It is often referred to as ‘the necklace' for its shape, glittering across the city at night. You can visit the famous Gateway of India, Haji Sahab and the various film sets where popular Indian cinema was/is shot. If you are lucky, you might even bump into celebrities travelling across the city. Oh, and do not forget to try their celebrated street food – Vada Pav!
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