India Attractions

Good over evil, brightness over dark. Diwali, or Dipavali, is a five-day festival of lights that represents the beginning of winter and the Hindu New Year. With the exception of Kerala state, all of India lights up with small clay oil lamps (called dipa) in rows (avali), great electric lamp displays and spontaneous setting off of fireworks in the Hindu world's biggest and happiest celebration of the year. One of the best places to experience Diwali is in the Rajasthan city of Jaipur. Diwali is traditionally a festival of wealth for merchants and Jaipur markets proudly compete for awards as best decorated and most brilliantly lit, dazzling visitors to the legendary "pink city".

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You don't have to be religious to believe or feel the holiness of this place. Located on the banks of the Ganges, it is the most important site for many Hindus, Buddhists, Senthoo and Jains. Spend a few days here and you'll see how every meal, bath, motion, are not just random acts but important rituals to prepare them for the after life.

You've seen it time and time again in pictures or films but, nothing does it justice like seeing it with your own eyes. I originally had contemplated by-passing this site altogether as I am not a big fan of buildings, tourist traps or architecture. I am glad I ended up going as it would have been one of the few decisions I would have lived to regret. Yes, there are a lot of people, yes there is a ridiculous entry fee for foreigners, but the sheer magnificence of the building and surroundings will quickly make you forget about it all.

Goa has become famous for its beaches. There are tons of charter planes coming in directly from Europe and other parts of the world to bring tourism in masses in this little strecth of the country. Luckily, most spend their time at resorts in the southern part of Goa. Vagator is ideally located in a tiny peninsula in the Northern part of Goa, avoiding most crowds. With no one around and lovely sand beaches, Vagator is a very welcome piece of tranquility in what can be an extremely chaotic country.

An important seaport that you can spend days meandering along staring at all the fish nets. At night, you can catch traditional plays that are unique to this region of the country. There are no words exchange simply facial expressions accompanied with music to depict the story-line. Make-up for some of the artists can take all day to complete. This is also a starting point for travelers who want to explore the nearby rivers on traditional wooden boats.

There aren't many places left in the world where you can still see tigers in the wild. This is one of them but you will have to be either extremely patient or extremely lucky. The only way to go in the park is to take a guided tour on the back of a jeep, they run twice a day, once in the morning and the other towards the end of the day. Although rare to actually see one, you will still enjoy observing all the other wildlife around, the various trees and its abundant bird population.

I visited during the month of April - May. I was hot but there were lots of events (utsavams) happens during this months in various temples in Kanchipuram.

Jaipur built by the great king, Sawai Raja Jai Singh, is a major world attraction for tourists. It is also known as the 'The Pink City of India'. The city has magnificent forts, grand palaces & beautiful temples. The most famous of them are Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Amer Fort, Jal Mahal .
I visited this place in October, 2007. The best months to visit are from October to March.

Udaipur also known as 'City of Lakes' is a very romantic place. It is also known as 'Venice of the East'. The major attractions in Udaipur are City Palace, Lake Palace, Lake Pichola, Sahelion ki bari and Jag Mandir.
I visited this place in October,2009.

Situated in the Worli-Mahim Bay, overlooking Haji Ali seaface, this dargah has its origins shrouded in mystery. Believed by some to be the tomb of a wealthy saint and built by his devout followers, the second version states that the revered saint died on pilgrimage and his body floated to the spot. Whether a follower of Pir Haji Ali Shah or not, the mosque is a must for all visitors. Except for the sanctum sanctorum, visitors are free to stroll around the premises. Haji Ali Dargah is accessible via an inconspicuous causeway next to Haji Ali Juice Centre, a walk best attempted during low-tide.

Standing tall opposite the Oval Maidan in the midst of the gardens of Mumbai University, the Rajabai Clock Tower is one of Mumbai's outstanding landmarks. Believed to have been inspired by Giotto's Campanile in Florence and the Big Ben in London, the five storied 280 feet tall tower was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and completed in 1878. Look closely, and you'll spy eight statues which represent the Indian castes. The tower was named after 'Rajabai', the mother of Premchand Roychand, a broker who funded the construction. The Rajabai Clock Tower has housed the University's library, a vast repository of rare manuscripts. The clock tower is also reported to have played 16 tunes including Rule Britannia.

The Cathedral of the Holy Name, informally known as Wodehouse Church, is the seat of the Archdiocese of Bombay. This church was moved in 1960s from the Bhuleshwar area to its present location, in time for the 38th International Eucharistic Congress when Pope John Paul VI visited the cathedral. The church is also known as Church of our Lady of Expectations. The cathedral has undergone many renovations over the years and is worth a visit for its beautiful architecture. Holy Name also has a renowned choir which holds regular concerts in addition to its regular liturgical services.

Residence of the iconic Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1934, Mani Bhavan is tucked in one of the leafy bylanes around August Kranti Maidan. The house was converted to a museum in 1955 and is now a vast repository of Gandhian literature and philosophy. Tourist leaflets are available in all major European and Asian languages and photography is not permitted. The two storied Mani Bhavan has on display dioramas of the major events in Gandhi's life, a photo essay (stunning is the Second Round Table Conference image, where all eyes are turned to the camera, Gandhi is completely oblivious to it) and copies of letters written by the Mahatma (the note to Hitler is fascinating), exemplifying Gandhi's simplicity and humility. Nothing makes these traits more evident than his well preserved room, equipped with just the bare necessities and the symbolic spinning wheel (Charkha).

India Gate is usually the first stop in a traveler's itinerary. It is a majestic structure, which stands high at the end of Rajpath amidst plush, green manicured lawns and water fountains carved in sandstone. Designed and built by Lutyens, it was originally called the All India War Memorial. This structure was built in honor and memory of the scores of Indian soldiers who died in World War I, the North-West Frontier operations and the Afghan war in early 1900s. India Gate is truly unique as each martyred soldier's name is inscribed in its walls. Under it burns the eternal flame of 'Amar Jyoti'; burning since 1971. The area is especially breathtaking in the evenings when India Gate and the sprawling lawns are dramatically lit with floodlights. Just behind the main structure of India Gate is a canopy made in sandstone. In front of it is the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan, the residence of the President of India. This is one of the most beautiful localities in the city and is favorite spot for picnics and outings all year round.