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Places to visit around Delhi |
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Agra
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Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world-the Taj Mahal.
Agra is situated on the banks of Yamuna river. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. While its significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jahan, its architectural wealth has secured its place on the international map. A pleasant town with a comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by craftsmen who are descendants of those who worked under the Mughals. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.
For many, Agra represents the best and worst of India. The city is a daunting sensory experience for even the most hardened traveller; the streets are foul, the air polluted and, particularly in the alleyways around the Taj Mahal,
you will come across the most persistent touts and rip-off merchants in the East.
Despite this, its magnificent sights alone make a visit to India worthwhile.
However it is worth spending at least a night here just to truly appreciate the wondrous Taj Mahal and its many moods;
at dawn the mausoleum changes from grey to pink to brilliant-white.
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Shimla
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Shimla originally called Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located in the north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres, the city of Shimla, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters.
The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India, the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Shimla is approximately 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.
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Jaipur
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Rajasthan's beautiful Pink City Jaipur, located in the desert lands is the first planned city of India. The city that once had been the capital of the royalty, now serves as the capital city of Rajasthan. The structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal family. The city comprises the famous structures like Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Fort, the best architectural examples of India. Artistic temples and gardens of Jaipur, marks the atmosphere of serenity and aestheticism to the lands of Rajasthan. The lively city observes its ethnicity by celebrating various festivals like Kite festival, Elephant festival and many others, of Indian origin.
Jaipur has been laid according to the conventional nine-grid pattern that astrologers believe to be lucky, and which has been recommended in the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Each grid consists of a square, and these have been planned so that, at the heart of the city is the City Palace. Spread around it, in rows, are public buildings, the residences of noblemen, the living and trading quarters of merchants and artisans. Straight, wide roads run through the city, while a high, crenellated wall that forms its defense is pierced with seven gateways that serve as entry points.
All theses features make Jaipur, one of the most sought after tourist destinations of Rajasthan, India. The glorious city boasts of its cultural heritage from every nook and corner. Jaipur is the reservoir of Indian customs, traditions, civilization and legacy. Jaipur lies at a distance of 260 kms from Delhi, the capital of India and the city is well-connected with other major cities of India. Jaipur's bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery, tie and dye scarves and other exotic wares. Western Rajasthan itself forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.
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Nainital
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Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, blessed with scenic natural spledour and varied natural resources . Dotted with lakes , Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India . The most prominent of the lakes is Naini lake ringed by hills . Nainital has a varied topography . Some of the important places in the district are Nainital , Haldwani , Kaladhungi , Ramnagar , Bhowali , Ramgarh , Mukteshwar , Bhimtal , Sattal and Naukuchiatal . Nainital’s unending expense of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother nature.
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MtAbu
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Mount Abu is one Hill Station in India which is located in the middle of a land which is a rarified desert for all practical purposes. Mount Abu is placed on the boundary between Rajasthan and Gujarat with a natural mandate to serve as a Hill Station for the relatively dry and arid western part of the country. The ride up to the Mount from the foothill town of Abu -Road serves as an apt reminder of the fact that one is fast approaching a charming Hill Station in India, almost an oasis amidst the desert.
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops. The small huts and cottages here tell stories of those times even today.
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Mathura
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Distance from Agra : 58 Kms.
Distance from Delhi : 145 Kms.
Seasons : The best period to visit October-March.
Festivals : Janmashtami, Holi
Languages Spoken : Hindi, English and Brajbhasha.
The city of Mathura is mainly famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Situated on the western banks of river Yamuna, it lies at a distance of approximately 145 km southeast of Delhi and 58 km to the northwest of Agra. It is also known as the Brij Bhoomi and counts amongst the most revered pilgrimages in the country. Mathura, in India, was one of the Sapta Mahapuris (seven mega cities) that was ruled by the rulers of both the Solar as well as the Lunar dynasty, by turns. During that time only, it became the center of the three cultures, India, Indo-Scythian and Hellenstic.
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Vrindavan
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The holy city of Varanasi is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, at a distance of approximately 130 km from Delhi and 15 km from Mathura. Just like Mathura, Vrindavan, in India, is also one of the holy places in India, dedicated to Lord Krishna. Infact, it is said he spent his youth here and never leaves Vrindavan (vrindavanam parityajya padam ekam na gacchati). The city, where Krishna performed his famous romantic and sportive roles, seems to be caught in a kind of time wrap. Read on this "Vrindavan City Guide" to explore this holy city further.
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