India’s largest city, Delhi, has been one of the country’s commercial and economic hubs for centuries and, as a result, is incredibly rich in culture and history. Comprising the ancient walled city of Old Delhi and the more modern entity, New Delhi, the city encompasses a staggering array of stunning architecture, notable monuments, and age-old temples, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Red Fort complex, Qutab Minar and its attendant monuments, and Humayun's Tomb. Other key attractions include the 17th century Chandni Chowk marketplace – still one of the city’s most tradtional wholesale and popular retail centers today, particularly for jewelry and traditional Indian saris; the iconic Bahà’i Lotus Temple – an award-winning architectural gem; and the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
An important ancient and holy city south of Rishikesh, Hardiwar enjoys a picturesque position on the banks of the River Ganges in North India's Uttarakhand state. After its 253 kilometre journey from its source at the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, Haridwar is the first town to meet the sacred river after its mountainous course. The town bustles with locals and renunciants who perform ritualistic bathing in the icy, fast-flowing waters to wash away their sins. The famous Har-ki-Pairi Ghat is a religious hub, where every evening, a sea of floating candles and flowers are sent down the river as Hindu prayer offerings. Due to its significance as a Hindi pilgrimage site, worshipers from far and wide flock to the city during major festivals, including the annual Kanwar Mela.
Fringed by the rugged Aravali Hills, Jaipur is the capital and largest city in India’s northern state of Rajasthan. This city is famed for being India’s first planned city featuring a multitude of pink terracotta buildings within the walled historic center, earning it the nickname,’ The Pink City. Jaipur falls within the Golden Triangle, a popular tourist circuit, which includes Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, and serves as a gateway to the neighboring desert cities of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. This colorful city is a combination of tradition and modernity and offers visitors vibrant bazaars, lavish palaces, and ancient temples. The salmon-hued old city is home to the opulent City Palace, encompassing an impressive assortment of palatial structures, sprawling gardens, courtyards, and buildings. Don’t miss the fairy-tale splendor of the Amber Fort, set against the backdrop of the arid landscape.
Located in the Sawai Madhopur district, the Ranthambore National Park, in the western state of Rajasthan, is one of the most visited wildlife parks in India. Spanning over an impressive 1300-square-kilometer stretch of wilderness, the park’s outstanding natural beauty is characterized by its dense jungle, golden savanna, dramatic cliffs and lotus-filled lakes. Considered the best spot to catch a glimpse of tigers in the wild, the park offers visitors a spellbounding combination of mystical temples, wild beauty and crumbling ruins. While the main attraction is undoubtedly the elusive Bengal tiger, the park provides a sanctuary for other wildlife including, among others: sambar, gazelle, caracal, black buck, crocodile, chital, wild boars and a wide array of birds. Don’t miss the ancient Ranthambore Fort, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the vast expanse of this spectacular park.
A handful of skyscrapers reach for the sky in the CBD of Gurgaon, a northwestern metropolis in the province of Huryana, near Delhi. Historically known as Guru Gram, the dormant town gathered economic momentum when Indian automobile manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, set up a manufacturing plant here in the 1970s. Just a few decades later, half the Fortune 500 companies had opened offices in Gurgaon. Despite the congested urban areas, birding enthusiasts can find respite at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, a famous bird-watching spot only 15 km from the city.
