India’s capital, New Delhi, lies on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Made up of the ancient walled city of Old Delhi and the more modern sector, New Delhi, the city encompasses a staggering array of beautiful buildings, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the grand, sandstone Red Fort, striking Qutab Minar, and fascinating Humayun's Tomb. Architecture enthusiasts will delight in the iconic Lotus Temple. Hear ‘qawwalis’ (devotional music) at the dargah (tomb) of the Sufi saint Nizam-ud-din Auliya; or wander through the 17th century Chandni Chowk marketplace – still one of the city’s most popular retail centres today, famous for its traditional jewellery and saris. The gorgeous Sunder Nursery and Lodi Garden provide calm, flower-filled oases for picnicking.
Set on the banks of the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, Agra is a beautiful city famous for its incredible Taj Mahal building, one of the seven wonders of the world. Commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 15th century as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, this is an architectural masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship and perfect proportions. The city boasts numerous other superb attractions, including the red-hued sandstone Agra Fort, built in the 16th century; the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque, a 17th-century congregational mosque located in the historic core of Agra, and Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb, with its white marble facade embellished with intricate inlaid designs, also called the' Baby Taj'.
A highlight in the province of Uttar Pradesh, Fatehpur Sikri served briefly as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585. This world heritage site is rated as one of the best preserved collections of Mughal architecture in India. Surrounded by a six kilometre wall, with the fourth being a lake at the time, a day can be spent exploring the elaborate structures within. Marvel at the impressive Jama Masjid mosque, the detailed palaces built for Emperor Akbar’s wives, the public and private discussion halls and vast ornamental pool; all of which took over 15 years to conceptualise and build.
Fringed by the rugged Aravali Hills, Jaipur, nicknamed the ‘Pink City’ for its salmon-hued terracotta buildings, is the capital and largest city in the Rajasthan State. This metropolis combines tradition and modernity with its vibrant bazaars, lavish palaces, and ancient temples. Don’t miss the fairy-tale splendour of the Amber Fort, set against the backdrop of the arid landscape and hosting enthralling sound and light shows; the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar, a collection of 300-year-old astronomical tools which look like contemporary art; and the opulent City Palace, with its palatial structures, sprawling gardens, and atmospheric courtyards. Jaipur falls within the Golden Triangle, a popular tourist circuit, which includes Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, and it also serves as a gateway to the neighbouring desert cities of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
Nimaj is a tranquil farming hideaway on the edge of the Aravalli Hills. Roughly halfway between Jaipur and Jodhpur, it is a great destination for a rural break as part of a tour of Rajasthan. The lakes in the area a renowned for their flocks of migratory birds; waders and wildfowl visit during the winter months. One of the highlights of the village is the Nimaj Palace Heritage Hotel, an exquisite palace occupied by royalty since Medieval times. Other buildings of the same era include the Magarmandi Mata Temple.
Situated about 40 kilometres south of Jodhpur in India’s Pali district, Rohet is a picturesque and heritage-rich rural village, known for its beautiful hotels and temples. One of the primary highlights is the quirky - but yet moving - Om Bana Temple, where an ornate Enfield Bullet motorcycle, known as Bullet Baba, honours a local villager who died on a motorbike skidding into a tree in the 1980’s. Surrounded by grass fields and decorated by rivers, the serene town also makes a wonderful destination for nature lovers and photographers.
Known as the gateway to the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second-largest city in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is a popular tourist destination featuring a variety of ornate palaces, age-old forts, and sacred temples. Dubbed ‘The Blue City’, the old city contains houses in a beautiful shade of indigo. While Jodhpur is largely a sprawling modern metropolis, enclosed within its old city walls is a labyrinth of winding, narrow medieval streets, and bazaars. The massive 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort, which towers over the city from its sandstone plinth, is one of the largest in the country. Other must-see attractions include the Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the world's largest private residences; and the Jaswant Thada, an intricately carved white marble mausoleum.
One of the oldest mountain ranges in India, the Aravalli, meaning ‘line of peaks’, stretches through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, and reaches an impressive height of 1.722 metres at the summit of Guru Shikhar. Several rivers, such as the Banas, Luni, Sakhi and Sabarmati, as well as some enthralling lakes, are nestled within the range. Although the south is heavily forested, generally the area consists of large areas of stone, and an abundance of rose-coloured quartzite. The mountains are inhabited by blue bull, fox, leopard, Indian pangolin, Indian civet, porcupine, sloth bear, star tortoise, striped hyena, and many species of reptiles, both venomous and non-venomous. Birdlife includes black vultures, white-backed vultures, storks, spoonbills, and osprey. The range is also known for its abundance of medicinal plants. Visit the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan for some glorious views of the peaks.
Dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’, the city of Udaipur is built around three interconnected lakes – Lake Pichhola, Fateh Sagar Lake, and the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake – and is encircled by the hills of the Aravalli mountain range. It is home to an array of ancient temples and fairy-tale-like palaces (several of the latter have been converted into luxury heritage hotels) and is known as one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful and romantic cities. Must-see attractions include the City Palace, the Lake Palace (set on a small island in the middle of Lake Pichola), and the Udaipur Solar Observatory – Asia’s premier solar-gazing site.
