INDIA GATE, NEW DELHI
The India Gate (formerly known as the All India War Memorial) is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the "ceremonial axis" of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway. It stands as a memorial to 84,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in between 1914 and 1921 in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. 13,300 servicemen's names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the gate evokes the architectural style of the memorial arch such as the Arch of Constantine, in Rome, and is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
RED FORT, NEW DELHI
The Red Fort or Lal Qila is a historic fort in Old Delhi, that served as the main residence of the Mughal Emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal. The fort represents the peak in Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan, and combines Persianate palace architecture with Indian traditions.
The fort was plundered of its artwork and jewels during Nadir Shah's invasion of the Mughal Empire in 1739.
LOTUS TEMPLE, NEW DELHI
The Lotus Temple, located in Delhi, is a Bahaʼi House of Worship that was dedicated in December 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it has become a prominent attraction in the city. Like all other Baha’i Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple is open to all, regardless of religion or any other qualification. The building is composed of 27 free-standing marble-clad "petals" arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides, with nine doors opening onto a central hall with a height of slightly over 34 meters and a capacity of 1,300 people. The Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards and has been featured in many newspaper and magazine articles.
QUTUB MINAR, NEW DELHI
The Qutb Minar is a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex, which lies at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city, Lal Kot. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the city, mostly built between 1199 and 1220.
It can be compared to the 62-metre all-brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, of c. 1190, which was constructed a decade or so before the probable start of the Delhi tower. The surfaces of both are elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns. The Qutb Minar has a shaft that is fluted with "superb stalactite bracketing under the balconies" at the top of each stage. In general, minarets were slow to be used in India and are often detached from the main mosque where they exist.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB, NEW DELHI
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, on patronage of her step-son Akbar, in 1558, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, close to the Dina-panah Citadel, also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun found in 1533. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
Jaipur, known as the “Pink City”, is the capital of the colourful state of Rajasthan. It has the distinction of being a well planned and laid out city. As you drive through the old part of town, you will witness a life most unlike others. Witness how the city blooms during the da in a kaleidoscope of colour and sound. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is not only the gateway to the state; it was laid out by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of the Kachchawaha dynasty from Amber. In Jaipur, visit the magnificent Amber Fort, City Palace, Museum, The Observatory etc. Enjoy the elephant ride at Amber Fort.
VRINDAVAN AND MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH
Vrindavan is a holy town in Uttar Pradesh. The Hindu deity Krishna is said to have spent his childhood here. It’s home to temples, many dedicated to Krishna and his lover, the deity Radha. At Banke Bihari Temple, the curtain in front of Krishna’s statue is opened and closed every few minutes. At Radha Raman Temple, a gold plate beside Krishna signifies Radha
Mathura is a sacred city in Uttar Pradesh. The deity Lord Krishna is said to have been born on the site of Sri Krishna Janma Bhoomi, a Hindu temple. Dotting the Yamuna River are 25 ghats, of which Vishram Ghat is considered the holiest. Sati Burj is a 16th-century memorial tower.
TAJ MAHAL, AGRA
The Taj Mahal is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
RISHIKESH, UTTARAKHAND
Rishikesh is a city in Dehradun district of the state Uttarakhand. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the "Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas" and "Yoga Capital of the World". It lies 21 km north of the city Haridwar and 45 km southeast of the state capital Dehradun. As of 2021, Rishikesh It is known as the pilgrimage town and regarded as one of the holiest places for Hindus. Hindu sages and saints have visited Rishikesh since ancient times to meditate in search of higher knowledge.