India Sights

Country of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the richest natural environment and warm climate, India simply can not engage the attention of millions of tourists. The majestic Himalayas and mysterious Tibet, the holy river Ganges and the rain forests of Western Ghats, dozens of seaside resorts and the "golden triangle", and numerous monuments of past centuries and the great number of museums, all of this is the national pride of this country.

North India
Delhi - a unique city. According to legend, the modern New Delhi is already the eighth city in this place, and the earliest appeared in this place long before the X millennium BC. e. Among the historical monuments of the capital stands out the famous Red Fort (Lal Quila, 1639-1648 gg.) Situated inside a vast palace complex of the Mughal era and the "colored palace 'Rang Mahal, the ruins of the ancient monument of Delhi - Bhairon temple, the tallest tower of the country ( 72,5 m) - Ensemble Qutb Minar (Vijay Stambh presumably 1191-1370 gg.), the ruins Lalkota, "Old Fortress" Purana Quila (Din Panah, 1530-1545 gg.) Palace, Raj Ghat, the oldest in India Observatory Jantar Mantar (1725), the ruins Rai Pithora, complex Dzhahaz Mahal ( "palace-ship, 1229-1230 gg.)" tower-scaffold Chor Minar, a memorial arch of India Gate, the building of the former British Secretariat, which is now the University of Delhi, Parliament House, the Memorial uprising in 1857, the official residence of the President - Presidential Palace, Rashtrapati Bhawan (1931), the Ashoka pillar (250 BC. e., elevation of more than 12 hours) from a single piece of sandstone, one of the wonders of the world - stainless metal pillar (895 BC. e.) near the mosque Kuwwat-ul-Islam and others

The city is literally filled with temples of all the world's religions often stand so close to each other, that the minaret of the mosque is seen Buddhist stupa, a dome of the Christian church in contrast to Hindu structures. The most interesting Sikh temple gurudvary Cic Ganji, a temple Yogmayi (sister of Lord Krishna), Lakshmi Narayan temple, Jain temple Jain Digambaras with a unique "bird hospital", the oldest Christian church of the country - at the Baptist church-Chandni Chowk, the Anglican Church of St. James (1836 g.), the main Tibetan temple of the capital - Buddhist Vihara, the Baha'i Lotus Temple (1986), the temple of the goddess Kali in Kalkadzhi (built in 1764 on the site over the ancient temple), and many others. Majestic mosques Delhi are the best examples of Islamic art - the Jama Masjid (Friday or Cathedral, 1650-1658 gg.) Keele kitchen Masjid (1545), Kher-ul-Minazel (1561), Moth-ki-Masjid ( Mosque one grain, XVI century.) Sonehri (Golden), Fatehpur (1650), Kalan Masjid (Kali Masjid, 1386), Jamat Khana (Khizri, XIV cent.), Moti Masjid (Pearl, 1662 ), the first mosque of the country - Kuwwat-ul-Islam (1192-1198 gg.), Zeenat-ul-Masjid, etc.

Delhi is often called "Tomb of the East" - as many are concentrated memorial structures legendary rulers and statesmen of many eras. For the category of places of worship include the mausoleum of Adham Khan, darga (place of worship) Kutbuddina Bakhtiar Kaki, the tomb of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmysha (1235), darga Muslim saint Nizamuddin Chishti Auliyi (1325), an architectural ensemble of the Tomb of Sultan Guri (1230) , the tomb Firuzshaha Tughluq, Safdardzhunga tomb, the tomb of the only female ruler of the East - Razia Sultan (1241), a masterpiece of Mughal architecture - Humayun's Tomb (Humayun-ka-Maqbara, 1565), mausoleums Dzhahanara-Begum and Muhammad Shah ( 1719-1748 gg.), the mausoleum of President Zakir Hussain (1973) near the Islamic University, Jamia Millia, as well as a set of tombs in Lodi Gardens.

The abundance of museums in the city can compete with any capital of the world. Worth a visit National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, the Archaeological Museum of the Red Fort, the National Museum of Natural History, Nehru Memorial Museum "Tinmurti-House" (1929-30.) Near the diplomatic district of Chanakyapuri, Indira Gandhi Memorial with the famous crystal River "(1988), Museum of national crafts, International Doll Museum, National Children's Museum and Aquarium at the Palace of Children, Tibet House Museum on Lodi Road, a good Air Force Museum at Airport. Indira Gandhi Academy of Fine Arts, Lalit Kala Akademi, the Museum of Applied trades in a large exhibition center Pragati Maidan, the Academy of Music and Dance with the original Museum of musical instruments, unique Museum Sulabh toilets and Delhi Zoo (1959) - one of the largest and richest in the world.

Thousands of shops and traditional markets are located in the eastern district of streets Baba Kharak Singh, Chandni-Chowk, Koniat Place, Hari Baoli, south of University, near the gates of Lahore, near Urdu Bazaar, etc. Here you can buy almost everything, and the famous Oriental bazaar atmosphere makes such purchases charm. And for all this, Delhi - enough green city. Here are many charming garden and park complexes and small green areas - Moghul Gardens at the Presidential Palace, and Roshanarskie Shalimarskie gardens with pavilion Shish Mahal (Mirror) to the north-west of "Old Delhi", Coronation Gardens, Buddha Dzhaynati they. Nehru, Pancha Shila Park, gardens Quds (XVIII century.), Gardens Mahatab-Bagh in the Red Fort, etc.

Agra - the capital of the Mughal Empire and the jewel of India, located in 204 km from the capital. Here are concentrated many of these "wonders of the world" - the famous white marble mausoleum of the Taj Mahal (1630-1648 gg.) Great fortress of Agra (Red Fort) with a magnificent complex of palaces, squares, mosques and parks within the double walls of the citadel, the Pearl Mosque (XVII in.), and Nagin-Masjid, two large halls for audiences - Khasi Mahal Palace and mirror, a marble mausoleum Dzhahangri Mahal, the exquisite tomb Itemad-ud-Daula and Water Park Pavilion fish. At Sikandra, a suburb of Agra, is surrounded by a garden mausoleum of Akbar's red sandstone. 40 km from Agra is "ghost town" Fatihpur Sikri, Akbar's former capital. Today the city due to lack of water completely deserted, but perfectly preserved inside the fortress, "Great Gate" BOULANDI Darwaza, "miraculous" the mausoleum of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the Imperial Mosque, palaces, baths, royal mint, and numerous squares and parks. In the sacred Mathura, between Delhi and Aqrah, according to legend, Krishna was born. In Vrndavana (120 km south of New Delhi), "city of five thousand temples, is another" jewel "of the country - the temple of Krishna-Balaram Mandir (Engriddi-Mandir, 1975), a place of pilgrimage for thousands of people. Quiet, friendly village of Khajuraho in northern Madhya Pradesh literally awash with "temples, including the world famous temples of the goddess of love Kami, abounding in erotic scenes.

Virtually the entire north-east of the country - Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, is a vast mountain system of the Himalayas and the Hindukush, already serves as the focus of many thousands of Buddhist monasteries and communities. Such places like Ladakh (Ladakh), the city of Rishikesh ashrams and one of 7 sacred cities - Haridwar, Spiti Valley, the holy Mount Kailash (Kailash Kinnear, 6050 m) - the center of the universe, "Valley of the Gods Kullu (Kulanthapitha), the residence of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, a beautiful valley Parbat, the famous hot springs, a beautiful hill resort of Dharamsala, the holy cave of Amarnath, in which Shiva gave Parvati the secret of creation, and much more attracted to this region, millions of pilgrims.

The most interesting Tibetan monasteries of Tabo, Dankar, Lalyung, Revalsar, Comedy and Ki, Hanuman temple in Shimla, Bhimakali, Basheshvar-Mahadeo, Bidzhli-Mahadeo, and Raghunath, as well as the most famous and high temples of Shiva and Vishnu at Kedarnath and Badrinath.

In Amritsar (Punjab items) is the main shrine of Sikhism - Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib or Swarna Mandir, 1577), surrounded by a sacred body of water of immortality. A layout and most administrative buildings Chandigarh built by the famous architect Korbyuze. Not far from Naggar, in which the family lived for a long time, Roerich, is the famous mountain resort Manali where he preached the legendary ancestor of mankind Manu, and which is known not only for its center of Tibetan medicine, but also the magnificent temple of Manu and Dhungri. Excellent recreational opportunities created among the coniferous forests in mountain resort of Kullu, Simla, Nainital and Masuri. For fans of mountain tourism offers many interesting trekkernyh routes, hikes a yak, Tibetan jeep safaris, as well as visits to many national parks.

West Indies - the territory of contrasts. Mountainous areas are interspersed here with Gat plains and forests of Gujarat, replaced by the deserts of Rajasthan and the beautiful beaches of Goa - the varied architecture of the old quarters of Mumbai or Jaipur.
Mumbai (Mumbai, Bombay) - India Gate, "" Hollywood Indian "and the capital of Maharashtra. Modern Mumbai is famous for its varied architecture - colonial mansions of the old block away from here tall buildings south of the city.
The most interesting triumphal arch "Gateway of India" (1924), Fort (1720), the Church of St. John and St. Thomas the Apostle Church, the Cathedral of St. Thomas (1672-1718 gg.) Museum, Prince of Wales (1911 ), Mahalakshmi Hindu temple, a mausoleum and mosque of Haji Ali, Bombay University building, the building of the Old Mint (1828), the largest in Mumbai Crawford Market, Victoria Terminus Building, Supreme Court, etc. Among the other attractions of Bombay can be noted best in India Taraporewala Aquarium, Museum of Western India, Victoria Park Gardens, the zoo, Bombay Planetarium them. Nehru Gallery of Modern Art building in the eastern style, as well as several temples in VII.

At Malabar Hill are the Hanging Gardens Scenic (Ferozeshah Mehta) and park them. Kamala Nehru with attractions for children, the building of the former British government residence Raj Bhawan (now the residence of the governor of the state), the temple of the god of sand Valkeshvara, Zoroastrian "towers of silence", a planetarium them. Nehru, Montplaisir, religious sources Banganga-Tank, appeared on a legend from being hit by an arrow ( "banana") frames in the hillside, as well as caves Dzhogeshvari and pool.

The best place for walking and recreation area is Materan (50 km east of the city), Quay Marine Drive and the beaches and Choupatti Manori Beach, dockland Sassoon, where the morning opens a live fish market, as well as abundant shopping and restaurant district Kolaba . Must be worth a stroll through the narrow winding quarterly Kalbadevi area north of Crawford Market, where one after another, followed by whole series of colorful markets, Zaveri Bazar, Mangaldas-Market, Dabou and Khor Bazaar ( "thieves market").

The city has many museums and galleries, concert halls and other cultural objects, but due to high levels of air pollution and high temperature, visiting them often not comfortable for a foreigner. In the suburbs of interest to Elephanta Island (10 km. From the port) with the rock temples of V-VIII centuries., 109 famous caves with carvings Kanheri Caves II-IX centuries. in Upavan Krishnagiri National Park (Sanjay Gandhi, 42 km from Mumbai), where also lies the picturesque Lake Tulsi, Vihar and cook.

Rajasthan is widely known for its military history and many ancient castles and forts. Here, among the desert areas of Thar, formed many ancient civilizations and built such colorful cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner.

The capital of Rajasthan - Jaipur (250 km west of New Delhi) - one of the most interesting cities in the country. Founded in 1727, he received his second name - "Pink City" because of the used in the construction of many buildings of pink sandstone. The palace complex Chandra Mahal is located in the heart of the city among the picturesque gardens. No less interesting palaces Raj Mahal, Jal Mahal (Lake Palace), Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, 1799) and the Rambagh (today was rebuilt into a luxury hotel), which lies 11 kilometers from the town of Castle Amber (XI - XVI cc.) located on steep cliffs and forts Dzhaygarh Nahagarh (XVIII cent.), Birla temple, Shri Govind Dev (Govind Devdzhi), Lakshmi-Narain and Kanak-Vrindavan, Pavilion Mubarak Mahal, minaret Isvari Svarga Sal Minar (Minaret penetrating into Heaven), as well as a huge open-air observatory - Jantar Mantar. Virtually all of the palace buildings is now available from the collections of the exposition of the Royal Museum, the Central Museum, the Museum of Indian Studies and the Museum of the City-Peles, each of which deserves separate attention.

Not far from Jaipur there are such places of worship, as the town of Abu with its temple complex Dilwara-Mandir - a sacred place of Jains, which necessarily have to visit the temples Adinatha (1031) and Neminath (1230). 15 km from Jaipur, in Geytore, is made of white marble memorial to Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. In the area of Galt (20 km from Jaipur) is a temple of the god of the sun, the palace Sisodiya Rani Ka Bagh, as well as many mineral springs. In Udaipur, on the banks of the picturesque lake, stands a complex of palaces - Maharani (XVI-XVIII cc.) With a beautiful mosaic, Dzhagmandir (XVII century). Dzhagnivas and (XVIII cent.) Lake Pichola, and the huge City Palace towers and gates in the old city, surrounded by a wall.

Goa lies to the north of Mumbai and is considered the best sea resort area of the country. Goa - the first state in India, occupied by European colonizers, therefore, along with the endless white sand beaches, there a lot of ancient monasteries and castles, villas and developments in the Portuguese colonial style. The most attractive in historical terms-Velha Goa (Goa Velha, Goa Velha), which was once called "Lisbon of the East" - here are surrounded by the majestic temples of Cathedral Square, the Basilica of Bom Jesus (XVI cent.) - The storage location of the relics of St. Francis Xavier, Church of Santa Monica and St. Augustine, Portuguese Catholic cathedral Hsieh (1562), the church of St. Cayetano, the royal chapel of St. Anthony Cathedral Francis Asizskogo and is considered the largest Christian cathedral in Asia, the Cathedral of St. Catherine ( 1652).

In Panaji, the state capital, rises the majestic church of the Immaculate Conception (1541), an interesting old area Fonteynhas, Mahalakshmi temple, built-up old buildings, the Latin Quarter and the hill Altin, the chapel of St. Sebastian, a statue of Abbe Faria (the prototype of the famous hero of Dumas), the Secretariat building, Panaji and the National Museum. On the way from Panaji to Pond located Shri Mangesh (dedicated to Shiva) and Shanta Durga. In Mapusa - shrine of Hanuman, the chapel of St. Anthony Church of the Virgin and the Miracle. In Margao - Church of the Holy Spirit and Grace, Municipal Garden and extensive market Margao.

But the main "treasure" of the State, of course, are its wonderful beaches, framed by a modern hotel complex, restoranmi and casinos. The best of this continuous strip of snow-white sand beaches are St. Ines and Miramar in Panaji area, set in Madzhorda Beach Resort Villages Aguada, Anjuna, Vagator, Palolem, Colva, Arambol and Calangute (known as the "Mecca of hippies"), as well as Baga Beach, Kandolima and Shiridao, interspersed with picturesque coves and cliffs. In addition, the region is famous for many festivals, among which particularly stands out Carnival Mardi Gras.

South India - the most populous part of the country, the area of concentration of hundreds of ancient Tamil temples, colonial forts and many kilometers of sandy beaches.

Chennai (Chennai, Madras) was founded in 1639 as an outpost of Britain on the peninsula, so in its architecture strongly influenced by the British colonial style. The main sights are Fort St. George (1653), which now runs the state government, the Cathedral of St. Thomas the Apostle (1504), the first Anglican Church of the country - St. Mary (XIX cent.), Shiva temple, Madras Music Academy of Music and Dance Kalakshetra, building one of the oldest in the country of Madras University (1857), the International Center of theosophy. Blavatsky with a beautiful park, Madras State Museum (1846), etc.

Not far from the city on the shores of Bay of Bengal, a huge temple complex is spread Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), with two dozen churches VII-VIII cc. As well as the famous rock carvings "Descent of the Ganges to the earth" (Penance of Arjuna). To the south-west of Chennai is famous center of pilgrimage - Madurai, the colossal temple of the goddess Meenakshi (Meenakshi Mandir, 1560) and a complex of the temple of Shiva (XII-XVII centuries). With Tysyachekolonnym hall "(mid XVI century).. In scattered throughout the state of Tamil Nadu is such a unique religious centers like Kanchipuram, Shrirangam, Tirupati, Chitambaram, Thanjavur (Tandzhur), Trichy, Tiruvanamalai, Rameshwaram, etc. in Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and one of the oldest in the world of alternative settlements - Auroville (1968 g.).

In the south-west of the peninsula extends state of Kerala, whose Malabar coast is considered one of the best beaches of Asia. In the state capital - Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) attracted the attention of the temple Padmanabhasvami, canals, the palace of the Maharajah Duchy of Travancore, Trivandramskaya art gallery with paintings of Roerich and located in a suburb of Pedestals Research Center for India's space program. In Kochi (Cochin) interesting ancient synagogue in the British Commonwealth (1568), Dutch Palace Museum, the Cathedral of St. Francis and the nearby castle Mattancheri. Thousands of tourists visit the mountain resorts of Ootacamund (Ooty) and Kodaikanal, a beautiful sea resort center of Kovalam, and Laccadives and Amindivskie islands off the west coast of the state.

By the East India include the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Sikkim. This is the most versatile of the natural conditions of the country's territory, "sandwiched" between the Bay of Bengal to the south and the spurs of the Himalayas in the north. The main city of the region - Kolkata (Calcutta) - the administrative center of the state of West Bengal and the largest city in the country, part of the ten largest cities in the world. In Calcutta, is the largest in India, National Library (1836), the Memorial Museum. Queen Victoria (1921) in a huge park Maidan, the formidable Fort William (founded in 1696), the richest Indian Museum, the oldest in the country, the University of Calcutta (1857), a wonderful botanical garden (founded in the XVIII century.) Built in place of the legendary "Black Hole of Calcutta" post office, a temple of Kali, the mission of Mother Teresa and the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Society, Birla Technological Museum (Kolkata considered one of the engineering centers in the country), Government House, Raj Bhawan, St. Paul's Cathedral, Botanical Garden "the busiest bridge in the world" - console Howry Bridge, etc.

In the vicinity of many religious centers - Mahabodhi temple, Mandir, a sacred place of Jains - Pavapuri, sacred place of Hindus - Gaya, the Bo tree in Bodhgaya (Bihar items), a Sikh temple in Patna, as well as the famous resort of Darjeeling.

During more than 2 thousand years, "the eternal city, Varanasi was the religious capital of India. Built on the banks of the sacred Ganges, the most eastern city of Uttar Pradesh, for many centuries, is a place of ritual ablutions in the sacred waters of the river, but also a place of ritual cremation of Hindus. There are many sacred places of Buddhism - a stone pillar and Dharmaradzhika stupa, stupa Damekx in the first place of worship Buddha temple dzhaynistcky Sriyansanth, stage ( "vein") for washing in the waters of the Ganges, the temples Visvanatha, Annapurna and Manmandir, mosques Gyanvapi (XVII century. ) and Alamgir, as well as one of the best museums in India - Bhavan.

To the north, high in the mountains, is the state of Sikkim - the best trekkerny region of the country and the focus of Buddhist monasteries. It is worth visiting the state capital - Gangtok, which houses a unique museum of Tibetology and the Imperial Chapel CMC-La-Han, or visit the home of Agni Yoga, and the burial site of Helena Roerich - Kalimpong.

Orissa stretches along the western coast of the Bay of Bengal. The main attractions of the state are three great temple cities - Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konarak. It is particularly distinguished one of the largest in India Lingaradzha Temple (Temple of the king-phallus) in Bhubaneswar, the Temple of the Sun (Surya Mandir, XIII cent.) At Konark and the Jagannath Temple, Mandir (Temple of Lord of the Universe) at Puri (Langaradzh and Dzhaganath closed to visiting Europeans). Satisfactory mosrkie resorts located in Puri and Gopalpura. Are becoming increasingly popular and totally uninhabited Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Huge interest national parks - Kaziranga, Dzhaldapara, Manas, Dachigam, Jawhar (includes parks Bandipora, Nagarhole, Wayanad and Mudumalay). Interesting original reserves of birds - Govind Sagar, Keoloadeo Ghana, Kanha, Point Kalimer, Pulikat, Vedanthangal, Nal Sarovar. Unique tiger reserve located in the Sunderbans and Similipal.