The Capitol Complex in Chandigarh is one such must see monument which is a great example of the Chandigarh style architecture. This Grecian Acropolis with its geometrically built concrete structures and the ideal sculptures gives the best sights that can only be seen to be believed. There are three major buildings in the Capitol Complex and these include the Secretariat Buildings, the High Court and the Assembly. All these three are interwoven and are a part of a subtle representation of the most engrossing spaces here built in a grand manner. Amidst the shadows of these imposing structures you would certainly be very enthralled to see the Open Hand which is the most popular structure here in the city of Chandigarh.

See the Open Hand which is one of the most fascinating monuments that has been planned by the interesting architect Le Corbusier. This is a must see spot in Chandigarh. Rising around 85 feet high, this comes from a trench sunk into the ground and shows a giant hand done in metal sheets and is so designed that it rotates like a weather cock and basically is constructed as a symbol of love and expects everyone to receive and spread love.

Then you also have the Tower of Shadows and the Martyrs Memorial, and the Geometric Hill which are also great buildings of interest.

Sector 17 is a lovely elegant shopping zone with a city centre and four lovely pedestrian concourses is another travel attraction here in Chandigarh. With the most beautiful green surroundings this is a place where you can see lovely groves of trees, beautiful sculptures, and the most magnificent fountains. It is nice to see the tourists move from one place to the other in the summer season basking in the lovely gourmet that is offered in the winters. Chandigarh sure gives the best of travel pleasures and memorable tales to take back.

Go to the Sukhna Lake and enjoy the pristine surroundings of this lovely popular recreation zone in Chandigarh. Situated in Sector 1, this is a place that has been created by simply building a dam artificially on a stream. This lake spreads over a beautiful area and has a 2 km long walk along the lake and is a greatly visited place by all the tourists.

The Rock Garden in Chandigarh is another attraction and is an inseparable part of the city. Spreading over 12 acres of wooded land, this is a combination of intelligent architecture and elegant constructions. It was a road inspector called Nek Chand who constructed this and has mainly been built by creating patterns out of waste materials. With the mute rock forms, and the creative patterns, the Rock Garden is a one stop shop for all tourists interested in seeing something different.

Then there is the Leisure Valley which is another tourist spot in Chandigarh and has the best sights of gardens, lakes, valleys, and the best green sights. The Sector 16 and the Rose Garden are certainly places worth visiting.

The Garden of Annuals, the Botanical Garden, the Bougainvillea Garden and the Garden of Aromatic Plants are other areas of tourist attraction here.

Chandigarh is a place where you would get to see some of the best travel attractions in this part of the world.

There are more than 85 temples that have existed here since ancient times. Of these 25 temples are still remaining and these are found ensconced in the surroundings of fields and lakes. It is said that there were actually 85 temples out of which only these many temples remain. They are the examples of the medieval kind of Indian architecture and give the best examples of past constructions. Built during the time of the Chandela kings between 950AD to 1050 AD the structures seem as if they are telling us a story, of the great Indian past.

Khajuraho is easily accessed by road, rail and air. The nearest railway station is Jhansi, Satna, which are connected to the other cities like Chennai, Kolkata , Delhi and Mumbai Khajuraho is linked by air to other cities similarly. Again there are regular buses which connect Khajuraho to the rest of the cities.

These magnificent temples have faced all the vagaries of Nature and in this century, they have been restored, rediscovered and given a lot of recognition. The murals in the Khajuraho temples are filled with life and the way the murals depict the Chandela lifestyle is simply amazing. There is a kind of erotic state to these murals and it is fascinating to see the best creations of mankind here in the land of Khajuraho. These testify the craftsmanship of the past and make a person totally aware of the kind of tradition that this country possesses. Their architectural style is very typical and as each structure stands tall on the highest platform of masonry the tourist would be taken to a tour of the best kinds of architectural forms in the country.

There are three main compartments to this structure . So you have the entrance or the ardhamandapa , the assembly hall or the mandapa , the actual sanctum or the garbha griha. The temples are divided into eastern, southern and western temples.

The Khajuraho temples are said to have a particular theme and it is found to be a woman. The temple structures celebrated the being of  a woman so get to see the various moods and facets of a woman in these caves and their carvings. So women are depicted here writing letter, dancing in joy, applying kohl to their eyes, and in all forms of being innocent, coquettish, and seductive. Women is the wealth of the sculptures of Khajuraho and it is interesting to see the beauty of interesting facets of the place. So all forms of sensual pleasures and material wealth and the unique combinations of woman and daily life is depicted here in the temple sculptures of Khajuraho.

Khajuraho comes from the world khajur which is the date palam trees here  which used to once surround the Khajuvahaka.

Today the Khajuraho temples are a must see for any tourist who is interested in the architectural beauty of the whole place and is a great fascination for those wanting to see Indian sculptures coming alive. These temples are prominent not because they are ancient but because they have a typical pattern of construction.

There are many places to see here. Starting from the Dhoom Gompa which is around 8 kms from Darjeeling, the statue of Maitriyie Buddha is very famous here. This monastery is a place that has the best stores of the rare manuscripts of the Buddhist era.

Then there is The Mall in Darjeeling which is the most commercial street here in the pristine hill station of West Bengal. With the best varieties of the hand knitted sweaters from Tibet and the best collections of souvenirs of the Himalayas, the Mall is a greatly fascinating shopping zone for all the tourists coming here. This Mall takes one to the Chaurasta which is a square which is also a bandstand and a pony riding zone for the children.

The Chowrasta is the crossroad and is a hub of commercial fare. This is the end of the Mall Road and is also the centre of the Victorian part of Darjeeling. The restaurants and the hotels here are a great attraction and provide ultimate travel experiences. The stalls and the shops are an inevitable paradise and the sellers here are seeing selling the wares from Bhutan. So get the best of tribal ornaments, rosaries, Thankas, woolen garments, Gorkha daggers, brass statuettes that are here for sale. There are lot of foreign goods also available here which are a great travel delight for all.

Then there is the Observatory Hill which is locally called the “Makal- Babu- Ko – Thaan” . Legend has it that the Red Hat Buddhist Monastery used to be here at this spot. This was called the Dorje Ling or the place of the Thunderbolt. Then in the 19th century , the Nepalis destroyed it and today the temple of the Shivas and the Buddhists stand here.

Go to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and experience this constructional elegance of the great mountaineer Late Tenzing Norgay. He was the great Sherpa who succeeded in climbing he Mount Everest in the year 1953 with Edmund Hilary. There is a display of his equipment that he used while climbing in this institute. There is also a zoological garden near this institute which has a great plethora of  wildlife. The yaks are very popular here as also the red pandas and the Siberian tigers.

Then there is the Passenger Ropeway here which is called the Darjeeling Rangeet Valley ropeway. This is located at the north point around 3 km from the city of Darjeeling. This is incidentally the first kind of ropeway in India.

Then you have the Tibetan Refuge Camp which is a great hub of artifacts, carpets and jeweller and has the best tourist pleasers to offer.

The Lloyd’s Botanical Garden is the other popular sight seeing spot here. This is where you get the best kind of fauna of the Himalayas so those interested in wildlife find this a great spot to go to and also enjoy seeing the horserace at Lebong. This is the smallest and also the highest racecourse in the whole world.

Then comes the tiger Hill which at a height of 8,482 feet is a greatly fascinating sight here. This has actually got a lot of international fame and is the place where people go normally to see the sunrise over the “Kanchenjunga” and the Great Eastern Himalayan Mountains. This is the place where you get to see the Mount Everest the highest peak here.

Visit the Neil Island and enjoy this luscious green surrounding filled with the best kind of beaches and the maximum variety of vegetables. This is rightly called the Vegetable bowl of the Andamans and is accessed from Port Blair by boats which ply four days a week. This is a perfect haven for all eco friendly tourists . The village life here in the Neil Island showcases the true colour of Andaman and it is a pleasure to see the simplicity and the warmth of the locals here. there are beaches at Sitapur, Bharatpur and Laxmanpur which are greatly attractive places and a magnificent bridge formation on the sea shore called the Howrah Bridge is greatly popular locale amongst tourists coming here.

Then you have the Long Islands which lies around 82 km from Port Blair. This is also connected to Port Blair by boat. One can reach here from the Phoenix Bay Jetty and it is exhilarating to see the lovely sights that this island offers on the sands of the Lalaji bay. The absolutely clean environment here coupled with the beautiful evergreen forests lends total beauty to the eye and the immensely picturesque surroundings only add to the travel luxury. The sea is frequented by the dolphin convoys and there are trekking trails in the forests here which provide the excitement and thrill that  you always seeked for. Camping facilities are provided here by the Directorate of Tourism .

The Rangat is a quaint little village with perfect serenity and solitude. The absolutely virgin ambience here is a complete pleasure for all tourists and the unpolluted air here is something that is a treasure for all those tourists who come here for a perfect getaway experience. People normally come here to see the nesting ground for turtles and tourists love to see the nesting of turtles here in this pristine locale. Then there is the Panchavati Waterfall and the Amkunj Beach all of which are great attractions as tourists go to the Cutbert bay. People also go to Diglipur and Mayabunder from here.

Mayabunder is a greatly enchanting region with some of the best scenic sights and the most beautiful beaches. This is the place where the Burma settlers and people from East Pakistan used to inhabit. Many ex convicts also lived here. With a distinct culture,Mayabunder gives some of the best beach experiences with each beach having a different thing to boast of. While the Karmatang beach is beautiful, the Avis Island is mesmerizing, the mangroves being a major attraction in all the zones here. Ideally visited in the months of December to February these beaches are also great nesting ground for the turtles which come here for nesting. Visit Kalighat another lovely locale here and wrap up your experiences here.

Diglipur is another island which provides great travel experiences. This eco friendly zone is another hub of marine life and has the best oranges and also rice. Visit the Saddle Peak which is around 732m height and is the highest point of this island. Then you have the River Kalpong flowing across this region.

Mt.Abu is a greatly popular hill station in the state of Rajasthan and with pristine surroundings and a beautiful ambience this lovely paradise is surrounded by a lot of vegetation and scenic beauty that makes travel experiences here very fascinating.

Visit the Dilwara temple here and see one of the most magnificent structures in Jain temple destinations. The beautiful stone carvings and the brilliant architecture is something to be seen and the simple decorative value of the temple exhorts a kind of excitement that has to be experienced to be understood. Built sometime during the 11th and the 13th centuries, the Dilwara temple has marble stones that are said to have been transported on the backs of the elephants from the hills at ARasoori. This is a Jain pilgrim spot and has been divided into five main parts – The Shri Neminath ji temple, the Shri Mahaveer temple, the Shri AdiNath temple, the Shri Parshvanath temple, and the Shri Rishabdaoji temple.

Then of course while you are in Mt. Abu you shouldn’t miss visiting the Nakki Lake which is a great place of tourist interest. This is actually known as the “heart of Mount Abu” and gets its name from a mythological story of the past. It is believed that this lake was dug out by the Gods or Devtas as they are called in the centre of the then region of Mt. Abu. The gods dug it out with their nails or Nakh. This is incidentally the only artificial lake in India that is at as great a height like 1220 metres. With the greenery that surrounds the place and the magnificent rock formations, the Nakki Lake is a must see spot in travel pleasures in Mt. Abu.

Then you have the Achalgarh fort which is a witness to the medieval era here. This was a fort that was commissioned by Rana Kumbha. Located around 8 km from Mt. Abu, this is a place that is well connected by road. There are walls that surround the Achalgarh fort that is located on top of a peak. There are innumerable temples and forts in the fort.

Then there is the Achleshwar temple that is most visited by all. This temple has a Nandi or a bull that is made of five different kinds of metals – gold, brass, copper, silver and zinc. Weighing more than 4 tonnes, this temple is a construction of the 9th century. Legend has it that the temple was constructed around a toe print of Lord Shiva. This temple is also believed to have a phallic form of Lord Shiva, the Shivlinga which is believed to have come up on its own.

Visit the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary with its diverse flora and fauna and enjoy your travel to this precious hill station in Rajasthan.

Mandu situated on top of a hill is perched at a height of 2000 feet. This was the earlier capital of the Parmars who were the rulers of Malwa. The place came under the Sultans of Malwa sometime in the 13th century. It was then known as “Shadiabad” or the city of joy. There is a spirit of gaiety and luxurious elegance in Mandu and the beautiful palaces and the elegant pavilions here render a total history of the past. The beautiful baths and the magnificent ornamental canals, along with the Hindola Mahals and Jahaz Palaces, are a great treat for the tourist who comes here. The glory of Mandu is really memorable and is pleasurable tale to relate. Every structure here is a great piece of architecture and is a gem in itself. The Hoshang Shah’s tomb, the Jami Masjid are great inspirational structures and the tourist who comes here goes back absolutely enlightened.

Visit the Darwazas and see the beauty of the 45 km of parapet walls that go around Mandu with their 12 gateways. The Delhi Darwaza is the main entry to the city. There are a series of such gates here which have great walls and magnificent enclosures which are made stronger with huge bastions like the Bhangi Darwaza, Alamgir, Tarapur Gate, and Jehangir Gate.

Then go to the Royal Enclave Jahaz Mahal which is a huge ship palace which is around 120 metres long. This palace is located between the two artificial lakes Kapur Talao and Munj Talao. This beautiful palace with two storeys has been constructed by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din-Khilji as his harem. There are open pavilions, and overhanging balconies, and has a huge terraced which gives the royal look it has. This is a great imaginative representation of royal pleasures. It is a wonderful sight to enjoy these sights in the moonlight and the nearby Taveli Mahal is another piece of splendid construction. The exquisitely carved turrets and the domes in the pavilion, look wonderful perched on the terrace and are an irresistible spectacle.

The Hindola Mahal, which is an audience hall also belongs to the reign of Ghiyas-ud-din. It is a great representation of superb technique and excellent constructional elegance. The ornamental façade and the beautiful trellis work here looks resplendent and exotic. The columns moulded with fine designs and the elaborately constructed wells are great eye catching tourist interests. The well called the Champa Baoli is connected to the vault rooms which lie underground. Here there are arrangements for hot and cold water. In all, the entire set up looks amazing and memorable.

With many more places to visit Mandu certainly comes across as a great tourist destination.

The Jehangir Mahal is today world famous for its three tiered structure and the elegant chhattris which dominate the architecture here. With the best representations of the Bundela style of art and creativity, sightseeing in Orchha is a memorable experience.

Decorative murals and vibrant paintings make up the walls of the Laxminarayan temple and also the Raj Mahal which depict a lot of reglious and secular themes here. The entire place seems to come to life with these beautiful  depictions and mesmerizing art forms.

It is said that the Bundela dynasty originated sometime in the 11th century when a Rajput Prince sacrificed himself to Vrindavasini, the mountain goddess. The goddess got pleased with him and named him Bundela meaning the one who offered blood. The Bundela dynasty is the major power force of Orchha and today the city has lot of tales about the erstwhile rulers of this dynasty.

Sightseeing in Orchha includes visiting all the historical monuments and structures that dominate the geography of the region.

The Jehangir Mahal is a construction of Raja Bir Singh sometime in the 17th century and has been built in memory of Jahangir’s visit to Orchha. With elegant chhattris and fine lined trellis work, there is an extravagance about this place which is not to be missed at all.

The other palace here is the Raj Mahal which is a 17th century construction. It was the predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo who got this palace built. The simple exteriors and the beautiful chhattris and the spellbinding interiors with the delicately done murals and the vibrant themes, make up the entire look of the palace.

Then you have the Rai Parveen Mahal which is a memorial built for the beautiful  Rai Parveen who was the paramour of Indramani, the Rajput King. Rai Parveen was sent to Emperor Akbar’s court as he was besotted by her. Emperor Akbar was impressed with the true love she had for Indramani, so sent her back to Orchha. Then this palace was built and this two storeyed structure was so constructed that it rose up to the height of the trees in the garden. With beautiful flower beds and an amalgamation of best greenery, the palace has a great water system. With exquisitely designed niches, the hall has a natural system of allowing light into the chambers and the main hall.

Then the Chaturbhuj temple is another magnificent piece of construction here which has been erected on a huge platform made of stone. Specially built to enshrine Lord Rama, lotus emblems and many other decorative carvings form the beauty of the temple.. The deity of Lord Rama was then installed in the Ram Raja temple later.

The other places of visit are the Laxminarayan temple, Ram Raja temple,  Dinman Hardaul’s Palace, Phool Bagh, all of which are testimony to the aesthetic beauty of the place.

The city has a kind of timeless beauty which is seen to be believed. A rich cultural background and a tradition that goes down the ages, doubles up to present the city today with its modern way of life. With this kind of right blend of past and the present, the city of Gwalior sure has a lot of tales to tell and many legends to boast of.

The history of Gwalior goes back to 8 AD when Suraj Sen a chieftain was inflicted with a deadly disease. A saint Gwalipa cured him so he was filled with gratitude. He found the city and named it after the saint. Thus the city of Gwalior came into being, and became the hub of great dynasties, and many brave warriors, musicians, saints, and poets.

Visit the Gwalior fort, which is the major feature of Gwalior, and is famous for its magnificence. This place witnessed a lot of events and scenes like jauhars and glorious battles. There is a steep road which goes up the fort, with magnificent statues of Jain tirthankaras. All these have been ingrained into a rock face. The fort has great outer walls and the whole façade is very imperial in looks and is very elegant. There are beautiful examples of medieval architecture, like the 15th century Gujari Mahal, which has survived a great past. The internal part of the structure is today an Archaeological Museum.

Go to the Man Mandir Palace which has been constructed between the years 1486 and 1517. The external portions of the structure had tiles earlier. Today they are no longer there. The entrance has some remnants of the past grandeur. A beautiful freize depicting ducks paddling in waters is a great masterpiece. The bare rooms inside though naked in their beauty, yet resonate with an echo of past Indian history. Stone screens and music halls, dungeons and ponds all stand a mute testimony to the events that have happened here many years back. The Jauhar Pond is famous for the Rajput tradition of sati. The Suraj Kund is a pond that has been existing even before the city of Gwalior came into existence.

The Teli ka Mandir is a great 9th century structure which towers up to around 100 ft high. There is a great combination of exquisite architectural style. The roof with its Dravidian touch, and the Indo Aryan decorations here enhance the beauty and grace of the temple.

Then there is the Sas Bahu temple which has Lord Vishnu as its presiding deity. Built sometime in the 11th century, this is a great tourist spot.

Then you have the Gurudwara Data Bandhni Chhod which has been built commemorating Guru Hargobind Sahib who was the sixth Sikh Guru. Visit the Scindia school which is inside the fort and is today one of the finest Indian schools.

The Jai Vilas Palace, many more monuments, memorials for Tatya Tope and Rani of Jhansi, innumerable art galleries and museums are other places of visit in Gwalior.

Dominated by the Portuguese, Cochin was later occupied by the Dutch and lastly the British. Remnants of their culture is visible in Cochin even now

Attractions:

The Chinese Fishing nets are a great attraction in the tour of Cochin. These gigantic nets are cantilevered and have been inherited from the earliest visitors to the Malabar Cost who introduced this system of fishing in India. These fishing nets have been existing since the 13th century and continued to be erected till the 15th century. They were the mastermind of the traders who lived here during the Kublai Khan rule. The nets are erected on bamboo or teak wood poles.

Then there is the magnificent Pierce Leslie Bungalow which was a great mansion of those times. This was founded in the year 1862 and has a lot of Portuguese influence besides the local and Dutch impact.

Visit the Old Harbour House, and enjoy the beautiful 1808 construction. Once a boat club and a tea trading centre today it is a residence.

Cochin is very popular for its narrow old streets. The Princess Street is one of the first that were constructed here and this European style construction exudes a lot of charm. It is generally a hangout joint for all the people here.

Then of course Cochin is the place where you have the great Vasco Da Gama’s residence. One of the oldest residential mansions in the city, this building dates back to the early half of the 16th century. With European glass styled windows, there are verandahs and balcony which beautify the whole structure.

Visit the VOC Gate which is a majestic gate that faces the Parade Ground. There is a monogram of the great Dutch East India Company on this.

Kerala without beaches is unthinkable of. Experience the exotic feel of being in the Cherai beach bordering the Vypeen Islands. A great swimming spot, this place is also famous for the loveliest of dolphins. Here is where you can also get to see an authentic village of Kerala replete with coconut groves and paddy fields.

Bolghatty Island is another famous spot in Cochin with the Bolghatty Palace which is a Dutch construction of the 17th century. First taken over by British, today it is a small Kerala Government Hotel.

With the beautiful backwaters forming a perfect background, the Willingdon Island is another fascinating spot to visit. Obtaining its name after the former British Viceroy of India, the island has the best sights with a special attraction being the Port Trust and the southern naval headquarters.

Visit the Hill Palace Museum at Thripunithura and see the official residence of the royal family of Kochi in earlier years. Constructed in the year 1865, the palace has more than 49 buildings and follows the traditional Kerala architecture pattern.

With such major attractions, the city of Cochin surely deserves to be on top of the travel charts.

Visit Varkala the area of pristine surroundings and idyllic ambience. Set yourself free here and explore the lovely region with the most luscious verdant expanse. The tall palm trees and the beautiful blue waters here render a tourist completely helpless with excitement and pleasure.

Visit the Janardhana temple here and experience the ancientness of a place that is around 2000 years old . This shrine of Lord Vishnu has been existent since long. It was earlier destroyed by high tidal waves, and then reconstructed when a Pandyan king took the responsibility. He built this temple after a penance to Lord Brahma who, pleased with his devotee asked him to build a temple for him. It is said that the king got a dream to go and search for the idol in the middle of the sea. He got this idol and that is what was enshrined as the main deity. It is also said that Lord Brahma came and finished the rituals here. This temple does not allow any non-Hindu to enter. However these non Hindus can walk along the outer part of the sanctum and the banyan tree here. The festivals here are very vibrant and full of energy. The Vavu Bali is another ritual here that is popular and famous all over.

Then visit the Sivagiri Mutt which is the main seat of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham trust. This is a place which was developed for the sake of the Ezhavas who form a major part of the population of Kerala. This Guru preached the principle of one God. Many followers of this guru visit this mutt every year.

Go to the Anjengo fort which was the site of the Dutch East India Company. It was the main garrison of this company. The fort has the history of having protected the entire area during the 17th and the 18th centuries.

Then you have the Varkala lighthouse, which is one of the best buildings in the whole region, and is a construction of the 18th century. The British constructed this and the entire structure exudes an energy that is unbelievable.

The kaduvail Jama Masjid is another great structure here and is revered by all the Muslims. This is one of the main shrines that is situated in the area of Varkala.

Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Kappil Lakes and experience the exotic surroundings here with the lovely coconut groves lending more beauty to the whole area. Situated around 8 kms from Varkala this is a sure spot to visit for any tourist coming here.

The most spectacular wonder of Varkala is the tunnel or the Varkala Turuthu which is a British construction. They built this as they wanted an inland waterway. See the beautiful construction and also the colorful ambience that makes this a perfect tourist attraction.

Then of course you have the Ponnumthuruthu islands which are greatly popular for their calm and pleasant surroundings. The boat rides here on the water are very exhilarating and enjoyable. The Anjengo backwaters surround this area along with the Arabian Sea. The place is actually famous for having a very old temple dating centuries back.

Another place of worship is the Sarkara Devi temple which is an ancient temple situated in the region of Chirayinkeezhu which is near Varkala. It has a lot of religious and cultural significance.

Visit Varkala and come back feeling like an angel in paradise.