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Curiosities About India
India launches initiative to boost infrastructure in Small Island States
Exotic, colorful and enlightened, India is one of those places to elevate all the senses of those who visit it. On this list, you'll see 14 must-see places to include on your trip to India, along with the best time to visit them, based on climate, cultural events, cost and seasonality.
Bangalore (Bengaluru)
All the movement and lights of Brigade Road in Bangalore
What san Francisco, that nothing – it's Bangalore's turn to shine on the world tech scene! The city is based in numerous entrepreneurial types of computer science. All this modernization has also generated a multitude of shopping options in the city, such as those of the bustling Brigade Road and its luxurious UB City Mall. There is also an intense food and bar scene – craft beers are a hit there, and the elegant Mavalli Tiffin Rooms it's a great night option.
Traffic is as intense as its population, and the new buildings are blending into the landscape in front of visitors' eyes. But if you're on your way downtown, you'll find beautiful colonial-era buildings such as Bangalore Palace (inspired by Windsor) and the beautiful gardens of Cubbon Park.
Best time to visit: September to February
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Delhi
trip to india - New Delhi
Time for reflection in front of jama masjid mosque in Delhi
Delhi is india's government and cultural center, and as big, intense and bustling as you can imagine. It's very (very!) hot in summer, cold in winter, but at least the topography is totally flat, making it easier to get around the streets and go around eating golgappa (panipuri) and chaat papdi (kind of donut with fried bread).
Still, you'd rather use the subway if you can. Order a cocktail from the Imperial Hotel, stroll through the bazaars of Old Delhi, discover the red fort that has the face of planet Mars, and finish the day meditating in the beautiful and serating Bahai temple. Pure luxury!
Best time to visit: October to November
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Chennai
trip to india - Chennai
Enchant with the fascinating Kapaleeshwar Temple in Chennai
Very hot and famous for its traffic, Chennai can cost a little to show its charms. Vibrant and colorful, it is full of temples of intense colors and other artistic beauties. The local food is inspired by the roots of the city and its location in the south: include in breakfast an idli – rice cake – in lunch spicy chettinad chicken, and a delicious filtered coffee.
Head to the colonial heart of George Town and explore Fort St. George – built by the British East India Company – with its quirky surroundings. For a moment of peace, walk through the surrounding gopurams, towers of absolutely amazing ancient temples.
Best time to visit: December to March
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Hyderabad
trip to india - Hyderabad
The relaxing charm of the mosques and monuments of Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad's Old Town is the pure essence of ancient India. Cows walk through narrow, crowded streets. Vendors advertise their products screaming in the market and the aromas of chai and biryani take over the air.
The famous Charminar monument and ancient mosques such as Mecca Masjid stand out in the landscape and recall the city's rich past. It is also a city of extremes: in the west, the "Cyberabad" will make you wonder if it did not end up in modern Japan. But if time is limited, stay focused on the historic heart of the city and its impressive architecture.
Best time to visit: November to February
Jaipur
Nicknamed "pink city" for its characteristic color buildings, Jaipur simply shines. Everything crowds around the Central Palace, where the old royal family still lives, and there is much to see. Take a picture of the Jal Mahal, a floating palace on the water; visit Govind Dev Ji, a symbolic temple that is part of many legends; and be enchanted by Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO-listed astronomical observatory.
Want more animation? Face the bazaar in the city centre, or join the noisy crowds in a session at the raj mandir cinema – one of the most famous in the country.
Best time to visit: November to February
Kerala
Setting the Booker prize-winning book "The God of Small Things," Kerala is a stunning tropical paradise in South India. Bubbling waters, long beach strips and immense jaqueiras and loaded cashew trees make up the landscape. If you want an oasis away from the noise of the crowds in the rest of India, this is your place.
Hike through the Blue Mountains of the Western Gates, and marvel at the waterfalls of Athirampally. Cross the ancient lagoons, or watch the Vallam Kali boat race, which takes place every August. The food is notoriously spicy, so always have a coconut milk on the side to give a refreshed.
Best time to visit: January to March (although Kerala is tropical all year round)
Pune
trip to india - Pune
The drive around pune business center
Green, lush and cultured, Pune has already been called the "Oxford of the East" – and contains basically the same number of bikes as well. It has several universities and, consequently, also a lot of students partying along College Road on Saturday nights or scattered in the various street cafes of the city.
Stroll through the former University of Pune, one of the oldest in the country, ride a horse through the Bund Garden, and get up close and up close to the fire-ravaged Shaniwar Wada Palace. Take advantage of the numerous options to eat in Koregaeon Park, known in the region as the "restaurant district".
Best time to visit: November
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Mumbai
trip to india - Mumbai
The sun sets over the Gateway of India in Mumbai
Fasten your seat belt. In the very populous Mumbai, what is worth is the complacerem, with its 12 million people squeezed into seven island-districts. It is the commercial heart of the country: concrete skyscrapers to lose sight of. Head to Kala Ghoda to discover the many museums, then to the hanging garden on Malabar Hill – a must-stop for selfie fans – and finally chase after the pigeons around the Portal of India monument.
The city's famous markets are also mandatory, especially colaba's jewels and traquitanas. It is also worth watching a traditional Hindi performance in the Prithvi Theatre in Juhu. If you make a point of going to the beach, avoid swimming and focus on just watching people.
Best time to visit: November to February
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Calcutta
trip to india - Calcutta
The typical and unsophisticated rickshaw, the popular means of transport from Kolkata, India
City of contrasts, Calcutta can impact your visitors. Its high levels of poverty are very visible, especially in front of a scenery of great wealth – luxurious golf and polo courses, and members-only clubs.
Despite – or perhaps because of – his dismissal, Calcutta is renowned as a city of culture, having produced several Nobel Prize winners and award-winning writers and poets. Immerse yourself in your daily contradictions and stroll down the river through the Garden of Eden public promenade along the cricket field, and head to the Literary Fair the world's most visited event in january, or watch a movie at the Calcutta Film Festival in november.
Best time to visit: October to February
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Mysore
trip to india - Mysore
Strolling through the gardens of mysore's old palace
Mysore (or Maiçor) is famous for its beauty. Its spectacular UNESCO-listed palace, with its red domes and indoor kaleidoscopic stained glass windows, is a must-visit on a Sunday when it is completely illuminated.
The architectural wonders continue with the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Filomena and the imposing Lalit Mahal Palace. Those who like sweet, need to try The Mysore Pak, a creamy local dessert based on ghee (ghi). Also visit the Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum and stroll through the Brindavan gardens full of beautiful fountains. In September there is a Dasara festival, for ten days, and moves the city even more.
Best time to visit: September to January
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Ooty
trip to india - Ooty
Choking tea leaves in Ooty, India
High in the Blue Mountains of Southern India, Ooty (also known as Udhagamandalam) is the place to visit if you want to breathe and escape the tropical heat. Green hills surrounded by eucalyptus and tea plantations form the landscape, which can be accessed by a friendly miniature train.
Explore the vast Botanical Garden of Ooty, where the May summer festival takes place, and climb the Doddabetta peak for perfect views of your photos. Ride a horse along the lake or through the countryside of the city. Use and abuse the famous chocolates, accompanied by a delicious tea grown in the region. For a more different program, try the bizarre Wax Museum.
Best time to visit: March to June
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Pondicherry
trip to india - Pondicherry
A day at the beach in Pondicherry, one of the best places to visit in India
Listen carefully and you might hear French being spoken around here. "Pondy", as it is known, came under French rule until 1954, and its Gallic history is evident, especially for the eastern part of the city. The place has an artistic and bohemian vibe and stands out as one of the most relaxed in India.
Pondy's goal is to do as little as possible, so the order is to exercise laziness. The Old Town area is full of old mansions, stone streets and French-style restaurants. Even those who miss a croissant, steak or good red wine, will scram page here – and then go enjoy the beach.
Best time to visit: October to February
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Udaipur
trip to india - Udaipur
Women prepare for a ceremony at Jagdish Temple in Udaipur
James Bond fans will recognize Udaipur from the 1983 film "007 Against Octopussy." Full of architectural wonders and tranquil lakes, it is the perfect place for a romantic season. Color takes over, especially with the "festival of colors" every year, which adds even more brightness to the local landscape. Another highlight is the Udaipur Palace complex, which shines with its mirrored domes and glass mosaics.
The New Green Moon festival, which takes place in the city's artificial lake complex, adds more movement in August in the city. And the Shilpgram Craft Made in November is the meeting point of the artists.
Best time to visit: August to January
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Munnar
trip to india - Munnar
The green elevated hills of Kolukkumalai, close to the centre of Munnar
Set aside the big cities and take the path of the mountains. A former summer resort of the British contingent in India, Munnar is the owner of a quiet and very green landscape, full of Indian tea trees and mountains that touch the clouds. Also visit the gardens of the Flower Shop Center, picnic at Mattupetti Dam, or test your lungs at Echo Point.
Eravikulum National Park is home to leopards, tigers and wild goats, while The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary has numerous species of strange birds. Rent a paddleboat, pedal through the city's countryside, and join an expedition to climb the famous Munnar rock.