1.

Located in the lap of the Himalayan slopes, Solang offers adventure sports
throughout the year, be it skiing, paragliding or horse riding. Also on offer are
the beautiful views of glaciers.
2. DAL LAKE IN SRINAGAR, KASHMIR: Dal Lake is one of the most romantic
holiday destinations in India, offering boathouses and shikara rides and has
been the picturesque setting for many Bollywood movies over the decades.
3. GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR, PUNJAB: One of the holiest shrines of the Sikhs,
Golden Temple was built in 16th century by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru
Ramdaas Sahib Ji. It houses one of the biggest kitchens in the globe, feeding
more than 100,000 people daily for free. The upper floors of the temple are
covered in gold, giving it a distinctive appearance.
4. CAMEL SAFARI IN THE THAR DESERT, RAJASTHAN: Enjoy Indian hospitality,
Rajasthani style, when you visit the Thar Desert. Pass through the villages,
where youll encounter nomadic tribes and enjoy their folk dance and music.
5. TSO KAR LAKE IN LADAKH, JAMMU & KASHMIR: Located at an elevation of
over 14,700 feet (4,481 meters) in the Rapshu Valley, Tso Kar Lake is also
known as the White Lake due to huge amounts of salts and borax that get
deposited on its banks.
6. RAFTING IN RISHIKESH, UTTARAKHAND: Known as the Gateway to the
Garhwal Himalayas and yoga capital, Rishikesh is popular for white-water
rafting. But if thats not your cup of tea, you can opt for hiking, backpacking,
rock climbing, rappelling and kayaking.
7. TREKKING AT MENTOK KANGRI, LADAKH: If you enjoy adventure and trekking,
Mentok Kangri should be on your list. It is one of the most fascinating peaks
in eastern Ladakh, at an altitude of 20,505 feet (6,250 meters) from sea level.
The trek takes around three weeks.
8. JUNGLE SAFARI IN JIM CORBETT, UTTARAKHAND: The oldest national park in
India is a protected place for endangered Bengal tigers and offers 488
different species of plants. Every season, over 70,000 tourists visit the park. If
you're lucky, you may just spot the striped beast.
9. TREKKING IN MARKHA VALLEY, LADAKH: Offering one of the most diverse and
beautiful treks in the Western Himalayas, Markha Valley also features
primitive villages, canyons and high snow peaks. The trek goes through
Hemis National Park, giving you a peek into the lives of nomadic families.
10.JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN: Popularly known as the Blue City of India, Jodhpur
offers a royal experience through palaces, forts and temples set in the
landscape of the Thar desert. Due to its bright and sunny weather throughout
the year, its also known as the Sun City.
11.CHAND BAORI NEAR JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN: One of the oldest and most
overlooked landmarks in India, this stepwell consists of 13 stories and 3,500
steps set in perfect maze symmetry. It was built during the 8th and 9th
century by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty.
12.SPITI VALLEY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH: The valley, located between Tibet and
India, has a predominant Buddhist culture similar to Tibet. One of the least
populated regions of India, Spiti Valley houses the Dalai Lamas favorite Tabo
Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world.

13.VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH: Varanasi is considered to be the favorite city of

Lord Shiva, a powerful deity in Hindu mythology. The holy river Ganges flows
through the city and attracts visitors not just from the country but all over the
world. Walk through the narrow lanes or sit back on one of the many ghats,
or river banks, and interact with curious students of the nearby Banaras
Hindu University.
14.JAIN TEMPLE, RANAKPUR, RAJASTHAN: This temple is a reminder of Indias rich
cultural heritage. The Jain Temple in Ranakpur has more than 1,400 pillars
and a huge bell that weighs 238 pounds (108 kgs).
15.GARHWAL, UTTARAKHAND: The hilly Indian state is known for its popular
trekking sites and beautiful mountains. While here, don't forget to visit
Roopkund, a beautiful high-altitude glacial lake located 16,400 feet (5,029
meters) above sea level.
16.CAMEL FAIR IN PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN: Held in the month of November for 14
days, the Pushkar camel fair is attended by more than 40,000 people every
year. The fair features camel race and shows in a desert setting that looks
straight out of a movie set.
17.KHAJURAHO, MADHYA PRADESH: The city of Khajuraho, also a World Heritage
Site, is known for ancient Hindu and Jain temples that feature explicit erotic
art reminding us why India is also known as the land of "Kama Sutra."
18.HORNBILL FESTIVAL, NAGALAND: Held in the first week of December every
year, the festival is named after the colorful subtropical bird the hornbill. Be a
part of this week-long cultural extravaganza that features folk dances and
songs, and explore Nagaland's rich culture.
19.TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH: Not only is the magnificent Taj renowned
as a symbol of love across the world, but for architects it's more a symbol of
symmetry and geometrical patters used beautifully. For instance, the fact that
the line of small fountainheads in front of the Taj divide the structure exactly
in half to mirror each other delights architects across the world to no end.
Then there is the matter of how the four minarets surrounding the main
building slightly lean outward so as to fall away from the building on occasion
of a natural calamity.
20.DHUANDHAR WATERFALLS, JABALPUR, MADHYA PRADESH: One of the many
falls in the Jabalpur area of Madhya Pradesh, the Dhuandhar Falls gets its
name from the watery smoke that's formed from the water vapours. Around
10 m high, these falls are on the Narmada river.
21.DHARAMSHALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: The home of Dalai Lama and center of
Tibetan monasteries, Dharamshala is a town situated in the Himalayan
wilderness. Dharamshala also serves as the starting point of many trekking
trails in the region. So if you're the kind who likes the outdoors, this is the
place for you.
22.THE GREAT STUPA, SANCHI, MADHYA PRADESH: The 'Great Stupa' is the
oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the
emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple
hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. The
gateways, or toranas, to the Stupa were exquisitely carved under the

Satavahana rulers who employed ivory workmen of Vidisha each depicting

life scenes of Buddha and Jataka stories.
23.BHEDAGHAT, MADHYA PRADESH: The boat ride down the majestic River
Narmada with breathtaking marble cliffs on both sides is like a trip back in
time.
24.HEMIS MONASTERY FESTIVAL, LADAKH, JAMMU & KASHMIR: The reknowned
Hemis Monastery is situated 45 km from Leh. It was re-established in 1672 by
the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. It is said to be the wealthiest monastery in
India and is famous for its rich collection of ancient remnants like the copper
statue of Buddha, gold and silver stupas, sacred Thangkas, murals and
various artefacts. The annual Hemis festival honouring Padmasambhava is
held here in early June, and attracts hundreds of tourists from around the
world.
25.CHANDNI CHOWK, OLD DELHI: If youre not claustrophobic, and crowded,
narrow, winding lanes don't scare, be sure to explore Chandni Chowk. Sample
some of the best street food in the country and visit the imposing Jama
Masjid Mosque to complete the experience.
26.BARA IMAMBARA IN LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH: Built in 1784 by the Nawab
of Oudh, this shrine in the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh is a
brilliant example of Mughal architecture in India. The ceiling is not supported
by any beams, making it one of the largest arched constructions in the world.
The imposing building also houses a maze called Bhulbhulaiya and is
perhaps the only maze of its kind to exist in India today.
27.NALANDA, BIHAR: Often referred to as the oldest university in the world,
Nalanda University was the center of learning for students from the Asian
countries from fifth century to 1,200 A.D. and attracted students from Tibet,
Korea and China at its peak. A walk through the ruins of the former university
is a must for all history lovers.
28.JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN: The golden city of India is also a World Heritage
Site and located deep inside the Thar Desert. Explore the Patwo-ki-haweli,
Sam sand dunes and Gadisar Lake. Witness the Rajasthani folk dances,
experience camel rides and taste some exquisite traditional food.
29.BHANGARH, RAJASTHAN: Often referred to as the most haunted place in India,
the fort of Bhangarh is a 17th-century marvel. Though there are no official
reports of ghost sightings, the eerie setting of the fort is known to give the
creeps to many.
30.JANTAR MANTAR, DELHI: A collection of architectural astronomical
instruments, built by Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century. It has 13
instruments that calculate the movement of time and celestial bodies. The
observatory was completed in 1724. There are three major instruments
Samrat Yantra, the Jayaprakash, and the Misra Yantra (in pic), of which the
Misra Yantra is made of five different instruments and is unique to the Delhi
observatory. It is said to tell the observer when it is midday across various
parts of the world. When it comes to the marriage of geometry and
architecture in India, it is really very difficult to beat the Jantar Mantar!
31.TABO MONASTRY, SPITI VALLEY, HIMACHAL PRADESH: The Tabo Monastery
(Tabo Chos-Khor Monastery) is located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley. A dry

high-altitude desert region, the monastery is found at 3,050 m above sea

level. The monastery was founded in 996 CE in the Tibetan year of the Fire
Ape. The monastery was founded by the Tibetan Buddhist lotswa (translator),
Rinchen Zangpo (Mahauru Ramabhadra), who was the king of the western
Himalayan Kingdom of Guge. Tabo is known for being the oldest Buddhist
enclave that has been continuously operating in both India and the
Himalayas.
32.AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE, DELHI: The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is the
second of its kind (the original being in Gujarat), and unlike the rest of this
line-up it's a recent construction having been completed only in 2005.
Replicating the style of architecture fairly prevalent in Gujarat and Rajasthan
that take from Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra, the Akshardham
temple boasts of the the ornate external wall (Mandovar), which is the only
and largest intricately carved structure with dimensions of 611ft x 31ft that
has been built in the last 800 years. Every nook and cranny is an example of
geometry and symmetry. It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate
domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone
elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India's great sadhus, devotees,
acharyas and divine personalities. Again, there is a predominance of the lotus
form in varying permutations and combinations across the temple
compound and the structure itself.
33.TREK UP TO THE VALLEY OF FLOWERS, UTTARAKHAND: A vibrant and
colourful national park in the western Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers is a
vision to behold when the flowers are in full bloom. Best known for its
meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora, this is an easy
trek for everyone in your family and friends' groups.
34.LOTUS TEMPLE, DELHI: The architectural style of this house of worship is
called Expressionist Architecture. Completed in 1986, the Lotus Temple was
designed by Fariborz Sahba, who wanted to bring out the concepts of purity,
simplicity and freshness of the Baha'i faith in his design. The leaves'
structure, number and inward-outward slants can all be defined in
geaometrical shapes of spheres, cylinders, toroids and cones.
35.HUMAYUN'S TOMB, DELHI: This 16th century tomb inspired the architecture of
the Taj Mahal and other Mughal buildings, so no wonder it ranks extremely
high on the scale of using geometrical patterns and symmetry while
amalgamating Islamic cosmology in its own architecture. The burial technique
used here along with pietra dura, a marble and even stone inlay
ornamentation in numerous geometrical and arabesque patterns, seen all
around the faade is an important legacy of the Indo-Islamic architecture.
According to architects, the symmetrical and simple design on the exterior is
in sharp contrast with the complex interior floor plan, of inner chambers,
which is a square 'nine-fold plan'.
36.SHOP AT JOHRI BAZAAR, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN: Walk down to Johri Bazaar for
some great deals in shopping, especially for colourful bangles, kurtas and
jootis.

37.LISTEN TO STORIES OF THE YESTERYEARS FROM THE ROYALS OF DIGGI

PALACE, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN: In pic: An attendee speaks to Jyotika Kumari,
owner of Diggi Palace, at JLF 2010
38.GET A GOOD DOSAGE OF AIR AT THE HAWA MAHAL, RAJASTHAN: Soak in the
Pink City from atop the iconic Hawa Mahal it's a Jaipur must-visit.
39.VISIT THE INTELLECTUAL EVENT OF THE COUNTRY AT THE JAIPUR LITFEST,
RAJASTHAN
40.MANALI, HIMACHAL PRADESH: If you've been skiing down Gulmarg in January,
revisit the mountains by taking a trip down to Manali towards the end of the
year. Hike up to Rohtang Pass or trek up the small villages of Himachal, there
is much to do in and around Manali. But be sure to pad up first, though!
41.REVEL IN SOLITUDE AT KAUSANI, UTTARAKHAND A popular destination
during Indian monsoons. Surround yourself in clouds and views of the
majestic Himalayas. From tea estates to pre-historic caves and temples, there
is much to do in this little gem of a place.