The name India evokes pictures of Buddhist monks in Ladakh, and the Ghoomar and Kalbeliya dance performances with the backdrop of the sand dunes and the Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan. India Tours and Travel itineraries also highlight the beaches of Goa, the dense forests of the Northeast, the textiles of Gujarat, and the traditional Ayurveda massage therapies for relaxation and rejuvenation in Kerala. There are cultural attractions such as Varanasi the oldest living city in India, the Jain Temples at Ranakpur, and the arduous trek to Amarnath that opens up for only a few months in the year. In this article, we will talk about a few monuments and places you must see in India: · Taj Mahal: One of the Seven Wonders of the World in the old and the new list, Taj Mahal is known for its epic beauty that combines sublime human emotions with beauty of the precious stones, genius of the best architects and artists, and precision of the skilled craftsmen.
The double-domed mausoleum was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal and was buried near her too, after he passed away. You can also see the Burj or the Tower in the Agra Fort, where Shah Jahan was confined during his last days by his son Aurangzeb, who was thoughtful enough to allow him the glimpse of his favorite Taj at all times from his balcony. He even got a big diamond installed near the death bed of Shah Jahan, so that he could treasure the beauty of Taj as the last vision to die with. · The Golden Temple, Amritsar: Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple of Amritsar is representative of all that is glorious in Sikhism. It stands on a rectangular platform situated on the Amrit Sarovar (or Lake of Nectar) and its dome is actually in the form of inverted lotus with golden plated leaves. Inside the temple, the Granth Sahib or the Holy Book of Sikhs is placed under a jeweled canopy and verses from it are sung at all times. Very well disciplined and organized, the Gurudwara is open to all visitors.
You can also partake of Guru-ka-langar here, where 35,000 people are fed everyday for free by the volunteers. · Ajmer Sharif: A land of multiple religions, India has many places of worship that are not only visited by members of the faith with which they are associated but are also held in high esteem and reverence by all Indians. Dargah Sharif of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti at Ajmer, often referred to as Ajmer Sharif in short, is on top of the list of such holy pilgrimage places in India.
Besides the tomb of the saint, the main entrance gate to the Dargah, the Naqqar Khana or the Drum House with two huge pairs of drums that were once used to announce the arrival of Mughal Emperor Akbar, and the courtyards and buildings in typical Mughal style form the main attractions of the Dargah. At Naqqat Khana, you may hear Sufi music played at fixed hours of day and night throughout the year. There are a number of Hindu temples too where you can find culture flavors mixed beautifully with religious fervor in India that you must see. Krishna Janmabhoomi (the birth place of Lord Krishna in Mathura), the Jagannath Puri in Orissa, the Tirupati Temple widely reputed to be the richest temple in the world, the Meenakshi Temple which is believed to be the finest specimen of Dravidian temple architecture are some of the few temples that we will recommend you to include in your India tour.
