What is the best way to describe India? Cultures, languages, landscapes, and faiths collide in one massive melting pot. A visit to India agitates, rattles, perplexes, and fascinates. We misplace our benchmarks and codes. The effervescence that pervades the streets of this country-continent astounds with its amazing energy.
Visiting India’s various cities and regions and finding its most famous monuments is the best way to get a sense of the country. We’ve compiled a list of five such cities and regions to assist you.
Madurai
Head to South India and the Tamil Nadu region. Heart of Tamil culture, the big city of Madurai is also famous for being a great place of pilgrimage. One grasps the importance of this religious fervor when one enters for the first time in the enclosure of the temple of Sri Meenakshi. Dedicated to Meenakshi, an avatar of the goddess Parvati, and her husband Shiva, it is one of the most spectacular temples in the country. This city within city, surrounded by huge towers, the gopurams, attracts a continuous crowd of pilgrims. This exceptional heritage is a reflection of the effervescence and colorful life of this country. Typical examples of South Indian architecture, known as Dravidian, the multicolored facades are all carved with gods and goddesses from the Indian pantheon. You can spend hours looking at these huge pyramid constructions adorned with so much detail, a mixture that is both kitsch and fascinating.
Jaipur
The pink capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a joyful condensed of entertainment, oriental scents, craft markets, temples, and palaces.
Stroll through the alleys, admire the reflections of the sun on the pink painted buildings of the city, visit the Amber Fort, the Palace of the Winds, or the Palace on the Water, and immerse yourself in authentic and romantic culture.
Pondicherry
On the south-eastern coast of India, 150 km south of Chennai, Pondicherry is a former trading post of the French East India Company. In Pondicherry, nicknamed Pondy ‘, the architectural heritage mingles with the local atmosphere offering a surprising Franco-Indian mix. A sort of nostalgic atmosphere in a colorful bustle. How good it is to stroll through the “white city”, in the cobbled streets dotted with colonial villas where French cafes and restaurants are located! François Martin, Saint Louis, Romain Rolland or Dumas, the streets have familiar names. Do not miss a visit to the ashram of Sri Aurobindo, spiritual master. At sunset, stroll like Indian families on the Promenade from the seafront while eating ice cream.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, sometimes known as the “Manchester of India” is a vibrant city full of colors, art, and culture. Ahmedabad is a blend of history and modernism that appeals to people from all walks of life. Whether you enjoy art and literature or historical sights, Ahmedabad offers it all. Many notable works by renowned writer Rabindranath Tagore can be found in the city, and historical sites such as the Dada Harir Stepwell and the Hutheesing Jain temple offer a taste of Islamic, Hindu, and Jain architectural grandeur. Furthermore, the city’s annual Navratri festival is a fantastic way to get a taste of Indian culture and revelry.
Darjeeling
You’ve probably already had a good Darjeeling tea? This Indian highland resort was established by the British in the 19th century and its valleys covered with tea plantations can be found in northeast India. From Darjeeling, you can admire breathtaking panoramas over the Himalayan range, including the imposing Kangchenjunga, the third-highest peak on the planet, culminating at 8,586 m. It is also an opportunity to visit a famous tea factory in Darjeeling, to learn more about the national drink. During your visit to Darjeeling, board the Toy Train, a UNESCO-listed mini steam train, and enjoy a scenic ride through the surrounding mountains. Do not miss a visit to the many Buddhist monasteries in the region.
