In the foothills of Himalayas, at the point where the sacred Ganga River reaches the plains, lies Haridwar, an ancient pilgrimage site that has been held in reverence for centuries. It is here that the famous Kumbha Mela is held, once in every twelve years, at the time when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign of Aquarius.
Dehradun
Founded by Guru Dronacharya, according to the epic of Mahabharata, Dehradun is today one of the most developed cities of India. Situated on the threshold of a world full of adventure, spiritualism and tranquility, amidst the Shivalik ranges, the foothills of Himalayas, Dehra Dun is an entry point for all the trekkers and mountaineers onto their journey into the Garhwal Himalayas.
Jaisalmer
In the middle of the Thar Desert, lies the honey-hued illusion of Jaisalmer. The deserted cliff of Trikuta Hills faced weather-beaten dry winds and a sweltering desert sun for thousands of years to win an outstanding fort of yellow sandstone as its tiara in 1156.
Khajuraho
Discovered by chance, India's second biggest single tourist attraction, Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval temples that are adorned with numerous sculptures of extraordinary grace and delicacy celebrating the stylized and refined courtly accomplishments of beauty, love and creative arts. Once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, the temples of the city date from 950-1050 AD.
Mathura
The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura is the best place to observe the religious heritage of India. The holy town positioned along the shores of River Yamuna is one of the few that are mentioned both in history and mythology. Mathura is naturally full of stories of Krishna as he not only took birth here but also spent a part of his life here. It is mentioned in the legendary Hindu epic of Mahabharata.
Mussoorie
Nestled in the Garhwal Hills, Mussoorie is an idyllic hill station with stimulating views of the valleys below, snow-capped mountains, a skating rink, a Mall set amongst the foggy mists and clouds. Its immense natural beauty with lush greenery consisting mainly of 'Mussoorie' plants, so charmed Captain Young from the British army in 1827 that he made this place his residence and thus laid the foundations of a hustling-bustling tourist destination of Mussoorie, which soon grew into a center of education, business, tourism and beauty.
Rishikesh
24 km from Haridwar, Rishikesh is an ebtry point to the proud Himalayas of Garhwal and four major Hindu pilgrimage centres of Garhwal, which hold immense importance in the religious lives of devout followers of the faith. These four places named as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, together constitute 'Char Dham' yatra, which is said to be must for all the Hindus at least once in their lifetime.
Udaipur
Amorous and heavenly, Udaipur is much more than an oasis in the arid region with its charming lakes, exquisite palaces and architectural heritage and justifies its nickname of 'the Venice of the East'. The Lake Palace placed on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Lake Pichola is the supreme example of its graceful architecture and refined culture. The banks of the lake have another beautiful building to boast of - the outstanding City Palace.
Varanasi
Almost 3000 years old, Varanasi (also popularly known as Benaras or Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world and the ultimate pilgrimage centre for Hindus, who believe that those who are fortunate to die here attain salvation instantly. Much renowned as a seat of learning for ages, people who wish to learn Hindi or Sanskrit or even Hindu philosophy in its purest form throng to Varanasi in search of the most knowledgeable teacher.
Vrindavan
South of Delhi, near the place of Krishna's birth, is the town of 4,000 temples where the sounds of celebration constantly resound. Vrindavan was the actual place where Krishna spent his childhood. In some ways, it has retained the characteristics of a village with its narrow streets and many cows that wander around freely. The village had once belonged to cowherds and still the Hindus who live here revere the cows.
