India: major cities

Describing the whole of India in one article is certainly an impossible task. However, we will try to talk at least in general terms about several of the most iconic places that can become a starting point for exploring this magnificent country. Most tourists know this colorful country from the most Europeanized state of Goa; we invite you to go on a journey through the real India.

Delhi

First, let's remember: Delhi is the capital of India, and New Delhi is one of its eleven districts. A lot of tourists coming to India get confused about the names and perplex local taxi drivers and guides. Anyway, the best place to start your acquaintance with the country is Delhi - a bright, noisy, active metropolis, where poverty and luxury, dirty markets and expensive shops, caste differences and new technologies perfectly coexist together.

When visiting Delhi, do not miss the opportunity to go to the Indian National Museum and Akshardham complex, which is an important center of the Hindu religion. These places will help you better understand the culture and main religion of India - Hinduism. It is worth noting that Akshardham is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest Hindu temple in the world. Also in Delhi is the Qutub Minar, an architectural complex containing the tallest brick minaret in the world and the mysterious Iron Column, which, according to local legend, makes wishes come true. Other notable attractions in Delhi include the Lal Qila (Red Fort) citadel, the Sikh temple Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (get used to the unusual names), the Grand Mosque and the Baha'i Lotus Temple.

Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a key seaport in India through which shipping routes from Europe passed. In 1687 it became home to the headquarters of the East India Company. Next to the majestic India Gate, set on the ocean shore, is the main museum of Mumbai with a very complex name - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, although under the British it was known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India. By the way, it is important not to confuse the India Gate in Mumbai with a similar monument in Delhi, which was erected in honor of Indian soldiers who died in the Anglo-Afghan wars and during the First World War.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station, formerly Victoria Terminus, is a magnificent piece of Victorian architecture that is breathtaking in its beauty. This place has become iconic due to the fact that many scenes of the famous “Slumdog Millionaire” were filmed here. The station is especially impressive at night - its façade is effectively illuminated.

Calcutta

Calcutta, formerly known as Kolkata, was the capital of British India. One of the city's main attractions is the Queen Victoria Memorial, which now serves as the city's museum. Other notable sites include Fort William, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Dakshineswar Temple, dedicated to the goddess Kali, after whom the city takes its name. Calcutta also has another temple dedicated to the goddess Kali - Kalighat. This place has a rather gloomy atmosphere as animal sacrifice rituals are performed here. Not far from Kalighat is the Kumar Tuli sculptor district, where statues of numerous Hindu gods are displayed right on the street.

The poet Rabindranath Tagore and the philosopher Sri Aurobindo were born in Calcutta. Mother Teresa spent most of her life here, and the famous guru Ramakrishna preached here as well. In addition, the mystical Baul ballads were created in Calcutta, which are now recognized by UNESCO as masterpieces of intangible cultural heritage. The city is also the birthplace of Indian parallel cinema and the socio-cultural movement known as the Bengal Renaissance. Although Calcutta is known as the cultural center of India, it remains the only city in the country where the official mode of transport is rickshaws - carts into which people are “harnessed” and carry passengers and cargo.

Jaipur

Known as the 'Pink City', Jaipur gets its name from the numerous buildings constructed from pink stone. One of the most famous attractions is Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of the Winds, which amazes with its unique beauty. Next to it is the Jantar Mantar observatory, created in the 18th century. On its territory there is the world's largest sundial.

Jaipur is famous for its majestic palaces and forts. The city's most famous fort is located in Amber, the northern suburb of Jaipur. This is the fort that served as the residence of Raja Man Singh, and it amazes with its splendor and oriental luxury. Inside the fort, you should definitely visit the Hall of a Thousand Mirrors, which can be illuminated with just one candle.

Agra

The Taj Mahal, one of India's most famous and recognizable monuments, is located in the city of Agra, about 200 km south of the capital. This mausoleum-mosque was built in the mid-17th century on the instructions of the padishah Shah Jahan in honor of his wife, who died at the birth of their fourteenth child. For twenty years, twenty thousand craftsmen worked to create this architectural masterpiece. Shah Jahan was later buried next to her. Next the main mausoleum are the graves of two more of his beloved wives.

Agra is not only famous for the Taj Mahal - it is also home to the Red Fort, which served as the main residence of the Mughal Empire. The fort contains many palaces, as well as the famous Pearl Mosque, which was also built by Shah Jahan. Like the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Udaipur

The reflections of the temples, palaces and ordinary houses of this amazing city in the waters of Lake Pichola create a unique atmosphere reminiscent of a fairy tale. Udaipur is famous for its wonderful sights, among which stand out the huge City Palace with a facade as much as 240 meters long, the majestic white Lake Palace of Jag Niwas, which now houses the five-star Taj Lake Palace hotel (many wealthy tourists stay here, as the hotel is surrounded by water on all sides), as well as the Jag Mandir Palace, located on the island and used by the royal family as a summer residence.

D. R. Kipling, an English writer and journalist born in Mumbai, claimed that the panther Bagheera in his works was born in the Raja's Zoo in Udaipur. In the City Palace you can see a cage where such animals were once kept.

Varanasi

Varanasi, first of all, is a sacred city for all Hindus, located along the famous Ganges River. The city extends for several kilometers along this river. Ghats, or wide steps, lead to the water, along which devotees descend to perform ritual baths in the Ganges. The spectacle is quite picturesque, since people come here in their elegant festive clothes. The best way to explore Varanasi is from the river, renting a boat with a rower.

Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi is the most famous ghat. This is the place where cremation ceremonies are held for the dead, after which their ashes are lowered into the waters of the Ganges. For many Europeans this is savagery, but for Hindus, first of all, worshiping the sacred river is commonplace. Next to those who pray and stand in waist-deep water, you can see people washing clothes, bathing, brushing their teeth, or even satisfying their natural needs. In India, all these elements have coexisted together for centuries.

Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, one of the most famous Hindu temples in Varanasi, is dedicated to the deity Shiva. This temple is distinguished by its 15-meter spire covered with a ton of gold, due to which it is often called the Golden Temple. Visiting this temple and taking a sacred bath in the Ganges River is considered one of the ways to achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death in Hinduism. Due to this, every Hindu strives to visit Varanasi at least once in his life.

When you come to India, try to at least temporarily forget about stereotypes and your worldview, since here people live by completely different laws, believe in different things and are guided by different values. Try to dissolve in the local culture and then you are guaranteed to fall in love with this vibrant and unique country. However, you don’t have to completely forget about yourself, so before your trip, be sure to purchase an eSIM for India from fedafone and always stay connected, even in the most remote places!