India's Popular Four Great Cities
These megacities are among the icons of India; home to a rich heritage and culture and vast in both scale and ambition. The four cities highlighted here are Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, and there’s a good chance one of these will also be your point of entry into India.
Delhi is the nation’s capital, and while Old and New Delhi are the most commonly used alternate titles for parts of the metropolis, many histories tell of seven different stages in the history of Delhi. Mumbai is the Financial capital of India, as well as home to the world’s most prolific cinema industries, the ubiquitous Bollywood. A one-time capital of India, renowned for grand colonial architecture, cultural festivals and art galleries, Kolkata is home to artists, writers, thinkers and has a great revolutionary heritage. Bangalore, proudly known as the Silicon Valley of South India, and also acclaimed as the Garden City, is mostly regarded these days as the country’s premiere IT hub“The Capital City” Delhi - India
“The Capital City” Delhi - India
Experience the culture of Old Delhi and the progressive vibes of New Delhi
The old city is settled within the remnants of a sturdy defensive wall and spread out towards the west of the famous Red Fort which was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648.Delhi is steeped in a history which dates back 3000 years. Old Delhi has some dramatic remnants of the Mughal Empire.
The Red Fort, the Jama Masjid [largest mosque in India] and the Rajghat are the major attractions. The planning of New Delhi started in 1911 and the new city was inaugurated 20 years later.
Throughout New Delhi there are shopping areas and restaurants plus modern temples including the Lotus Temple in South Delhi.
“The Vibrant City” Bangalore - India
Experience the pulsating streets of India’s IT hub Bangalore
Situated up on the Deccan plateau , Bangalore enjoys a slightly cooler climate and is known for its gardens and green urban spaces. While not noted for sights of traditional value, there is striking architecture to be found in the local parliament buildings and Tippu Sultan’s palace. A short stop in Bangalore is sufficient to get a feeling for the various activities that keep this city busy around the clock.
“The Vintage City” Kolkata - India
A medley of art, culture and architecture
Any city which is inexorably linked with a ‘Black Hole’ bearing the same name could be said to have an image problem. The city formerly known as Calcutta has begun to transcend this image in recent years however, and overseas visitors are now starting to recognise that it is an energetic and cosmopolitan city well deserving its title as the Cultural Capital of India.
Indeed, Calcutta was the original capital city of modern India until the British moved their base of government to Delhi in 1911. Now home to a population in excess of 15 million people, Kolkata has many monuments to its rich colonial past including the impressive Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens near the Maidan Fort and Birla Planetarium, all of which can be seen in a day’s sightseeing of the city.
Lively Mumbai - India
“The city of Bollywood”
Formerly Bombay, Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra , is the fastest moving, most affluent and industrialised city in India. It is the centre of Bollywood, India’s progressive film Industry. The city has a natural harbour, which was developed by the British and is one of the busiest ports of India. It is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures, a fascinating city, throbbing with life, and for many, the gateway to India.
On a hot, humid day, a great option is to visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum), with architecture modelled on the Indo-Saracenic style, and with sections for art and paintings, archaeology, and natural history. Other major attractions include the Gateway of India, the principal landmark of Mumbai, the Victoria terminus railway station, the Kamala Nehru Park and the Elephanta Island, famous for its great 6th century cave shrine.
