India Travelers Recommend

Tucked away in the lanes of Ulsoor market, this is one of the city’s oldest temples. With the market crowding around the temple, it can be easy to miss – from Bazaar Street, look out for its towering gates and the red-and-white-painted walls of its enclosure. One of Bangalore’s most unique temples, the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple is popularly known as the “cave temple” because its shrine has been built in a natural cave of solid rock. Locally known as “Dodda Basavana Gudi” (Big Bull Temple), this is one of the city’s best-known temples. The ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple is the largest temple in Bangalore and one of the biggest “Hare Krishna” temples in the world. Built in 1997, this imposing structure perched on a hill in the neighborhood of Rajajinagar combines traditional temple architecture with modern elements and boasts a gold-plated temple spire and flag post.

Bangalore is the pleasant and easy-going capital of the South Indian state of Karnataka and is also India’s fastest growing city. A visit to the Bangalore Palace is a good introduction to the former Mysore Kingdom which ruled over a large part of South India. A one-hour audio tour takes the visitor through the grand ballroom and up the ornate staircase for a peek into the palace’s many bedrooms and a glimpse into the lives of the former royal family. Bangalore’s many beautiful parks and streets lined with exotic flowering trees make it one of the greenest cities in India. Located right in the center of town is Cubbon Park, offering 300 acres of flora and fauna. Another favorite with nature lovers is the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, the home to many tropical trees, plants and exotic flowers and several species of birds.

Start your Mumbai Meander on the southern tip of Mumbai, in the former colonial area known as Colaba. There are colonial buildings to admire and plenty of contemporary flair in the upmarket district’s cafes and malls. Browse the local fruit market and electronic gadgets at Colaba Causeway bazaar, then bone up on Indian history at Gandhi’s House, the city refuge where the Mahatma stayed when visiting Bombay in pre-Independence days. Mumbai locals love to shop and eat, and with some of the best markets in the country to browse, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t join in. Whether you’re looking for jewelry, saris, antiques, contemporary fashion or seasonal fruit and veg, you’ll find it at one of Mumbai’s many markets. When you’re feeling hungry after all that hard bargaining, head to Chowpatty Beach at dusk to watch the sunset and snack on Mumbai street food sold by the bagful by beach vendors. For a sit-down feast, order savory pancakes at legendary Swati Snacks.

Despite its rapid growth, Chennai has managed to retain much of its rich cultural and religious heritage. Many of the city’s most important religious sites, both Hindu and Christian, are located in the south, including the San Thome Cathedral and Kapaleshwar Temple. Fort St George, located in northern Chennai, was the birthplace of the British Raj, and the Fort Museum’s collection of memorabilia takes you back in time to colonial Madras. The city of Chennai offers a dizzying example of modern Indian life, but to dig deeper into South Indian culture, spend the day at Dakshinachitra. This heritage village near Chennai is made up of several rural, open-air structures complete with artisans using traditional methods to make everything from ceramics to puppets. The village hosts regular dance and musical performances and operates a restaurant specializing in South Indian cuisine.