India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) - Keith Bain [29]
GOA Nirvana for flower children since the late 1960s, Goa still attracts a cosmopolitan mix of youngsters who cruise from beach to beach, looking for action. But Goa is more than a party in paradise. A Portuguese colonial heritage has left an indelible mark on this tiny enclave (India’s smallest state), from cuisine to architecture, with plenty to see. And if the crowded beaches and vibrant markets leave you gasping for solitude, you can still find the original Goan paradise on far-flung beaches or in quiet boutique hotels, reviewed in detail in this book.
KARNATAKA & KERALA Traveling south along India’s west coast, you will pass through untouched Karnataka; it’s possible you’ll overnight in the hip city of Bangalore. From there you can head to Hyderabad, the 400-year-old capital of Andhra Pradesh, as famous for its food and minarets as for its burgeoning software industry; or south to Mysore, “City of Incense”; or to the coast, where you can indulge in yoga and Ayurvedic rejuvenation at Om Beach. Whatever you do, set aside time to explore the lost city of Hampi, arguably Karnataka’s most evocative attraction, or to join the Jain pilgrimage to anoint the giant feet of Lord Gomateswara, said to be the largest monolith in the world. There’s more besides, but who can tarry long when Kerala, “God’s own country,” awaits? South India’s top destination, particularly for the well-heeled traveler in search of pampering and relaxation, Kerala offers ancient backwaters plied by houseboats, herds of wild elephant, coconut-lined beaches, and, of course, the ancient healing art of Ayurveda.
TAMIL NADU Occupying a long stretch of the eastern Indian Ocean coastline, India’s southernmost state seems little touched by the foreign influences that contributed to the cultural developments in the north. This is where you’ll find India’s most superb Dravidian temples, from Mamallapuram (7th c. A.D.) to the Madurai temple complex (16th c. A.D.). When you’re all templed out, there’s always Pondicherry, the former French coastal town where traditional Indian snack joints feature signs proclaiming MEALS READY—BIEN VENUE and loincloth-clad locals converse in flawless French.
DELHI, MADHYA PRADESH & UTTAR PRADESH Entered through Delhi, capital of the largest democracy in the world, the central states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are the real heart of India, where great rulers battled for power over vast swaths of India, and where you’ll find arguably the densest concentration of top attractions on the subcontinent. From the “seven cities” of Delhi, it’s a short train or road journey to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal and other superb examples of medieval Mughal architecture. From there you can either head west to Rajasthan, or east—via the erotic temples of Khajuraho, considered the pinnacle of Hindu medieval architecture—to the ancient city of Varanasi, India’s holiest pilgrimage site, where the faithful come to die on the banks of the sacred Ganges to achieve moksha—liberation from earthly life. To escape the well-beaten tourist track, head south to the vast plains of Madhya Pradesh, to Bandhavgarh National Park, one of the best places to see tigers in Asia.
RAJASTHAN & GUJARAT With crenelated forts and impregnable palaces that rise like giant fairy-tale sets above dusty sun-scorched plains and shimmering lakes, Rajasthan—literally