La India: tradiciones, cultura y naturaleza

About the destination: Located on the banks of river Yamuna and in the northern part of the country, Delhi is India's capital city and the home of the Government. Delhi is a huge chaotic city, full of contrasts. While Delhi is in many ways the essence of modern India, because of its long history, it has many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and important remains and it is considered one of the oldest existing city in the world. Delhi is divided between the narrow, overcrowded alleys of Old Delhi, including its main street Chandni Chowk, where not much has changed in recent times, and the wide, clean tree-lined streets of New Delhi. The government and its offices reside in New Delhi, the official capital, while most of its historic neighborhoods and monuments lie in Old Delhi. Delhi inherited an astonishing number of splendid monuments from various architectural periods and it is just a joy to wander around this fascinating metropolis. Nonetheless, the main touristic sights not to be missed are the Red Fort, the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub complex, the National Museum, the largest mosque in India Jama Masjid, the India Gate, Gandhi Smriti, Lodi Gardens and the Lotus Temple. Mysterious and magical, Delhi is today a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis with trendy lounge bars, theme restaurants, nice shops and everything there is to expect of a modern capital city. Delhi is a city of the present and future, but it is deeply steeped in history and has a lot to show for it.

About the destination: Jaipur, also known as 'the Pink City,' is the capital of Rajasthan in India. Jaipur is often called the Pink City in reference to its distinctly coloured buildings, which were originally painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The present earthy red color originates from repainting of the buildings undertaken for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876. Jaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travelers. It belongs to the tourist Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. It hosts several attractions like the City Palace, Govind Dev ji Temple, Vidhan Sabha, Birla Temple, several massive Rajpur forts and so on. It also serves as a stepping stone for travelers heading to the desert cities of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

About the destination: Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is called the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the Thar Desert. It is also called the Sun City as the sun shines almost every day of the year. Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City, an apt name as most houses in the old city are shades of blue. This is particularly noticeable on the north side of the town, known as Brahmpuri. The Mehrangarh Fort dominates the city and is the largest fort in all Rajasthan. The name "Fort" belies the size of the complex, which houses the Maharaja's palace, several temples and, tucked away in the back, an extensive garden still farmed to this day. Highlights within the palace include the Pearl Hall or Moti Mahal, the Mirror Hall or Sheesh Mahal, the Flower Hall or Phool Mahal, the inner sanctum of the palace, Zenana Deodi and the Chamunda Mataji Temple. The forts and palaces, temples and havelis, culture and tradition, spices and fabrics, color and texture, a booming handicrafts industry, all add up to make this historic city worth a visit.