Even when the world has started writing their own history, the country surrounded by three water bodies, continued writing her ornamental historic episodes with arts and architectures. Modern great cities of India can even be compared to that with the top cities of the world, but the cities that have their origin encrypted since the ancient times are simply unparalleled.
Here is the short brief about such great cities, which evolved at a different timeframe of Indian history and are still resplendent with their awesome attributes.
1. Agra
Not very far from Mathura this city is, but she remained unexplored till the Mughals empowered the city with Agra Fort and the immensely splendid Taj Mahal. The astounding monument although is the diamond ring to the city, but other jewels are not less here. The best fact is that, very close to this city that is penetrated by Yamuna River, there lies Fatehpur Sikri, another great work of Mughals.
Mixing it all, Agra is something, missing which you will miss everything about Modern India.
2. Kolkata
There are some of the symbolic features in Kolkata regarding the late 19th-century revolution across India, where Bengal led the nation with her ornaments in the movements related to literature, religion, science and of course humanity.
Founded in 1898, did you know the Calcutta Football League is the oldest football tournament in the country, and the second oldest in the world?
In terms of seating, Salt Lake Stadium is the second largest football stadium in the world with a staggering capacity of 120,000.
Academy of Fine Arts is a cultural spot in the heart of the city, where various types of cultural and artists portray their work with flair. A must-visit for all the art lovers. Academy of Fine Arts screens cinema, displays dramas, local and international painters, poets and more. A show not to miss as it is one of the unique places to visit in Kolkata.
Kolkata is a shopping hub. With various industries having its feet planted on the streets and various markets, the options are limitless. New Market is a bazaar which is equivalent to Crawford Market in Mumbai and Karol Bagh in Delhi. Every bit of all the tiny products produced in the world is available in these markets. The quality of the product depends on the shop and the goodwill the name has in the market.
Being a local market and not an industry, this market favours the businessman’s name or surname over the business name. Gariahat is another delight to shop at with clothes available for as cheap as a hundred bucks.
The Kolkata Metro is India’s first underground Metro railway. Kolkata Metro is an excellent ride to save your time, to avoid traffic jams and it's a comfortable and safe journey also.
Kolkata is the only city in the country which has a tram service. The tram services give an air of nostalgia. If you have time and want to feel the original essence of Calcutta, then tram ride is a must. However, the speed is slow compared to other forms of transportation in the city. Board a Tram, and enjoy the quintessentially old-school ride- dripping with the medieval charm of Kolkata.
Kolkata still runs on hand-driven rickshaw where a muscular man, pulls the rickshaw with maximum 2 passengers. The rickshaw is useful only for short distances. This experience can be tried when in Kolkata.
Kolkata is a book lover’s paradise. In fact, College Street is widely referred to as the second largest second-hand book market in the world where, if you search properly, you’ll be able to find the first edition of even the rarest of the rare books! Regarding College Street, there’s a saying that if you didn’t find a book in College Street, that book probably never existed!
It is the place to find any book in this world, with hundreds of book shops. The lane is heaven for book lovers and readers and is one of the best places to visit in Kolkata for youngsters. The dealers don't just sell new books, but also purchase old ones and resell them, making each and every piece of paper a treasure.
The best time to visit Kolkata is during the festive season. Kolkata is considered as the cultural capital of the country, where major festivals are celebrated with intense devotion and heartfulness. Major festivals celebrated are Durga Puja and Christmas in Kolkata. Durga Puja in Kolkata is the most vividly celebrated festival in Kolkata, the streets are filled with people, lights are always shining bright and the eateries are open throughout the night.
The countdown begins 100 days prior to the festival and Pujo Shopping is a must for locals. Kumartuli is the abode of clay effigees. It is the traditional potter's quarter in North Kolkata, renowned for their sculpting skills. This place thus can be termed as the earthly abode of earthy lords. The essence and feel of this place is blissfully cherubic. If you have time, explore the untidy alleys of Kumartuli - an experience you can not have in any other city.
Mahasashti, Mahasaptami, Mahaasthami and Mahanavmi are most awaited days for people. The best thing to do during Durga Puja is to go pandal hopping to experience various themes and fascinating decors.
Also Saraswati Puja is a Bengali Valentines Day. One can see the community members dressed in traditional dresses.
Among the best places to visit in kolkata during Christmas, midnight mass at the St. Peter's Church is a must-go. A week-long carnival is set up on the roadside at Par Street.
One of the most unusual places on the list, yet the perfect location to sip on a cup of tea. This tea-spot is located inside a crossword on Park Street. The electric feeling of sipping on different flavours of tea while sitting in the middle of a room full of books is the happiest place in the world.
After the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair, Kolkata Book fair is recognized as the world’s largest conglomeration of books! Besides, it’s one of a kind and Asia’s largest book fair—it is also the most-attended book fair in the world! It is also the world's largest non trade Book fair! It's usually around the month of January and goes on for a week to 10 days!
Take a ride from Victoria Memorial towards Vidyasagar Setu. Get astonished by this architectural marvel- while you drive over the river.
3. Patiala
Patiala is known as the city of forts and gardens. With its intricate and beautiful works of art, the bright colors of the gardens and the beauty of its temples and the royal residence of Qila Mubarak make the city of Punjab very interesting to visit. Qila Mubarak, located in the heart of the city, was the resident of the Patiala royal family before the former Moti Bagh palace.
Baradari gardens are an unmissable attraction for its colorful range of flowers and the royal house, the cricket stadium and an ice rink. Sheesh Mahal is a work of art, famous for its mirror works and the nearby lake enhances its beauty. The Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib and the Gurdwara Moti Bagh Sahib are important religious destinations dedicated to the Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur.
Lachman Jhoola connects the Sheesh Mahal with the Banasar Ghar and is a beautiful suspension bridge built on a small artificial lake. It is a replica of the famous Lakshman Jhoola in Rishikesh. The tree-lined parks in front of the villa feature exquisite marble statues, including a 1903 sculpture of Queen Victoria.
4. Chandigarh
Chandigarh is an exception in India. It may seem like a small and visionary Brasilia, with its modern architecture of the 1950s. The city is divided into identical sectors, crossed by large avenues. In the north, the sector 1 concentrates the Capitol and all its official and administrative buildings. It is worth going up to the terrace of the Secretariat, the headquarters of the governments of the two states, to admire the fantastic views.
On the one hand, the modern city to the south has the first foothills of the Himalayas. Take a tour of the administrative district and visit its large 220-hectare artificial Sukhna Lake, very close to the High Court. In the sector 10, discover 5,000 years of history of North India in the Museum of Evolution of Life.
Let yourself be drunk by the immense Rose Garden, in the sector 16, where more than a thousand varieties are cultivated (ideal between December and February). To do some shopping, nothing better than the spacious commercial center of the sector 17, in front of the bus station.
Mind it that the above mentioned top cities of India are only the top most – there are lots more to be explored about India, exploring which can cost a full life.