Home to one of the Seven Wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal, Agra is a must place to visit. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire.

The city of Allahabad is 135km west of Varanasi at the confluence of two of India's most important rivers - the Ganges and the Yamuna (Jumna). The mythical Saraswati River, the River of Enlightenment, is also believed to join them here. The confluence, known as the Sangam, is considered to have great soul-cleansing powers and all pious Hindus hope to bathe here at least once in their lifetime. Hundreds of thousands bathe here every January-February and once every 12 years the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest gathering of pilgrims, draws millions to the confluence for a holy dip.

Allahabad has a fort built by Akbar, which overlooks the confluence of the rivers, and also the Nehru family home, Anand Bhavan. Not many foreign travellers pause in this friendly city, but it's an interesting, relaxing and worthwhile stop, especially is you're partial to Indian-style espressos and sidewalk cafes.

Lucknow became the capital of Awadh some time in 1775 to 1797. The Nawabs ruling then onwards were great patrons of the arts especially dance and music. Lucknow's reputation as a city of culture and gracious living stems to this time. Tourist information is avalavili at the Hotel Gomti from U.P. Tours phone 211463.

Corbett Park is named after Jim Corbett, the famous naturalist and the legendary hunter of the man-eaters of Kumoun. Corbett established in 1936 AD and known as the Hailey National Park. Over 500 species of birdlife can be found in Corbett.

Amongst the many Pilgrimage spots that are situated along the length of the holy Ganga, Haridwar perhaps is the holiest in the land. Literally translated Haridwar means the 'Gateway to the abode of Gods'. It is here that the Kumbh Mela is held every 12^th year and Ardh Kumbh after six years. You can visit Chandi devi temple, located on top of Neel Parvat, from were you can get a panoramic view of Haridwar. There are many more temples and Ashrams that you can visit here.

Braj Bhoomi, the land which gave birth to Lord Krishna. You must visit the twin city of Vrindavan. You may also visit Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi, Dwarkadheesh temple, Ghats, Jama Masjid, Kans Qila, Government Museum, Krishna Balram temple, Govind dev, and many more temples.

The Buddha came to this hamlet, 10km noth-east of Varanasi, to preach his message of the 'middle way' to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Later, the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here.

Sarnath was at its peak when the indefatigable Chinese traveller Faxien visited the site early in the 5th century AD. When Hiuen Tsanga, another Chinese traveler, dropped by in 640 AD, Sarnath had 1500 priests, a stupa nearly 100m high, Ashoka's mighty stone pillar and many other wonders. The city was known as the Deer Park, after the Buddha's famous first sermon, The Sermon in the Deer Park.

Soon after, Buddhism went into decline and when Muslim invaders destroyed and desecrated at the city's buildings, Sarnath became little more than a shell. It was not until 1836 when British archaeologists started excavations that Sarnath regained some of its past glory. It's now a major Buddhist centre.

Most of Sarnath's monuments are set in landscaped gardens, making it a pleasant place to spend half a day. During the Buddha Purnima Festival in May, Sarnath celebrates the birth of the Buddha with a big fair and a procession. Although you may be able to arrange to stay in some of Sarnath's monasteries, you'd be better off going to Bodhgaya or Dharamsala if you're interested in studying Buddhism.

Nainital the queen of the hills, placed around a picturesque lake, Nayana Tal, at a height of 1940 meter above sea level, is one of the most sought after hill resorts in India. Some interesting places to see are Snow view, Naina peak, Dorathy's seat, Land's end, Hanuman garhi, State observatory & the Mall.

Shiva, Lord of the Universe, founded Varanasi, known to the devout as Kashi. It is one of the oldest living cities in the world.

In spite of its claim to being the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh is a quainter and more easy-going place than Haridwar. Surrounded by hills on three sides, it lies at 356m. The holy Ganges (almost clear here) flows through the town and, as in Haridwar, there are many ashrams along its sandy banks. This is an excellent place to stay and study yoga, meditation and other aspects of Hinduism.

Back in the 60s Rishikesh gained instant fame as the place where the Beatles came to be with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Rishikesh is also the starting point for trips to Himalayan pilgrimage centers like Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri.

North of Nainital and at an altitude of 1829m, this peaceful hill station offers excellent views of the snowcapped Himalaya including Nanda Devi (7817m). It's an important army town and the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment. There are a couple of churches that have been converted into tweed and shawl mills with hand-operated looms.

Still in its infancy as tourist destination, Ranikhet is a delightful place to spend time. There are several good walks - to Jhula Devi Temple (one km south of West View Hotel) and the orchards at Chaubatia (three km further on), and there's even a golf course with a 300km panoramic view of the Himalayas!

Badrinath is considered the holiest of the four main shrines of Uttarakhand. Places to visit are Badrinath temple, Tapt kund and Surya Kund. Neelkanth a majestic peak of the Himalayas, towering to 6600 meters, presents the most dramatic sight of Badrinath.

Ayodhya, six km from Faizabad, is one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. It's a major pilgrimage centre since it is not only the birthplace of Rama, it's also connected with many events in the Ramayana.

The Atharaveda described Ayodhya as 'a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself' although today it's just a small, dusty town with an amazing abundance of temples and monkeys.

One of the prime hill resorts of the country, located at an altitude of 2000 meter above sea level, Mussourie, is sprawled over a horse-shoe shaped ridge. Famous for its scenic beauty, it offers some breathtaking views of the snowballed Himalayan peaks of western Garhwal, as well as of the Dehradun valley below. Places you can visit are Bhadraj temple, Children's Lodge, Gun Hill, Mussourie Lake, Nag Devta temple, George Everest House.