Subhasis Banerjee

HYDERABAD An acute shortage of water at the Golkonda Fort in the late 16 th century compelled Mohammad Quli of the Qutub Sahi dynasty to establish a new city on the banks of the River Musi. Thus, Hyderabad was born. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered Hyderabad in 1687 AD and appointed administrative viceroys. However, in 1724 AD, Asaf Jaah, the then viceroy, took advantage of the waning Mughal power and declared it an independent state. Hence, began the rule of the Nizams of Hyderabad, who took the art and culture of the place to magnificent heights. Hyderabad abounds in rare gems and minerals and is nicknamed the ‘City of Pearls’. Capital of the state of the present state of Andhra Pradesh, it is also known as the ‘City of Minars’. Major attractions of the place include Charminar Tower, Tombs of Qutub Sahi kings, Salar Jung Museum, Laad Bazar, Mecca Masjid, Golkonda Fort, Hussain Sagar and the sister city of Secenderabad. Charminar Tower is the landmark of Hyderabad, which consis...

KOCHI The port city of Kochi reflects the true spirit of Kerala with its cluster of islands and peninsulas, treasures of historic foreign association and a resultant multicultural influence of the Jews, Portuguese, Chinese and British. The St. Francis Church of the city is probably the oldest European church of the country. During the days of Kublai Khan, Kochi had trade connections with China and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets used even today by the local fishermen testify their cultural influence. The resident Jewish community of Kochi dates back to almost 2000 years. Old Portuguese churches, Santa Cruz Basilica, Matthanchery Palace, Vypeen and Gundu Islands and Eddapalli form the other attractions of Kochi. Vypeen and Gundu islands can be accessed by ferry. The Cherai beach on the Vypeen Island is extremely calm. The Matthanchery Palace was built by the Portuguese and was gifted to the then ruler of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma. Accessibility : Kochi is very well connect...

LUCKNOW Established by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah on the banks of River Gomati, this ancient capital of Awadh which is also the present capital of Uttar Pradesh was famous for its Urdu poetry, courtly diction, Indo-Islamic etiquette and highly chromatic music. This cultural extravaganza reached its zenith during the reign of Nawab Wazid Ali Shah, the most indolent and extravagant Nawab, who was a great connoisseur of aesthetics. Today, the city is dotted with the reminiscent of its historic past which includes Chota Imambara, Bara Imambara, Shah Najaf Imambara, the Residency, Kaiserbagh Palace and the National Botanical Research Institute. Interesting excursions from this regal city include Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary and Kukrail Reserve Forest . The Chota and Shah Najaf Imambaras, which houses the royal tombs, are richly decorated and neatly gardened. The Bara Imamabara, however, is a paean of architectural mastery of the period. The central hall of this building is probably the largest...

AGRA Agra is known to the world as the home of the Taj Mahal. Considered as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, the architectural splendour of the Taj Mahal is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire of which Agra was the capital in the 16 th and the early 17 th centuries. This magnificent marble mausoleum, an ode to the memory of the beautiful queen of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Mumtaj Mahal, has secured a captivating grasp on the international tourist map. Tourists gather here in flocks around the year to experience the sheer spirit of love that went into the creation of this incredible memorial. Apart from the Taj, Agra also boasts of a number of historic monuments which includes the Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Chinni-ka-Roza, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, Radhaswamy Samadhi and Rambagh, each of which are embellished with bewilderingly intricate inlay works on marble. The magnificent structure that stands second in importance in this historic city is the ...