From the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the sun-drenched coastal villages of the south, India unfolds like an ancient tapestry. At times threadbare and fading, the land stretches from desert dunes and scattered slums to the rich embroidery of ancient, jewelled palaces, and the majestic domes of forgotten empires.

Since the first civilisations rose on the banks of the Indus River almost 5,000 years ago, India has given birth to Buddhism and Hinduism, been touched by the Empire of Alexander the Great, seen the ancient empires of the Mauryas and Guptas rise and fall, and has traded with Pharaohs and Caesars.

An invasion by the Huns scattered its people until the sweeping hand of Islam saw new kingdoms rise, heralding the era of the Sultans. Defeat came again as the Mogul Emperors marched over the mountains and into the Punjab. The decline of the Mogul Empire gave way to the Marathas, who consolidated control of India just in time for the arrival of the British. The sun finally set on the British Empire as India reclaimed independence in 1947, heralding a new age of democracy.

India is a feast for the senses; where the air is heavy with the scent of jasmine and dancers trail frenetic melodies in colourful silk saris. Its cooks compose dishes from a palette of exotic spices that may leave a lingering taste of saffron or aniseed. In India's cities, the hardship of slum-living competes with the cacophony of seemingly endless traffic and a myriad of other textures, colours and movements all jostling for your attention.

Red Fort

Address: On Netaji Subhash Marg, near Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Entrance from Lahore Gate or Chatta Chowk Delhi

Admission: Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 4pm

Jama Masjid

Address: Matya Mahal, Bho Jala – a short walk west of the Red Fort Delhi

Admission: Entry is free, but tourists must pay Rs. 100 if carrying a camera Open daily from dawn to dusk; closed during prayer times

Qutub Minar

Address: Qutab Minar Complex, Mehrauli, 16 km from Connaught Place Delhi

Admission: Rs. 250 Open daily, from dawn to dusk

Humayun's Tomb

Address: Lodhi Road and Mathura Road Delhi

Admission: Rs. 250 Daily, from dawn to dusk

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Address: Presidential Estate, North Avenue (formally Prakash Vir Shashtri Avenue), Rajpath Delhi

Admission: Free The gardens are open daily from 9am to 2.30pm, in February and March only

Chandni Chowk

Address: Delhi

Admission: Most shops are open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday

Taj Mahal

Address: Agra

Admission: Rs. 250 entry fee, plus Rs. 500 levy (also valid at various tourist sites around Agra, for one day). Moonlight viewing is Rs. 750. Open daily, from sunrise to sunset. Closed on Fridays. Moonlight viewing: 8:30pm to 12:30am, two days before and after the full moon.

Agra Fort

Address: Agra, Uttar Pradesh Agra

Admission: Weekdays, sunrise to sunset

Amber Palace

Address: Jaipur

Admission: Rs. 50 (extra Rs. 25 to take a camera) Daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm (Closed during the Holi Festival)

Jaipur City Palace

Address: Chokri Shahad, Old City Jaipur

Admission: Rs. 180 Daily, from 9.30am to 5pm

Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)

Address: Sireh Deori Bazaar Jaipur

Admission: Rs. 30 Open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm (closed on Fridays)

Udaipur Lake Palace

Address: Udaipur

Admission: Open daily, from 9.30am to 4.30am

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

Address: Ranakpur, Pali district Udaipur

Admission: Open daily, from 12pm to 5pm

The Ghats

Address: Varanasi

Fort Area

Address: South Mumbai Mumbai

Colaba

Address: Mumbai

Marine Drive

Address: Mumbai

Crawford Market

Address: Junction of Dadabhoy Naoroji Road and Carnac Road Mumbai

Anjuna Flea Market

Address: Anjuna, beach town in north Goa Goa

Admission: Every Wednesday, from 9am till dusk

Panaji

Address: Goa

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Address: Kerala

Old Goa

Address: Goa

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Kumily, Kerala Kerala

Admission: Open daily, from 6am to 6pm

The Backwaters of Kerala

Address: Kerala

Fatehpur Sikri

Address: Agra

Haji Ali Dargah

Address: Off the coast of Worli, near Mahalaxmi railway station Mumbai

Nehru Centre

Address: Dr Annie Besant Rd., Worli. Closest Railway Stations: Mumbai Central, Mahalakshmi, Dadar and Byculla. Mumbai

Admission: Planetarium: Rs 50 (adult) and Rs 25 (children) English shows daily at 3pm. Closed on Mondays

Prince of Wales Museum

Address: 159/161 Mahatma Gandhi Rd Mumbai

Admission: Rs 300 (includes complimenary audio guide) Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.15am to 6pm

Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum

Address: 19 Laburnam Rd Mumbai

Admission: Rs 10 Open daily, from 9.30am to 6pm

Dhobi Ghat

Address: Prakash Pathe Marg Mumbai

Elephanta Caves

Address: Elephanta Island Mumbai

Admission: Admission to caves: Rs 250; Ferry ticket: Rs 120 Boats depart from the Gateway of India every 30 minutes on Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 2.30pm

Titwala

Address: About 46 miles (75km) outside of Mumbai Mumbai

Great Banyan Tree

Address: Andul Rd and Kurz Ave, 5 miles (8 kms) from the CBD Kolkata

Victoria Memorial

Address: Queen's Way, Central Kolkata Kolkata

Admission: Monument: Rs. 150; Sound-and-Light show: Rs. 20 Open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 4:30pm. Sound-and-Light show: 7:15pm (October to February), and 7:45pm (March to June). Closed on Sundays, Mondays and national holidays.

Indian Museum

Address: Kolkata

Admission: Rs. 150 Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm (March to November), and 10am to 4.30pm (December to February). Closed on Mondays and national holidays

Mother House

Address: 54a AJC Bose Rd, Chowringhee Kolkata

Admission: Open daily from 8am to 12pm; and 3pm to 6pm. Closed on Thursdays

Kalighat Temple

Address: Just off Ashutosh Mukherjee Rd, South Kolkata Kolkata

Admission: Open daily, from 5am to 2pm; and 5pm to 10.30pm

Marble Palace

Address: 46 Muktaram Basu Street (off Chittaranjan Avenue) Kolkata

Admission: Free, but visitors must obtain a prior permit from the West Bengal Tourism Information Bureau. These offices are located at 3/2 Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh (East), Kolkata. Open from 10am to 4pm (daily except Mondays and Thursdays)

Telephone: +91 (0)33 2282 5813 (tourist office)

Shopping For Kids

Address: Panaji Goa

Child-Friendly Beaches

Address: Goa

Bondla Forest

Address: Usgao Tisk village in North Goa Goa

Beaches

Address: Goa

Dudhsagar Waterfall

Address: 60km from Margao, 10km from Kulem Railway Station Goa

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Address: Chorao Island, on the Mandovi River Goa

Bugle Hill

Address: Bangalore

Cubbon Park

Address: Bangalore

Lal Bagh

Address: Mari Gowda Rd, Shanti Nagar, 2.5 miles (4km) south of the city centre, Bangalore

Admission: Rs 10 charged between 9am and 6pm Open daily, from 6am to 7pm

Vidhana Soudha

Address: Bangalore

Galta Monkey Temple (Galtaji)

Address: Outside Gulta Pol, close to Agra Road. Follow the steps from the Sun Temple down the hill to find Galtaji Jaipur

Admission: Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Golden Temple of Amritsar

Address: Amritsar

Admission: Free Open daily, from 6am to 2am

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train)

Address: Darjeeling

Bundi

Address: Pushkar

Puducherry (Pondicherry)

Address: Chennai

Hampi

Address: Bangalore

Leh

Address: Ladakh

Varkala

Address: Kerala

Camel trekking

Joss

Address: 30 K Dubash Marg, Kalaghoda Mumbai

Food Type: Asian

Rajdhani

Address: Crawford Market Mumbai

Food Type: Indian

Jimmy Boy Restaurant

Address: 11 Bank Street, Vikas Building, Fort Mumbai

Food Type: Parsi/Iranian

Samovar

Address: Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, Fort Area Mumbai

Food Type: Indian

Trishna

Address: Birla Mansion, Sai Baba Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort Area Mumbai

Food Type: Seafood

Chor Bizarre

Address: Hotel Broadway, 4/15 A Asaf Ali Rd, Central New Delhi Delhi

Food Type: North Indian

Karim Hotel Restaurant

Address: 16 Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid Delhi

Food Type: Mughlai

Park Balluchi

Address: Deer Park, Hauz Khas Village Delhi

Food Type: Mughlai

Punjabi by Nature

Address: Priya Complex, Vasant Vihar Delhi

Food Type: Punjabi

Shalom

Address: N-18, N Block Market, Greater Kailash Delhi

Food Type: International

Samarkand

Address: Gem Plaza, Infantry Road Bangalore

Food Type: Afghani

Karavalli

Address: Taj Gateway Hotel, 166 Residency Road Bangalore

Food Type: Seafood

Blue Ginger

Address: Taj West End Bangalore

Food Type: Asian

Graze

Address: The Taj Hotel Bangalore

Sunny's Restaurant

Address: Vittal Malya Road Bangalore

Food Type: Italian

Bukhara

Address: Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakyapuri Delhi

Food Type: Indian