Things to Do in India

In 1759, when repeated bouts of malaria, cholera and finally Bubonic plague overwhelmed the magnificent city of Old Goa, the colonial capital was relocated to Panaji (Panjim). Today, the narrow, winding cobblestone streets, whitewashed churches, Mediterranean-style buildings in every shade of pastel, and the easy-going attitude of the residents make Panaji a perfect home base for exploring nearby Old Goa.

Many visitors to Goa miss out on the cultural treasure that is Panaji as its crowded and polluted beaches don't fit the bill of a Goan beach vacation, but skipping the capital city for an extra day or two on the beach is a big mistake.

To really soak up the city, plan to spend a day exploring on foot. Be sure not to miss Fontainhas, an old residential quarter and home to the Chapel of Saint Sebastian. Also check out Sao Tome, Goa's old "Fleet Street" and the location of the General Post Office, housed within an old tobacco trading house.

The Vidhana Soudha houses the legislature of the state of Karnataka and as the biggest legislative building in India. The locals are particularly proud of this important city landmark. This imposing building is made of granite in a neo-Dravidian style with a few Indo-Saracenic architectural elements thrown in, like its golden dome. Surrounded by gardens, it stands on a 60-acre site.

The construction of the Vidhana Soudha started in 1951 and was the ambition of the then Chief Minster Sri Hanumanthaiya who wanted the building to symbolize the people’s legislative sovereignty, like the House of Commons in London or the Capitol in Washington DC. Construction on the building started with the foundation stone being laid by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1951 and was completed four years later.

On Sunday evenings and public holidays the building is lit up between 6pm and 8:30pm. Just south of the Vidhana Soudha is its replica, the Vikasa Soudha. This building was opened in 2005 to house additional legislative and ministerial offices of the Karnataka government.

The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata (Calcutta) is both a symbol of the city and the entire British Raj. The giant, white marble tribute to Queen Victoria was erected over a 20-year period, starting in 1901, as a way for Lord George Curzon, the viceroy of India, to honor the queen following her death.

The architectural marriage between the symmetry and domes that are characteristic of the Italian Renaissance and the minarets and detailing of the Indo-Saracenic movement makes the building appear as a cross between the Capitol and the Taj Mahal. Inside you’ll find a museum which provides visitors a walk through the history of Kolkata and the complex relationship between Britain and India in West Bengal. The 25 galleries display more than 3,500 Raj-related artifacts: Queen Victoria’s desk and piano are among these pieces.

The reasonably well-kept gardens surrounding the monument make for pleasant picnicking, especially on cooler days. Come after dark for a short light and music show in English.

Thousands of historic artifacts covering 5,000 years of both Indian and world history are on display in the spacious galleries of the excellent National Museum. Exhibits include rare relics from the Harappan Civilization, Central Asian antiquities (including silk paintings from the 1st century AD), Indian textiles, tribal masks, sculptures, musical instruments, old coins (Portuguese, Dutch and Danish), miniature paintings and weapons (including a battle-axe from 1739 AD). It is the largest museum in India so give yourself at least a few hours - preferably a half-day - to explore this museum.

As well as the displays over 3 floors, the museum has an active conservation and education program. Since it came into existence in 1983 the National Museum Institute of Art, Conservation and Museology has become a university and now trains people to preserve the rich heritage of India.

What appears to be a bizarre sculpture garden in the middle of central New Delhi is in fact a rudimentary astronomical observatory dating back to 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur took a great interest in astronomy. He believed that the small observational tools of the time were inaccurate, so he constructed a series of 13 terracotta-colored instruments in a large, open-air observatory, the first of five he'd build during his lifetime.

Jantar Mantar is dominated by a large sundial, called Samrat Jantar, shooting 90 feet (27 meters) into the air. Other instruments in the park were used to predict the monsoons, show the sun's position during the equinox, determine the shortest and longest days of the year and measure the altitude of the stars.