Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is a fascinating mix of cultures, religions and peoples. In the Old Delhi, built by the great mogul Shah Jahan in the 1600s, rickshaws zoom along narrow alleys where mosques and Hindu temples stand side by side. An intoxicating aroma floats from the Khari Baoli spice market, and the fabric, fruit and flower stands along the streets shine in all colours of the rainbow.

In New Delhi, the dazzling administrative buildings, fountains and boulevards, a legacy of British colonial rule, look as if they are from another world. The Baha'i temple, shaped like an enormous lotus flower, and the temple of the monkey god Hanuman represent religious construction at its best. The three UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Delhi are also a must see: the tomb of Humayun, the Qutub Minar minaret and the Mogul Fortress. Cosmopolitan Delhi is India's most versatile city for dining and shopping.