Delhi

Mix unbridled cultural energy with one part curious religious diversity, add two parts rich history and finish with a dash of seething modern metropolis: Viola, New Delhi. India’s capital is a bubbling hotpot of people and action like no other on earth and a veritable ‘must see’ for any visitor or backpacker making their way through the sub-continent. Perhaps the best-known site is the sprawling citadel complex of the Red Fort, a dominating structure of regal gardens and Mughal architecture. Other UNESCO sites abound, and culture-hungry visitors should not miss the Qutub complex, or the magnificent Tomb of Humayun to the south of the city centre. In a city abounding with religious structures, your Delhi tour guide will recommend a visit to the Birla Temple and Bahai Temple of Worship, their pearly white brilliance endorsing their stature as oases of serenity. Away from the temples and tombs though, the more modern districts of New Delhi form the cosmopolitan heart of the metropolis. They ooze with cultural influences from right across the region, a place where dialects, cuisines, quirky character and religious rituals intermingle in grand and alluring fashion. Malls, brimming with international brands to appease the increasing tribe of affluent Delhiites, offer further insight into their gastronomic leanings. Traditional and international cuisines shoulder each other in food courts as well as high-end restaurants catering to the diaspora of Indians who call this city home.