The Southern state of Bangalore offers you a peek into its evolution from antiquity through its monuments and vibrant culture. Make the Garden City of Bangalore and the modern IT hub a base to explore cities and towns nearby steeped in rich history and cultural heritage. Bangalore itself has the Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Vidhan Saudha, Bangalore Fort and Mayo Hall.

Mysore boasts of the Mysore Palace, the Rail Museum and not to miss the Brindavan Gardens. Also a short drive is Srirangapatnam, both a Vaishnavite pilgrimage centre and the erstwhile capital of HyderAli andTipu Sultan.Head to the nearby Shravanabelagola to admire the huge Gomateshwara Bahubali statue on the hill belonging to the Digambara Jain tradition.

Drive down to the World Heritage site of Hampi to admire what remains of sheer poetry in stone in the temples and sculptures in the ruins of the once mighty Vijayanagara Empire.

Orissa located on the East coast of India is culturally rich and well-endowed with nature's gifts. The Konark Sun Temple also called the Black Pagoda is a 13th century temple built in the form of a Chariot drawn by horses near the Konark Beach with elaborate and intricately carved sculptures on it. A Word Heritage site, it is also the venue of the Konark Dance Festival held in December every year showcasing various traditional dance forms of India like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak.

The nearby Puri Jagannath temple is a Hindu temple of great religious importance and a popular pilgrimage site for people from all over the country. The highlight of the temple being the Rath Yatra held every year.

Stop by at the small town of Pipli that falls between Bhubaneshwar and Puri to pick up a few pieces of applique art work on cloth made by artisans who are housed in the village. Visit the Buddhist sites of Khandagiri & Udaygiri and Dhauli for Ashokan rock edicts. Revisit the glory of Kalinga in the Museums of Bhubaneshwar.

The progressive and prosperous State of Punjab stands is known for its folk music and dance, its rich cuisine and the distinct blend of rural and urban flavours. The State has a unique religious legacy of Sikhism.

A visit to the city of Amritsar showcases the spirit of Punjabi culture. The Harmandir Sahib more popularly known as the Golden Temple is the sacred place of worship for the Sikhs. It welcomes all visitors with open arms. This marble temple has a dome made of gold. The Jalianwalah Bagh situated close by is a sad reminder of the pains of India's struggle for freedom. The bullet marks, the memorial and the Martyr's well and Gallery tell the sad story of the fateful day in history.

Also from Amritsar one can easily reach the Wagah border between India and Pakistan to witness the Ceremonial display of Beating the Retreat and Change of Guard and the nationalistic fervour attached with it. The spring and autumn landscape of green and yellow mustard fields and the rustic charm is a treat to the eyes.

Madhya Pradesh in Central India is an untapped treasure trove of history and culture. The Khajuraho Temple complex consisting of around 85 temples adorned with intricate and beautiful rock carvings of Gods and Goddesses and depicting the life in the times of the Chandela Kings is more famous for its erotic sculptures. These excavated temples stand testimony to the glorious past of this sleepy town. The annual Khajuraho Dance Festival held in February attracts art lovers from India and abroad.

Close to Khajuraho temple complex are the Raneh falls on Ken river, a treat to the eyes for its natural granite rock formations in different hues and the nearby Panna National Park. Khajuraho is a weekend getaway from Delhi.

Also in Madhya Pradesh not too far away is the historic town of Orchha. Travel back in time to the glorious era of the Bundela Rajput kings. Lose track of time at the exquisite Jahangir Mahal which reflects a harmonious blend of Indo-Persian achitecture, the Cenotaphs, the Raj Mahal and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple.