Top 5 Cities to Visit in India in 2012 - Part 1

This blog is coming out when I have suddenly hit a writer’s block. I have been thinking for a week now and I just couldn’t find a good enough topic to write. Then I suddenly realized that I love traveling and I can write something about the cities to visit in India in the year 2012. Why I chose India? I am from India, and I think there are quite a lot of cities which a traveler must visit while he/she is in India. And I am sure that this article will help some of the travelers who are looking to travel around in India.

Of course, there are plenty of places to visit in India such as pilgrim centers, wildlife and so on. I am however restricting this article just to the some of the metros and other cities one must visit in India. I intend to write about other types of places in my future articles. So, here are the top 5 cities to visit in India in 2012 according to me.

1. Mumbai

When someone thinks about India in modern times, there are three things that come to mind: Paneer Tikka Masala, Yoga and Bollywood. Mumbai, one of the four major metropolitan cities in India, is home to Bollywood, the biggest cinema industry in India and probably the biggest cinema industry in the world, with the number of movies released in a year beating Hollywood. Bollywood today has reached Hollywood and has forced Hollywood directors to come to India in hunt of talent.

Mumbai is not only famous for Bollywood, but it is also the financial and business hub of India. Also known as the land where people all over India come to realize their dreams, Mumbai is famous for its glamorous lifestyle as well as its slums.

2. Bangalore

Bengaluru, better known as Bangalore, was a sleeping city till two decades ago. No one knew where this city was on the world map. The Information Technology (IT) boom in India changed everything. Once known as a pensioner's paradise, Bangalore rapidly changed into an industrial city. Today, Bangalore is the IT face of India, and probably one of the biggest information technology hubs in the world. Bangalore is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world and is close to competing with some of the most expensive cities to live on this planet.

Lonely Planet recently ranked Bengaluru as the third “must visit” city in the world for 2012, after London and Muscat. Bangalore also has a few titles to add to its fame such as the “pub city of India” with numerous pubs around the city, and the “garden city” with hundreds of acres of sprawling gardens. Everything about this city is great except for the traffic which can drive you nuts. People often joke that if you can learn to drive in Bengaluru, you can easily drive anywhere around the world.

3. New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital of India. This city has a history that goes back to thousands of years. Delhi has seen the change of ages from the metal age to the imperial age and the information age. Being the capital of India, it naturally is one of the four major metropolitan cities in India. Delhi is a city which can offer you a perfect blend of city hustle and bustle, and traditional elements. The city is known to have excellent infrastructure. Humayun’s tomb, Red Fort and India Gate are some of the places worth visiting in Delhi.

Off late, however, Delhi is also gaining notoriety for different reasons such as bad governance, increase in crime rates, and crimes against women and so on. Nonetheless, it still is a beautiful city and remains as one of the must visit cities in India.

4. Jaipur

Jaipur is not a city as big as Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore, or as famous as them. However, Jaipur has its own charm. Called as the “pink city”, it is the capital of one of the biggest states in India. Jaipur is famous for its forts and palaces. It is also the largest city in Rajasthan and one of the finest planned cities in India. The city was founded in 1727 and has a population of 3.1 million.

Jaipur makes its place in one of the most remarkable pre-modern cities in India. The city was painted with terracotta pink in 1876 to welcome Prince Albert in 1876, hence the name “Pink City”. Some of the must visit places in Jaipur are Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort (former residence of King Sawai Jai Singh II) and Jantar Mantar which is an observatory and a World Heritage Site.

5. Udaipur

Udaipur is another major city in Rajasthan, also known for its palace and beautiful lakes. Naturally, it is called the “City of Lakes”. Located about 403 km from Jaipur, Udaipur too has a historical significance. One interesting historical significance of this city is that it was ruled by only one family of rulers since 600 AD to the present. Udaipur is also often called “The Venice of the East” and the “City of Romance”.

Udaipur is well known for its scenic locations, culture and most importantly its Lake Palace. A traveler may initially find this city like an old village. But wait till you enter the area where the Lake Palace is located. It is just like entering a whole different world. You will find yourself surrounded by everything that can possibly attract a foreigner, from French and German bakeries to shops that sell “Pashmina” cloth.

So, these are the 5 cities to visit in India in 2012. This list includes just a few must visit cities. I will be coming up with another list containing few more must visit cities in India.

For more places in India, read my second hub

http://karthikkash.hubpages.com/hub/5-Places-to-Visit-in-India-in-2012-Continued