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Cave 26
A largely ruined chaitya, cave 26 is now dramatically lit and contains some fine sculptures that shouldn’t be missed. On the left wall is a huge figure of the reclining Buddha, lying back in preparation for nirvana. Other scenes include a lengthy depiction of the Buddha’s temptatio
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Bhongir Fort
Most buses and trains will stop en route at Bhongir, 60km from Hyderabad. It’s worth jumping down for a couple of hours to climb the fantastical-looking 12th-century Chalukyan hill fort , sitting on what resembles a gargantuan stone egg. Most of the way up the bare-rock hill is by
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Badamvaer
Originally 16th century, then planted with almond trees in 1876, this orchard garden fell apart during the troubles but was beautifully restored since 2007. The main attraction other than the spring blossoms and summer shade of the fruit trees, is the circular Wariskhanshah covered
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Mawsmai Cave
The popularity of this cave with domestic tourists translates to the incongruous sight of sari-clad women stooping through the low passages of the 150m-long natural limestone formation. Mawsmai’s tall row of roadside monoliths is as impressive as the cave but don’t receive the same
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Kalapathar
Located before Butler Bay is Kalapathar lagoon, a popular enclosed swimming area with shady patches of sand. Look for the cave in the cliff face that you can scramble through for stunning ocean views. It’s accessed via a side road that runs past modern housing constructed after the
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Harsiddhi Mandir
Built during the Maratha period, this temple enshrines a famous image of goddess Annapurna. At the entrance, two tall blackened stone towers bristling with lamps are a special feature of Maratha art. They add to the spectacle of Navratri in September/October when filled with oil an
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Mahanavami
The Mahanavami-diiba is a 12m-high three-tired platform with intricate carvings and panoramic vistas of the walled complex of ruined temples, stepped tanks and the King’s audience hall. The platform was used as Royal viewing area for the Dasara festivities, religious ceremonies and
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Ichar
Along with Bardan Gompa, Ichar is a highlight of the drive south from Padum. Almost invisible above the road, the green steep-sloping village has a looming gompa with the main centre, unusually, slightly further up the slope with a small but atmospheric kernel of old houses and a r
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Manipur State Museum
This government-run museum has a curious collection of tribal costumes, royal clothing, historical polo equipment and stuffed carnivores in action. Outside by the lawns, you’ll find an ornate and spectacular 78ft royal boat. Fronting the museum is the Polo Ground , where polo is sa
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Aswem Beach
A wide stretch of quiet beach the quiet Aswem sands are popular with long-staying foreigners and play host to an annually changing parade of beach-hut accommodation and beach-shack restaurants. Development here is generally low-key, swimming is usually safe, the sands are quiet, an
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Achies Art Gallery
Heading north across the railway line you’ll find another Portuguese mansion, an impressive canary-yellow building which now houses Achies Art Gallery. Call in to see the regular changing exhibitions of contemporary Goan and India art. The ‘Grandeza’ is also used for weddings, part
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Gujari Mahal
Built in the 15th century by Man Singh for his favourite rani, the palace is now rather deteriorated. It houses the State Archeological Museum and its large collection of Hindu and Jain sculptures, including the famed Salabhanjika (an exceptionally carved female figure) plus copies
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Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park
The wonderfully remote Har ki Dun (3510m) is a botanical paradise criss-crossed by glacial streams and surrounded by pristine forests and snowy peaks. The area is preserved as Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park . You might be lucky enough to glimpse the elusive snow leop
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Galgibag Beach
Gorgeous, almost-deserted Galgibag is one of the last preserves of Goa’s endangered Olive Ridley turtles, and is a beautiful pine-backed stretch of deserted sands where the Galgibag River meets the sea. Undertows and currents are strong – though lifeguards are present, swimming out
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Clives Corner
To the right of St Marys Church is the former Admiralty House, more commonly known as Clives House. Clives Corner, at the end of the building, houses a tiny memorial museum full of quirky facts about Robert Clive, including the story of his personal tortoise, which died at 250 in 2
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Adhar Devi Temple
In the hills just north of town, about 1.5km from Nakki Lake, 360 steps lead up to this 15th-century temple dedicated to Durga and located in a natural cleft in the rock. You have to stoop to get through the low entrance to the temple, which is visited by a constant stream of devot
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Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath
A superb gallery with a wide range of Indian and international contemporary art on show, as well as permanent displays of Mysore-style paintings and folk and tribal art from across Asia. A section is devoted to the works of Russian master Nicholas Roerich, known for his vivid paint
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Samten Choling Gompa
T he Samten Choling Gompa has the protector Garuda atop the ornate backdrop to the Buddha; it has a festive air, with tour groups and souvenir stalls. This gompa is on Hill Cart Rd and can be reached by share jeep from Darjeeling (Rs12); some people organise to visit on the way bac
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Salim Singh
This 18th-century haveli has an amazing, distinctive shape. It’s narrow for the first floors, and then the top storey spreads out into a mass of carving, with graceful arched balconies surmounted by pale-blue cupolas. The beautifully arched roof has superb carved brackets in the fo
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Sule Bazaar
Halfway along the path from Hampi Bazaar to Vittala Temple, a track to the right leads over the rocks to deserted Sule Bazaar, one of ancient Hampi’s principle centres of commerce and reputedly its red-light district. At the southern end of this area is the beautiful 16th-century A
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