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PL AN YOUR TRIP R EG I O N S AT A G L A N C E
Mumbai (Bombay)
Maharashtra
Goa
Karnataka & Bengaluru
Buildings Food Nightlife
Caves Beaches Wine
Beaches Food Architecture
Temples Parks Cuisine
Gothic Revivals & Colonial Relics The British left behind beautiful colonial-era architecture, highlighted by Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the High Court and the University of Mumbai.
Caves The World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora house exquisite collections of cave paintings and rock sculptures dating back to India’s golden ages.
Beaches They’re so beautiful, they’re almost a cliché, but even the most off-the-beatenpath travellers can’t resist Goa’s stunning beachscapes. Many are backed by shady palm-tree groves – an echo of Goa’s lush interior.
Temples From the Hoysala beauties at Belur, Halebid and Somnathpur to the electric Virupaksha Temple in Hampi or quaint shrines in Gokarna and Udupi, Karnataka is strewn with fantastic temples that overwhelm you with their ambience and ritual fineries.
Culture & Cuisine Mumbai’s collision of cultures means it’s a haven for foodies. A kaleidoscope of flavours from all over India vie for tastebud attention with imported cuisines the world over. Bollywood & Booze As India’s financial powerhouse and home to the world’s most prolific film industry, Mumbai unapologetically parties its ass off… The country’s wildest bars, clubs and exclusive Bollywood bashes showcase a tipsier side of India. p719
Beaches Strung out along Maharashtra’s Konkan Coast are some of the most secluded but beautiful beaches, custom-made for romantics, adventurers, loners and philosophers alike. Wine Nasik, the grand cru of India’s upand-coming wine industry, proudly flaunts a few worldclass drops in the many excellent cellars around town. p757
Food Goa has fresh, fresh seafood and a tradition of preparing it in brilliant ways, often with coconut. Sometimes it’s the random beach shack that does it best. Architecture Portuguese colonialism’s most attractive legacy may be its pretty buildings. Mansions in Quepem and Chandor, houses in Panaji, Old Goa’s grand religious structures, and little homes and churches across the state are pure eye candy. p795
National Parks The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve boasts some of the most pristine forests in India, and there’s abundant wildlife to be sighted in national parks such as Bandipur, Kabini and Nagarhole. Cuisine Start off with the delectable Udupi vegetarian thali, then move on to some fiery Mangalorean seafood, washing it all down with fresh draught in beertown Bengaluru. p835