Visit Kolkata

Kolkata's clay-modeller quarter builds ten-armed goddesses all year, then floats them down the Hooghly.

A lonely wife in 1879 Calcutta and her husband's cousin; Satyajit Ray's own favourite.

Visit Mumbai, India's financial capital and entertainment hub. Explore the Gateway of India (iconic 26-meter basalt arch built to commemorate King George V's 1911 visit), see the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (UNESCO-listed Victorian Gothic railway station with intricate carvings), wander through Colaba Causeway (bustling street market for antiques and souvenirs), and sample street food like vada pav (spicy potato fritter in a bun) at Chowpatty Beach.

Visit Agra, a historic city in Uttar Pradesh, India. See the Taj Mahal (a white marble mausoleum built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan), explore Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage site with red sandstone architecture and Mughal palaces), and visit Fatehpur Sikri (a nearby Mughal city with well-preserved monuments like the Buland Darwaza).

Visit Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan known as the Pink City. Explore the Amber Fort (a hilltop fortress with intricate carvings and elephant rides), see the Hawa Mahal (palace of winds with 953 small windows), visit the City Palace (royal residence with museums and courtyards), and shop for handicrafts at Johari Bazaar (famous for jewelry and textiles).

Visit Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka in India. Explore the Bangalore Palace (a Tudor-style mansion inspired by Windsor Castle), stroll through Lalbagh Botanical Garden (home to a 300-year-old silk cotton tree and glasshouse), and try local street food like masala dosa at Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR).

Visit Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu. Explore the Kapaleeshwarar Temple (a 7th-century Dravidian-style temple dedicated to Shiva), stroll along Marina Beach (one of the longest urban beaches in the world at 13 km), see the Government Museum (housing the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe), and sample local dishes like dosa and filter coffee at Saravana Bhavan.

Visit Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and a major spiritual hub in India. Witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (a daily ritual with fire, music, and chanting), explore the narrow lanes of the old city leading to Kashi Vishwanath Temple (dedicated to Shiva and a key pilgrimage site), and take a boat ride on the Ganges River to see the ghats and cremation sites that reflect Hindu beliefs about life and death.