UNESCO WHS

About 28 km from Lisbon lies the town of Mafra, home to an eighteen-century palace boasting 1200 rooms and 29 courtyards. One of the largest palaces in Europe, the National Palace of Mafra is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King João V built this remarkable monument consisting of the Palace, a basilica, a Franciscan

If you grew up reading fairy tales and the fairyland of lofty castles, opulent palaces, and secret passages captivated you, then Sintra should be on your must-visit list. This delightful town on the hills of Serra de Sintra is a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon in Portugal. The rich and noble Portuguese used it as

Located on the banks of the Tagus River, Belém is a district of Lisbon in Portugal. From here, Vasco da Gama- European explorer set sail in 1497 on his marine voyages. Belém is home to several museums, gardens, monuments and a pastry shop that sells irresistible custard tarts. The Belém Palace is the official residence

Imagine a colossal chariot with twelve ornamental wheels drawn by seven horses emerging from a blue sea. This is the epic vision that envisaged the design and architecture of the famous Konark Sun Temple. Narasimhadeva-I of the Ganga dynasty built it in the 13th century, and its sheer size and design with exquisite carvings make

Before Jaipur it was Amer that was the capital of the Jaipur state. Perched on the Hill of Eagles (Cheel ka Teel) in Aravallis, 11 km from Jaipur, is the Amer or Amber Fort. Like the Hawa Mahal, it is the most frequented site by tourists visiting Jaipur. The Amer Fort, along with the forts

Sawai Jai Singh II built the Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur in the 18th century. It’s a collection of astronomical instruments for measuring time, the position of stars and planets, predicting eclipses and other celestial measurements. Some of these instruments could predict the onset of monsoons, floods, and famines and how hot the summers would

Jaipur, the pink city in Rajasthan, has been part of the Golden Triangle frequented by tourists worldwide. Sawai Jai Singh of the Kacchawah dynasty founded the city in 1727 A.D. Its imposing forts, astronomical observatory, royal palaces and vibrant bazaars have attracted Indian and foreign tourists alike. We had visited Jaipur two decades back and

What the Taj Mahal is to Agra, Hawa Mahal is to Jaipur. Located on a busy road near Sireh Deodhi and Johari Bazars, the iconic monument is thronged by tourists for Instagrammable pics. But there is more to Hawa Mahal than the obligatory selfie with it. On our earlier visits to Jaipur, we had only

Jaipur City Palace is a fusion of Indian, Rajput and Mughal architectural styles with some European influences. The beauty and opulence of the palace complex are praiseworthy. It is an ensemble of courtyards, gardens and buildings. Sawai Jai Singh II built the Jaipur City Palace between 1729 and 1732, with subsequent rulers adding new structures.