The fascination of India - five selected top destinations

India offers travelers the inexhaustible diversity of an entire subcontinent. We have selected five of the most important travel destinations for you.

Start your journey in the north of India. Numerous sights await you in the golden triangle formed by the cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

A number of historic buildings in Delhi date back to the time of the Mughal rulers (12th to 18th century).

The Jama Masjiad, the largest mosque in India, is located in Delhi's old town. Built in the 17th century, the Jama Masjid offers space for 90,000 worshippers. The Red Fort is located just one kilometer from the Jama Masjid. The Red Fort, which was built from red sandstone between 1638 and 1648, served as a fortress and palace.

The 72.5-metre-high Qutub Minar, the world's tallest minaret and an important landmark in Delhi, dates back to the 12th century.

India Gate is a monumental triumphal arch built in 1931 to commemorate the First World War and the Anglo-Afghan wars (between 1839 and 1919).

The National Museum of Delhi displays exhibits from 5000 years of Indian cultural history.

Jaipur is the capital of the north-western state of Rajasthan. When the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur in the 19th century, the city's buildings were painted pink in his honor. Since then, Jaipur has also been known as the pink city.

The City Palace served as the seat of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Parts of the city palace are now used as a museum, while members of the Maharaja family still live in other parts of the building.

The Amber Fort was built on a mountain range near Jaipur in 1592. Impressive from the outside with its massive walls, the fortress proves to be a luxurious palace on the inside.

220 kilometers southwest of Delhi lies the city of Agra in the far west of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Agra is home to the Taj Mahal mausoleum, perhaps the most famous building in India. The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan (1592 to 1666), the fifth ruler of the Mughal Empire (1526 to 1858).

Built from 1565, the Red Fort in Agra served as the residence of various great Mughals. The fort has huge fortress walls, behind which there are palaces and gardens.

40 kilometers west of Agra lies the city of Fatehpur Sikri, the capital of the Mughal Empire towards the end of the 16th century. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit historic buildings such as the Diwan-i-Am royal palace, the Diwan-i-Khas audience hall and the "House of the Turkish Sultana".

Calcutta, the former capital of British India, is now considered a cultural and artistic metropolis.

The Birla Temple with its ornate carvings and high towers is well worth a visit. The 60 meter high Victoria Memorial commemorates the British Queen Victoria (reign 1837 to 1901).

The Indian Museum, the largest in India, was founded in 1814. The exhibits include sculptures, handicrafts, Buddhist manuscripts and natural history objects.

Mumbai (until 1996: Bombay) is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, located on the west coast of India.

The Gateway of India, which was completed in 1924 and resembles a triumphal arch, is one of Mumbai's most important landmarks.

Mumbai's sights include church buildings of various religions - such as

- the Banganga Temple, the Babulnath Mandir and the Mahalakshmi Temple (all Hindu),

- the Haji Ali Mosque (Islamic) and

- St. Thomas Cathedral (Anglican).

The Chatrapati Shivaji Museum is one of the most interesting museums in India. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the museum displays exhibits from the fields of archaeology, natural history and art.

The Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus station building is considered the most magnificent building from the Anglo-Indian colonial era. The station was built in 1888 under the name Victoria Terminus.