Delhi (Akshardham Temple), India

Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi 1
Originally uploaded by voobie.

Delhi is the national capital of India with a population of more than 15 million people. Pandavas founded Indraprastha around 5,000 BC. Delhi is believed to be the site of Indraprastha. Delhi is probably one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

The Baha's Lotus Temple, the growing Delhi Metro and the imposing Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple are the new landmarks in Delhi.

New Delhi, India

Cricket
Originally uploaded by Tampen.

New Delhi, the capital of independent India, is not even a hundred years old. Delhi (old Delhi) on the other hand has been the historic capital of the subcontinent for hundreds of years. Much of New Delhi was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who laid out a grandiose capital of the Raj to be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The reason for the new capital was the coronation of King George V in 1911. The scale and magnificence of New Delhi was not unlike Washington DC or Paris.

Delhi is a spacious, open city that houses many government buildings and embassies, apart from places of historical interest. Notable attractions in New Delhi include the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the one-time imperial residence of the British Viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan and subsequent wars; the Laxminarayan Temple, built by the Birlas, one of India's leading industrial families; The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple; Humayun's Tomb, the Purana Quila, built by Humayun, with later-day modifications by Sher Shah Suri Tughlaqabad; Delhi's most colossal and awesome fort, (Qutab Minar), built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak of the Slave Dynasty; and the lotus-shaped Bahá'í House of Worship.

Ponda, Goa

Safa Shahouri Masjid
Originally uploaded by FabIndia.

Ponda is located in the central part of Goa. It is right on top of the Panjim-Bangalore highway. Safa Masjid, a well-preserved Mosque, built in 1560 by the Bijapuri ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah is here. It is a remarkable Mosque because it is one of two Islamic shrines that escaped the Portuguese Inquisition in Goa. There are also many Hindu temples in the area, the most famous being the Mahalasa, Shantadurga, Mangesh and Navadurga temples. Ponda is very close to the town of Farmagudi. Government Engineering College of Goa is in Farmagudi part of Ponda town. Ponda is well connected by road to the Panaji (Capital of Goa) and main railway junction Madgaon. Ponda is industrial centre of Goa state.

Verna Goa, Goa

Goa Temples - MahalasaTemple
Originally uploaded by Ramnath Shenoy.

Verna Goa is located on the west coast of India, in the Konkan region, bounded by Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka in the south and east. It was part of the Portuguese overseas territory that existed for 450 years. India reclaimed it in 1961.

Panaji, Goa

Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Originally uploaded by Skinnyde.

Panaji (Panjim) is the capital of the Indian State of Goa with a population of 65,000 people. It is the third largest city of Goa, after Vasco and Madgaon. In 1843, the city was renamed Nova Goa, when it officially replaced the city of Goa (now Old Goa) as the administrative seat of Portuguese India, though the viceroy had already moved there in 1759.

Incorporated into India in December 1961, Panaji became a state capital on Goa's elevation to statehood in May 1987. The heart of the city is the Church Square with the Portuguese Baroque "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception" Church built in 1541.

Vasco da Gama, Goa

Discussion
Originally uploaded by $ydney.

Vasco da Gama, 29-km by road southwest of Panjim, sits on the narrow western tip of the Marmagoa (also known as Mormugao) peninsula, overlooking the mouth of the Zuari River. Acquired by the Portuguese in 1543, this strategically important site was formerly among the busiest ports on India's west coast.

Goa Velha (Old Goa), Goa

Velha Goa (Old Goa): Se Cathedral
Originally uploaded by niko81.

Goa Velha, comes forth as a key Portuguese stronghold in Goa. It is also considered as the second capital of Bijapur kingdom with the exquisite Sultan's Palace acting as a timely reminder of the deep history attached to it.