The history of Delhi is as old as the epic Mahabharata. The town was known as Indraprastha, where Pandavas used to live. The early Mughal emperors favored Agra as their capital, and Delhi became their permanent seat only after Shah Jahan built the walls of Old Delhi in 1638.

Delhi Sites: Qutub Minar – The tallest tower made of bricks, The breathtaking Lotus Temple, The Gate of India, The Red Fort, and the temple of Akshardham, the largest in India.

In Hinduism, Mathura is believed to be the birthplace of Krishna, which is located at the Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex. It is one of the Sapta Puri, known as the seven cities considered holy by Hindus. The Kesava Deo Temple was built in ancient times on the site of Krishna’s birthplace (an underground prison). Mathura was the capital of the kingdom of Surasena, ruled by Kansa, the maternal uncle of Krishna.

Mathura Sites: Shree Banke Bihari Temple, Iskcon Temple, Love Temple, Nidhi Van and the place where the Lord Krishna was born.

Agra is the home of one of the 7 wonders of the world, The Taj Mahal. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for some time in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.

Agra Sites: The Taj Mahal, The Agra Fort, Tomb of Akbar the Great.

Rishikesh is known by many yogis as the birthplace of yoga.

Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary ‘Kedarkhand’[14] Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, at a point, where the present ‘Lakshman Jhula‘ (लक्ष्मण झूला) bridge stands today, using a jute rope bridge.[15] The ‘Kedarkhand’ of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge was replaced by iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889. After it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced by the present stronger bridge. Another similar suspension bridge Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at nearby Sivananda Nagar.

The sacred river Ganges flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and flows into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient and new, are along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is near Lakshman Jhula.

Rishikesh Sites: Triveni Ghat, Laksman jhula, Ramjhula, The Beatles Ashram, Kunjapuri Devi Temple, Vashishta cave, Parmarth Niketan, Gita Bhavan, 13^th Story Temple, Sikh Temple (Gurdwara), Omkarananda Ashram, Goddess Omkaranada Temple, as well as other local ashrams and the local market.