HIMACHAL PRADESH - a tiny hill state whose pleasant summers make it a popular holiday resort. The Raj still lingers in Shimla, the state capital and former summer capital during British rule. Kullu-Manali are neighbouring resorts, surrounded by pine covered hills and lush meadows.

Himachal has, in addition to popular resort towns, a series of secluded hill retreats ideal for interested anglers, trekkers and those wanting a quiet getaway. Many of these include: from Shimla – Mashobra, Kufri, and Naldehra; those around Kullu-Manali include Manikaran, Naggar and Brighu Lake; the barely accessible valleys of Lahaul and Spiti are a trekker’s delight.

UTTAR PRADESH - Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh is associated with the princely court of Oudh and then with the British, both traditions lingering on in the city whose finest monument is the Bara Imambara. Further east, Varanasi is the oldest city in India. An important center of Hindu pilgrimage, it is believed that those who die in Varanasi will be released from the cycle of rebirth. Pious Hindus still come to Varanasi to spend their last days, living in Spartan communes run by a multitude of religious trusts. The focus of interest to a visitor is the sacred River Ganges, where people come to wash away their sins by bathing in the river, the dead are cremated and holy men meditate. In the narrow by lanes of the city are crowded bazaars selling brassware and silk brocades.

Agra- the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal is also a business center-known for its craftsmen & handicrafts. Marble, soft stone inlay work, carpet and leather goods are some important traditional crafts of the city Agra, and the nearby city of Fatehpur Sikri. Besides the Taj Mahal there are other historic sites such as the Agra Fort, Sikandra, Ram Bagh and Itmad-ud-Daulah.