A 'SADHU' - priest.

Delhi : is the capital of India. It is on the banks of the river Yamuna, or Jumna (ancient Jomanes), river, northern India, principal tributary of the Ganges, rising in the western Himalaya, near Mount Kamet. After pursuing a southerly course of about 153 km (95 mi), the Yamuna enters the plains north of Saharanpur and follows a winding route through Delhi and Agra to Allahabad, where it joins the Ganges, after a course of about 1,384 km (860 mi). The confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. The river is navigable by barge, and it is used for irrigation purposes.

It is divided into two parts: Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi is that part of the city which was first developed. New Delhi is the part outside this and was developed later.

  ~>   Delhi's Red Fort

Delhi’s Red Fort, completed in 1648, part of what is called Old Delhi, once served as the imperial palace of India’s Mughal emperors. The outer walls, seen here, are made of red sandstone.

This city has a mixture of different types of people. The Muslim rulers brought with them their customs, language, art and new ideas. Later the British too brought in a lot of new ideas. Today, in Delhi, we see a lot of interesting places, which helps one recall the past.The Rashtrapathi Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, is in the heart of the city. On 26^th January, a colorful Republic Day parade is held here every year. Other places of interest are The Qutub Minar, a huge tower built by Qutubuddin Aibak, the Red Fort, Bahai Temple – a recently built monument to show the mingling of various religions, Humayun’s Tomb,the Raj ghat , Parliament House to name a few.

Agra: a three-hour drive from Delhi, takes us to Agra – The City of the Famous Taj – One of the wonders of the world. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, agra has many places of historical interest. The Agra Fort, Akbar’s Tomb at Sikandra is very important. The Taj is a huge monument of white marble built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. A view of the Taj at sunrise and sunset is an artist’s dream picture with its silhoutte.

Radha and Krishna in a Pavilion

Radha and Krishna in a Pavilion (c. 1760) is an example of the style of Indian miniature painting prevalent from the 16th to the 19th century. The painting is filled with symbolism, and the use of flat space and pattern is clearly influenced by the Persian miniature style that preceded it. This piece, from India’s Punjab Hills, is an illustration of a traditional story of the god Krishna and his lover Radha.

                          Krishna ,the God of love, was born in Vrindavan, and grew up in Mathura, situated on                                                                        the Ganges.

Mathura and Brindavan: These are also situated on the Delhi-Agra route, on the banks of Yamuna. This is the place where Lord Krishna was born and brought up.

Allahabad-, city in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh State, capital of the Allahabad District, at the confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. An important rail junction, Allahabad is a trading centre for agricultural products, notably rice, pulses, wheat, tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane. Known originally as Prayag, it is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India, visited annually by thousands of Hindu pilgrims. is another important city. In this city, the rivers GANGA, YAMUNA and the mythical SARASWATI meet. This meeting point is considered very sacred. It is also called the " TRIVENI SANGAM"- which means "The Confluence of the three rivers". The month of Magh, of the Hindu lunar calendar (January – February), is considered especially auspicious and the Magh Mela is held here every year.

The Mughal emperor Akbar gave the city its present name in 1575. Points of interest include a stone pillar dating from the reign of the Indian king Ashoka, a fort and the ruins of a palace both built by Akbar, and the Jama Masjid (also known as the Great Mosque). The city is the site of the University of Allahabad, a teacher training college, and several technical schools. Allahabad was formerly the capital of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, now Uttar Pradesh State. The ashes of the assassinated Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi were consigned to the sacred river Ganges at Allahabad in 1948. Population (1991, greater city) 858,213.

Allahabad is also a city of historical importance. There is a very old and famous university here. The"Anand Bhawan" the home of Late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru attracts a lot of tourists.

Varanasi: (formerly Benares or Banaras) is also called the "Religious Capital" of India. For almost two thousand years people have come here to study, pray, seek enlightenment and finally die. This city is full of temples, shrines, ashrams and pavilions stretched on the banks of the river . Here, the Ganga rises and falls dramatically as the river swells during monsoon.

The oldest University – Benares Hindu University is also situated here. This city, in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh State, on the north bank of the River Ganges. It lies in a fertile region in which sugar cane and grains are produced. The city is also an important commercial centre. Silk brocade, gold and silver thread, filigree work, and brass articles are manufactured here.

The city has few buildings built before the late 16th century, but its site was occupied in ancient times by the kingdom of Kashi. To devout Hindus the city has always existed: it is to them the holiest of cities; Hindu pilgrims come to Varanasi from all parts of the world. Records of such pilgrimages date from the 7th century. Large throngs gather along the banks of the sacred River Ganges, where terraced landings, or ghats, lead down to the water. Hindus believe that immersion in the Ganges cleanses them of sin and that death on its banks leads to salvation. The level portions of the ghats are used for funeral pyres.

From Ramnagar, across the river, the city of Varanasi gives an impression of splendour that is dissipated on closer view. The narrow streets wind circuitously between painted and carved buildings, many of them with overhanging galleries. Among more than 1,500 temples, the best known are the mosque of Aurangzeb; the observatory of Raja Jai Singh and the Durga Temple, both built in the 17th century; and the holiest of all temples, the Bisheshwar, or Golden Temple. Varanasi is also a seat of learning, especially for the study of Sanskrit, centred at Benares College (1791) and maintained by the government. Banaras Hindu University (1916) was the first denominational university in India under private control; it is now non-sectarian. Varanasaya-Sanskrit University was founded in 1958. Population (1991) 925,962.

Before the river enters the state of Bihar, the sluggish Gomati joins it. The other tributaries – Ghagra, Gandak, Bhagmati and Kosi – change their course frequently , leaving lakes and marshes over North Bihar.

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