North India's famous five

In a country, where every village has a fascinating story to tell, picking a few favourite spots on the Northern front isn't really an easy task. Yet considering the busy lives that people lead, we narrow down the list to a few locales that promise a fabulous holiday experience up-North. Rishikesh and Hardwar The Beatles put Rishikesh on the world map, but today's generation has discovered this lovely place all over again. Of course, apart from the many temples that you can visit, you can plan a short trip full of adventure with a dash of relaxation. Both Rishikesh and Hardwar are completely vegetarian destinations because of the tremendous religious influence that these places have. White water rafting is obviously what most adventure seekers go to Rishikesh for. And it's no exaggeration when people claim that the rapids here are more thrilling than any roller coaster anywhere in the world. But if you haven't had your fill of adventure sports with rafting, then there's cliff jumping. It's no rocket science really; all you have to do is get on top of a cliff and throw yourself into the ice cold water below. Sounds like fun, huh? And if you are chilled to the bone after the plunge then try surfing on the calm stretch. On a visit to Hardwar, which is about three hours away from Rishikesh, you must make it on time for the temple's evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri - the ghat on the banks of the Ganges. Amritsar Once you reach Amritsar, the first thing you should do is offer your prayers at the Golden Temple. The peaceful chanting of the Guru Granth Sahib is absolutely blissful. Situated close enough is the Jallianwala Baug. Somehow, the now green garden there takes away from the enormity of the situation. If all the roaming around has gotten you hungry, head to Gurudas Ram Mithaiwala, where you can taste the world's best jalebis and gulab jamuns. Then make your way to the Kapda Market. Women who like Patiala suits can get one stitched within four hours flat. The last and the best destination is the Wagah border, now known as the Attari-Wagah border. You must not miss the flag salutation ceremony by the soldiers of India and Pakistan. Auli If you think skiing is an expensive pastime, think again. The beautiful Auli situated amidst the folds of mountains of Uttarakhand, is the place to be if you want to give skiing a shot. Auli also boasts of Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car. It also has a chair lift and a ski-lift. Then there's the presence of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, who hold their training sessions there. Since the weather can be extremely unpredictable, the best time to visit is from January to March. Auli also offers a view of peaks like Mana, Kamet and the tallest of all - the Nanda Devi peak. Agra You can travel to Agra by your private vehicle or opt for a more economical ride by the state transport buses. If you are travelling by a car it should cost you around Rs 3,500 to 3,700 both ways. And if you have enough time you can make a stop over at Sikandra, which is home to Akbar's tomb. Of course, the main attraction in Agra remains the Taj Mahal. To say that the monument is astounding would be to state the obvious. Mussoorie The beautiful Kempty Falls here are simply breathtaking. However, the same cannot be said about the much-hyped Mussoorie Lake. For those interested in shopping, there's the Mall Road for woollen clothing, the Kulri Market is for wood works and the Landour Market has many roadside ice cream and dessert shops. This hills station is home to the renowned author Ruskin Bond. A book store at Kulri market even offers you an opportunity to meet the author every Saturday between 3.30 and 5.30 pm. Those who can't make it on Saturdays can ask even ask the shopkeeper for the author's residence number and if the author is in town, you could get lucky as the author himself invites you to come over and share a cuppa tea. Now if that isn't worth a trip to Mussoorie, what is?