A favorite haunt of Delhi's politicos and intellectuals, this old-school coffee shop was shut down under Indira Gandhi's Emergency.

This lavish estate recalls the opulent history of Calcutta.

The beautiful 16th-century stepwell lies in the shadow of a famous fortress.

Ornate, dome-topped cenotaphs fill this royal crematorium.

Known as the leaning temple, the sacred structure has somehow developed a severe nine-degree slant.

Half-size replica of the Taj Mahal.

An ancient iron pillar in Delhi that seems to be rustproof.

An imperial fortress city that incorporated cultural elements from the entire Mughal empire, only to be abandoned the year it was finished.

The world's largest secondhand book market is a haven for bibliophiles and bargain hunters.

The oldest still-inhabited hill fort in India looks like a magnificent golden sandcastle.

An eclectic mix of influences rot together in harmony in this India necropolis.

This stunning 15th-century royal hill fort preserves the age of chivalry in Rajasthan.

Hidden in the shadow of a rocky fortress is one concubine’s long-forgotten legacy.

This peaceful Sikh gurudwara serves around 50,000 free meals every day within its gilded walls.

The world's second-largest sundial, made entirely out of stone.

More than half of this Indian palace is drowned but it looks all the more spectacular for it.

This complex of vertically-excavated Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu monolithic temples in India's Maharashtra providence illustrates a spirit of tolerance characteristic of ancient India.

Once an indicator of social class, the color blue has come to define this city on the edge of the Thar Desert.

The 953 windows undoubtedly make this the world's most beautiful screened porch.

Thousands of exquisitely carved stone water storage wells, hundreds of stone steps fill this exquisite medieval stepwell.

A colossal floating restaurant built to look like a ancient Chinese imperial palace.

Two cannon-like cranes were installed on top of the bank building to fend off bad feng shui.

A serene space tucked amid the skyscrapers of Hong Kong's bustling financial district.

This naval gun is fired every day at noon, an odd timekeeping tradition the origin of which is local legend.