Scholar, adventurer, saint, and instigator of the Goa Inquisition.

This 11th-century temple gave rise to the word "juggernaut," as well as some mysteries that defy scientific explanation.

This lavish estate recalls the opulent history of Calcutta.

A deeply beautiful 15th-century stepwell with a tragic story.

Deep in the Thar desert, a temple crawling with thousands of holy rats.

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

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

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

Modest by day, illuminated majestically at sunset.

Temples adorned with intricate, erotic sculptures make up one of the "seven wonders" of India.

A former bastion of Rajput chivalry, this massive hill fort is the site of legend and tragedy.

Rock-cut cave complex filled with ancient Buddhist artwork.

Sacred Indian temple that’s all monkey business.

This otherworldly palace-mausoleum complex is the stuff eternal dreams are made of.

The second-longest continuous wall on the planet protects a hidden secret in the deserts of India.

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.

A lake with hundreds of ancient skeletons surrounding it. The surprise is what killed them.

Centuries-old bridges grown from tangled roots.

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

A friendly pub with a sordid past in cock fighting.

Dictionary Johnson’s favorite feline.

An artistic tribute to the famous singer, just around the corner from where he was born.

The unusually large seat sits atop the base of a ruined temple.

A island reachable by a causeway at low tide is possibly one of the earliest Western European locations to be identified in text.