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 We visit Delhi, Agra, and Mumbai with linguist and educator Dr. Jilani Warsi.

Old Delhi draws us into the Red Fort’s vast red sandstone walls, the bustle of Jama Masjid, and the color and flavors of Chandni Chowk where chai, sweets, and silks leave their mark. 

We balance that with New Delhi’s calm and the Lotus Temple’s open welcome to all faiths, then look upward at Qutub Minar’s 12th-century tower, a vertical timeline of early rule and artistry. 

Along the way, we share on-the-ground advice: why to skip driving yourself, how to group sites to save time, and where an evening light-and-sound show still brings the past to life.

Agra reframes the journey around love and power. The Taj Mahal becomes more than a postcard as dawn light turns marble rosy and the close-in inlay work reveals delicate stone flowers. 

Across the Yamuna River, Agra Fort holds Shah Jahan’s final vantage point, a story you can feel when a small mirror catches the mausoleum’s glow. A short hop leads to Fatehpur Sikri, where Hindu and Islamic design blend into one living compound, proof that style can be a bridge across belief.

Mumbai changes the tempo again: Marine Drive’s night shimmer, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link stretching like a lit ribbon, and the gravitational pull of Bollywood’s studios and theaters. We leave the skyline by boat for Elephanta Island, where ancient cave temples to Shiva offer a cool breath and timeless stonework. 

Between stops, we chase flavor—kebabs, biryani, and samosas, and share simple ways to eat well and safely where the locals line up.

Whether you’re planning your first India itinerary, refining a return, or just enjoying armchair travel, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.

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Dr. Jilani Warsi, born a two-hour drive from Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya where Buddha reached Nirvana, grew up in a multilingual environment and teaches at Queensborough Community College in New York. He curates English language lessons for native and non-native speakers under the moniker of DrEnglish, on YouTube, @DrAmericanEnglish. He is also a shutterbug and a student of life.

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Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember  (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and  'one of the top 100 Indie books of  the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com
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Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 120 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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