11 of the best spots in India to capture the beauty of the night
When travelling in India, there’s always the underlying pressure from friends and family to take as many photos as you can to prove on Instagram that you’re having fun. Even when you’re living in an exotic location, capturing the scenery in a positive light can do more than any anecdote or descriptive story.
However, we’re not all professional photographers and even fewer of us are skilled enough to master the art of low light photography — even when shooting on a phone. With so much of India requiring a night’s sky to communicate its inherent beauty, shooting when the sun goes down is a skill tourists and residents alike need to accurately tell the tale of the land.
Luckily, there are phones out there that are made for this very situation. The i7 flagship device from TECNO Mobile equipped with Pixelex engine, is designed to help phone photographers capture the night. As the latest mobile to launch in India, the i7 gives you freedom to experiment with low light photography - these eight spots are absolutely necessary to photograph.
Marine Drive, Mumbai
Located in beautiful South Mumbai, this 3.6-kilometre-long, six-lane boulevard hugs the coast of the city and connects Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. It’s otherwise known as the Queen's Necklace, because — when viewed at night — the lit-up streetlights resemble a pearl necklace, giving this otherwise typical road a second life after the sun goes down. Marine Drive is not only an integral part of the city, but a must-see spot you need to photograph in the moonlight.
Golden Temple, Punjab
Where does one even start while describing the beauty of Punjab at night? This Indian state in home to the country’s largest Sikh community and holds a multitude of worships sites like the Durgiana Temple and Golden Temple. The latter of which has been around since the early 1600s and was originally constructed to be a place where men and women of all faiths could worship equally and peacefully. Made of gold and marble, this incredible structure has become one of the most iconic temples in the country and cannot be skipped.
Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Normally, a marsh wouldn’t be considered the most appealing destination for travelers, but the Great Rann of Kutch flips the script with its beauty. Considered one of the largest salt deserts in the world, this 7,505 square kilometre marsh has been known about since 325 BCE when Alexander the Great apparently made note of the area. If you don’t know what to expect when visiting the Great Rann of Kutch, go at night when the full moon lights up the area. During the winter months, Gujaret’s government hosts the Rann Utsav festival of the Rann" in which tourists can sample the local culture and fare.
Albert Hall Museum, Rajasthan
As one of the oldest museums in the state of Rajasthan, Albert Hall Museum is a shining example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture that British architects brought along with them to India. While the main draw of the museum lays inside with its vast collection of crystal, paintings, ivory, and carpets, gazing upon the museum at night is a work of art itself.
The Palace of Mysore, Mysore
It’s been called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — Mysore Palace at night. Combining Hindu, Muslim, and Gothic styles, this marble and stone structure attracts more than six million visitors per year and has become one of the most visited attractions in India. If you’re joining these hoards of visitors, be sure to pack your smartphone because it’s an unmissable sight at night – one that the TECNO Mobile i7 is more than equipped to capture. On Sundays and public holidays, Mysore Palace hosts an illumination show that lights up the area in a way those who built the domes, gardens, and temples couldn’t have imagined when they were erected hundreds of years ago.
Bandra–Worli Sea Link, Mumbai
Commissioned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Bandra–Worli Sea Link (otherwise known as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link) is an eight-lane cable-stayed freeway that connects Bandra to Worli in South Mumbai. Construction began in 2000 and took just over a decade to complete, using 90,000 tons of concrete to make. Like Marine Drive, it is the Sea Link’s 5.6 kilometres of streetlights that makes this such a picture-worthy location. MSRDC officials aim to reduce the Sea Link’s expenditure on electricity by 65 percent by installing solar panels this year.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai
Constructed in 1888, this High Victorian Gothic railway station was originally built to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria before ultimately serving as the main terminal for the Mumbai Suburban Railway. While the glazed-tile walls of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus are absolutely marvellous on their own, it’s the outside of the Terminus that becomes especially breath-taking once the sun sets. Scores of multi-coloured lights paint the historic train station a myriad of colours, giving the site an otherworldly quality second to none, and giving you an excuse to put the TECNO i7’s camera to the test.
Lotus Temple, Delhi
While this temple doesn’t have the historical significance of some of the other locations on the list, this house of worship is a must-see spot regardless of the time of day. Made up of 27 marble petals, the Lotus Temple takes its namesake from the flower it resembles. What we love about the Lotus Temple — aside from the insanely beautiful architecture — is the message behind it. This is one of the few temples that allow people from any religious background to freely worship inside. The inherent beauty of this practice is one that challenges the breath-taking view of the temple when lit up at night for all to see.
The Charminar, Telangana
On the east bank of the Musi River in Hyderabad, Telangana is The Charminar — and believe us, you can’t miss it. Built by Sultan Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in the fifteenth century to commemorate the end of the Bubonic plague, The Charminar has become one of the most iconic monuments in India. It is during the nighttime that a flurry of colourful bangle shops light up the area, giving an ethereal glow to the mosque.
UB City, Bangalore
You wouldn’t expect a shopping mall to draw in the type of amateur photographers who relish the chance to capture their country’s beauty, but this isn’t your typical shopping mall. UB City is Bangalore’s biggest luxury commercial property that features an 800-seat amphitheatre, residency tower, restaurants, food courts, pubs, day spa, and an art gallery. While there’s plenty of shopping to occupy your time during the day, it’s the outside of the mall that’ll truly impress you once the sun goes down. It’s not just the lit-up mall that draws you in, but events like the Diwali Midnight Market that make you thankful the Tecno i7’s 16 MP front night camera can take the kind of incredible photos that can be shared with the rest of the world with such ease.
The Brindavana Gardens, Karnataka
For those who are dying for the splendour of nature, The Brindavana Gardens in Karnataka provide a pristine landscape that’s visited by at least two million people per year. The garden itself is spread across 60 acres, with a fruit garden than spans over 75 acres next door. For visitors wanting more than static, nice-smelling scenery, a living musical fountain functions as the park’s main attraction by synchronizing bursts of water to music.
Low light photography is an art form worth mastering – the stunning photographs you could capture when the sun sets are too good an opportunity to pass. Make sure you’re equipped to own the night and take your best shot with the TECNO Mobile i7.
