10 Best Places to Visit in India

India is a massive and varied country. With Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar as neighbours, not to mention the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the nation has many faces.

There are more than 20 official languages, many religions, and a diverse range of cuisines inside India’s borders. Travel is essential for really appreciating the diversity of Indian culture and history. If your plan allows, see as many of these great locations to visit in India as possible.

Amritsar

Amritsar, a sacred city and a centre for the Sikh religion, is located in Punjab’s northern region. The Golden Temple, popularly known as the Harmandir Sahib, is the primary attraction of Amritsar. This temple, which was built more than 400 years ago, is genuinely golden, and it is always bustling with Sikhs from all over India and the world.

Amritsar is a significant textile and chemical manufacturing centre, as well as a centre for food milling and processing, silk weaving, tanning, canning, and machinery manufacturing.

The city is a significant rail centre and is located on the main route between Delhi and Lahore, Pakistan. There is an airport nearby.

Ladakh

Ladakh is a hilly location in northern India, near the hotly contested Kashmir region. Although this region is huge, it has a low population density and a significant number of nomadic people. The area’s breathtaking, unspoiled landscape is a big appeal, but almost all visitors will also spend time in Leh.

The town is located at a high height and is home to the 17th century Palace of the King of Ladakh. Buddhist culture is also strong in Leh, and you may choose to visit one of the many Buddhist monasteries and temples in the Old Town.

Ladakh is home to Asia’s biggest telescope: It is true that “gods reside in the mountains,” as you may have heard.

It’s a place where gravity doesn’t work: The Magnetic Hill, often known as the “gravity slope,” is an upward-pulling hill. Are you curious about the science behind it? …

It has the world’s tallest bridge: The Bailey Bridge, which spans the flowing Dras and Suru rivers, is the world’s tallest.

Goa Beaches

Goa, a former Portuguese colony on India’s western coast, combines Indian culture with colonial influences and plenty of foreign tourists. One of the reasons for Goa’s appeal is its gorgeous beaches.

Goa is a famous tourist destination in India, and it is known as the “Fun Capital” of the country. Every year, approximately 2 million foreign and domestic tourists visit its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and world heritage architectural sites.

Candolim Beach is the busiest and most popular of all, with visitors from all over the world flocking to soak up the sun. Anjuna Beach, on the other hand, is much less congested.

It’s also a fantastic location for a walk to Chapora Fort and a different view on the beach shoreline.

Delhi

If you spend any time in Northern India, you will almost likely go to Delhi, the country’s capital. The massive spreading location is home to numerous districts and is regarded as one of the world’s oldest cities. The Red Fort, also known as the Lal Qila, was built in the 17th century and is one of Delhi’s most famous tourist destinations.

The Red Fort is built of sandstone, and you may go through the Lahore Gate, into the bazaar, through the diamond palace, and even inside the sultan’s former house.

Make time to visit the city’s numerous museums and religious monuments while you’re in Delhi.

Ellora & Ajanta Caves

Both Ellora and Ajanta caves are located in Maharashtra and may be visited. Ellora is a massive complex of shrines built out of the rocky terrain. These 34 cave shrines symbolise three distinct religions: Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, and date back up to 1,500 years.

Ajanta is a two-hour drive away and has 29 caverns. Murals and paintings adorn the Ajanta caves, the majority of which depict Buddhist tales. Despite the fact that the two cave systems are two hours apart, it is definitely worth visiting both to compare these amazing sites.

UNESCO has designated Ajanta and Ellora Caves as World Heritage Sites.

Only a hammer and chisel are used to cut the sculptures and other structures of these caves out of stone.

In comparison to other caverns discovered in India, the Ajanta Ellora caves are quite high, at 70 metres above ground level.

Kerala

Kerala, India’s southern state, is recognised for its tropical beauty. Palm palms, white sand beaches, and ecotourism are just a few of the reasons to visit the area. Kerala is home to Thekkady, a tiger preserve where you may enjoy flora and animals without crowds, in addition to its famed backwaters, beautiful houseboats, and temple festivals.

Kochi, the state capital of Kerala, is home to a strong local fishing industry as well as contemporary high-rises and colonial buildings. Kochi is culturally and religiously diverse, and you may see a Jewish synagogue, a Dutch castle, the Portuguese Pallipuram Fort, and the Hindu Thrikkakara Temple in the same afternoon.

Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest living cities, with a history stretching back over 3,000 years. Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River in North India, has long been a significant centre of learning as well as a major pilgrimage site for many Hindus.

Varanasi is revered by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists because it is thought that dying here frees one’s soul from the cycle of reincarnation and that washing in the Ganges washes one’s sins.

Varanasi has views and sensations that are not found anywhere else on the planet. Because of its hundreds of temples, it is known as the “City of Temples.” The Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva, the Durga Temple, and the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, which is famed for harbouring countless monkeys, are among the most important.

The ghats, a series of embankment steps going down to the Ganges River, where many people come to bathe, are probably the city’s most recognised sights. Dashashwamedh Ghat is the oldest and most important ghat. The Manikarnika Ghat is a burning ghat where Hindu cremations and death anniversary ceremonies are conducted on a regular basis. Other activities include yoga, shaves, and massages.

Varanasi is known for its silk weaving, and there are several stores and marketplaces offering silk sarees and scarves, as well as other handicrafts.

Agra

Agra is a well-known tourist attraction in India. Agra, formerly the capital of the Mughal Empire, today houses the Taj Mahal, the world’s most famous monument. Built in the 17th century, the white marble tomb is popularly considered as a love monument.

The Taj Mahal, while breathtakingly gorgeous, may be quite congested. The Agra Fort, which is remarkably similar to the Red Fort in Delhi, is well worth seeing in Agra. This 16th century fort may be toured and the inside of its magnificent palace explored.

Three alternative derivations are used to explain the name Agra, all of which have limited verifiability. The most widely recognised theory is that it derives from the Hindi word agar, which means salt-pan, a name given to it because the soil in the area is brackish and salt was previously produced here by evaporation. Others believe it comes from Hindu mythology, with the Sanskrit term agra () referring to the first of many groves and little woodlands where Krishna frolicked with the Vrindavan gopis.

Rajasthan

The state of Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan and is home to the Thar Desert, is located in northwest India. Rajasthan has some of the greatest sites to visit in India, whether you’re interested in Rajput heritage or vistas of the Aravallis Mountains. The Pink City, or Jaipur, is the capital of Rajasthan and a fantastic spot to start your journey.

Three forts, several temples, and the magnificent City Palace are among the city’s many architectural wonders. Jodhpur, the so-called Blue City that serves as the gateway to the Thar Desert and is home to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, is also in Rajasthan and well worth a visit.

The word “Rajasthan” literally translates to “Land of Kings.” Rajasthan is mentioned for the first time in a stone inscription from 625 CE. The term “Rajasthan” first occurs in literature in the 1829 publication Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajput States of India, while “Rajputana” first appears in print in George Thomas’s 1800 diary Military Memories. “Rajputana” was created by the British in 1829, according to John Keay’s book India: While translating Ferishta’s history of early Islamic India, John Briggs used the word “Rajpoot (Rajput) princes” instead of “Indian princes.”

Mysore

The city of Mysore is located on India’s southernmost point. Mysore is most known for holding the beautiful Mysore Palace, which was formerly the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty. The palace is the pinnacle of grandeur, with carved rosewood doors, ivory-decorated ceilings, and numerous paintings adorning the walls.

If you’re visiting Mysore, don’t miss the Devaraja Market, an outdoor experience on Dhanvantari Road where you may buy chai tea and then peruse vendors selling fruit or sandalwood sculptures.

Mysore is an anglicised form of Mahishru, which means Mahisha’s home in Kannada. Mahishasura, a mythological demon that could take the forms of both human and buffalo, controlled the ancient sections of Mysore Kingdom, known in Sanskrit as Mahhaka, based at Mahishasura, according to Hindu mythology.

The Oriental Research Institute, located in Mysore, is one of India’s oldest libraries.

Until 1973, the state of Karnataka was known as Mysore.

Mysore, after Bangalore, is Karnataka’s second-largest software exporter.

The city of Mysore will be the first in India to have a sky wheel.

Though it is one of Kerala’s most astonishing facts, it is also one of the most expected. Kerala’s whole state is covered with towering coconut trees. Every meal served here also has a touch of coconut in it. In Malayalam, the term ‘kera’ means ‘coconut tree,’ while ‘alam’ means ‘land’.