First time in India? Or planning a trip?
Want to know about the best places to see in India?
Then you are in the right place.
Read this article to find more about the best places to see in India.
No matter whether you just want to relax, party, or participate in the pilgrimage, India is the place to be.
You have infinite choices of holiday destinations available in India, from it’s scenic destinations to historical sites, from cities scrambling with chaos to places offering a relaxed stay.
You name it, and India has it.
That is why India offers one of the best places to see in the world. But where are the best places to see in India?
Well, as we said above, we do have a long list of places for you to visit, but of course, we understand your busy schedule.
And also your confusion, after all, amidst this huge list, there is always a crisis of choosing destinations that really deserves a visit.
Well! To relieve you of this dilemma, here we are with a list of the top 20 destinations for all travelers.
Let’s go now, time to plan your trip.
Kashmir – The Heaven on Earth
Kashmir is well known for its captivating charm and is aptly nicknamed the ‘Heaven on Earth.’
Every single scene of Kashmir is picturesque – its lakes, fruit orchards, verdant grasslands; every aspect is heavenly.
Its forests, filled with thick scents of pines and deodars; its gardens, bursting with flowers and its mesmerizing valleys, are concealed within snow-covered peaks of Himalayan and Pir-Panjal ranges.
Kashmir seems to a fairyland, which has directly made its way to Earth from the skies.
So, Come to Kashmir and –
- Enjoy a heavenly ‘Shikara boat ride‘ on the immaculate ‘Dal Lake,’
- stroll through the beautiful ‘Mughal Gardens’,
- soak in the unchanged pastoral grace of ‘Betaab’ and ‘Aru’ valleys,
- pay homage to ‘Amarnath Ji,’ while standing amidst the ethereal beauty of the tiny town of ‘Chandanwari,’
- relish the moment of plucking a fresh walnut at one of the ‘Walnut Orchards’ or get a juicy apple from Apple Orchards
- brave the strong flow of River Sind while rafting in ‘Sonmarg.’
- revel in the adventure of worth LD’s loftiest Gondola ride at Gulmarg.
The magic of Kashmir, with its breathtaking sceneries, will surely captivate your heart and soul forever.
Be sure to buy traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and handlooms items. They are truly precious.
And try out some of the world-famous Aswan delicacies before returning from a memorable holiday in Kashmir.
Leh-Ladakh – A Silent Paradise
It is a land filled with magnificent snow-covered mountains, quiet alpine lakes, enchanting valleys, and ancient Buddhist monasteries.
Leh-Ladakh is a ‘must-visit destination for nature lovers and people seeking peace away from their busy city lives.
As home to some of the world’s tallest mountain passes and high-altitude trekking trails, Ladakh is a dream destination for adventure freaks across India and different corners of the world.
Come, visit Ladakh –
- To get a feel of spirituality and scenic divinity. Listen to the chants and psalms of lamas in the ‘Hemis Monastery,’
- Enjoy the tranquillity of ‘Pangong Lake’; it offers an indefinable sense of harmony and intimacy,
- To have an unforgettable experience of trekking on the frozen ‘Zanskar River,’
- To relish a unique sand-dune safari on the back of the Bactrian camel.
- Discover the rocky landscapes of ‘Nubra Valley
- Feel the excitement of sighting a snow leopard in the ‘Hemis National Park.’
Ladakh has something for all of its tourists.
Become part of the colorful ‘Hemis Festival. ‘
It is something that must definitely be on your itineraries if you travel to the mystic land of Leh-Ladakh.
Delhi – Old and New
Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the most preferred travel destinations in India.
The old Delhi is a city of monuments, crowding bazaars, and mouth-watering food to remind you of its rich past from the Mughal era.
While the new Delhi is more cosmopolitan and contemporary with its sprawling avenues, malls, luxurious resorts, and restaurants.
Delhi is a true amalgamation of age-old culture and present-day modernization; it offers –
1. A stroll through the narrow lanes of ‘Chandni Chowk’ while gorging on its lip-smacking chaats,
2. A real shopping adventure on the streets of ‘Sarojini Nagar’ or more exotic ‘Delhi Haat,’
3. A glimpse at the awe-inspiring Mughal architectural masterpieces of ‘Humayun’s Tomb’ and ‘Qutub Minar,’
4. Visit the ‘Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah’,
5. A picnic at the iconic ‘India Gate’;
Trust us, the list of ‘must-do things’ in Delhi has no end.
Agra – Unprecedented Mughal grandeur and
Agra needs no introduction.
Home of the eternal symbol of love, the iconic ‘Taj Mahal, ‘it is one of the most visited places on the world heritage map.
With its three jewels, the stunning Taj Mahal, the grandly Agra Fort, and spectacular Fatehpur Sikri; this city lures thousands of tourists all across the world.
Visit Agra to –
1. Savor on authentic Mughlai flavors,
2. Shop in the lively markets abounding with marble handicrafts, adorned with fine carvings and leather items,
3. Watch the epic love between Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved, Noor Jahan, at the ‘Kalakriti Cultural Convention Center.’
4. Soak your spirits in the enthralling festival of the ‘Taj Mahotsav, ‘
For a more adventurous face-off with this cultural city, explore the old city, ancient temples, or visit Mirza Ghalib’s birthplace.
Also Read: Top 5 best places to visit in Bangalore
Varanasi – the land of spirituality
If visiting India to explore its cultures, religions, and spirituality, your trip will be incomplete without a visit to the holy city of Varanasi.
Also called the city of ‘Moksha,’ this place holds a great religious significance for Hindus.
Varanasi is the place to –
- Pay homage to Lord Shiva in its famous ‘Kashi Vishwanath Temple,’
- take a dive in the holy waters of Ganga
- revel in the spiritual aura of the divine Ganga Aarti on the ‘Dasaswamedha Ghat’,
- take a walk along the Ghats, watching prayers and rituals
- gorge on delicacies, like the delicious ‘Benaras ki Chaat.’
- indulge in a unique shopping experience of world-renowned ‘Benarasi Silk Sarees.’
Varanasi is indeed an amazing place to visit in India.
Jaislamer – For its Rajputana magnificence and plethora of desert activities
Called the ‘Land of Golden Sand,’ Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is a beautiful city known for its rich cultural heritage and stories of the great Rajput rulers.
A romantic city set amidst endless stretches of golden Thar Desert, it pulls the travelers sitting in different corners of the world.
Jaisalmer impresses its every visitor with an extensive range of cultural offerings.
Rann of Kutch – For its rustic village life experience
The great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat one of the best places to see in India.
With its astounding natural beauty, the world’s one of the greatest salt deserts is swarmed by an endless number of tourists every year, especially during the famous ‘Rann Utsav’ when the white canvas gets painted into different hues and shades.
Come to enjoy –
- A walk along vast stretches of land to see the salt-making process,
- colorful migratory birds in the Chhari Dhand Bird Sanctuary
- breath-taking views of the infinite breadth of the Rann from ‘Kala Dungar’
- the artisans making exquisite embroidery pieces;
A trip to Rann of Kutch is truly an eye-opener.
In the night, enjoy a bonfire and watch dance performances under the moonlit sky with the tasty and spicy homemade Kutch delicacies.
Aurangabad – captivating ‘Ajanta & Ellora’ caves
Covered with ancient monuments, Aurangabad is a historical city located in Maharashtra.
Ruled by several dynasties in the past, today, it boasts of its rich heritage with its architectural marvels.
Mostly famous for its stunning Buddhist cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, Aurangabad is visited by tourists throughout the year for many other reasons too –
- Its magnificent ‘Bibi ka Maqbara’ that houses the tomb of Aurangzeb’s wife,
- Begum Rabia also attracts many historians, architects, and art lovers.
- The alluring gates like ‘Kala Darwaza’ and ‘Rangeen Darwaza’ are adorned with intricate carvings to provide a sneak peek into the artistic skills of the artisans of the past.
Sunderbans – For its enigmatic wilderness
Residence to the world’s vastest mangrove forests dwelled by the man-eating royal Bengal tigers, Sunderbans is one of the most popular offbeat places to visit in India.
Situated on the mouth of the mighty Brahmaputra and Ganges, the forests are sheltered to unlimited species of other wild animals, reptiles, and birds.
With its mysterious fervor, Sunderbans has always lured adventure buffs, nature lovers, and bird watchers from across the globe.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a gem of the North-East Himalayas.
Full of enchanting mountains, quaint little villages, pristine lakes, and vibrant Buddhist monasteries, Sikkim is a place to spend a peaceful holiday amidst extreme tranquillity.
Home of some spectacular trekking trails and rivers ideal for indulging in the real thrill of water rafting, this little state is a perfect adventure destination in India for trekkers, rafters, mountaineers, and rock climbers.
Come to enjoy –
- the breath-taking sceneries as you trek to the enchanting ‘Yumthang Valley’,
- the experience of the ‘Gurudongmar’ and ‘Cholamu’ lakes
- The ecstasy of braving the strong currents of River Teesta
- you navigate through twist and turns of the torrential river during the white water rafting adventure;
Sikkim never ceases to hypnotize you with its serene magic of nature.
Meghalaya – For its spellbinding man-made artistic splendors
Meghalaya is a hidden gem nestled in the lap of pine-covered Khasi and Garo Hills in the Eastern Himalayas.
Famed as Ine of the most picturesque states of North East India with its lush terraced slopes, gushing waterfalls, mystic caves, dense forests, and sparkling lakes and rivers, Meghalaya is an ideal holiday destination in India for trekkers, cavers, and nature enthusiasts.
Kerala – For its backwaters and much more
Pristine backwaters, coconut fringed beaches, rejuvenating Ayurvedic massages, and colorful festivals; let’s talk about God’s own country, Kerala, one of the most picturesque places in India with a footfall of thousands of tourists every year.
Placed between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, Kerala is blessed with immense natural beauty.
Visit Kerela for –
- A remarkable houseboat stays on the backwaters of Alleppey,
- strolls through lush slopes and sprawling tea gardens of ‘Munnar’,
- fascinating elephant rides at the ‘Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.’
- watching fascinating Kathakali performance at the ‘Kathakali Centre.’
Kerala is a destination worth traveling to once in a lifetime.
Hampi
A city submerged in the famous past of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi is one of the best places to see in India.
Ruins of a number of strikingly beautiful monuments, temples, and palaces still tell the tales of grandeur and magnificence of the Vijayanagara rulers.
Take a walk through the streets of Hampi and discover the hidden stories of a great empire whose grandiosity and magnificence is today lost in history.
A trip to this historic city is incomplete without attending the ‘Hampi Utsav’ when the whole city comes alive with a live cultural dance performance.
It takes place in the backdrop of the splendid ruins lit up in glittering lights, making it an exceptional sight to behold.
Mysore – For its rich culture
Considered the cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore is well known for its ornate palaces and gardens.
Every attraction of Mysore unfolds a new story about the city’s glorious past: whether –
- walking past the intricate pathways of the magnificent ‘Mysore City Palace.’ It is dazzling with thousands of bulbs against the dark night sky,
- take a stroll through the sprawling ‘Brindavan Gardens’ with musical fountains lining up along the pathways
- witness a royal procession of colorfully decked up elephants during the world-famous ‘Mysore Dasara Festival’,
- take a climb up to the ‘Chamundeshwari Temple’ perched on the ‘Chamundi Hill’
- get awe-struck with the spectacle of the well preserved ‘Hoyasala Temples’ in Somnathpur
- the city of Tipu Sultan continues to fascinate you with its rich cultural heritage.
To enjoy an unmatched travel experience, a visit to this beautiful city is a must for every travel enthusiast.
Andaman & Nicobar – For its pristine beauty and array of water sports
Andaman & Nicobar are a group of more than 500 shimmering islands tucked in an infinite expanse of the Bay of Bengal.
Relatively novel, these islands have that enigmatic charm that lures thousands of tourists every year.
Packed with arrays of interesting activities, a visit here is sure to be one of the best vacations in India.
If looking for an adventurous twist –
- Go for safaris through thick mangrove forests to dark limestone caves at the ‘Baratang Island’,
- take a trek to the ‘Saddle Peak’ snaking through scenic landscapes and thick forests
- camp under the open moonlit sky
- indulge in some world-class scuba diving and sea walking experience
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is one place with a lot of things to offer in its bosom. Also known as the ‘ ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas’, this quaint city is known for its beauty, sanctity, adventure options, and magnificent places to visit in Rishikesh.
Filled with sacred temples, pious ghats, tranquil ashrams, and evergreen forests, this serene city has something for everyone.
Manali
With its snowy mountains, cascading waterfalls, and serene valleys Manali is one of the best places to see in India.
Come with friends or solo, enjoy some of the greatest hiking trips in India!
Pushkar
Regarded as one of the oldest cities in India, filled with interesting leftovers of a past time, Pushkar is a must-visit.
This little destination has a lot of places to enjoy, best-in-class resorts, and has the Brahma Temple, which is one of its kind in the whole world.
Whether visiting this place to learn about the ancient culture or just for some vacation, this place will never let you down.
Dharamshala
On the top of the Kangra lies an amazing place, Dharamshala, which has become one of the favorite destinations of all seekers of peace.
The city is surrounded by a thick front of deodar cedar trees, and it is one of the major strongholds for the Tibetan evacuees and the seat of the fourteenth Dalai Lama of the Tibetan faction of Buddhism.
With thick pine and deodar backwoods, various streams, cool sound air, an appealing environment and the close-by snowline, Dharamshala has everything for a laidback stay.
Ranthambore
Ranthambore is famous for the National Park, which is one of the very renowned ones in India.
Among its other attractions, Ranthambore National Park has various guests around the year since it has an extensive variety of uncommon creature and winged animal species.
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh being a northeastern state, justifies it’s beauty by it’s lush green forests and eye pleasing beauty. Arunachal is also known as state of ‘Rising sun’. It is not only one of the beautiful places to visit but is one of the largest of seven sisters of northeast. Some of the places to visit in Arunachal Pradesh are:
- Tezu
- Damro
- Roing
- Tawang
- Ziro Valley
- Sela Pass
- Namdapha National Park
- Nuranang Falls
- Itanagar ,etc.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling plays a major role in enhancing the West Bengal’s beauty. It is usually famous for it’s tea, but apart from that people know Darjeeling because of it’s waterfalls (such as Bakthang waterfall), world’s third largest mountain Kanchenjunga Mountain and for Himalayan Railway also known as Toy Train. Visiting Darjeeling will always give a never forgetting experience.
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is located in Madhya Pradesh and is famous it’s awesomely structured temples and sparkling waterfalls. If you are a kind of person who is fond of temples and loves to explore structured monuments and temples, then my friend Chhattisgarh is meant for you. Raipur, Bisalpur, Durg, Jagdalpur like places will make you go woahh!! . The place attracts us by it’s beautiful Parpatiya Sunset Point and Mercury falls.
KARNATAKA
Karnataka is a place which will make you fall for it’s culture, dance, songs and food. It is one of the beautiful places you will be seeing in Southwest India. Karnataka offers you to look around the temples made who’s beauty can’t be explained in words. The place not only has architecture and culture to adore but also has wide variety of fauna and flora, in which you will mostly get the glimpse of tigers, Indian roller and elephants.
Karnataka also has some well known national parks such as: Bandipur, Anshi, Kudremukh, Bannerghatta, and Nagarhole. It has famous places like Hampi, Mysore Palace,etc. It is the 6th largest state in India. You will see people mostly using their native language, that is, Kannada.
Lunglei (Mizoram)
Lunglei literally means “the bridge of rock”. The place is located at southern area of Mizoram and is often admired for it’s natural landscapes. It comes under the list of ‘unexplored India’. Activities such as Bird watching, Trekking and other adventure sports are enjoyed by the tourists. Khawnglung wildlife santuary has become of the attraction point for the place.
So, there you go. Time to pack your bags and visit some of the best places to see in India.
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