Best places to visit in India
Where should you go on a trip to India?
There’s a real reason why I return to travel in India, year-after-year and that’s simply because there is so many amazing places to visit! India is one of the most diverse countries on the planet and is the perfect playground for exploration. I say this because everything exists all so conveniently under the roof of one country. In one trip, you could quite easily trek through snow-capped mountains, ride camels in the dry desert and then sweat buckets in the hot and humid rainforests of the south, all without the need to cross any political borders or pay for multiple tourist visas!
I couldn’t possibly talk about all the best places to visit in India within this one post alone, so rather than recommending specific sites, I am going to instead offer some more general tips and pointers to help you with your own travel planning. Before we proceed, I would firstly like to give 2x top tips that are especially relevant for travelling in India…
#Tip 1: Don’t try and see everything in one go!
India is a huge country with an abundance of things to see, smell, taste and do. The first time visitor can often feel overwhelmed by the great range of options on tap. In fact, it would actually take you many years to explore everything worthy that the country has to offer.
Furthermore, travelling in India is typically a slow and strenuous process and there are often vast distances to cover when moving between locations. In this way the best itineraries are always the simplest and it’s advisable to plan a trip that includes less gallivanting with a focus on one or two key sites per visit.
#Tip 2: Get Away From The Crowds!
India’s cities are fast paced, full of colour and can be great fun, but my guess is that for most travellers, you will probably have had enough of all the crowds and chaos after the first few days.
I always advise people to plan a travel itinerary that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of India’s hectic urban centres, so you can then discover the country’s more serene side. Here are some of my favourite places to visit in India…
DELHI
Delhi is the gateway to India and in most cases your trip will start and finish here. The city serves as a convenient base for connecting on to the vast majority of India’s most popular tourist attractions, some of which are actually within Delhi itself.
The city is a vibrant blend of the old world meeting the new. In one daytrip, you could easily take a cycle rickshaw ride into India’s past; winding your way through ancient cobbled streets that have hardly changed in hundreds of years, while turning around the corner and stopping for lunch at Nandos!
Highlights:
Bazaars of Paharganj: A hectic market stall district opposite New Delhi Railway station and a popular area for backpackers with many budget hotels to choose from.
Red Fort: The headstone of Delhi’s monuments and set in the heart of the Old City. Definitely take a cycle rickshaw through the old town of Chandni Chowk and have your camera ready for some photographic gems!
Humayan’s Tomb: A stunning red brick and marble tomb that is exemplary of Moghul architecture, more famously depicted in the Taj Mahal. The tomb has stunning gardens and is the perfect place to get away from the madness on the streets.
Qutb Minar: Set quite a distance away in the suburbs, but easily reachable by Delhi’s excellent metro service is the ancient 12th century complex with an impressive tower as it’s centrepiece.
THE HIMALAYAS
Snowy mountain peaks, emerald green rivers and lush valleys are the focus in this area of outstanding natural beauty. The foothills are the ultimate trekking destination with some excellent (if not challenging) trails to follow. For the less active explorer there are several fantastic toy trains that run deep into the region, offering a more sedentary platform to absorb the magnificence of the mountains. The area is perhaps slightly modest in its description (foothills), which actually serve as the gateway into the greatest mountain range on the planet. Be prepared for some heady heights, extreme altitudes but ultimately the most extravagant scenery ever!
Highlights:
Rishikesh: Known as the Yoga Capital of India and the place that captured the imagination of The Beatles back in the 1960s. Rishikesh is set in the lower foothills on the river Ganges and is also a popular spot for white water rafting.
Shimla: Once known as the summer capital of India during the times of the British Raj, this hill station has stunning views of the snowy mountains beyond and a great pedestrianised walk through the main town. The best way to reach it is via the famous Kalka-Shimla Toy train.
Dharamsala: A beautiful and calm hill station that’s popular amongst spiritual seekers. The town feels more like Tibet nowadays, as it has been home to the Dalai Lama ever since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959.
Leh: A remote hill station set deep within the region and the best base for exploring the surreal, yet stunning desert moonscape scenery of Ladakh. The road is snowed over for most of the year and the town remains cut-off from the rest of the world, but opens during the summer months. If you can stomach the two-day journey from Manali on bumpy roads and narrow passes then this place is well worth a visit.
Darjeeling: Set in a beautiful and lush region to the east of the Himalayas, Darjeeling is the ultimate hill station for getting away from the frenzy of Kolkata. It is connected by another great train journey (although very slow) from Siliguri. This town is also popular for some of the best tea in the region, which is grown in the surrounding tea plantations.
FORTS AND TEMPLES
India’s ancient forts and temples are exemplary to the extraordinary legacy of architectural skill and craftsmanship that prevails throughout the land. They all serve as footprints – set in stone – to reflect the blossoming of India’s diverse cultural and religious history. So whether it is a golden-crusted temple shimmering in the sunlight or a lavishly carved tomb devoted to love; India is blooming with plenty of architectural treasures that are well worth a visit. The so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ is perhaps the most well trodden tourist circuit in India, capturing many of India’s most prolific monuments along the way. It starts in Delhi and traverses south into the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Highlights:
The Taj Mahal: I suppose the most popular place to visit in India on everyone’s bucket list. The tomb is actually a breath-taking piece of architecture and definitely lives up to all the hype.
The Golden Temple: The temple is a holy shrine and the most famous pilgrimage site for followers of the Sikh religion. It is beautifully constructed with embroidered gold panels and an elaborate onion-shaped dome on top that contains 750kg of gilded gold!
Khajuraho Monuments: Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and most notable for their distinct nagar-style architecture and erotic statues.
Hampi Monuments: One of the best sites to visit for monuments in the South of the country is the beautiful town of Hampi. Listed as another UNESCO world heritage site, the village is set amongst the ruins of the ancient city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Ajanta and Ellora Caves: The Ajanta and Ellora caves are perhaps less popular compared to many of the northern landmarks, but in no way does this make them any less extravagant. Located almost in the middle of nowhere (approximately 250 miles from Mumbai) the caves have been elaborately carved into the hillside rock and are guaranteed to take your breath away.
SACRED RIVERS
The Ganges is India’s most holy river, which runs right across the core of the country and deep into the heart of Hindu mythology. Attached by many conjoining rivers, its holy waters are a vital source of irrigation. The path of the great river is dotted with many towns and settlements of great sanctity, which are of vital economic and spiritual importance to the country.
Highlights:
Varanasi: This is perhaps the holiest and most popular of all India’s riverside settlements. Pilgrims flock to Varanasi from all around the world to worship, to meditate, to bathe and most notably to lay the dead to rest.
Haridwar: This deeply holy place is said to be one of the oldest cities in the world. It is the last hilly location of the river Ganges before it cascades into the plains and begins a 2000km journey across India. Hindu mythology has placed Vishnu’s footprint on the riverbank, making it one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism.
TROPICAL BEACHES
With more than 4,500 miles of sub-tropical coastline to explore, India’s eclectic range of beaches offer something for all tastes. So, whether it’s sunsets, snorkelling, seafood, sand or seclusion that you seek, you can be sure to find it all right here on the sub-continent of India.
Highlights:
Goa: The palm-fringed beaches of Goa have long provided a magical escape for foreign visitors and the region is very well equipped (if not slightly saturated) for tourism.
Karnataka: The beaches in this state are reminiscent of Goa about 10 years ago. There are plenty of picturesque beaches here located at some beautiful and significantly sacred Hindu settlements.
Kerala: Further south along the south west coast and you eventually arrive into the state of Kerala; modestly referred to by the Indian Tourist Board as God’s own Country. Kerala is home to some fantastic beaches and idyllic backwaters to explore.
Andaman Islands: Further afield (but well worth the journey) are India’s remote Andaman Islands, which are situated far away from the mainland, providing some of the most breath-taking white sand beaches and coral coastlines you could ever find in this world.
WONDERFUL WILDLIFE
No matter what region of India, you are never too far away from a National Park, which (if you have the time and patience) can provide you with the perfect chance to spot a whole range of amazing plants and animals. Many of India’s National Parks are home to wild tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, antelopes, monkeys, snakes and wild boar amongst many other species too. In some regions you will even get the opportunity to spot rhinos, lions and snow leopards plus a whole range of bright and colourful birdlife. India truly is a treasure chest for biodiversity and the perfect place to feel a bit like Mowgli in the jungle!
Highlights:
Ranthambore National Park: Best for tiger spotting and easy access from Delhi.
Gir National Park: Best for seeing lions and leopards.
Kaziranga National Park: Best for rhinos and elephant safaris.
Sunderbans National Park: Best for river safaris and dense jungles.
Valley of Flowers National Park: Well…best for flowers I suppose!
Nagahole and Bandipur National Park: Best for wild elephants.