Where to Go Next: 10 Breathtaking Places to Visit in India in 2023
The destinations of India provide you one of the finest experiences of your life. From the northern to the southern belt of India, India is full of mesmerizing beauty at the best. You not only have the temples in India but also the lakes, forts, places, the wonderful beaches, backwaters and the pristine hill stations. The beauty of India cannot be described in words and you will find the variations when you travel from the northern to the southern belts. On the one hand you have the meadows of the splendid Kashmir and Himachal and on the other hand, you have the wonderful forts, palaces of Rajasthan. On the one hand, you have the splendid beaches and backwater destinations of Goa as well as Kerala and on the other hand, you have the mesmerizing national parks like the Jim Corbett and the Ranthambore. The southern states of the country are famous for the wonderful architecture of the ancient and medieval temples.
Overall, the destinations in India will provide you some of the finest experiences of life and you will also get the opportunity to interact with the different people as well as the cultures. The Himalayan regions in India are excellent trekking destinations. Here is the list of top 10 popular tourist destinations in India which you should not miss out these places.
The Taj Mahal, Agra
The Taj Mahal located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh is a white marble mausoleum. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of this white marble monument in 1632 by the remorse of losing Queen Mumtaz at childbirth. Shah Jahan said of Taj Mahal as a monument where the guilty heart may be freed from the pain of love, by the magnificent glory of the creator. Exploring Taj Mahal as a tourist destination unveils a magnificent glory of pure white symmetry made in marble. Special moonlit Taj Mahal tours are also arranged on full moon nights. The exquisite mausoleum is also the tomb of the Queen and King, forever together in their eternal Kingdom. Many myths surround this old monument. It is said to be originally an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Many interior chambers are kept closed for visitors. The walls are decorated by intricate calligraphy. Ninety-Nine names of the Almighty Allah are inscribed on the sides of tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal literally means the crown of all monuments.
Vijayanagara Ruins, Hampi
The ruins of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire at Hampi in Karnataka are enlisted in the list of World Heritage Sites. Vijayanagara literally means the ‘City of Victory’ and Hampi means ‘The Champion’. Located by the banks of the Tungabhadra River, the city flourished in the 1500. In that time, it was the second largest city of the World! The City was constructed on all sides from the epicenter of the Virupaksha Temple complex. Visit this ancient temple of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the empire. Although the city ceases to exist, the temple stands eternally as a seat of silent holiness. Any tour with Vijayanagar Empire as a tourist place always includes some time at the temple. It is open to people of all faith! Although late Jawaharlal Nehru mentioned Hampi in his ‘Discovery of India’, yet the heritage is now threatened by modern constructions and heavy traffic. Travelers should always remember to maintain due respect this ancient Kingdom of Mighty Victory always deserved in its glorious times.
Mountain Railways of India
India happens to offer the priceless experience of traveling in ‘toy trains’ around beautiful hilly terrains. These narrow-gauge tracks were established during the British era to cover small hill stations easily. Traveling in these trains is an extraordinary experience as they are very small to scale compared to the usual train compartments. Total Seven Tracks are in run by the Mountain Railways of India. Four of these tracks are in the Himalayan terrains, and one each can be travelled at Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, the Kalka Shimla track, and the Nilgiri Mountain track (Tamil Nadu) have been classified collectively as World Heritage Sites. Traveling in these picturesque trains through abundant natural scenery often creates the impression of finding yourself in a Picture Postcard of old times! It is not only a trip into magical nature, but also very much a trip into time. As soon as you board the trains, the experience takes you to a time when folks dressed in Victorian costumes!
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Madhya Pradesh
The central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has many amazing places to explore. Known famously for the Bandhavgarh forests, it also has many old forts, temples, and monuments. Among the oldest places to visit in Madhya Pradesh, the Bhimbetka Rock shelters are among the oldest places of planet Earth! The caves are legendary as the seat of the Powerful Bhima, the Mighty hero of Mahabharata. You should be allowing sufficient time for exploring Bhimbetka caves as a tourist place in details. The cave paintings are classified into Seven Periods, from the Upper Paleolithic Age to the Medieval Period. Scenes of ancient hunters with bows and swords are depicted beside the image of a big wild boar. There are many caves located in the Ratapani Wildlife sanctuary. A total of 750 caves have been identified and archived. Outside the rock shelters, there is a phenomenal natural formation of a Rock Tortoise! One of the most famous group of paintings show a peacock, a snake, and a deer under the sun.
Golden Temple, Amritsar
The Golden Temple Amritsar is the holiest shrine for the Sikh. It holds the same value for Sikhs as Varanasi is for Hindus and Mecca is for people of Islam faith. People of all religion are welcome in this magnificent citadel with a golden tomb. The cornerstone of this monument was actually laid by Muslim Saint Sufi Sai Hazrat Mian Mir in 1588. It was also in this monument that the Adi Granth was completed and installed as the presiding deity of the temple. More than 100,000 people usually visit the Golden temple as a tourist place. It is no doubt the topmost destination of all places to visit in Punjab. The monument has four open doors on all four sides to signify the heart-warming welcome to people of all faith. All one needs to do is to cover the head in a piece of cloth as a show of respect. Visiting this beautiful citadel presents a very humbling spiritual experience for anyone.
Kerala Backwaters
The Kerala Backwaters represent a natural network of brackish lagoons formed by the network of deltas of rivers flowing the Arabian Sea. At some places, the tributaries are narrow and at places they are wide. About nine main rivers and thirty five small rivers create this extraordinary network of waters. Visit Kerala Backwaters with proper prior planning to see the amazing snake boat races held on the river. The serpentine boats are hauled at once by more than hundred oarsmen! These are also beautiful as honeymoon destinations as you can book houseboats to experience the serenity of the river in your personal luxury. Apart from the back waters, there are many other amazing sea shores to explore Kerala as a tourist place. The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, and Kanya Kumari are other major tourist places. Kerala also has many wonderful hill stations such as Munnar and Thekkady. Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of India. There is a Rock Island in the sea visible from the shore. It houses the temple of sage Vivekananda who swam over here to mediate at the confluence of three oceans!
Udaipur and Jaipur, Rajasthan
Many travelers visit India exclusively to explore the majesty of Rajasthan. This desert state in Western India houses the ruins of many old forts and temples in almost every key destination. Rajasthan literally means the ‘Place of the Kings’. Many of the old palaces are still in excellent condition and are open for tourists to experience the brave splendor of Rajputana. Apart from the capital city Jaipur, Udaipur is a major tourist destination. This old desert town is also called the Lake City, which was once like an oasis for the warring Rajputs of desert lands. The four lakes, Swaroop Sagar, Lake Pichola, Udai Sagar, and Fateh Sagar Lake are very beautiful. Other two lakes are Dudh Talai Lake and Rang Sagar Lake. The Lake Palace is situated on an entire island on the Pichola Lake. Explore Udaipur as a tourist place to bask in the nostalgic glory of brave Rajput warriors of the Mewar Kingdom. In Rajasthan, tourists can enjoy real royal Indian luxury because many old palaces have been converted to luxury star hotels.
Leh Ladakh
Right in contrast to the arid weather of desert Rajasthan, the cool sanctuary of Leh and Ladakh are well known destinations for international travelers. The cold winds carry far the hum of the many Buddhist monasteries that you can find in this place. These deserted Himalayan valleys are exquisitely beautiful and they are considered international mountain adventure destinations. Besides the usual mountaineering expeditions, travelers can also enjoy a Yak ride in the valleys. Monasteries to visit in Ladakh as a tourism destination include the Spituk Monastery, the Lamayuru Monastery, the Sankar Gompa, Phugtal Gompa, Alchi Hompa, and Thiksey Monastery. You can also plan your trip in time to be a part of heritage hilly festivals. The Ladakh festival, the Sindhu Darshan, Losar, Thiksay Gustor, and the Harvest Festival are major events. Leh is the capital town of the Ladakh region. Travelers usually start from a base camp in Leh to explore the rest of this serene valley.
Beaches in Goa
The Beaches in Goa are the most popular among Western Travelers. Goa is one of those few shores in India where a woman can lazily sunbath without annoying ogling crowds. Of course, this is not possible in all beaches as the popular ones remain crowded. However, the shoreline of Goa has many amazing secluded beaches where you can relax and enjoy. Goa is famous for its seaside shacks, psychedelic trance culture (started by the Hippies), and fascinating local handicrafts. The cuisine of Goa is also very special as this place was a Portuguese habitat in its entire history. The blending of Indian and Portuguese culture creates a special western mindset in Goa, in the Indian ambience. The Cavelossim Beach is one of the secluded ones. Agonda, Mandrem and Candolim beach also remain fairly empty of unmannered crowds. Visit beaches in Goa for the ecstatic night parties of psychedelic trance music. The Baga Beach is most popular for the parties.
Jammu and Kashmir
Although it is touted as a place of unrest, Jammu and Kashmir are among the most beautiful tourist destinations in the planet. Many people all over the world visit the picturesque Crown State of India. Main places to visit here include beautiful Pahalgam, Capital Srinagar, Sonmarg, and Yusmarg. The Dal Lake on Srinagar is famous for its house boat experience. Kashmir as a tourist place has its own share of amazing mysteries! Do you know that there is a tomb in Srinagar marked as the tomb of Jesus Christ! Very few know this. As the myths go, Jesus reportedly traveled to India after his resurrection from the dead! The state is mainly famous for its winter sports and mesmerizing scenic beauty. They are perfect as honeymoon destinations. Mughal emperor Jehangir once said if there is heaven anywhere on earth, then it is in Kashmir! Jammu is the summer capital and Srinagar is the winter capital.
Ending Up
There are top ten tourist attractions listed above. Basically, the fun is from Kashmir to Kanyakumari throughout. Travel to India to explore this amazing phantasmagoria of experiences at every corner of the country. Both the natural heritage and the ancient history of India present a Pandora’s Box of unforgettable experiences. From the mythical Taj Mahal to the sun-kissed shores of Goa and the forts of Udaipur, India reveals like an amazing bioscope to the seer! The diversity of weather allows year around explorations. The hot summers can be spent in Kashmir or in any of the many Himachal hill stations! Many tourists also brave the summer with their scarves and shades to feel India, as it is, to its common folk. As it is, there is always shade from the heat somewhere!