

It’s hard to pick a handful of unforgettable tourist destination from the length and breadth of the Indian sub-continent.  However, some of the travel destinations stand apart from others in terms of being tourist friendly.

10 Unforgettable and Best Places to Visit in India

1. The Golden Triangle

Places to visit in India - Agra

This is a popular tourist route covering three famous cities in the country namely Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The circuit covers about 720 kilometres by road.

The trip from Delhi to Agra would take a little less than 4 hours by the Taj Express Highway and round 6 hours by the NH 19 or NH44. From Agra to Jaipur it takes around 4 hours by road. Timeless forts, palaces and the iconic Taj Mahal are some of the prominent and romantic places to visit.

2. The Hill Stations of The North

For centuries together, the mountain ranges of the north have been a popular summer haven. There are a number of popular destinations on the Himalayan range to choose from. Khajjiar (often called the Switzerland of India) and Dalhousie of the Chamba district, Dharmashala, Shimla and Kullu Manali are some of the most popular of them. For the more adventurous, the snowy ranges offer a host of winter sports hot spots during the winter months.

3. The Leh Region

Places to visit in india - Leh

Adventurous, intriguing and a path less trodden is Ladakh, an arid region, basically a high-altitude desert rich in flora and fauna. The region is accessible by air, road and train. The airport at Leh is well connected to most of the major cities in India. Heavy snowfall makes roads inaccessible during winter, however, between May and September the road is open.

4. The Untainted Beauty of The North East

places to visit in india - north-east-meghalaya

Living tree root bridge(Meghalaya) | Photo by jidanchaomian | CC BY-SA 2.0

The north-eastern states of the Indian sub-continent are fast growing tourist regions. The region consists of eight states namely Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Assam is known for its untainted greenery and its wildlife sanctuaries. Manipur is a fast-growing travel destination. Meghalaya with its living bridges and houses the wettest place in the country. Experience the traditions of tribal culture in Mizoram. In Sikkim, visit the Buddhist monasteries at Gangtok or view the Kanchenjunga, the tallest peak of India from Pelling.

5. Goa 

Places to visit in India - Goa

Experience the rendezvous of two cultures living together in serene harmony at Goa. Well known for its white sand beaches, Goa is the place to be for beach aficionados. The place offers a range of adventurous water sports, river cruises and a whole range of exotic cuisines.

6. Mumbai

Places to visit in India - The Gateway of India -Mumbai

Mumbai thrives with life. There is so much to do in this ‘global city’. Food, shopping, entertainments there is always something interesting for everyone. From adventure sports to visit the tinsel town, from luxury cruise to adventure water sports, from a helicopter ride to bicycle ride in the night, from shopping, exploring local, international and exotic cuisine, the list of things to do in Mumbai is never-ending. The city will never fail to surprise you.

7. Kerala

Places to visit in India - kerala-backwaters

A feast to the eyes with greenery everywhere, Kerala is an experience in itself. From the cuisine to the culture there is an air of tradition in everything around. With a coastline of around 580 kilometres, Kerala hosts an array of beaches. Take a houseboat tour in one of the sprawling backwaters of Alleppey, Kumarakom, Cochin, Kuttanad and the like. If you are not convinced yet, see this Kerala itinerary!

8. Kolkata

Places to visit in India - Kolkata

The bustling port city of India has more than what meets the eye. There are a lot of interesting things to do like shop at the Burrabazzar, view the Howrah Bridge at night or simply tour the city in a tram. The city is a haven for seafood lovers and the perfect place to satisfy your cravings for sweet Bengali desserts. For the more enterprising, take a boat ride in the marshy waters of the Sundarban mangrove. Visit the eco-village to get a whole new perspective of nature.

9. Bangalore

Places to visit in India - Bangalore

Named the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore never loses its charm even with its ever-growing population. There is always something to shop, new places to eat out at and new things to do. After all this, if nature is still a priority on your list, take a trip to the Jog Falls at Shimoga. A seven-hour drive will take you to the second tallest waterfall in the country. There are other getaways at a shorter distance like Coorg, Chikmagalur, Horsley Hills, Yelagiri Hills etc.

10. Chennai

Places to visit in India - Chennai

One among the four metros, Chennai has a culture of its own. Walk along the famous beach, or just enjoy at one of the local eateries. Travel a few kilometres out of the city and you will reach Mahabalipuram, known for its stone carved temples and monuments. Kanchipuram is another neighbouring town known for its spiritual significance and the famous Kanchipuram weaves. Another place of interest is the Pulicat lake near Sriharikota, a migration stopover for birds like flamingoes. At about 160 kilometres from Chennai is Pondicherry, the quintessential colonial town of the bygone French era.

Diversity in landscape, climate, culture and cuisine – that’s India for you. Every place you set foot on the Indian sub-continent, has something interesting to offer to the avid traveller. However, a few of them stand apart, in terms of being well-established tourist destinations or as fast-growing ones, like the ones mentioned above.

About the Author: 

 Rohit Agarwal

Rohit Agarwal


Rohit is a keen traveller. Travelling and disseminating travel-related information to other enthusiastic travellers is his passion. He shares his experience at Trans India Travels.