Here is a fun bucket list of the 25 Best Places in India You Must See in Your Lifetime. There are various unexplored sights and natural attractions present at different places in India. These are the best places in India which are ranked by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Award.
1) New Delhi, Delhi
New Delhi tops the list of best places in India.New Delhi is all at once chaotic and calm, a complicated city where cows often wander the shanty-lined streets. The 17th century Red Fort is a mass of domes and turrets while Chandni Chowk is an exercise in friendly haggling. Jantar Mantar features larger-than-life sundials and astronomical instruments that are still used to predict the weather. Travelers and locals flock to the India Gate, the national monument of India that honors the soldiers who died in World War I and the Third Afghan War.
2) Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur is one of the Best Places in India. If you take one look at the glorious stucco buildings that line Jaipur’s wide streets, you’ll understand why this is nicknamed “The Pink City.” Spend your days exploring City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and Amber and Jaigarh forts. And if you’re looking for a unique souvenir, head to one of the bazaars, where you can pick up a pair of camel leather slippers.
3) Goa, India
Goa comes 3rd in the list of 25 Best Places in India. The sandy coast of Goa is perfect for reclining by the sea. Nestle into a cushioned chair at a beach shack and savor a curry, watching the sun slip lazily below the horizon. In Old Goa, the beautiful Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fine example of baroque architecture. Visit during Christmas time to experience a fantastic religious and cultural mash-up of East and West.
4) Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai comes 4th in the list of 25 Best Places in India.Though Mumbai can feel chaotic and crowded, there are peaceful moments to be found here. Nibble a paper cone of bhelpuri while you stroll the sands of Chowpatty Beach. Then, take a short walk to Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi once lived, strategized, and was ultimately arrested. The markets are spirited places to bargain for spices or souvenirs. Take a guided tour of Dharavi – made famous by “Slumdog Millionaire” – for an eye-opening glimpse into what Mumbai life is like for nearly a million people.
5) Udaipur, Rajasthan
Udaipur comes 5th in the list of 25 Best Places in India. Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East, boasts several sparkling lakes against a backdrop of the Aravali hills. Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir, islands in Fateh Sagar Lake, are the site of Udaipur Solar Observatory and Nehru Garden. Famous palaces include the magical Lake Palace, now a luxurious five-star hotel, and the massive City Palace on Pichola’s east bank, featuring epic courtyards and stunning paintings.
6) Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
The dramatic and romantic desert fortress of Jaisalmer is an exotic city in Rajasthan’s great Thar Desert. “The Golden City” rose to prominence as a result of its position on camel trade routes. It’s now most famous for the 12th-century fort and ornate “Havelis,” fine merchant-built houses and pavilions in the city’s medieval lanes. The surrounding Desert National Park offers opportunities to observe blackbucks, desert foxes and chinkaras amid the rolling dunes, rugged crags, and waterholes.
7) Bengaluru, Karnataka
Known as both the “Garden City” and “The Silicon Valley of India,” Bangalore (officially “Bengaluru”) is a techie’s paradise, boasting the highest concentration of IT companies in the country. When you’re done geeking out, there are plenty of gardens, museums, natural features, palaces and temples to fill your dance card. Visit Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and the Ulsoor Lake of Bangalore, well known for its beautiful locales and boating facilities. Bangalore is also a major center of Indian classical music and dance, and of vivid, cutting-edge nightlife.
8) Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Where better to go for a romantic vacation than to the great testament of love, the Taj Mahal? Built by the grieving Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal’s unrivaled beauty explains why it’s regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world. A visit to India wouldn’t be complete without it. Other must-experience destinations in Agra are two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the sandstone Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
9) Kochi, India
A blending of several small villages on the southwestern coast created the current incarnation of Kochi (or Cochin), where sunset strolls, sampling fresh fish from seaside vendors and boat rides through the islands just offshore top visitors’ to-do lists. Art centers showcase the traditional dance, Kathakali. European influences are seen in the 16th-century Portuguese-built churches and forts while the mark of early Chinese traders is visible in the unusual fishing nets dotting the shoreline.
10) Manali, Himachal Pradesh
What a rush, huh? No wonder the towering peaks and verdant terrain of Manali attract adventure travelers, with heli-skiing, hiking, mountaineering and river rafting the favored active pursuits or take a medicinal soak in the hot springs bubbling from the ground a 30-minute walk from town.
11) Munnar, Kerala
Sprawling tea plantations surround the serene hills of Munnar, which attract adventure travelers hungry for paragliding, treks to Anaimudi (South India’s highest peak) and hikes originating at the confluence of three mountain streams. The stone Christ Church, built by the British in 1910, is adorned with renowned works of stained glass, and Eravikulam National Park, about 10 miles away, is home to equally colorful wildlife, including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (ibex), ruddy mongoose and 120 bird species.
12) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
The diverse population of Chennai (Madras) is reflected in its rich cultural scene. You’ll find serious theater as well as the glitz and glamor of Kollywood. Chennai is also an important center for the Bharatanatyam, a local form of classical dance. Visit in January, for the festival of Pongal, or in April, when Chennai celebrates its new year.
25 Best Places in India You Must See in Your Lifetime
13) Hyderabad, Telangana
An ancient granite fort keeps watch on this city of mosques and bazaars. On the site of the former town center sits its most iconic building, the Charminar, built in 1591 with a quartet of 160-foot minarets. Across Hussain Sagar, a man-made lake, is Hyderabad’s twin, the city of Secunderabad.
14) Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The holy city of Rishikesh, in the base of the Himalayas, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for local Hindus. Sacred rivers and mountains set the scene for yoga and reflective hikes, and rafting here is an absolute must. The Beatles got in touch with their Eastern spiritual side here, writing several songs during a 1968 stint at a local ashram.
15) Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Srinagar is a modern Waterworld, dominated by Dal Lake and its twisting waterways, tree-lined Nagin Lake, and the Jhelum River. Engulf yourself in local culture by embracing your sea legs and renting one of the wooden boats called shikaras for a daytime or twilight cruise. On land, stroll through the terraced hillsides of the 400-year-old Mughal Gardens, created by Emperor Jehangir for his wife, and shop for indigenous crafts like hand-woven silks and embroidered shawls.
16) Pune, Maharashtra
Education, the arts, and music are staples of life in the culture-rich city of Pune. The Pataleshwar Cave Temple, dating to the eighth century is a marvel of rock-cut architecture.
17) Gurgaon, Haryana
Located near the National Capital Region of Delhi, this upcoming district houses numerous multinational companies and as a result has plenty of tourist-friendly malls, hotels, and restaurants. For a more rural setting, visit nearby Sohna, which is surrounded by ancient ruins and known for its hot springs.
18) Jodhpur, India
Surrounded by a huge fortress wall with bastions, the striking blue buildings in Jodhpur contrast sharply and beautifully with the neighboring Thar Desert. Exploring the palaces and forts will keep you busy and in awe of the city’s historic grandeur. Bazaars offer a range of beautiful textiles, embroidered leather goods, lacquerware, antiques, carpets, puppets, and figurines. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination and a convenient base for travel in the region.
19) Kolkata, West Bengal
Kolkata comes on the 19th position in the list of 25 Best Places in India. This former British colonial stronghold boasts evidence of over two millennia of habitation, with ornate, architecturally diverse buildings, ranging from crumbling ruins to Victorian treasures. Home to lively festivals and a vibrant artistic community and glamorous markets, this city is crowded and polluted, but ultimately invigorating.
20) Amritsar, Punjab
Amritsar is a major commercial and cultural center in the heart of Punjab. The city is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion and is home to the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. Respectfully marvel at the Indian and Pakistani soldiers who march-off nightly at the Wagah Border, and at the Jallianwala Bagh the site of the 1919 Amritsar Massacre in 1919. Really Amritsar is one of the Best Places in India.
21) Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Snow-capped Himalayan peaks and green pastures surround Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Enjoy a heritage walk through Shimla’s Victorian-era architecture, labyrinthine bazaars and lengthy pedestrian shopping mall. Don’t cause too much trouble taking in the town from Scandal Point, a large, open square; keep in mind that Shimla was a retreat destination for Mahatma Gandhi, who frequented a Georgian mansion in Shimla’s suburbs from the mid-1930s to ’40s
22) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The north Indian city of Varanasi, or Benares, is regarded as sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Situated in the fertile Ganga valley and on, the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus, who come to bathe in the holy river. Known as the City of Temples and a beacon of culture, Varanasi has produced many renowned writers. It’s also a center of silk weaving, so practice haggling at the chaotic bazaar for some beautiful souvenirs. Rickshaws are the best way to get about. Really Varanasi is one of the Best Places in India.
23) Varkala, Kerala
Let the beautiful coastal town of Varkala melt your worries and tensions away. Varkala’s peaceful seaside cliffs adjoin the Arabian Sea, setting the scene for several water sports and wellness spas. The waters lapping at Papanasam beach are considered to have holy, sin-cleansing properties, and the nearby Ayurveda treatment center will cleanse what the ocean missed. Really Varkala is one of the Best Places in India.
24) Leh, Jammu & Kashmir
The Ladakh capital city of Leh lies near the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir, on the crossroads of the historic “Silk Route” from Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. The humbling monasteries of Shey, Hemis, Alchi, Thikse and Lamayuru will nurture your spiritual needs, and the landscape of Leh provides for a number of adventure activities including mountaineering, white-water rafting, and trekking along the Markha Valley.
25) Pondicherry, India
Pondicherry comes on the 25th position in the list of Best Places in India. Pondicherry’s bougainvilleas, crumbling cathedrals and leafy boulevards might occasionally make you wonder if you’re in the south of France instead of a former French colony. But it’s also unmistakably Indian, with colorful festivals, the famous monument of Aayi Mandapam, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Quiet beaches stretch north and south from town, good for swimming and sunrise strolls.
