What are the main tourist attractions and activities in India?

Taj Mahal

The world’s most famous monument to love, featured on every first time traveler’s Indian itinerary. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century to enshrine the body of his favorite wife, the massive mausoleum stands on the banks of the Yamuna Ruver in the city of Agra, just a couple of hours by train from Delhi. It is worth staying in a hotel that is close to the Taj, to be able to visit it at dawn and/or in moonlight, when the play of light on the marble is especially memorable, and the place is less crowded (over 20,000 visitors). a day flock here). No wonder Agra is one of the worst places for hawkers and trouble, so have your friendly slights ready.

rajasthan

The desert state of India is deservedly the most popular region of the country, with its glorious forts in Jaipur and Jodhpur, magnificent palaces of Maharajas and extravagantly dressed citizens. Elegant waterside temples, exquisite mansions, and the enchanting City Palace make lakeside Udaipur a must-see, and the remote desert city of Jaisalmer, built entirely of honey-colored sandstone, is another gem—and a hotspot. starting point for the camels that spend the night. to the two most famous national parks in the state; the lakes and swamps of Keoladeo National Park are home to huge breeding colonies of cranes, storks, flamingos and ibis, while Ranthambore National Park is one of the easiest places in India to spot a wild tiger.

Kerala

South India has quite a different feel to it than the north, and the state of Kerala is particularly appealing because it seems less crazy and intense than the rest of the country. Kerala is most famous for its spa at Kovalam and for the more low-key traveler enclave at Varkala. The other big draw here is the chance to boat the inland waterways near Allapuzha, but tourist boat tours are boring and too long, making it more rewarding to travel through the narrower rivers in the local ferry. The charming old Kerala port city of Kochi is filled with historic churches and warehouses built by European and Chinese merchants, and regularly hosts traditional Kathakali dance performances in elaborate costumes.

ladakh

Cradled by the towering peaks of the Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges, Ladakh is a fascinating high-altitude outpost of Tibetan culture and religion. One of the most remote parts of the country, this arid and rugged mountainous region, dotted with tiny pockets of fertility, offers some of the best trekking in India, from easy two-day hikes to multi-week treks through the exceptionally remote and fascinatingly beautiful Zanskar region. The other highlights are the temples; Alchi, Tikse and Hemis are the best known, the last of these especially famous for its masked balls at festival time. The popular two or three day road trip from the lively hill town of Manali to the main city of Ladakh, Leh, is one of the fantastic Asian road trips, with high-altitude ports and stunning scenery.

Life in the city

Any large Indian metropolis can be scary to a novice, but all visitors should, and probably won’t be able to help, experience the city at some point. The chaotic capital of Delhi borders the Mughal palaces inside the Red Fort, sweeping New Delhi and the ultra-modern Baha’I Temple, which is often compared favorably to the Sydney Opera House. Calcutta, Kipling’s “City of Frightful Night,” is famous for its literary warmth, its dozens of bookstores, and its reputation for intellectual vivacity. Varanasi borders the banks of the holy Ganges River, where pilgrims plunge into the waters and cremate their dead on the banks. Mumbai boasts a Louis Vutton store, some of the best and most expensive food in the country, but also some of the most dire poverty.

go on safari

India has a fabulous variety of wildlife, including wild elephants and leopards, but its real claim is that it is one of the best places on the planet for tiger watching. The best-known national parks are Ranthambore in Rajasthan and Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, but the newer park in Pench, near Nagpur, is a less crowded option.

Go to

Beachfront raves are gone, but the 100-kilometre-long strip of beaches has something for everyone. And don’t forget to venture inland to the palm groves, rice fields, markets and Portuguese-style facades that characterize the heart of Goa.

Cool off at the hill station

Get away from the smoky heat of the plains at Kodaikanal in the Western Ghats, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) in the Nilgiri Hills, Munnar in Kerala, or Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas; beautiful scenery (stunning views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain from Darkjeeling), walks, tea and often scenic drives all add to the character and charm.

Dharamsala

Thanks to the high profile of a resident, the Dalai Lama, and as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, is now world famous. Thanks to the large Tibetan population and influence in the area, this is a great place to take meditation courses, shop for Tibetan trinkets, see Tibetan folk opera, and even, if you’re lucky, shake hands with the Dalai Lama himself. It is also a good place to organize local excursions to the Dhauladhar range.

Amritsar

At the heart of the Sikh holy city is the sumptuous 16th-century Golden Temple, surrounded by a holy lake and constantly thronged with pilgrims in their best ceremonial regalia. You can easily spend half a day absorbing the ritual goings-on of the temple: arrive here at dawn to see the most amazing effect of gilding on the water, then slowly walk through the long white marble colonnades that frame the lake; cross the causeway to enter the Golden Temple itself; and finally join the pilgrims for the free meal of chapatti and dhal, doled out to all visitors twice a day.

Khajuraho

The 25 Hindu and Jain temples found here date back to the 10th century and are built of sandstone, with almost every façade carved in lush graphic detail and beautiful from the Kama-Sutra encyclopedia like tangles.

Hike to Gangotri Glacier

The holy frozen spring of the Ganges River is spectacularly located amidst jagged, snow-capped peaks at 5,000m above sea level, but is quite easy to reach along the seventeen-kilometre pilgrims’ route.

Be an extra in an Indian movie

India’s film industry, known as Bollywood, is based in Mumbai and produces twice as many movies as Hollywood each year. Non-Indians are invariably needed to fill out the cast, so hang out at the city’s Salvation Army Red Shield Hostel, where many movie hopefuls are recruited.

Snorkeling and diving in the Andaman Islands

This rarely visited archipelago of two hundred perfect islands lies 100 km off the east coast of India. Tourism is a growing industry and the prime areas were unaffected by the 2004 tsunami – it’s as far off the beaten track as you can get in India.

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