Posted on: January 2nd in Asia, Travel, Travel Top 10s by Becky Padmore.
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Top Ten Places to Visit in India – The beautiful and fabled land of India is known for its extremes, history and enormous diversity. The country is still one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and attracts backpackers, cultural and spiritual seekers or just those in search of a good party. Love it or hate it, your trip to India is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. I’ve been privileged to have spent much of my time in this incredible country, here are my personal recommendations for the Top 10 places to visit in India:
1. Agra
Agra is an unmissable stop on your tour of India. There are many places of interest to a visitor in Agra, the most famous of course being the iconic and beautiful Taj Mahal. A UNESCO World heritage site and an eternal symbol of love (it was built by an emperor in memory of his third wife). The white domed structure boasts delicately detailed interiors, tranquil gardens and a collection of other impressive buildings.
The Agra Fort is the sister monument of the Taj Mahal and also holds UNESCO heritage site status. The striking fort dates from the year 1000 but was later remodelled in the 1500s to be used as a palace. Thirteen kilometres from the Agra Fort you will find Akbar’s Tomb, a stunning red-ochre sandstone tomb and another architectural masterpiece.
2. Shimla
A popular tourist destination located in the north-west Himalayas, Shimla is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Queen of Hills.’ It’s colourful colonial past is still evident today and the town is characterised by unusual neo-gothic buildings surrounded by thick forest and outstanding views, offering a very different feel to the rest of India. ‘The Mall’ is the main shopping street and the hub of the city where tourists and locals like to meet, shop and eat. This area also has good number of clubs and bars great for those looking to step it up a gear.
The Christ Church is also worth a visit – it’s the second oldest church in northern India and its stained glass windows are designed in a distinctive style that you won’t find anywhere else. Also don’t leave Shimla without visiting Jakhu Hill – the highest peak which is also home to many playful monkeys who hang out waiting to be fed.
3. Goa
The famous idyllic party place should not be missed and it’s still one of the most popular places to visit in India. If you decide to take a trip, I recommend not leaving the island’s coastal areas. Goa is the smallest state in India and has the most beautiful beaches by far – when you’re here you’ll want to make the most of them. Many refer to Goa as a tropical paradise and when you’re here enjoying the warm temperatures, clear turquoise water and palm trees you’ll also probably agree. If you time your visit around the the Goa Carnival held every February you’ll be treated to three days and nights of music, lights, dancers and awesome food. This is when the legendary King Momo takes over the state and the island becomes party central. Originally celebrated in the 1800s by locals only, now both tourists and locals come here to have a good time.
4. Mumbai
Formally known as Bombay, Mumbai is the most populated city in India. Noisy, frantic and polluted, Mumbai is a melting pot of different cultures, religions and wealth extremes. Even though the city is developing at a fast rate, unfortunately you’ll still see many scenes of poverty. The city is also the birthplace of Indian cinema and there are many theatres to watch movies from all over the world (including the worlds largest IMAX dome theatre). A visually impressive city Mumbai has a large metropolitan area comparable to the size of New York’s skyline and a fine but eclectic mix of colonial buildings, stylish bars, colourful bazaars and shiny new malls. Finding something to do here would not be a problem.
5. Auroville
Auroville is an amazing place. It’s an experimental township of an international community. Here people from all over the world come to live in peace, and “progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.” The sole purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity. In the centre of this town is ‘The Matrimandir’ a huge gold sphere accompanied by ramps. It was put there by the town’s founder as “a symbol of the Divine’s answer to man’s inspiration for perfection.” It even has its own solar power plant and inside is a spiral ramp that leads to a marble room where you can “find consciousness.” Surrounded by pristine beautiful gardens and a peacefulness you won’t find in many other places, in my opinion this is one of the most interesting places to visit in India.
6. Pondicherry
Near Auroville is Pondicherry, one of the most famous places in southern India for tourists. The city is full of colonial buildings, statues, churches and temples. I personally think the best areas here are Paradise Beach, The Auroville Beach, Serenity Beach and Promenade Beach. It has the same purpose as Auroville which again gives the place a very peaceful vibe. You’ll also find here many large interesting churches dating from the early 1900s and Pondicherry should definitely be on your list of places to visit in India.
7. The backwaters of Kerala
The backwaters are a beautiful chain of lakes and lagoons along the Arabian sea coast and definitely shouldn’t be missed – they are considered to be the number one tourist destination in India. Ferries here will take you anywhere and you can even hire a houseboat to stay in. In the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha you’ll also be treated to boat races, where you will also find snake boats that can hold up to a hundred oarsmen. Thousands of fans line the riverbanks and cheer on their favourite teams which makes for a great atmosphere. There are dozens of villages and communities throughout this area which you can visit and get a real sense of everyday life and culture in this interesting place.
8. Kodaikanal
In the Ghat mountains lies this beautiful and atmospheric town, which translated means “the gift of the forest.” Easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in India, Kodaikanal has many places of interest for travelers and tourists. One of which is the Kodaikanal lake which is a star shaped man made lake. Here you can rent horses or bicycles to ride around the shore. Just east of the lake is a 20 acre botanical garden, from here you can reach Coaker’s Walk, a 1 kilometre long pedestrian path that follows along the south of Kodai. Expect wooded slopes, rocky scenery and beautiful waterfalls.
9. Gingee
Near the larger city area of Tiruvanamalai, you can find the village of Gingee. Although the village itself is pretty standard, it is home to the amazing Gingee Fort. The fort, which is comprised of three astonishing and massive stone hills, offers some breath-taking views from the top of each hill. The fort dates back to the 13th century and makes a great subject for anthropology and history buffs. If you want to see the best views, prepare for at least a 900 foot climb. Although rest assured, once you reach the top you won’t be disappointed.
10. Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a popular tourist town in the Indian State of West Bengal. Famous for it’s tea production and outstanding scenery, it’s often thought to be one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. The lush green environment, cooling breeze and amazing views makes an atmospheric and photogenic destination. In fact Darjeeling is the only location in eastern India that attracts large numbers of tourists. The more adventurous visitors come here for trekking and river rafting and many others just enjoy leisurely scenic walks taking in the extraordinary views.
Where to stay – Popular, unique and reasonably priced hotels in India
- Garden Villa Homestay Hotel, Agra – A homely budget guesthouse with pretty gardens from $19pn
- Trident, Agra – Good value relaxing luxury hotel in a central location from $40pn
- Woodville Palace, Shimla – Luxurious old school colonial charm from $55pn
- Springfields Hotel, Shimla – A heritage budget guest house in a lovely location from $35pn
- Santana Beach Resort, Goa – Budget beach apartments in a relaxing Goa resort from $19pn
- Casa Severina, Goa - Colonial boutique elegance very near the beach from $35pn
- Residency Hotel Andheri, Mumbai – An good value modern city hotel from $70pn
- Mirage Hotel, Mumbai - Contemporary chic design hotel in Mumbai from $75pn
- Woodlands Resorts, Kodaikanal – A budget woodland cottages resort from $30pn
- Old Main Bellevue Heritage Hotel, Darjeeling – Quirky lower priced hotel from $19pn
Useful Travel Resources
- Flights - Skyscanner is an invaluable tool for the independent traveller. It searches over 600 airlines and 670000 routes to find the cheapest deals on flights and then you can book direct with no fees added. Compare all cheap flights with Skyscanner
- Apartment rentals – Renting apartments can save up to 40% on a trip compared to staying in a hotel. HomeAway.com has one of the largest collection of short term rentals properties all over the world. Find Worldwide Rental Properties
- Tours and Activities - Isango! is the leading provider of sightseeing trips, wine tours, destination experiences, historic tours, romantic activities, theme park visits, cooking classes, bike tours, diving expeditions, hop-on -and-off bus tours, off-the-beaten-track trips and guided historical attractions. More information on Isango
- House Swapping – An increasingly popular form of budget travelling is house swapping. Home Exchange has over 42,000 properties (in 147 countries) on their books and membership allows unlimited exchanges, with no additional per-exchange charges. Check 40,000+ Worldwide Listings. Local-weekend-international swaps
- Adventure Vacations - G Adventures is the largest small group adventure travel company in the world and offer adventurous trips to many countries including India. More information on G Adventures
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- Car Rental – Budget rent a car offers good value car hire in over 3,400 locations in over 128 countries including India. More information on Budget Rent-a-Car
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Top 10 Places to visit in India was written by journalist Peter Puckett.
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We are Becky and Gray the UK-based husband and wife team behind GlobalGrasshopper - a global magazine and resource for independent travellers. We aim to inspire others to travel with photography, offbeat guides, articles on undiscovered destinations and where to find the world's beautiful places. Why not subscribe to our news feed and join us on our journey? 
30 April, 2013
Thanks for sharing the information. I love India, I went to Kerala recently and it was beautiful.
18 April, 2013
Very nice article with beautiful pics.
Yes,India is one of the Beautiful Country were u can find different Religion, Culture and lifestyles. apart from this difference there is the unity in the peoples of India.
16 April, 2013
Very nice article with beautiful pics!
Personally I found the Taj a bit disappointing. It’s nice, but there are other places, palaces and tombs that are equally nice or even better, IMHO.
I think Varanasi should be in the list, although I did not succeed to visit that yet.
Kashmir unfortunately still is not really safe.
And I would add Chandigarh, because of Nek Chand’s Rock Garden, a phenomena in itself.
Curly Traveller recently posted..Why a private backwater tour is worth the money
31 January, 2013
Hi, after reading this remarkable post i am also happy to share
my know-how here with mates.
regal emporia recently posted..regal emporia
8 November, 2012
i like india.
24 October, 2012
Great Information … Definitely going to see a few of these places. Thank you for you effort.
13 October, 2012
VARANASI!! definitely a must! In Goa visit Anjuna and Arambol, while rest isn’t anything special, these two are worth of visiting, first one for party people, second one for part time hippies.
Mumbai is great – cool but totally crazy place!
28 August, 2012
An interesting and useful article.
14 July, 2012
Excellent pictures. But we think some important Tamilnadu Hill Stations is missing like Ooty, Kodaikanal
Denis recently posted..Chottanikkara Temple
20 April, 2012
..Nice places n beautiful pictures, make us feel enjoy to see it. this world is created by a briliant idea. how happy they are given the opportunity to travel and visit that beautiful places
14 April, 2012
I truly surprised Kasmir is’nt in this list.Kasmir is the no.1 tourist destination in India.and i suggest ,if visitors comes to visit north-east region in India so must visit Kurseon and Siliguri city with Darjeeling.Siliguri is the biggest city in north bengal.
11 April, 2012
I love your choices. I’m learning Hindi and my biggest dream is to go to India to really be able to practice, specially New Delhi, hopefully when my kids graduate from college I will be able to experience such an amazing country. Namaste
27 March, 2012
This is really beautiful article shows the beauty of India. There are many places in India to visit by tourists and foreigners.
Which let them to say “Incredible India!”
25 March, 2012
Indian Tour Guide
Hi
I am John from India. Actually i am a student but my Hobby is Tour Guide work but i am not a professional tour guide.
My only Hobby is this if u need any kind of help in India or u want to hang out with me in India any where. u please
mail me at arif4ukhan@gmail.com or call me 9430406213. Actually i am a nice and hansom guy but my financial
level is not good that’s why i am doing this so u all please make me your private tour guide in India……………………
Bye and Tack care
Your John
23 March, 2012
Looking for some one to travel with to India, see Taj mahal, goe, or anywhere in India. in December for two or three weeks.
29 January, 2012
If it doesnt have Kashmir in its list. Its a worthwhile tour to India. Sad to see Kashmir is missing.
13 January, 2012
going to india from 02/02/2012 to 28/02/2012 hope what u say about india is true
13 December, 2011
No mention of Kashmir
12 October, 2011
Great list! Having travelled in India I still have many of these places yet to cover.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Cat Stretching | Chiang Mai, Thailand | Travel Photo
8 October, 2011
I think kodaikanal should not be there in the list.There are plenty more places …the forts of rajastan should have included.some one had mentioned about it in the comments.
28 September, 2011
thanks for your sharing i am really like your photos really super and expect kodaikanal and goa photos are i like you so much
10 August, 2011
Well India is one of the Beautiful Country were u can find different Religion, Culture, Nature.. It is true when one say that it is the Golden Country.
29 July, 2011
I hope one day i will be able to visit some of these beautiful places ! nice photos…..
thanks for sharing……….
21 July, 2011
Very Nice post that cover all the major destination in India. Thanks for sharing such beautiful articles.
5 May, 2011
Hi there .. this content is great
It is more interesting and informative.. I loved to be travel around the world .. and I’ve seen more beautiful hotels in India .. and I am looking forward to be there as soon as possible to experience and feel the fresh air of India .. 
Keep posting .. More power ..
If you have time you can also visit this beautiful hotels I’ve seen:
Delhi Hotels and Delhi Budget Hotels
24 April, 2011
pls add Kashmir Here . its the most beautiful valley in the world.. wonder how u forgot it
12 May, 2011
yeah seriously kashmir must be in the top of list.
20 February, 2011
India is one of my “dream destinations” since I was in my 20s. So many things have come in between and my travels and work never gave me the chance. I hope I can still do this when the son is out of university because India really facinates me. Great post and photos.
Michael Schuermann recently posted..Oktoberfest And Easy Hiking
15 February, 2011
Awesome Photos. I can’t wait to make it to Goa and Darjeeling. When do you thin is the best time of year to visit India?
15 February, 2011
Hey thanks your comment, we checked with Peter and the best time to visit is September-November and February to the middle of March.
7 February, 2011
Hi there,
Thanks for such a wonderful post. India is very beautiful place and i like it very much. Very interesting article with wonderful photos.
2 February, 2011
Excellent Photos!!!!
31 January, 2011
A great collection for sure. I’d also add Udaipur and Jodhpur to the mix. Both in Rajasthan in Northern India.
9 January, 2011
Great photos!
9 January, 2011
India is definitely on my list of must-see places so thanks for summing up the best places to visit. Will use it when I get there one day!
8 January, 2011
Great article. Darjeeling sounds a great place to visit with my camera.
2 January, 2011
An excellent article, sadly I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting India (yet) – This article makes me really want to go … very interesting.