India is the seventh-largest country in the world and has over one billion people residing in the country. It ranges from the mighty Himalayas to the lush greenery of Kerala and the golden sands of Rajasthan to the rocky hills of Uttarakhand. Yes, India has it all! With a vast population and a diverse and rich history, there is an endless number of tourist attractions in India that are sure to keep you engaged throughout your journey in the country.
You will be amazed by the diversity of cultures and traditions in India. Yet, the people are very friendly with each other and each and every community respects the traditions and values of other communities and enjoys the festivals equally. India has had an interesting history with its monuments and landscapes as well. The fascinating views of the country from the rocky hills of Uttarakhand, the beautiful carvings on the monuments and the forts of Agra, the beautiful white marble wonder, Taj Mahal, India will keep you awe-struck throughout your time in the country.
Andhra Pradesh – Tirupati
Tirupati is known as the spiritual capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple situated here is one of the most beautiful and historic temples of Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala Hills is also located very close to the temple and make an astonishing view. The carvings on the temple have been done very beautifully and devotees are extremely devoted to Lord Balaji here.
Arunachal Pradesh – Ziro
Ziro is a beautiful town located in Arunachal Pradesh that has also been a world heritage site certified by UNESCO for a long period of time, ranging over several years. It is mainly known for its tribal culture that is still in practice. Its spectacular, rich vegetation contributes to the best sunsets in the country. One can get surrounded by the positive and beautiful aura of Ziro and lose his track of time in the magnificent beauty of this place.
Assam – Manas National Park
Manas National Park is also known as the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is very famous for its large population of wild water buffaloes. The Assam-Roofed Turtle, Golden Langoor, and Tigers are some of the main attractions of this place. This national park is fully natural and has helped to preserve the population of many species who were on the brink of extinction. The Manas River situated nearby is also a very soothing and calm view to watch.
Bihar – Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya is a very wonderful village that attracts the most number of tourists to Bihar. It is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment by meditating under a Bodhi Tree. Other descendants of the tree are located here as well and there is a lovely lotus pond that is believed to be sacred. There is a great Buddha statue situated in Bodh Gaya that is both, gracefully sculpted and picturesque. There are two shrines in Bodh Gaya that are opined to be the places where Lord Buddha spent the majority of his life, meditating.
Chattisgarh – Chitrakote Waterfalls
Chitrakote Falls is the main tourist attraction to the visitors of Chhattisgarh. It is the widest natural waterfall of India and due to its width, it takes the pride of being called the “Niagara Falls of India.” The water flowing through the falls is crystal clear and splendid to watch, especially at night. People prefer taking photographs from above the fall as they make for the perfect vacation pictures! Chitrakote Falls also has superabundant plant life surrounding them that makes the view even more attractive to the visitors. People generally sit down at this site for a while and relax, while hearing the sound of the elegant and calming waterfalls.
Goa – Calangute Beach
Calangute Beach is the major tourist fascination in Goa. It is the largest beach in North Goa and people from all over the world visit it whole year-round. There are various water activities and water sports available in Calangute Beach. Parasailing is the most famous water sport over here. People generally prefer to visit this beach during Christmas or New Year as it is charmingly decorated during that time of the year and provides the visitors with some of the amazing holiday pictures!
Gujarat – Gir National Park
Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place on Earth where one can spot the majestic Asiatic Lions. It attracts a large number of tourists from all around the world due to its exotic flora and fauna. Various birds like the long-billed ventures are exclusively found here. Visitors are often astonished seeing the Asiatic Lions that are so fierce and strong, yet relaxed. They also have the facility to opt for a safari ride around the vast National Park and explore the park extensively, accompanied by an experienced tour guide.
Haryana – Firoz Shah Palace
Firoz Shah Palace draws a large number of tourists to Haryana due to its interesting history. The palace was originally bound by four gates – Mori Gate, Delhi Gate, Nagauri Gate, and the Talaqi Gate. There are several underground compartments under this palace. The surrounding park is delightfully covered with all types of flowers and is maintained neat throughout the year. A guide assists the travellers throughout the palace informing them about the history of the palace and interesting stories of the place. Also, the carvings have been done very exquisitely on the sandstone and marble building which are quite commendable.
Himachal Pradesh – Manali
Manali is one of the most stunning hill stations in India. Blessed with scenic beauty and snow-carpeted hills, Manali has a scent of fresh mist blowing all around it throughout the year. Small and lively eateries, beautiful and colourful flowers, snow sports, clean roads – Manali has all the perfect things a place needs to be as attractive as it is! Green forests that are unbelievably scenic and arresting make for one of the most relaxing spots in Himachal Pradesh. One of the most photogenic vacation places is an ideal one for all the photography lovers who are out on a holiday break!
Jharkhand – Dassam Falls
Dassam Falls is one of the most enchanting falls in the country. At a glance, they might appear like the majestic Himalayan Valleys. Dassam Falls is also of great commercial value to Jharkhand due to its hydroelectric power capacities. The falls is extremely majestic to look at and tourists prefer sitting at a distance from them and just listen to the waterfalls for a pacifying experience. Floodlights illuminate the falls after dark, the whole night, and the vision is just breathtaking! Tourists even believe it to be serene and mystical!
Karnataka – Bannerghatta National Park
Bannerghatta National Park is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is quite famous for its tigers, lions, and the Himalayan Black Bear. There are a variety of bird species inhabiting the park that add a special touch of beauty and colour to the park. Tourists can also go for the Safari Ride available within the park, to explore and enjoy the complete benefits of the facilities available. Even the flora inside Bannerghatta National Park is quite impressive. Deciduous Teak Forests make up for most of the park accompanied by Bamboo forests. One must visit Bannerghatta National Park to relish the immaculate beauty and luxuriant foliage of Karnataka.
Kerala – Athirapally Vazhachal Waterfalls
Athirapally Waterfalls in Kerala is the biggest waterfalls in Kerala. It is very lively to look at and is dotted with small and calm lakes nearby. Tourists are free to roam around the fall and play with natural water. The falls serves is eye-catching because of its ample herbage nearby and the exotic wildlife surrounding the area. Some of the rare species found here are – Great Indian Hornbill, Lion-Tailed Macaque, and the rare Cochin Forest Cane Turtle. The best time to visit the falls is post-monsoon as the drive of water is at its highest at that time and the falls look mighty and appealing to its best!
Madhya Pradesh – Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi is the most heavenly hill station of Madhya Pradesh that has been crowned as the “Queen of Satpura” due to its immense beauty and heights. The sunsets at this place are believed to be the best and situated at an altitude of 1100 metres, the climate remains cool and pleasant at this place throughout the year. Pachmarhi also has a very interesting history attached to it. The Pandavas are believed to have resided here in caves during their time in exile. There are several caves on these hills dating back to the time of Lord Buddha. The grass is so fresh at this place that you feel as relieved and free as a kid who just puts his feet for the first time on wet grass, after the rain!
Maharashtra – Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves date back to times as old as 2nd Century BC. They have been carved with nothing but hammer and chisel. They are engraved in a giant horseshoe-shaped structure and are one of the significant tourist attractions of Maharashtra. They were the main spot for a retreat of Buddhist Monks for as long as 900 years but were left abandoned after that. Later on, they were discovered by a British officer again and instantly became the prime interest of tourists in Maharashtra. It consists of 29 rock-cut caves that are artistically carved. The paintings inside each of the caves depict Indian history in a ravishing and accurate manner. One must include Ajanta Caves in their itinerary while on a trip to Maharashtra.
Manipur – Loktak Lake
Ever saw a sci-fi movie where the land was floating on water and wanted to be in a similar place? Well, Loktak Lake is the perfect place for that! Also known as the only place with floating lands in the world, there are floating swamps in this lake. People have actually built huts on those swamps and they float around this lake. This lake is also famous because of the world’s first floating national park – Keibul Lamjao National Park. It is home to Sangai, the beautiful Manipuri brown-antlered deer. Visitors who are fond of birds make sure to visit this place every once in a while because exotic birds are very commonly spotted here and they look extremely jaw-dropping!
Meghalaya – Seven Sisters Waterfalls
Seven Sisters Waterfalls, as the name suggests are seven different waterfalls arranged close to each other that fall in seven different stages. As intriguing as this sounds, the waterfalls are equally wonderful! Their roaring sound is one of the major reasons why tourists are attracted to this place. The bewitching green backdrop also adds to the exotic view. Special care has been taken for in respect of all the nature lovers and photography enthusiasts that they can sit at the place for as long as they feel like, drinking the beauty of it! A cafeteria has been set up near the place for people to sit down and relax and have long photography sessions. The place has been well maintained and made perfect for picnickers as well.
Mizoram – Blue National Park
Blue National Park has derived its name from Phawngpui, the blue mountains of Mizoram. The national park is spread throughout the mountains and is home to a vast number of endangered species of birds and animals. Phawngpui Mountain is the highest mountain of Mizoram at an altitude of 2157 metres. Tourists can spot animals like Leopard Cat, Ghoral, Capped Langur, and Slow Loris. Even alluring foreign birds like Dark Rumped Swift and Blyth’s Tragopan can also be traced here.
Nagaland – Naga Hills
Naga Hills consists of some of the best wildlife of India that you would find in any other part of the country. Also known as the Green Hills, they are covered with alien varieties of trees and are green throughout the year. Situated at a high altitude, one can see clouds floating beneath them when they are upon these hills. It’s like a paradise on Earth right beneath our feet! The experience is so mesmerising, composed, and enchanting that visitors often forget their problems and time boundaries and just want to immerse in the experience and enjoy their life peacefully.
Odisha – Chilika Lake
Do you love bird-watching? Do you want to spend your time amongst the quiet and cool breeze flowing over the gentle waters of Earth? Well then, Chilika Lake is the right place to be! Marked with small islands and several salt pans along its shore, Chilika Lake is also known as the largest saltwater lake in Asia. Famous for migrating birds, that come here all the way from Siberia in flocks, visitors feel like the scenery around this lake is highly eye-appealing! Some visitors are even lucky enough to identify the very rare Irrawaddy Dolphins in this lake. You must visit Chilika Lake if you love watching birds fly over the natural waters of Earth enjoying themselves and making beautiful sounds.
Punjab – Golden Temple
Golden Temple is situated in Amritsar, Punjab and it is one of the holiest places in the country. The sacredness of this place is eternal in Sikhism. One must visit the Golden Temple to experience the beauty and peace it offers to visitor’s minds. It is an experience that cannot be described in words! The Golden Temple is also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib and is gilded with gold. The temple has an interesting history attached to it and all the Sikh Gurus are believed to have preached here. People seeking spiritual fulfilment visit the Golden Temple from all parts of the world and everyone, despite their caste, creed, religion is welcome to the temple.
Rajasthan – Hawa Mahal
Situated in the Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Hawa Mahal is a magnificent palace that rises to a whopping height of five storeys and is excellently dipped in the lovely pink colour. Originally built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, the main purpose of this palace was to enable the royal household ladies to be able to watch the on-goings and religious ceremonies of the city clearly from the top of the palace. Visitors are often left astounded by the marvellous view of Rajasthan from the top of Hawa Mahal! It offers a clear view of all four directions of the city, including the very famous Sireh Deori Bazaar and Jantar Mantar.
Sikkim – Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery is one of the finest pieces of architecture that was originally built by the Buddhist Monks in the 16th Century for preaching the values of Buddhism throughout the country. The monastery houses, Buddhist paintings, and statues dating back to as old as the 12th century. The prayer hall is very vast in size. The hall also consists of some of the most gorgeous Buddhist paintings and murals and the Monastery also houses a gold Buddha statue. It is surrounded by blissful green mountains and visitors can get a stupendous view of the Gangtok City by climbing upon the monastery! Visitors often visit this place from all parts of the world in an aim to attain spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.
Tamil Nadu – Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is a ravishing city that is situated on a splendid island. It has the ancient bridge widely renowned in the Hindu Mythology that is believed to have been built by Lord Rama for crossing the sea between India and Sri Lanka. The Ramanathswamy Temple located in Rameshwaram also has the longest and widest corridor of any temples in the whole world and the carvings and paintings on the temple’s walls and corridors are just spectacular! The awesome view of the sea from the island city also offers a fascination for visitors.
Telangana – Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort is an aesthetically engineered structure standing amidst the might city of Hyderabad that is known for the advanced technologies used in building it, even longer back in the times. Magical scripting on the wall, marvellous pillars, and historically artistic paintings make the fort an outstanding place to freshen one’s memories of the past times and explore the history of India. There is also a beautiful light and music show held in the fort during the night which is inviting and is a real treat to the visitor’s eyes!
Tripura – Ujjayanta Palace
Ujjayanta Palace is a marvellous palace in Agartala, Tripura that beholds the rich royal history of the princely state. One of the biggest palaces in India, it is surrounded by vast green Mughal gardens that are maintained regularly and consist of fresh and colourful exotic flowers. The name Ujjayanta Palace has been given by Bengal’s glory – Rabindranath Tagore. The palace consists of royalties like The Chinese Room and the Throne Room. The palace is spread over a wide area of 28 hectares that houses all temples like the Uma-Masheswari Temple and the Jagannath Temple. The view of the palace at night is striking and glows just like a diamond in the dark!
Uttarakhand – Mussoorie
Looking for a place to be engrossed in the tranquillity of nature and truly enjoy the natural beauty of Earth that is untouched by humans? Mussoorie is the best place to be! Gilded by mountains, sun-touched oceans, golden trees, and colourful bushes, Mussoorie has everything a nature lover can wish for in one place. Visitors get to enjoy the true natural beauty of Earth along with irresistible small resorts that add an extra cherry to the tranquil cake that Mussoorie already is! Dive in the waterfalls of Mussoorie to have all your body complications relax. The hills light up in an awe-aspiring golden colour during sunrise and descend with a cool and minimal orange colour during sunset. Visitors are deeply touched by the beauty of this place and once visited, Mussoorie makes sure to attract you every time you hear of it!
Uttar Pradesh – Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a glorious monument crafted out of soft and pure white marble and bestowed with precious jewels and stones. It is one of the eight wonders of the world and is one of the most fabulous monuments ever crafted in the history of the world! Visitors come here to unfold the love story of Shah Jahan, the Emperor who built this wonder for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose grave lies inside this tomb. Pleasing carvings and scripts on the walls inside the Taj Mahal add to the charm of the place and visitors feel like their journey has been fulfilled after visiting this unique piece of art.
West Bengal – Victoria Memorial
Situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, the Victoria Memorial is an admirable piece of work built during the British Era in the heart of the city of joy. It is surrounded by a huge green park with sharply-cut bushes and grass art. Tourists are free to enter the monument and have a look at the bonny historical paintings inside the place and get to learn about the history of the winsome place through the local guides over here.
Why wait to travel to the best tourist attractions in India?
We have handpicked the best tourist attractions in India, state-wise and we are sure that you will thoroughly enjoy our selections! The history of India is rich with the tales of Kings and Queens, folklores, and religious sentiments. The flora and fauna of India are one of a kind and as it is known that we, the people of India are extremely friendly and welcome tourists and guests with open arms!
A clear picture of the best selective places to visit. Your article talks well about the destinations and kindles the interest of every individual to visit the listed places. Good job!