India is the seventh biggest country in the world. It has numerous languages, ethnic groups, cultures, monuments, palaces, backwaters, waterfalls and other spectaculars. There is no such place in India that can be tagged as a boring destination for tourism. With endless man-made and natural marvels, this article hand picks 20 Best cities visit in India. These twenty cities would leave you in awe.
* UdaipurIt is the city of lakes. But, rightfully, it is the Venice of India. Udaipur is in Rajasthan and it has a very rich and dense culture surrounded by picturesque nature. The floating city palace has eleven palaces inside it.
Starting from hanging gardens to terrace, each palace has numerous attractions. Antique displays, 16th century painting and the display of weapons are one-of-its-kind. The jewels, antique dresses, vessels and others used by Rajput kings and queens are displayed in Bagore Ki Haveli, a museum near the palace.
* BhubaneswarBhubaneswar is an important tourism destination in Orrisa. There are about five hundred temples in this city. Thus, it goes without saying that is city is a pinnacle for those who love sculptures and architectures. Apart from these, you can find many archaeological sites, shopping arcades, beaches, wildlife sanctuary, tribal villages and many others. This city can be visited all throughout the year and the coldest months are from October to March.
Those who visit this city should visit the local market to enjoy handicrafts like metal work, horn work, wood carving, silver figurine and others. Twin hills of Kumargiri, elephant cave, cactus garden and second century caves are some of the many attractions that you can find in Bhubaneswar.
* KodaikanalWhen it comes to South India, there are a few places that remind vacation. One among those is Kodaikanal, the queen of mountains. From the flower that blooms once in every twelve years to fruit orchard, you can enjoy nature like never before. The most popular destination is Kodaikanal Lake.
You can find all kinds of water based activities here. You can find lush vegetation here. The temperature would not exceed 20 degrees throughout the year. Berijam Lake, Coakers Walk, dolphin’s nose, Bryant Park, Green Valley, observatory and many other interesting attractions are found here. There are mountain peaks from which you can get a panoramic view of the whole city.
* DarjeelingDarjeeling is an important tourism destination in West Bengal. It is located amidst the lower hills of mighty Himalayas. If you think this city is full of mountains and tea estates, you are very wrong. The first attraction here is the railway station itself. It is a heritage site as per UNESCO declaration. If you get to travel in the rails during the early mornings, you would know why it is a heritage place. It is also called toy train.
You can find a lot of rare animal species in Singalila park and Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park. Reach the Tiger Hills peak by jeep and see the beauty of the land in sunset. Batasia Loop, Japanese Peace Pagoda, observatory hill and Neora Valley Park are the few destinations that you need to visit in Darjeeling.
* Havelock IslandIt is not geographically correct to add this place to the list of cities. But, it is wrong to miss this island which is the largest one of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Splendid waters, lush vegetation and warm white sand makes this island a wonderful place to visit.
You can enjoy all kinds of water related activities like snorkelling, diving and others. Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Neil Island, Mount Harriet, Mahatma Gandhi Marine Park, Andaman Bubbles and many other places are located in this Island that attracts millions of people every year.
* KhajjiarKhajjiar is a hill station destination in Himachal Pradesh. The city is located on a small plateau and is fed with a small stream that is always covered with lush weeds. It is called as Switzerland of India. It has mesmerizing beauty and provides a unique hill station experience. The whole place can be covered on foot. The temperature is very mild all throughout the year.
* AurangabadAurangabad is located in Maharashtra. There are a few temples, caves and forts that add aesthetic beauty to this place. But, the most important attraction is the Ajanta Caves. It is a monument that was built by cutting rocks. It is built in the second century B.C. Around 700 AD; the cave was abandoned and forgotten till British officers found it in the 18th century. Today, it stands as an important attraction in India. There are totally 29 caves in Ajanta caves. It has many unique and important temples and mosques.
* VaranasiVaranasi is the oldest inhabited place that is still in use in the whole world. It is considered to be an important pilgrim place for Hindus. You need not be a religious person to enjoy the maiden Ganges, ghats that cure leprosy and clustered architecture. There are many temples that are many centuries old.
A boat ride on Ganges is a must do activity here. If you are planning to visit this place during any festival, make sure to choose a hotel with roof top terrace. You can have wonderful view from the terrace in the early morning.
* AgraAgra is a little far away from Delhi. If you think the world wonder The Taj Mahal is the only destination in Agra, you are completely wrong. Agra Fort, Mehtabh Bagh, Mughal Heritage walk, Korai Village and Fatehpur Sikri are a few destinations that you should visit in Agra.
Last but not least, Taj Mahal is a must visit. It is a marble mausoleum built for one of the beloved wives of a Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. Though there are a lot of controversies about this structure and the history behind it, it is an architectural wonder. Due to pollution and acid rain, this structure might not be standing for very long. Visit before it becomes history and know about Agra.
* AmritsarAmritsar is a historical city in Punjab. The world famous Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib is famous for its architecture, cultural beauty and roof painting.
Apart from these you can find a lot of museums, temples, gardens and the famous Jallianwala Bagh site. Also visit the Berlin Wall of India, Wagah Border. It is the border between India and Paksitan. During sunset, you ought to see the lowering of flags.
* MaduraiThis is a city that is more than four thousand years old. There are a lot of different temples in this city and Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is a world famous one. It was built in 7th century and is famous for its architectural marvel.
17th century Gandhi Mandapam is a famous tourism attraction that has some personal belongings of Gandhi, many illustrations of him and books about Gandhi. Samanar Hills is located a little away from Meenakshi temple. This hill has a first century cave that was used by Jain monks. There are many sculptures of historical importance here. If you visit Madurai, you ought to taste the local cuisine of the land.
* KochiKochi of Kerala is a land that has assorted attractions. Since many European invaders entered India through Kochi, you can find their architectural touch in many monuments. The 14th century fishing nets of Chinese that are still in use can be found here. If you visit before sunrise, you can see how fishermen operate these nets.
You can witness a lot of colonial building in Mattancherry. There is a museum in Mattancherry which has rare artefacts and murals. The oldest church of the country is in Kochi. If you visit Kerala, you ought to see Kathakali performance. It is one of the hardest dance and the experts perform it with ease and grace.
* BengaluruAlmost all the tourism destinations you find in India would be hill areas, areas with lush vegetation and nature filled places. But, this is the king of metro life. Yet, it is the city of gardens. Starting from Bangalore palace to St. Mary’s Basilica, there are a lot of attractions in this city. Those who want to enjoy water related activities should visit Ulsoor Lake. ISKCON temple, government museum, botanical gardens, religious places, palace of Tippu Sultan, Cubbon Park and Bull Temple are some of the top attractions in the city.
* MumbaiMumbai is the commercial capital of the country. Gateway of India, Essel World, beach, temples, forts, mosques, museums, hanging garden, elephant caves, film city, Imperial towers and Wankhede Stadium are a few of many attractions in mumbai city.
Dharavi is the largest slum area of the continent. You ought to take a tour to Dharavi, Street Foods, market tours and early morning cycle tour. This place is filled with attractions. Marine drive is a must visit place in this city. No matter how many times you visit this city, you would always have a lot of things to see here.
* Jaipur
Jaipur is located in Rajasthan. For those who think Rajasthan is just a desert, Jaipur is the right answer. Starting from ancient forts to wonderful temples, this place has everything that would make you drench in wonder. Jal Mahal, peacock gate, City palace, wind palace and Amber fort are few of the many attractions that you can see in this city. It is called as the pink city and if you love architecture, you would love Jaipur. Enjoy Jaipur in full day city tour.
* Sri Nagar
Jammu and Kashmir is the most wonderful place in India. Apart from the political conflicts and other problems, this place has a lot to show. Rested amidst snow capped mountains, this is the maiden of beauty in India. The natural scenic beauty of Sri Nagar is not something that cannot be explained with words. Mughal gardens, Pari Mahal, Dal Lake and Shalimar Bagh are some of the numerous attractions in this city. The closest railway is in Jammu and the rest of the distance (about 300 km) have to be covered by road. This travel would be a marvellous experience.
* ShimlaThis is a place that people opt for honeymoon for many years. This is the honeymoon paradise of the country. The summer months are cold in this place and winter would be snowy. This snow is the first attraction for all tourists. A lot of people love to play in the snow as it is one of the very few places where you can witness snowfall in India. Jakhu Temple, Christ church and Mall road are a few non-snow related attractions here. You can enjoy all kinds of snow related activities in this city.
* HyderabadCharminar, Golconda Fort, Mecca Majid, Hussain Sagar, Falaknuma Palace and biryani are the important icons of Hyderabad. This is a city with rich heritage. There are many architectural structures, monuments, religious places, lakes and many others. If you visit this place, you ought to enjoy the local cuisine of spicy and hot food. Birla Mandir, Taramati Baradari, Nehru Park, Chow Mohalla Palace and Osmansagar Lake are a few other attractions in this city. See more information about state Andhra Pradesh.