A wanderlust is always in a quest for beautiful places to explore and what better place is there than India which provides a plethora of destinations to be traversed.
India is a diverse country of various regions, religions, flora and fauna accompanied with a vivid history, visible in its monuments and temples. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from the metropolitan Delhi to the greens of Meghalaya, from the humid Mumbai to the deserts of Thar, it is a dreamland for all those who love to travel. When India is mentioned, Taj Mahal is always remembered but India has much more to give that spreads beyond the Taj.
I have short listed some of the best travel destinations that India has to offer, which make up my bucket list for “Places to Visit in India Before I Die.” It was difficult for there are too many places to visit in India but these 6, in my opinion, are a must:
1. The Serene Valleys of Kashmir
Kashmir is often referred to as the paradise on earth. The beautiful gardens of Gulmarg, the rafting experience in Pahalgam, temples of Jammu, the Dal Lake, the war’s witness Kargil, are among the many tourist attractions of Kashmir. Often called India’s Switzerland it is a romantic spot famous amongst honeymooners.
Nestled in the himalayan mountains, it is home to many beautiful sights such as valleys and lakes that are picturesque in nature.It includes the boat-house experience for the romantics, Rafting for the adventure lovers, ethereal gardens for the nature lovers and temples and mosques for the religious.
2. The unforgivingly beautiful cold desert, Ladakh
Leh-Ladakh is a cold desert which opens its arms to tourists only during the summer season for its unforgiving weather conditions worsen and difficult to survive in winters. But dont let the climate deter you, for it is a tourist place of India you must visit before you die. Also shown in many famous films such as Shahrukh Khan starrer Jab tak Hai Jaan, its beauty expands beyond the few glimpses.
Known for its buddhist spots and bike rides and trekking, it is not a place for light-hearted. The white Stupas, serene monastries, and the surrounding barren beauty is something that should not be missed.
The best time to enjoy Ladakh at its peak is during the festive season that streches from late May to early August. It is the best time to witness the amalgamation of culture, barren beauty and spirituality.
3. The Chaotic Mumbai
The City of Dreams, Mumbai or Bombay is charismatic-ly beautiful in its chaos. The financial capital of India and home to Mega-Stars of Bollywood, it is a city that never sleeps and wouldn’t let you either. The Beaches, the sea, the high-rising buildings, the crowd, and even the potholes make for a memorable trip. The unpredictable rains only adds to its charm. Some of the attractions here are Gateway of India, Mahim Fort, Mahakali Caves, Marine Drive, Worli Fort among others. Also, the nightlife is great and one of the most talked about experience of Mumbai.
4. The Lively Goa
Goa is the hub of parties and carnivals. It is every teenager’s dream to go there on a friends-only trip. The beautiful beaches, amazing nightlife, the pretty sunsets, the calming sand, the invigorating sea, the terrifying water sports, the exotic food, the Portuguese history, the gorgeous churches, and the amazing carnivals make up everything there is to love about vacationing in Goa. The best time to visit is during New Year’s Eve Carnival, alas, the costliest time to visit too. But, Goa on its own is amazing enough during the whole year.
World's most beautiful cities for a romantic getaway
5. The Regal Fortress, Rajasthan:
If you’re a history buff with a love for monuments and forts, Rajasthan is your haunt. It is a state of beautiful architecture and immense history. It is often called ‘The land of Kings” and the huge number of forts built in their remembrance is a testament of that. Some of the famous forts are
- Hawa Mahal
- Amber Fort
- Jaigarh Fort
- Nahargarh Fort
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar
- Jal Mahal
- Rambagh Palace
- Chandra Mahal, the City Palace, Jaipur.
Apart from the historical forts and monuments, it’s a place of culture, music, colors, spirituality and liveliness. The sand dunes, Camel rides, the folk art, adventure sports, the Jain temples, Mount Abu, the desert sun, the mouth-watering food delicacies, Rajasthan has it all. Main attraction cities in Rajasthan are Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Mount Abu, and Bikaner.
6. The religious abode, Varanasi
Varanasi or Benaras is said to be one of the world’s oldest city, 3000 years old and is rightly called the city of temples. It is the city of Lord Shiva, situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga, temples flourish at every few steps. Apart from its temples, the pilgrim’s dwelling is famous for their Banarsi Silk Saris and paans. Even if you do not believe in god or religion, this is a place to visit to witness the strength of faith and experience the beauty of devotion. The temples are architecturally beautiful and historically enriched. Apart from the temple, good tourist attractions are the ghats, mosques, literature, culture and festivities. It is also believed to be the town where Buddha founded Buddhism in 528BC. It is a colorful place to be where chaos embellishes the breeze and diversity enhances its beauty.
Travelling can be very cheap, if planned well taking advantage of various deals and offers traveling sites such as makemytrip.com, yatra.com and others offer; and when combined with Paisawapas.com you can be sure to be on the brighter side.
