Overview

• 18 Best Tourist Places to Visit in India : With a history of over 30,000 years, India is the birthplace of many cultures and religions, making it one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.
• Having ruled over various dynasties and kingdoms before it was established as a republic in the 20th century, India has over thousands of tourist attractions and many World Heritage Sites.
• Listed below are some of the most extraordinary places that you can visit in India.

Red Fort, Delhi

• Established in 1648 as Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort was known as the capital of the Mughal Empire in India.
• The credit for its construction goes to Shah Jahan who also built the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, also known as Qila Mubarak and remained the residence of the Mughal royal family for nearly 20 decades.

Taj mahal, Agra

• The name Taj Mahal, translates to ‘Crown Palace’ and is one of the most famous and wonderful buildings in India. Located in the city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum built to house the remains of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
• The building is known for its extensive use of white marble and was finished during the mid-17th century. 

Backwaters, Kerala

• The backwaters of Kerala are essentially a group of 5 lagoons which are connected by natural and man-made canals.
• These waterways were mainly used for trade during the olden times and are known for their natural beauty and a rich variety of flora, fauna, bird-fauna and marine life.

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Goa

• Located in the North Goa district of Goa, Old Goa refers to the historical city that served as the seat of the Portuguese in India until the 18th century.
• The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique Baroque style of architecture and various churches.

Ajanta, Ellora Caves, Aurangabad

• The Ajanta, Ellora Caves in Aurangabad are rock-cut Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BC to 800 AD.
• The Ajanta Caves mainly consist of rock cut monuments dedicated to ancient Buddhist traditions, while the Ellora Caves contain Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments built during the Rashtrakuta Empire.

Golden Temple, Amritsar

• Known by its conventional name Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple is perhaps the most adored spots of love for the Sikh people group in India, situated in the pilgrim city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, Harmandir Sahib known for its gilded façade and exquisite architecture stands out among all other religious places in India.

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

• Dedicated to the Hindu deities Parvati and Lord Shiva, the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai is a typical Dravidian style temple, with a prominent gopuram that is about 50 meters high.
• The present structure was built during the 17th century, though the temple has been in existence since ancient times.

Victoria Terminus, Mumbai

• Probably the best illustration of Indo-Gothic Revival engineering, Victoria Terminus or Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of the most active rail route stations in India.
• The development was finished in 1888 and the plan of the structure is ascribed to Fredrick William Stevens. The station has turned into a symbol of the city of Mumbai and is one of its most conspicuous milestones.

Thirupathi Temple, Chittoor

• Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu, Tirupati is considered the richest Hindu temple (thirupathi balaj) in the world and is known for its remarkable Dravidian architecture.
• The temple is also situated atop the Tirumala hill at an altitude of 853 meters above sea level.

Mysore Maharaja Palace, Mysore

• The Mysore maharaja palace, Mysore was built between 1897 and 1912 by the Wodeyar kings of Mysore and is known for its remarkable architectural design, drawing over 6 million visitors every year.
• The design of the palace beautifully combines elements of Hindu, Mughal and Gothic architecture decorated with ornamental designs.

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Lake Palace, Udaipur

• Marketed as one of the most romantic luxury hotels in India, the Lake Palace was constructed in the mid-18th century by Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar.
• The palace gets its name from its remarkable location, right in the middle of the charming Lake Pichola.
• The monument can only be reached through a speed boat that operates from a nearby jetty.

Great Living Chola Temples, Thanjavur

• Built during the 11th and 12th centuries, the surviving temples in Thanjavur are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu.
• The credit for the construction of the temples goes to the Chola dynasty who ruled southern India from 200-1246 AD.
• The temple is committed to the Hindu god Shiva and are noteworthy instances of Dravidian design.

Mahabalipuram, Kancheepuram

• Mahabalipuram is an ancient port city with many monuments and buildings from the Pallava era.
• The group of monuments is also classified under UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes various temples, rock-cut sculptures, megaliths and cave temples dating back to between the 1st and 9th centuries AD.

Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram

• The temple is devoted to the Hindu divinity Shiva and are momentous Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the Ramanathaswamy temple likewise houses one of the 12 Jyotilingas in India.
• The temple is accepted to check where Lord Rama implored Lord Shiva after his triumph against Ravana, the devil ruler of Lanka.
• The temple is likewise renowned for its long passages with in excess of 1200 pillars of support in Rameswaram. examples of Dravidian design.

Marina Beach, Chennai

• One of the longest beaches in the world, Marina Beach is a major tourist attraction in Chennai and sees thousands of visitors on a daily basis.
• The beach was developed only after the construction of Madras Harbor in 1881, when the British Governor of Madras began construction of a promenade near the shoreline.

Munnar Hills, Idukki

• The lush green hills of Munnar are situated amidst the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala. Situated at an altitude of about 1,600 meters above sea level, Munnar is a major hill station in Kerala.
• The hill town is known for its lush green hills covered with tea and spice plantations.

Kodaikanal Lake, Kodaikanal

• The lake is located in the heart of the beautiful hill town of Kodaikanal and serves as a major tourist attraction in Kodaikanal.
• The creation of the lake is attributed to Sir Vere Henry Leving, a former collector of Madurai, who started construction in 1863.
• A yacht and boat service, a boat club and regular flower shows and exhibitions are held here on the premises of the lake.

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