A high-desert valley reached over Khardung La, with a hilltop monastery, sand dunes and Bactrian camels. Good for slow days at altitude and village stays.
Nature
Adventure
Culture
Do
Ride a camel at Hunder dunes, then visit Diskit Gompa
Best time
June to September
Nearest airport
Leh (IXL), about 120 km
Good to know
Inner Line Permit required for Indian nationals and foreigners (arranged via Leh agents); Khardung La can close after snow; acclimatise in Leh first.
02
Pangong Tso
Changthang, Leh district · India
A long brackish lake at about 4,250 m that shifts from blue to green with the light, shared with Tibet. Camps nearby suit overnight stays.
Nature
Adventure
Do
Stay overnight at the shore and watch dawn colour
Best time
May to September
Nearest airport
Leh (IXL), about 160 km
Good to know
Inner Line Permit required; road via Chang La can be closed by snow; high altitude, avoid rushing from Leh.
03
Alchi Monastery
Alchi, near Leh · India
A small 11th-century Buddhist complex whose intimate temples hold some of the oldest surviving wall paintings in the Himalaya, influenced by Kashmiri and Indian styles.
Heritage
Spiritual
Lesser-known
Do
Look closely at the Sumtsek wall paintings
Best time
May to October
Nearest airport
Leh (IXL), about 65 km
Good to know
Interior photography is restricted; modest entry fee; dress modestly and move quietly.
04
Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
Changthang, Leh district · India
A remote village beside the Indian Astronomical Observatory, in a protected dark-sky reserve at about 4,300 m, where the Milky Way is clear on moonless nights.
Nature
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Join a guided stargazing session with a local host
Best time
May to September
Nearest airport
Leh (IXL), about 250 km
Good to know
Inner Line Permit required; very long drive; homestays are simple; altitude sickness risk.
A lake city of houseboats, Mughal gardens and shrines, with papier-mâché, shawl and carpet workshops open to visitors in the old quarter.
City
Heritage
Culture
Do
Take a dawn shikara to the floating vegetable market
Best time
April to October
Nearest airport
Srinagar (SXR), about 12 km
Good to know
Check current travel advisories before booking; winters are cold with occasional road closures.
06
Gurez Valley
Bandipora district · India
A high valley beside the Kishanganga river near the Line of Control, home to the Dard-Shina community, with wooden villages and Habba Khatoon peak.
Nature
Culture
Hills & mountains
Lesser-known
Do
Walk through Dawar village and meet host families
Best time
June to September
Nearest airport
Srinagar (SXR), about 130 km
Good to know
Road over Razdan Pass closes in winter; Indian nationals can enter with registration; foreigners need special permission; verify current rules and advisories.
07
Kashmir Great Lakes trek
Sonamarg to Naranag · India
A week-long trail through alpine meadows past Vishansar, Gadsar and Gangabal lakes, crossing passes near 4,000 m, run by licensed local outfitters.
Adventure
Nature
Hills & mountains
Lesser-known
Do
Cross Gadsar Pass with a local guide
Best time
July to September
Nearest airport
Srinagar (SXR), about 80 km to Sonamarg
Good to know
Trek only with registered operators; check security advisories; snow outside July to September.
A Buddhist monastery clinging to a hill above the Spiti river, near one of the world’s highest motorable villages, set among stark cold-desert slopes.
Spiritual
Hills & mountains
Culture
Do
Attend the morning prayers at Key Gompa
Best time
June to September
Nearest airport
Bhuntar, Kullu (KUU), about 200 km; Chandigarh (IXC) is the larger airport
Good to know
Manali route closes with snow, usually October to May; Shimla route stays open longer; no permit for Indian nationals on the valley road; foreigners should check the current rules for border areas.
09
Tabo Monastery
Lahaul and Spiti · India
A monastery founded in 996 CE with clay-walled halls and wall paintings, often called the Ajanta of the Himalaya, and still an active teaching centre.
Heritage
Spiritual
Lesser-known
Do
See the painted assembly hall with a caretaker monk
Best time
May to October
Nearest airport
Bhuntar, Kullu (KUU), about 250 km
Good to know
Interior photography forbidden; roads close by snow outside summer; foreigners should check current permit requirements.
10
Great Himalayan National Park
Kullu district · India
A protected river-valley reserve with forests, alpine meadows and Himalayan wildlife including the western tragopan and the Himalayan tahr. Trails run from day walks to multi-day treks.
Nature
Wildlife
Adventure
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the Tirthan valley with a registered guide
Best time
April to June; September to November
Nearest airport
Bhuntar, Kullu (KUU), about 60 km
Good to know
Entry permits and guides required for park treks; park closed in monsoon months for some zones; check current rules.
11
Kalka–Shimla Railway
Kalka to Shimla · India
A narrow-gauge mountain railway opened in 1903, with 100-odd tunnels and many arched bridges climbing from the plains to the old summer capital.
Scenic journeys
Heritage
Hills & mountains
UNESCO
Do
Ride the full run in the glass-roofed vistadome
Best time
September to November; March to June
Nearest airport
Chandigarh (IXC), about 25 km to Kalka
Good to know
Landslides can interrupt service in monsoon; book seats early.
12
Kalpa and the Kinnaur valley
Kinnaur district · India
A village of apple orchards and timber houses facing the Kinner Kailash range, on a historic route toward Tibet. Quiet walks and shrines suit a slow stay.
Hills & mountains
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Walk to Roghi village and the Narayan Nag temple
Best time
April to June; September to November
Nearest airport
Shimla (SLV), about 200 km; Chandigarh (IXC) is larger
Good to know
Landslide-prone road; winter snow; Inner Line Permit needed for some border stretches beyond Kalpa.
A glacial valley at about 3,500 m that blooms in the monsoon with hundreds of alpine flower species, reached by a trek from Govindghat.
Nature
Hills & mountains
Adventure
UNESCO
Do
Trek to the valley and return the same day
Best time
July to September
Nearest airport
Dehradun (DED), about 295 km
Good to know
Park open roughly June to October; permit and fee at Ghangaria; no camping inside; landslide delays are common in monsoon.
14
Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve
Nainital and Pauri Garhwal · India
India’s oldest national park, along the Ramganga river, with tigers, elephants, gharials and rich birdlife. Different zones offer different habitat and safari experiences.
Wildlife
Nature
Do
Book a morning jeep safari in Dhikala or Bijrani
Best time
November to June
Nearest airport
Pantnagar (PGH), about 70 km
Good to know
Park zones are closed in monsoon, roughly July to mid-November for most; safari permits via the official portal; book well ahead.
15
Rishikesh and the upper Ganga
Dehradun district · India
A river town where the Ganga leaves the foothills, with ashrams, evening aarti, yoga schools and rafting runs through rapids upstream.
Spiritual
Adventure
Do
Attend the evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat
Best time
September to November; February to April
Nearest airport
Dehradun (DED), about 35 km
Good to know
Rafting is closed in monsoon, roughly July to mid-September; only use licensed operators; alcohol and meat rules apply in the core.
16
Chopta and Tungnath
Rudraprayag district · India
A meadow base for the walk up to Tungnath, among the highest Shiva temples in the world, with views toward Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba on clear days.
Hills & mountains
Spiritual
Adventure
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the 3.5 km path to Tungnath at sunrise
Best time
March to June; September to November
Nearest airport
Dehradun (DED), about 215 km
Good to know
Heavy snow closes the route from December to February; stay on marked paths in the meadows; check forest rules on camping.
17
Munsiyari
Pithoragarh district · India
A Kumaon village facing the Panchachuli peaks, with Johari trading-community heritage, wool crafts and walks toward the Milam glacier route.
Hills & mountains
Nature
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Stay in a village homestay and walk to Khaliya Top
Best time
March to June; September to November
Nearest airport
Pantnagar (PGH), about 290 km
Good to know
Long mountain drive; Inner Line Permit needed for treks beyond Munsiyari toward Milam; winter snow.
18
Jageshwar temple complex
Almora district · India
A cluster of about 120 stone temples among deodar forest, built between roughly the 7th and 14th centuries, still used for worship and quiet reflection.
Heritage
Spiritual
Lesser-known
Do
Walk among the main Jageshwar and Mrityunjaya shrines
Best time
March to June; September to November
Nearest airport
Pantnagar (PGH), about 135 km
Good to know
Free to enter; ASI protected; respect worship times; mountain roads.
The first garden tomb of the Mughal line, from the 1560s, with a restored char-bagh layout and nearby Nizamuddin dargah and Sunder Nursery.
Heritage
City
UNESCO
Do
Walk the gardens, then continue to Sunder Nursery
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Delhi (DEL), about 15 km
Good to know
Ticketed, closed on none of the usual days; heat in summer; foreign visitors pay a higher fee.
23
Chandni Chowk and Old Delhi food walk
Old Delhi · India
A Mughal-era market street with lanes of long-running sweet shops, kebab counters and paratha houses, best done on foot with a local guide.
Food
City
Culture
Do
Eat jalebi and paratha in Paranthe Wali Gali
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Delhi (DEL), about 20 km
Good to know
Very crowded; many shops close on Sundays; go early; watch belongings.
24
Mehrauli Archaeological Park
South Delhi · India
About 70 monuments across 200 acres, from Rajput to Mughal and colonial times, with stepwells, tombs and a Sufi shrine, mostly quiet and free of crowds.
Heritage
City
Lesser-known
Do
Walk from Jamali Kamali to Rajon ki Baoli
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Delhi (DEL), about 15 km
Good to know
Free entry; go in daylight; carry water; uneven paths.
A pilgrimage town associated with the Mahabharata and the Gita, with sacred tanks, Brahma Sarovar and the banyan at Jyotisar where Krishna is said to have taught Arjuna.
Spiritual
Heritage
Lesser-known
Do
Visit Brahma Sarovar at sunset
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Chandigarh (IXC), about 90 km; Delhi (DEL), about 160 km
Good to know
Very busy during Gita Jayanti in November or December; free to visit.
A hilltop palace of mirrored halls and ramparts paired with Maharaja Jai Singh’s open-air astronomical instruments in the city, both showing 18th-century science and craft.
Heritage
City
UNESCO
Do
Visit Amer early, then read the sundial at Jantar Mantar
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jaipur (JAI), about 15 km
Good to know
Hot in summer; ticketed; touts at Amer; elephant rides are discouraged.
27
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaisalmer · India
A living sandstone fort founded in 1156 with homes, temples and shops still inside its walls, rising from the Thar desert. Sand dune excursions lie west of town.
Heritage
Culture
UNESCO
Do
Walk the fort lanes at sunset and stay inside a haveli
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jodhpur (JDH), about 285 km; Jaisalmer airport has limited services
Good to know
Fort’s water and drainage are under strain; choose small, responsible stays; very hot in summer.
28
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Jodhpur · India
A cliff-top fort above the blue-washed Brahmapuri quarter, with a well-curated museum, a Rajput armoury and a zip-line circuit across the ramparts.
Heritage
City
Do
Take the audio tour, then eat in the old city
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jodhpur (JDH), about 6 km
Good to know
Ticketed; uphill walking; lift available.
29
Ranthambore National Park
Sawai Madhopur · India
A tiger reserve around a 10th-century hill fort, where tigers are often seen near ruined palaces and lakes, with leopards, sloth bears and many birds.
Wildlife
Heritage
Do
Book a morning safari to Rajbagh lake
Best time
October to April
Nearest airport
Jaipur (JAI), about 175 km
Good to know
Park closed roughly July to September; safari quotas fill early via the official portal; sightings are never guaranteed.
30
Bundi
Bundi · India
A small hill-backed town of stepwells, lake pavilions and a palace with wall paintings, quieter than Jaipur or Udaipur, with narrow lanes of blue and white houses.
Heritage
Culture
City
Lesser-known
Do
Climb to Taragarh Fort and see Chitrashala murals
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jaipur (JAI), about 210 km; Udaipur (UDR), about 270 km
Good to know
Check opening hours of the palace murals; hot in summer.
31
Shekhawati haveli towns
Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Fatehpur · India
Merchant towns whose havelis carry painted walls from the 18th and 19th centuries, showing gods, trains and colonial scenes, some now small museums and family-run hotels.
Heritage
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Walk Nawalgarh’s painted havelis with a local guide
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Jaipur (JAI), about 140 km
Good to know
Many havelis are private or in disrepair; small entry fees; check opening hours.
32
Keoladeo National Park
Bharatpur · India
A man-made wetland that holds tens of thousands of birds in winter, including migratory cranes and waterfowl, best seen by bicycle or rickshaw on level tracks.
Wildlife
Nature
UNESCO
Do
Cycle the main trail at opening time
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Jaipur (JAI), about 185 km; Agra (AGR), about 55 km
Good to know
Water levels vary year to year, affecting bird numbers; entry fees apply.
The white-marble tomb completed in the 1640s and the red-sandstone fort that housed the Mughal court, both along the Yamuna river and best seen with some context.
Heritage
City
UNESCO
Do
See the Taj at opening time, then Agra Fort
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Agra (AGR), about 13 km; Delhi (DEL), about 230 km
Good to know
Taj closed Fridays; timed tickets; fog in winter can obscure views; ticket fees higher for foreign visitors.
34
Varanasi ghats
Varanasi · India
A riverfront city of stepped ghats on the Ganga, one of the oldest inhabited cities, with dawn rituals, music, silk weaving and lanes of sweet shops.
Spiritual
Culture
City
Do
Take a dawn boat along the ghats
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Varanasi (VNS), about 25 km
Good to know
Cremation ghats: do not photograph; Ganga floods in monsoon close lower steps; pickpockets in crowds.
35
Fatehpur Sikri
Agra district · India
Emperor Akbar’s short-lived red-sandstone capital from the 1570s, with the Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and the shrine of Salim Chishti, still a working pilgrimage.
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Visit the Diwan-i-Khas, then the Salim Chishti tomb
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Agra (AGR), about 40 km
Good to know
Ignore unofficial guides; modest dress at the shrine; heat in summer.
36
Old Lucknow and its kebabs
Lucknow · India
A city of Awadhi courtly culture: the Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza, chikankari embroidery in Chowk and slow-cooked kebabs and biryani in the old lanes.
Food
City
Heritage
Do
Eat galouti kebab and walk Chowk’s embroidery shops
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Lucknow (LKO), about 15 km
Good to know
Imambara guided tours; Chowk is crowded on Fridays; modest dress at religious sites.
37
Dudhwa National Park
Lakhimpur Kheri · India
A Terai forest and grassland reserve near the Nepal border, with swamp deer, rhinos reintroduced in the 1980s, tigers and a large number of birds.
Wildlife
Nature
Lesser-known
Do
Take a jeep safari through the swamp deer grassland
Best time
November to May
Nearest airport
Lucknow (LKO), about 220 km
Good to know
Closed roughly mid-June to mid-November; book safaris through the park office; sightings vary.
The site where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, marked by a 5th–6th century brick temple and a Bodhi tree, with monasteries of many countries nearby.
Spiritual
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Meditate under the Bodhi tree at dawn
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Gaya (GAY), about 12 km
Good to know
Free entry; photography limits inside; peak season brings very large crowds in winter.
39
Nalanda Mahavihara ruins
Nalanda district · India
Brick monasteries and shrines of an ancient Buddhist university active from about the 5th to 12th century, with a good small museum and the new Nalanda University nearby.
A plateau hill station of pine and sal woods, known for sunrise and sunset viewpoints, sal forest walks and forest-department rest houses, far from busy tourist routes.
Hills & mountains
Nature
Lesser-known
Do
Watch sunrise at Magnolia Point
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Ranchi (IXR), about 155 km
Good to know
Basic facilities; book forest rest houses ahead; advise checking local conditions as parts of the region have had security concerns.
A 2-foot-gauge steam and diesel railway built in the 1880s, looping through tea country and the Batasia Loop, with views toward Kangchenjunga when skies clear.
Scenic journeys
Heritage
Hills & mountains
UNESCO
Do
Take the Joy Ride steam run from Darjeeling to Ghum
Best time
October to December; March to May
Nearest airport
Bagdogra (IXB), about 90 km
Good to know
Services can be cancelled for landslides, especially in monsoon; book in advance.
42
Sundarbans National Park
South 24 Parganas · India
The Indian part of the world’s largest mangrove delta, with tidal creeks and Royal Bengal tigers, reached by boat with forest-department guides.
Wildlife
Nature
Adventure
UNESCO
Do
Take a multi-day boat trip through the creeks
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Kolkata (CCU), about 100 km to Godkhali
Good to know
Permits through the forest office or licensed operators; no walking on land; tiger sightings are rare; cyclone season April to June and monsoon unsafe.
43
North Kolkata heritage walk
Kolkata · India
Old zamindar mansions, Kumartuli idol-makers’ lanes, College Street’s book stalls and tea-house adda, and the city’s sweet shops, best on foot.
City
Heritage
Food
Culture
Do
Walk Kumartuli, then browse College Street’s book stalls
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Kolkata (CCU), about 20 km
Good to know
Durga Puja in October is extremely busy but the best time to see the idol-makers’ work; monsoon flooding possible.
44
Santiniketan
Birbhum district · India
Rabindranath Tagore’s campus town, with open-air classes, Baul music and Poush Mela craft fair, inscribed by UNESCO in 2023 for its distinct cultural landscape.
Culture
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Visit Uttarayan complex and the Sonajhuri Saturday haat
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Kolkata (CCU), about 165 km
Good to know
Some Visva-Bharati sites have limited visiting hours; Poush Mela in December is very crowded.
45
Bishnupur terracotta temples
Bankura district · India
A Malla-dynasty capital with 17th-century brick and terracotta temples carved with Ramayana scenes, plus Baluchari silk weaving and dokra metal craft.
Heritage
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
See the Rasmancha and Shyam Rai temples
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Kolkata (CCU), about 150 km
Good to know
Ticketed ASI sites; summer heat; visit during Bishnupur Mela in December for crafts.
A 13th-century temple built as a stone chariot of the sun god, with 24 carved wheels that serve as sundials and extensive sculpted friezes.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
Read the time from the wheel sundials
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Bhubaneswar (BBI), about 65 km
Good to know
Ticketed; coastal humidity; Konark Dance Festival in December.
47
Jagannath Temple and Puri
Puri · India
A coastal pilgrimage town and the home of the Rath Yatra, when three huge wooden chariots are pulled along Grand Road each June or July.
Spiritual
Culture
Do
Visit during Rath Yatra or walk Grand Road at dusk
Best time
October to March; Rath Yatra in June or July
Nearest airport
Bhubaneswar (BBI), about 60 km
Good to know
Only Hindus may enter the main temple; others can see it from the Raghunandan library roof; huge crowds at festivals.
48
Chilika Lake
Puri, Khordha, Ganjam districts · India
Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon, with winter migratory birds, Irrawaddy dolphins near Satapada and fishing communities on its islands.
Nature
Wildlife
Do
Take a boat to the dolphin area at Satapada
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Bhubaneswar (BBI), about 100 km
Good to know
Boats licensed through OTDC; dolphin sightings are not guaranteed; winter is peak for birds.
49
Raghurajpur heritage craft village
Puri district · India
A village where nearly every household makes pattachitra paintings, palm-leaf engravings, masks or toys, and the birthplace of the Gotipua dance tradition.
Culture
Heritage
Lesser-known
Do
Watch a painter and buy directly from the household
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Bhubaneswar (BBI), about 55 km
Good to know
Free to visit; buy from artisans directly; check for local festivals.
A broad horseshoe waterfall on the Indravati river, set among Adivasi villages of Bastar, whose 75-day Dussehra festival has no connection with Ram’s story.
Nature
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
See the falls in monsoon and visit a Gond craft village
Best time
July to October; November to February
Nearest airport
Jagdalpur (JGB), about 40 km; Raipur (RPR), about 290 km
Good to know
Check local security conditions in southern Bastar; stay on main routes; falls are strongest in monsoon.
Chandela-dynasty temples from about 950–1050 CE, known for finely carved sandstone that shows daily life, dance, music and devotion, in a quiet town.
Heritage
Culture
UNESCO
Do
See the Western Group at sunrise
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Khajuraho (HJR), about 5 km
Good to know
Ticketed; sound-and-light show in the evening; Khajuraho Dance Festival in February.
52
Sanchi Stupa
Raisen district · India
A hilltop Buddhist complex begun under Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, with carved gateways showing Jataka tales, among the oldest stone structures in India.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
Read the gateway carvings with a guide
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Bhopal (BHO), about 55 km
Good to know
Ticketed; visit in the morning; closed none of the days normally.
53
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
Raisen district · India
Hundreds of rock shelters in sandstone hills with painted scenes of hunting, dance and animals, some dated tens of thousands of years old by researchers.
Heritage
Nature
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Follow the marked path to the painted shelters
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Bhopal (BHO), about 45 km
Good to know
Ticketed ASI site; paths are rocky; limited shade.
54
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Mandla and Balaghat districts · India
Sal forest and open meadows said to have inspired Kipling’s Jungle Book, with tigers, barasingha swamp deer, gaur and many forest birds.
Wildlife
Nature
Do
Take a dawn safari in the Kanha zone
Best time
November to June
Nearest airport
Jabalpur (JLR), about 160 km
Good to know
Core zones closed July to September; safari permits via the official portal; sightings are never guaranteed.
55
Bandhavgarh National Park
Umaria district · India
A compact park with one of India’s highest tiger densities, ancient cave shrines and a fort on a hilltop plateau reached on foot.
Wildlife
Heritage
Do
Book a Tala zone jeep safari at first light
Best time
November to June
Nearest airport
Jabalpur (JLR), about 200 km
Good to know
Park closed July to September; Bandhavgarh Fort is typically open only on limited days; check for updates.
56
Orchha
Niwari district · India
A 16th–17th-century Bundela capital on the Betwa river, with palaces, cenotaph spires and the Ram Raja temple, in a small riverside town.
Heritage
Spiritual
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Climb the Jahangir Mahal and see the cenotaphs at dusk
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Gwalior (GWL), about 120 km; Khajuraho (HJR), about 170 km
Good to know
Ticketed monuments; Ram Raja temple is active daily with set darshan times.
A vast seasonal salt flat that floods in monsoon and dries to a white plain, with Kutchi embroidery villages and the Rann Utsav tent settlement at Dhordo.
Nature
Culture
Do
Visit the salt flat at full moon with a local guide
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Bhuj (BHJ), about 80 km
Good to know
Border-area permit needed beyond Dhordo, available from Bhuj collector; Rann is flooded in monsoon.
58
Gir National Park
Junagadh and Gir Somnath · India
The last wild home of the Asiatic lion, in dry deciduous forest, with leopards, deer and the Maldhari community living at its edge.
Wildlife
Nature
Do
Book a morning jeep safari for lions
Best time
December to March
Nearest airport
Rajkot (RAJ), about 160 km; Diu (DIU), about 90 km
Good to know
Park closed roughly mid-June to mid-October; permits through the official site; limited vehicles per route.
59
Rani ki Vav, Patan
Patan district · India
An 11th-century stepwell built as an inverted temple, with hundreds of carved panels of gods and apsaras descending seven levels to the water.
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Walk down to the well and study the carving
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Ahmedabad (AMD), about 130 km
Good to know
Ticketed; sun is hot at midday; combine with Modhera Sun Temple.
60
Dholavira
Kachchh district · India
A Harappan city on the island of Khadir, notable for its stepped water reservoirs, planned layout and a signboard with large symbols, inscribed by UNESCO in 2021.
Heritage
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the citadel and reservoir system
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Bhuj (BHJ), about 215 km
Good to know
Remote; border-area permit may be needed; bring water; limited accommodation.
61
Historic City of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad · India
A walled city of wooden havelis and pols (neighbourhood clusters), the Jama Masjid and Sabarmati Ashram, with an excellent street-food and textile tradition.
City
Heritage
Food
UNESCO
Do
Take a morning heritage walk through the pols
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Ahmedabad (AMD), about 10 km
Good to know
Heritage walks run mornings; Sabarmati Ashram is free; summers are hot.
Thirty rock-cut Buddhist caves with painted murals and sculptures from about the 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE, in a horseshoe gorge.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
See Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 first
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (IXU), about 105 km
Good to know
Closed Mondays; flash photography forbidden; shuttle from car park; busy at weekends.
63
Ellora Caves
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district · India
A 34-cave complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples, including the Kailasa temple carved from a single hillside over several decades.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
Spend a morning at Cave 16 and the Kailasa temple
Best time
October to March; monsoon greens the hills
Nearest airport
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (IXU), about 30 km
Good to know
Closed Tuesdays; combine with nearby Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar temple.
64
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Mumbai’s Victorian and Art Deco ensembles
Mumbai · India
A Victorian Gothic railway terminus facing a waterfront of Gothic and Art Deco buildings along Marine Drive, joined by city walks and local train rides.
City
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Take a heritage walk from CST to the Oval Maidan
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Mumbai (BOM), about 30 km
Good to know
Station is working; photography near railway areas may be restricted; monsoon floods in July.
65
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Chandrapur district · India
Maharashtra’s oldest national park, with teak forest, lakes and a steady tiger presence, plus sloth bears and wild dogs, in less crowded Vidarbha.
Wildlife
Nature
Do
Take a safari in the Moharli or Kolara zone
Best time
February to May
Nearest airport
Nagpur (NAG), about 140 km
Good to know
Core zones close July to September; Tuesday closure of some zones; heat in May; book safaris early.
66
Lonar Crater
Buldhana district · India
A meteorite impact crater in basalt, around 1.8 km wide, holding a saline lake and ancient temples on its rim, a rare geological site.
Nature
Heritage
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the rim trail down to the lake
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (IXU), about 160 km
Good to know
Lake shore can be slippery; avoid midday summer; keep to marked trails.
67
Kaas Plateau
Satara district · India
A high basalt plateau in the Western Ghats that carpets with wildflowers after the monsoon, including many species found only here, inscribed in the Western Ghats UNESCO listing.
Nature
Hills & mountains
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the boardwalks during the bloom
Best time
Late August to early October
Nearest airport
Pune (PNQ), about 130 km
Good to know
Entry limited by daily quotas and booking online; bloom times vary; do not step off paths.
The ruined capital of the Vijayanagara empire, from the 14th–16th century, across a boulder-strewn landscape with temples, bazaars and the Tungabhadra river.
Heritage
Adventure
Culture
UNESCO
Do
Cycle between the Virupaksha and Vittala temples
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Vidyanagar, Ballari (VDY), about 35 km; Hubballi (HBX), about 140 km
Good to know
Ticketed site; very hot in summer; coracle rides are weather-dependent; modest dress at active temples.
71
Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal
Bagalkot district · India
Early Chalukya temples and cave shrines from the 6th–8th centuries, where northern and southern temple styles were tested side by side, at a quiet three-town circuit.
Heritage
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Climb the Badami caves and visit Pattadakal
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Hubballi (HBX), about 110 km
Good to know
Pattadakal is UNESCO-listed; Aihole and Badami are protected by ASI; hot in summer; small fees.
72
Belur and Halebidu
Hassan district · India
Hoysala temples of the 12th–13th centuries with intricately carved soapstone walls, including the Chennakeshava temple at Belur, still used for worship.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
Study the carved friezes of Halebidu’s Hoysaleswara temple
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Mangaluru (IXE), about 150 km; Bengaluru (BLR), about 220 km
Good to know
Belur temple remains active; Halebidu is a protected site; free to modest fee.
73
Mysuru Palace and Dasara
Mysuru · India
A royal city with an Indo-Saracenic palace that is lit up on Sundays and festival nights, and the ten-day Dasara festival with a grand procession.
Culture
City
Heritage
Do
See the palace illuminated and the Dasara procession
Best time
September to March; Dasara in September or October
Nearest airport
Mysuru (MYQ), about 12 km; Bengaluru (BLR), about 160 km
Good to know
Dasara dates vary; book hotels months ahead; palace is closed on festival procession days.
74
Gokarna beaches
Uttara Kannada district · India
A temple town on the Konkan coast with a string of beaches, including Om, Kudle and Half Moon, reached by cliff-top trails, with fishing villages nearby.
Beach & islands
Spiritual
Do
Walk the cliff trail from Kudle to Om Beach
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Goa (GOX/GOI), about 140 km; Hubballi (HBX), about 150 km
Good to know
Strong currents; swim only where lifeguards are present; beaches are busier on weekends.
75
Kabini and Nagarhole National Park
Mysuru and Kodagu districts · India
A forest reserve on the Kabini reservoir with elephants, tigers, leopards and the black panther, best seen on boat and jeep safaris run by the forest department.
Wildlife
Nature
Lesser-known
Do
Take a boat safari on the Kabini backwaters
Best time
November to May
Nearest airport
Mysuru (MYQ), about 80 km; Bengaluru (BLR), about 220 km
Good to know
Safaris through the forest department; sightings not guaranteed; hot in April and May.
A below-sea-level farming landscape of canals, paddy and village life, best explored in small canoes or a punted houseboat that leaves the main channels.
Nature
Culture
Food
Do
Take a village canoe tour instead of a large houseboat
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Kochi (COK), about 85 km
Good to know
Choose small, registered boats; plastic and sewage rules matter here; monsoon is heavy.
77
Munnar tea hills
Idukki district · India
High tea estates in the Western Ghats with Eravikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri tahr, and the Neelakurinji bloom that flowers about once every twelve years.
Hills & mountains
Nature
Do
Walk through the tea estates and visit Eravikulam
Best time
September to March
Nearest airport
Kochi (COK), about 110 km
Good to know
Eravikulam closes in February and March for tahr calving; entry tickets are timed.
78
Periyar Tiger Reserve
Thekkady, Idukki · India
A reservoir-centred forest with elephants, gaur and spice gardens, known for guided walks and bamboo rafting run with former poachers turned guides.
Wildlife
Nature
Adventure
Do
Join a guided early-morning nature walk
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Madurai (IXM), about 140 km; Kochi (COK), about 145 km
Good to know
Book nature walks and boat rides through the park authority; fees vary; monsoon leeches.
79
Fort Kochi and Mattancherry
Kochi · India
A trading port shaped by Chinese, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and British settlers, with Chinese fishing nets, Jew Town and the Biennale in alternate years.
City
Heritage
Culture
Do
Walk Jew Town’s antique shops and the Paradesi Synagogue
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Kochi (COK), about 40 km
Good to know
Kochi-Muziris Biennale runs in the cold season in certain years; the synagogue is closed on Saturdays.
80
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur · India
A festival held around the Vadakkunnathan temple in April or May, with caparisoned elephants, drum ensembles and fireworks, drawing temple groups from across the town.
Culture
Do
Watch the Kudamattam parasol exchange from the ground
Best time
April to May
Nearest airport
Kochi (COK), about 55 km; Coimbatore (CJB), about 110 km
Good to know
Extremely crowded; arrive early; fireworks and elephant rules are regularly reviewed; book stays well ahead.
A Dravidian temple with 14 painted gopurams rebuilt in the 17th century, at the centre of a city that has traded for over two thousand years.
Spiritual
Heritage
City
Do
Attend the night ceremony when the deity is carried to rest
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Madurai (IXM), about 10 km
Good to know
Hindus-only inner sanctum; dress modestly; phones and cameras are not allowed inside.
82
Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
Thanjavur · India
A Chola temple completed around 1010 CE with a 60-metre granite vimana, part of the Great Living Chola Temples listing, near the palace and its bronze gallery.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Do
See the main tower and the bronzes in the palace museum
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Tiruchirappalli (TRZ), about 60 km
Good to know
Free; dress modestly; midday heat.
83
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Ariyalur district · India
A temple town built by Rajendra Chola in the early 11th century, with a slender vimana and a lion-guarded well, usually quiet compared with Thanjavur.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Look at the sculptures on the outer sanctum walls
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Tiruchirappalli (TRZ), about 100 km
Good to know
Free; small town with simple facilities; heat.
84
Mahabalipuram
Chengalpattu district · India
A Pallava-era port with a Shore Temple, rock-cut caves and monolithic rathas from the 7th–8th centuries, with active stone-carving workshops beside the sea.
Heritage
Beach & islands
UNESCO
Do
Walk the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas
Best time
November to February
Nearest airport
Chennai (MAA), about 55 km
Good to know
Ticketed ASI sites; hot sun; Dance Festival in January to February.
85
Chettinad mansions
Sivaganga district · India
Villages around Karaikudi with mansions from the Nattukottai Chettiar merchants, built with Burmese teak and Italian tiles, plus a peppery regional cuisine and Athangudi tiles.
Heritage
Food
Culture
Lesser-known
Do
Stay in a restored mansion and learn a Chettinad recipe
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Madurai (IXM), about 90 km; Tiruchirappalli (TRZ), about 90 km
Good to know
Many mansions are privately owned; ask before entering; summer is very hot.
86
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam · India
A metre-gauge rack-and-pinion railway opened in 1908, climbing about 2,000 m through tunnels and forests of the Nilgiri hills, still run with a steam engine on some services.
Scenic journeys
Hills & mountains
Heritage
UNESCO
Do
Ride the full run from Mettupalayam to Ooty
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Coimbatore (CJB), about 50 km to Mettupalayam
Good to know
Service is sometimes suspended after landslides in monsoon; reserve seats ahead.
87
Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi
Ramanathapuram district · India
An island pilgrimage town with a corridor temple of long pillared halls, linked by the Pamban bridge to the ruined town and sand spit of Dhanushkodi.
Spiritual
Beach & islands
Scenic journeys
Do
Visit Ramanathaswamy temple, then drive to Dhanushkodi
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Madurai (IXM), about 170 km
Good to know
Road beyond Dhanushkodi is closed to visitors; cyclone season October to December; the new Pamban rail bridge opened recently.
A hilltop temple at the Tirumala hills, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, run with large queue and free-meal systems.
Spiritual
Do
Book a timed darshan online and eat the annadanam meal
Best time
September to February
Nearest airport
Tirupati (TIR), about 40 km
Good to know
Book darshan slots on the official TTD website; dress code applies; very crowded on weekends and festivals; no cameras inside.
90
Lepakshi
Sri Sathya Sai district · India
A Vijayanagara-period Veerabhadra temple of the 16th century with painted ceilings, a hanging pillar and a monolithic Nandi nearby, close to the Karnataka border.
A valley of Adivasi villages and coffee plantations in the Eastern Ghats, reached by the scenic Visakhapatnam–Araku rail line and the limestone Borra Caves.
Hills & mountains
Nature
Food
Lesser-known
Do
Ride the Vizag to Araku train and visit a coffee plantation
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Visakhapatnam (VTZ), about 115 km
Good to know
Train has many tunnels and bridges; book the glass-roof coach early; ask before photographing local people.
A Kakatiya temple of the 13th century built in red sandstone and noted for its floating bricks and delicate carvings, inscribed by UNESCO in 2021.
Heritage
Spiritual
UNESCO
Lesser-known
Do
Study the black basalt dancer sculptures on the pillars
Best time
October to February
Nearest airport
Hyderabad (HYD), about 210 km
Good to know
Free to enter; shoes off; combine with Warangal Fort.
93
Old Hyderabad: Charminar, Golconda and biryani
Hyderabad · India
A Qutb Shahi-era city of Charminar, bangle bazaar and the Golconda fort, with a food culture of dum biryani, haleem and Irani cafés.
City
Food
Heritage
Do
Eat biryani, then see Golconda at the evening show
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Hyderabad (HYD), about 25 km
Good to know
Charminar area is very crowded; Ramzan brings haleem stalls and large evening crowds.
94
Pochampally ikat village
Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district · India
A weaving cluster where ikat saris are tied, dyed and woven on handlooms, a living craft with a Geographical Indication tag, an easy day trip from Hyderabad.
Culture
Food
Lesser-known
Do
Watch a weaver at work and buy directly
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Hyderabad (HYD), about 60 km
Good to know
Free; buy from cooperatives or workshops; ask before photographing.
A long white-sand beach on Havelock Island, with calm water and nearby dive sites where coral reefs and sea life are among the best in India.
Beach & islands
Adventure
Do
Dive or snorkel at Elephant Beach with a licensed operator
Best time
November to April
Nearest airport
Port Blair (IXZ), then a ferry of about 2 hours
Good to know
Indian nationals need no permit for Havelock; foreigners get a Restricted Area Permit on arrival, which is issued free; ferries cancel in rough weather.
96
Cellular Jail, Port Blair
South Andaman · India
A colonial-era prison used to hold Indian freedom fighters, now a national memorial with a sound-and-light show about the independence struggle.
Heritage
City
Do
Take the evening sound and light show
Best time
November to April
Nearest airport
Port Blair (IXZ), about 5 km
Good to know
Closed on some national holidays; show is weather-dependent; book online.
97
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
South Andaman · India
A small, slow island of paddy fields and low-key beaches, with a natural rock bridge at Howrah Bridge Beach and calm reef snorkelling.
Beach & islands
Lesser-known
Do
Cycle to Bharatpur Beach and snorkel at low tide
Best time
November to April
Nearest airport
Port Blair (IXZ), then a ferry of about 90 minutes
Good to know
Ferry bookings fill fast; rough sea suspends services; check tide times for the rock bridge.
A coral atoll with a shallow lagoon, sandbanks and reef snorkelling, reached by short flight from Kochi, with limited, community-linked accommodation.
Beach & islands
Adventure
Lesser-known
Do
Snorkel the lagoon and visit a fishing village
Best time
October to May
Nearest airport
Agatti (AGX), reached by flight from Kochi (COK)
Good to know
Entry permit needed for all visitors, via the Lakshadweep administration; foreigners face extra rules; alcohol is restricted; limited capacity and sea-weather disruption.
99
Kadmat Island
Kadmat · India
A long, thin island with a calm lagoon on its west side and a community-run water-sports centre, known for diving and nesting green turtles.
Beach & islands
Adventure
Lesser-known
Do
Take a guided dive or kayak in the lagoon
Best time
October to May
Nearest airport
Agatti (AGX), then a boat transfer; Kochi (COK) for the flight
Good to know
Entry permit needed for all visitors; book through the administration; limited beds; weather disruption possible.
A small island off Gujarat with a Portuguese-era fort, a Gothic-style church, quiet beaches such as Nagoa and Ghoghla, and a relaxed pace.
Beach & islands
Heritage
Lesser-known
Do
Walk the sea walls of Diu Fort and cycle to Nagoa Beach
Best time
October to March
Nearest airport
Diu (DIU), about 6 km
Good to know
Free to enter fort; swim cautiously; alcohol is allowed, unlike in neighbouring Gujarat.
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How we chose. This is an editorial selection, in no particular order and not a ranking. Places are grouped by state / ut. Descriptions are written in our own words from public sources; seasons, permits, access and safety advisories change — approximate, verify before you travel. Last reviewed 2026-11-10. Your ticks are saved only on this device.
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