Lucknow’s British Residency is an enduring reminder of British colonial presence in India and a must-visit attraction in the city. British officials and their families sheltered here during the 5-month Siege of Lucknow in 1857. Now, visitors can learn about this history in the museum and by strolling the ruins and the grounds.
The largest beach in North Goa, Calangute is a lively, popular beach town that attracts domestic tourists and international visitors alike. The beach is lined with hotels and shacks serving seafood, Indian fare, beer, and cocktails, while the adjacent town offers a mix of handicraft shops and bars.
Situated on the banks of the Mandovi River, this scenic fort was built by the Portuguese in 1551 to protect the Mandovi estuary, and was reconstructed in 1707. It was abandoned for much of the 19th and 20th centuries before being turned into a prison. It was later restored and turned into the tourist attraction that it is today.
By some accounts, it took Sir Mirza Ismail—a local dewan (chief officer)—about five years to build Brindavan Garden, a seemingly endless expanse of manicured green with famed musical “dancing” fountains. A marvel of a terrace garden modeled after the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, Brindavan makes for a dramatic sight below the Krishnaraja Sagara Dam, and is a must-see from Mysore.
The former summer home of Jat rulers of the kingdom of Bharatpur, Deeg Palace is a beautiful palace dating back to 1772. It was commissioned by the ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal, a notoriously brave ruler known for plundering sites such as the Red Fort in Delhi and the Taj Mahal. In fact, much of the granite and marble used in the palace’s construction is believed to have come from the Red Fort itself.
Situated on the outskirts of Bangalore (also known as Bengaluru), the Wonderla Amusement Park is a massive attraction featuring a waterpark with slides and pools as well as a huge variety of amusement park rides that range from thrilling to kid-friendly. There's also an on-site resort for guests who want to spend the night.
The 7-story Chandra Mahal, situated within Jaipur’s City Palace complex, serves as the official residence of the descendants of Jaipur’s titular royal family. Beyond the inner courtyard and its magnificent gates representing the four seasons, visitors may explore the palace’s ground floor, a museum of carpets, manuscripts, and portraits of past maharajas.
Auroville was birthed in the late 1960s by Mirra Alfassa, known to her followers as “The Mother,” as a global township in which people from across the world could live in harmony. Today, the UNESCO-recognized project has a population of over 2,000 people from dozens of countries, including many second- and third-generation Aurovillians.
Established in 1887, the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery houses a collection of art and objects amassed by the Maharaja of Baroda, Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Join locals strolling the grounds before heading inside. The maharaja had the complex built to showcase all sorts of items collected or commissioned on his travels, from Indian musical instruments to an Egyptian mummy.
Old Manali’s Manu Temple is believed to be the only temple dedicated to this sage, responsible for writing an important Hindu religious text. Located uphill from the main town of Manali, in Old Manali, the pagoda-like temple reflects Himachali architectural styles and is surrounded by attractive nature and mountain views.
Surrounding Albert Hall, just outside of the Pink City, Ram Niwas is a popular picnic spot for local families, particularly those with young children. Here you’ll find plenty of gardens, fountains, pools, and play areas, as well as Jaipur’s modest zoo.
India might be best known for the Bengal tiger, but you’ll find another big cat in Gujarat’s Gir National Park: the Asiatic lion. The park and immediate surrounding areas are the only place in the world where you can see these lions in the wild. If in this part of India, nature-loving travelers shouldn’t miss the chance to spot them.
Built in 1926, the Nakhoda Mosque is Kolkata’s principal and biggest mosque, capable of holding 10,000 worshippers. Located in the Chitpur area of Kolkata, this enormous red-sandstone edifice echoes India’s Fatehpur Sikri-style of architecture, with its ornate exterior and green-roofed domes, minars (Indian turrets), and minarets.
Founded in the 1930s as a place to collect and display archaeological findings, the Odisha State Museum has grown to become the premier museum in the state. Exhibits across three floors. focus on everything from geology to armory, while there are lovely gardens you can stroll around outside.
Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake built in the 11th century. It’s a pretty respite for Ajmeris and visitors alike, with numerous grassy parks dotting its shores. Other highlights along the lake include marble pavilions, or baradari, built under the auspices of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who was also responsible for commissioning the Taj Mahal and Delhi's Red Fort.
Popular among international backpackers, Anjuna has long been associated with the hippie lifestyle. It's more laid-back than some of the livelier beaches a few miles south, though. Its big draw is the numerous beachfront shacks serving delicious, affordable Indian and international fare well into the wee hours.
Surrounded by jungle in Goa's interior, the Tropical Spice Plantation is a working spice farm that provides spice tours and delicious lunches. It’s a great place to go if you want to learn about how spices are produced or just want a break from Goa’s bustling beach scene.
Situated in Chennai’s Mylapore neighborhood, this temple was constructed in 1952 by a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba, a 19th-century saint who preached compassion, love, and religious tolerance. It's but one of many temples to the saint across India and the oldest Sai Baba temple in Chennai.
Select Citywalk was the first large-scale shopping mall to open in south Delhi, back in 2007. This vast shopping center features hundreds of retail stores representing major Indian and international fashion brands, along with a gym, tons of restaurants, and even a multiplex cinema.
Situated in the coastal city of Mangalore in the South Indian state of Karnataka, the Kudroli Gokarnath Temple is one of the city's more popular attractions, both for sightseers and religious pilgrims. It's dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Gokarnanatha and features multiple red temple structures topped with golden-hued Dravidian-style domes.
Just outside of Fatehpur Sikri, Korai is a small, traditional village that's largely populated by members of the Qalandar community. In recent years, travel companies and village residents have made efforts to bring in tourists, making Korai a great place to learn about life in rural North India while supporting the local economy.
The Telangana State Archaeology Museum, also known as the Hyderabad Museum and the AP State Museum, is among Hyderabad’s oldest museums. It’s home to artifacts excavated from an archaeological site below the museum building, a Nizam-era palace. Items include idols, bronzes, and Ajanta paintings from various dynastic periods—but the most popular is the mummy of an Egyptian princess.
Built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the Ripon Building serves as the headquarters of the Corporation of Chennai, the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth outside Great Britain. The highlight of the structure is the 8-foot (2.5-meter) clock, known as the Westminster Chiming Clock, on the building’s central tower.
On the banks of the Ganges River, Rishikesh's Triveni Ghat is a major hub for Hindu pilgrims. It's at its liveliest around sunset, when a prayer ritual known as the Ganga aarti occurs. During this ritual, priests pray to the river using giant lanterns, and worshipers set small oil lanterns made of leaves afloat into the river.
The AapnoGhar Amusement and Water Park is a large, family-friendly resort, entertainment center, and water park outside Delhi. Travelers can stay at the resort to enjoy all the facilities, or just visit for the day to cool off at the outdoor water park and have fun on the fairground rides.
On the outskirts of Munnar, Top Station is the site of a former transshipment spot used for transporting tea grown in the region to other parts of the world. These days, its main function is as a tourist attraction, and many people hike up to the top in the wee hours of the morning to reach the summit in time for sunrise.
One of India's largest wildlife areas, the enormous Bannerghatta National Park spans more than 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) and features tons of hiking trails, villages, and temples. The highlight of the reserve is the Bannerghatta Biological Park, which features an animal rescue center, a zoo, safaris, and a butterfly park.
Ahmedabad’s Manek Chowk is a general produce, jewelry, and textiles market by day that transforms into a vibrant street food market at night. Located in the atmospheric Old Town, right beside the Jama Masjid, Manek Chowk is a convenient place to browse Indian bling or to grab a cheap and cheerful vegetarian Gujarati meal at night.
If you're looking for a place to escape the heat of Kolkata, Aquatica Water Park will deliver. This giant park and conference center features a variety of waterslides for visitors of all ages, including a lazy river and a family pool with gentle waves and water features, plus a smattering of fast-paced slides for daring visitors.
Located a short drive from the capital city Panaji, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a compact reserve, spanning about 1.8 square kilometers (.69 square miles) of mangrove swamps. It's Goa's only bird sanctuary, attracting a variety of native and migratory birds, including kingfishers, coots, egrets, black drongos, and pintails.
