India attractions

Constructed in the early 19th century by British architect Duncan Macleod, Hazarduari Palace is a gargantuan palace museum that showcases a variety of historic relics and art. It’s worth visiting for the grand architecture alone, though the interiors reveal a fine collection of royal treasures, from old weaponry to European oil paintings.

Ornate pillars, richly decorated columns, carved spires, and graceful carvings of dancers, musicians, and deities in white marble make this Jain temple outside Delhi Gate one of the most stunning in Ahmedabad. Built in 1848, the temple is dedicated to Dharmanath, or the 15th Tirthankara, or “ford-maker,” one of the 24 great teachers of the Jain religion.

This traditional Portuguese-style neighborhood is home to many of Panaji's historic buildings, including the São Tomé Chapel, the old post office, and myriad colonial houses with red tile roofs and colorful facades. Sao Tome is best explored on foot and is often visited in tandem with the neighboring Fontainhas area.

Established in 1855 as the Madras Zoo and launched at its current location south of Chennai in 1985, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park is India’s first public zoo. Home to over 170 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, the zoological park is also the largest in the country. It runs a rescue center that rehabilitates animals—including lions and tigers—freed from exploitation.

Valluvar Kottam was constructed in 1976 as a shrine in memory of poet Thiruvalluvar, author of Thirukkural, a collection of more than a thousand rhyming Tamil couplets that expound simplicity of life and set a moral code for his followers. Thiruvalluvar lived and wrote during the first century BC in what is now Chennai.

At 17,590 feet (5,360 meters) above sea level, Chang La Pass is among the world's highest motorable passes. Most people come here on their way to Pangong Lake or the Changthang Plateau, both in remote parts of Ladakh.

Occupying 10 acres (4 hectares) in a quiet wooded area outside Chennai, Cholamandal Artists’ Village is the largest self-supporting artists’ village in India. Home to two dozen painters and sculptors, the commune is an excellent place to feel the pulse of Chennai’s contemporary arts scene.

The Ancestral Goa center offers an excellent introduction to Goan life. This living history museum was set up by a local artist. Included are a typical 19th-century Goan village, featuring traditional homes, displays of handicrafts such as pottery and cobbling, and even a replica of a sacred spring, plus lots of activities for kids.

This off-the-beaten track temple is located in Mehrauli, near the famous Qutub Minar. It's dedicated to the pure goddess Yogmaya (aka Jogmaya), the sister of Lord Krishna's (an incarnation of Vishnu). Although the temple in its present state dates back to the 19th century, there have been ancient temples here for many centuries prior.

This museum holds some of India’s finest textiles. Collections contain antique and modern shawls, tapestries, saris, tie-dyes, royal costumes, and other items. Other objects such as sacred statues, religious texts, and miniature paintings round out collections. The museum is a must-see for visitors interested in one of India’s oldest traditions.

Located in Kerala’s verdant Western Ghats, with scenery ranging from woody grasslands and marshy wetlands to evergreen forests, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places in southern India to observe the region’s unique flora and fauna at close range. Expect rich bird life—including hornbills and kingfishers—and dozens of mammals, from sambar deers to the elusive Bengal tiger.

Lake views, picnicking spots, and the Sinhagad Fort nearby draw travelers to Khadakwasla Dam, a feat of local engineering on the Mutha River on the outskirts of Pune near Khadakwasla Village. Equal parts water source and tourist attraction, the dam offers lovely views over the lake/reservoir—especially at sunset from the official viewpoint.

The Art of Living International Center (Art of Living Ashram), is a 65-acre haven of peace and tranquility, with its beautiful, lush gardens, soothing water fountains and waterfalls, and a picturesque lake. At the center of the campus is the spectacular mediation hall, a magnificent six-tiered building topped with a glass dome.

Fort Kochi (Fort Cochin) is an historic district and a main draw for tourists in Kochi (Cochin). It’s a charming neighborhood full of colonial-era homes (many of which have been converted into boutique hotels), lovely old houses of worship, charming shops and markets, and the city's famous Chinese fishing nets that flank the harbor.

If you opted for South India over North but regret missing Agra’s Taj Mahal, you’re in luck—The Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad is nicknamed the “Taj of the Deccan.” But it isn’t just a replica. Surrounded by pretty formal gardens, the Bibi Ka Maqbara is almost as old as the Taj and an attraction in its own right.

The Jungle Book comes to life in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve (OK, with fewer talking animals). The reserve is part of the Bandipur National Park, a large forested area near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, and is part of Project Tiger, a conservation project that protects India’s endangered tiger population. Visitors can enjoy safari tours of the park, spotting tigers and other wildlife.

Built for Armenian traders in India in 1712, the Armenian Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, is among the oldest churches in the country. Though it no longer functions as a house of worship, the church is still maintained as a historical attraction and is funded by the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Just south of Chennai, the heritage village of DakshinaChitra, was established to help preserve the folk art and cultural traditions of southern India. Artisans trained in traditional techniques work right on the property, making pots, baskets, woven silk pieces, puppets and stone carvings that visitors can purchase directly.

On the edge of New Delhi’s trendy Hauz Khas Village, the Jagannath Temple (Jagannath Mandir) is worth a visit for its striking white domed architecture alone, complete with engraved spires and an elaborate gateway. It’s also a great way to gain insight into the traditions and culture of the Oriya people of East India, the temple’s primary target community.

With over a dozen galleries and a fine arts college on one campus, the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath visual arts complex is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in Bangalore's art scene. Highlights include 13 galleries with permanent exhibits, a handful of special event spaces, and regular events ranging from art lessons to handicraft markets.

A great attraction for families or those interested in science, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium features a 49-foot-diameter (15 meter) dome with projections of the night sky, allowing visitors a better view of stars and planets. There are also daily shows in English and Kannada for travelers interested in learning more about our solar system.

Among India’s Jyotirlingas, 12 shrines and pilgrimage sites symbolizing the spread of Hindu god Lord Shiva’s influence across the nation, Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga stands out for its location on an island in the shape of the symbol Om. A pilgrimage site for Hindu devotees, the temple also hosts ritual events and religious festivals throughout the year.

Spread out over 4 acres (1.6 hectares), the ISKCON Temple of Mumbai is an excellent spot for visitors to learn more about Hindu traditions, and those who wish can take part in chanting and classes. The temple’s interior is adorned with spiritually oriented artwork and religious statuary, and the grounds include a large restaurant and guest house.

Home to around 40 Bengal tigers, the densely wooded Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala’s Western Ghat region is part of Periyar National Park, known interchangeably as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Named after the Periyar River, the biodiverse park is also home to sambar deer, otters, bison, herds of elephants, and bird life such as egrets, hornbills, and herons.

Situated near Elliot's Beach, the colorful Ashtalakshmi Temple was constructed in the mid-1970s to honor the Hindu goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. The multitiered structure features images of the goddess in her eight forms, with shrines spread over four floors accessible by steep and narrow staircases.

Bharat Sevashram Sangha is a Hindu charitable organization headquartered in Kolkata. Visitors to their temple and ashram on the island of Ganga Sagar can learn about the organization’s humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief, healthcare, education, tribal welfare, vocational training programs, and spiritual outreach.

Although the history of the North Delhi neighborhood of Majnu Ka Tilla (Majnu’s Hill) dates back hundreds of years, Tibetan refugees settled there in the 1960s, hence its moniker “Little Tibet”. Now, it’s the place to go in Delhi to sample Tibetan food, visit Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and temples, and shop for Himalayan trinkets.

A favorite among college students from the many schools in the area as well as well-heeled Delhiites looking to shop, the M Block Market is an upscale shopping complex in the Greater Kailash neighborhood dominated by retail shops selling international brands. With plenty of eateries and cafés, it’s also a good spot for coffee or a meal.

Despite its governmental-sounding name (literally “India house”), Bhopal’s Bharat Bhavan is a multi-arts center designed by Indian architect and urban planner Charles Correa in 1982. It includes an art gallery of Indian painting and sculpture, art workshops, performance spaces, libraries of poetry and classical and folk music, a bookshop, and a museum of tribal and folk art.

Situated on a hillock in suburban southern Bangalore, this temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, known as the monkey god servant of Lord Ram. A host of other deities are also honored here, and the temple doubles as a center for social welfare, providing education and medical services to the community.