India attractions

Churchgate is a pedestrian-friendly, seaside neighborhood in South Mumbai. It occupies a narrow patch of land that stretches from just north of Nariman Point to just south of the Marine Lines commuter railway station. It's best-known for its art deco and neo-Gothic architecture, and visitors enjoy its ample dining opportunities.

Spread out over 90 acres (36 hectares), Lodhi Gardens is a gorgeous and lush park full of meandering pathways, beautiful greenery, and four Lodhi-dynasty tombs. Many locals and visitors alike find refuge here from the dust and noise of Delhi, and you’re likely to come across picnickers, joggers, and elderly Delhiites on morning walks.

Spread across 240 acres (97 hectares) full of plants and flowers, not to mention dozens of types of birds, the sprawling Lalbagh Botanical Gardens is one of Bangalore's best green spaces and a big part of how the city got its nickname: the Garden City. It's as popular with locals and tourists alike and is a great place for a morning jog.

India’s holiest river, the Ganges (Ganga) runs east for 1,560 miles (2,510 kilometers) from the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. A lifeline for north India’s plains and towns, the river is also a place of Hindu pilgrimage at cities such as Rishikesh and Varanasi—drawing visitors with humbling scenes of religious devotion.

Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also called the Golden Temple, thanks to its pure gold spire and dome. The current building dates from 1780, but temples stood in the same place for centuries. Dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva—one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon—Kashi Vishwanath is a major pilgrimage site.

A complex of stone temples are all that remain of the eighth-century Pallava dynasty that once thrived at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), on the coast south of Chennai. Learn the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the charming town, and relax on a sandy stretch of shore—all accessible on a day trip from Chennai.

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is notable for its Gothic architecture, with a whitewashed façade and beautiful interiors, with intricate pastel frescoes and paintings, and large stained glass windows. While it’s a popular attraction, it’s also a working church and the Sunday mass services here provide a great insight into local Catholic culture.

Kumbhalgarh Fort is an enormous citadel situated deep in the desert outside of Udaipur. It was built in the 15th century and took over a decade to complete—unsurprising given that its walls stretch some 22 miles (35.4 kilometers) in total. Second in length only to the Great Wall of China, it is sometimes dubbed the "Great Wall of India."

One of the largest forts in India, Chittaurgarh Fort—sometimes spelled Chittorgarh—is said to date back to the 7th century. The hilltop complex, which reigns supreme over the desert city of Chittor, comprises a series of temples, towers, and palaces, many of which are adorned with intricate carvings.

Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in the northern city of Amritsar. It’s best known as the site of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 at the hands of the British Indian Army, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians celebrating the religious festival of Baisakhi.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) is one of the most prestigious and extensive art and history museums in India. While the exhibits are the main attraction here, its exteriors alone make it worth a visit, as it's housed in a domed Grade I Heritage–listed building in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style.

Officially called Galtaji but usually referred to as Temple of the Sun God or simply the Monkey Temple, this temple complex of many names was built in the 18th century. Multiple storied water tanks, known as kunds, lead up to the main temple, with rounded roofs and pavilions typical to Rajasthan’s architectural traditions.

The Varanasi Ghats are sets of stairs that descend from the city down the banks and into the waters of the holy Ganges River. There are just under 100 individual ghats lining the river’s edge in this region, their steep steps making access to the river possible during both the wet and dry seasons.

Tucked among the bustling lanes of the Nizamuddin West neighborhood, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah (Nizamuddin Dargah) is the mausoleum of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. It attracts religious pilgrims from across India as well as music lovers who visit to listen to traditional Sufi qawwali music performed here on Thursdays.

Built in the late 18th century, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace served as a retreat for Mysore’s ruler. This beautiful teak structure—once part of Bangalore Fort—attracts visitors with its beautiful Indo-Islamic architecture, interior frescoes, and selection of ephemera, including Tipu Sultan images along with his robes and a crown.

Once the epicenter of Hyderabad, 18th-century Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and the site where the nizams (monarchs) lavishly entertained esteemed guests. It features a unique blend of various architectural styles and influences, including Mughal domes and Persian-influenced stucco work.

Built at the turn of the 17th century by Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini, this red-stone church is one of the oldest in India. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it's dedicated to the baby Jesus, many people choose to visit because the basilica holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa.

The Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata is a symbol of both the city and of the entire British Raj. A tribute to Queen Victoria by the viceroy of India, the giant, white-marble building was erected over a 15-year period, starting in 1906. Today it houses a museum covering the history of the Raj and is surrounded by English-style gardens.

The British East India Company constructed Fort St. George (their first fortress in India) in 1640. The 20-foot (6-meter) thick outer walls surround a complex of white colonial structures, known historically as ‘White City,’ including St Mary’s, the oldest Anglican church in Asia.

Situated in the heart of the old city, the Charminar is the most famous building in Hyderabad and a symbol of the city around the world. This monument was built at the close of the 16th century to celebrate the end of a plague—possibly cholera—that had devastated the region. A small mosque sits on the top floor of the building.

Named after Kamala Nehru, the wife of India's first prime minister, this park offers fantastic city views. It's an excellent place for an evening stroll and draws in families for its giant play structure shaped like a shoe (a nod to the nursery rhyme "There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe").

Jaipur is one of the best places in India to shop for handicrafts items, and some of the optimal places to pick up great bargains are located right in the heart of the Pink City. Bapu Bazaar offers a particularly good selection, with everything from jewelry to traditional Rajasthani textiles displayed colorfully in this lively market street.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity, Babulnath Temple (Babulnath Mandir) is a beautiful, intricately carved building made of limestone and marble, situated atop a small hill. The current temple dates to 1890, but people have been worshiping at the site for much longer, and a previous temple was built there in the 18th century.

More than 2 million people cross the Howrah Bridge each day, earning it the title of the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. The 2,313 foot (705 meter) expanse of steel girders hanging over the water connect Howrah and Kolkata with eight lanes of chaotic auto rickshaws, scooters, bikes, cars, animals and pedestrian traffic.

Situated on the banks of Ourem Creek in Panaji, Goa's capital city, the charming neighborhood of Fountainhas is dotted with charming old homes dating back to the mid 19th century. Fontainhas occupies land that was reclaimed in the 18th century and gets its name from the natural springs situated at the edge of the area.

One of the largest museums in the world, this Hyderabad institution is celebrated for its massive collection of art and artifacts from across Asia, Europe, and North America. Most of the objects here were collected by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III, a nobleman who served as Prime Minister of the Hyderabad Deccan from 1912-1914.

Deep in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Kanheri Caves comprise 109 basalt grottos that were carved between the first century BC and the 10th century AD. The caves served as Buddhist monastic dwellings for many centuries, and some of the newer ones feature intricate carvings, pillars, and even rock-cut cisterns.

Encompassing 38.6 square miles (100 square kilometers), Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of the world's largest parks within city limits as well as one of Asia's most-visited national parks. An attractive getaway from Mumbai, it's best-known as the home of the Kanheri Caves, rock-hewn monuments and dwellings more than 2,000 years old.

Devaraja Market is a bustling open-air shopping area full of colorful stalls that are loaded to the brim with fruits, vegetables, and flowers, along with incense, coffee beans, and heaping piles of spices. Though it's a great place to shop, Devaraja Market is equally worth visiting just to take photos and people watch.

Stretching around 8 miles (13 kilometers) along Chennai, Marina Beach is India’s longest natural urban beach. While not an ideal swimming beach, Marina Beach makes an excellent spot for people watching in the cooler hours of the morning and evening, when the main stretch near Triplicane becomes a flurry of activity.