Best of India

The Indian subcontinent is home to a number of ancient monuments, scenic locales, beaches, World Heritage Sites and cultural attractions. The states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand are among the top places toured by domestic and international tourists, pilgrims, wildlife enthusiasts and historians.

Indian Holiday offers information on best of India, its cities, pilgrimage sites, hill stations and places of interest that makes this country an enchanting place of visit.

Best Places in India - The popular travel destinations in the country is a package of picturesque hill stations, beach holiday locations, states and heritage monuments. The top five tourist destinations in India include the city of Agra, states of Kerala, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. Agra is home to the famous Mughal mausoleum Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Jammu and Kashmir is a sought after honeymoon locale with stunning views of the Himalayas. Dal Lake, Vaishno Devi, Pahalgam and Gulmarg are worth visiting.

Kerala attracts honeymoon couples and foreign tourists mainly for its unique backwaters. The interlinking channel of canals and lakes forming a large water body is an integral part of the state's tourist attractions. Other attractions of Kerala are houseboats, large expanse of tea and rubber plantations, hill station of Munnar and the wildlife sanctuaries such as Periyar National Park.

Himachal Pradesh is an acclaimed hill station that is well known for its picturesque landscape, valleys, rivers, old monasteries, temples and adventure sports. You can visit Kullu Manali, Shimla, Dalhousie, Lahaul and Spiti, Leh and Dharamshala.

Best Tourist Attractions in India - From north to south, the best tourist destinations include the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Ajanta Ellora Caves, Khajuraho Temples, the Marble Rock in Madhya Pradesh, Amer Fort and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. Check out other places that you can visit in the subcontinent in your forthcoming vacation

• Gateway of India
• Churches in Goa
• Beaches in Goa
• Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra
• Kaziranga National Park
• Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
• Golden Fort, Jaisalmer

Best Monuments in India - Taj Mahal is not an exception in this list of best monuments in India as well. It is followed by Ajanta and Ellora Caves, the Golden Temple of Amritsar, Red Fort, Sanchi Stupa, Hampi ruins, Golconda Fort, Agra Fort , Mahabalipuram, Lake Palace in Udaipur and Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu.

These monuments are exemplary work of art and architecture mostly built by the Mughal and Rajput rulers in the country. There are also temples and other religious shrines like the Meenakshi Temple, Somnath Temple, Charminar and the Sun Temple at Konark that are outstanding examples of rock carving, murals, and craftsmanship.

Best Hill Stations - If you want to escape the heat of the plains, hill stations in India are popular holiday retreats. Besides stunning sights, the hill stations are well known for ski resorts, snow clad peaks and adventure sports. You can plan a trip to places such as Nainital, Ooty, Kashmir Valley, Kodaikanal, Manali, Darjeeling, Shimla, Gangtok, Shillong, Gulmarg, Mount Abu and Mussoorie. Adventure sports such as skiing is popular in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Gangtok.

Best Pilgrimage Sites - Varanasi ghats, Akshardham Temple, Dilwara Temples, Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Pushkar Lake and the Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh are prominent pilgrimage destinations in the country. They are not only revered places of worship but are also acclaimed for their architecture. Pilgrims also throng Haridwar, Kedarnath and Badrinath, Vaishno Devi and Amarnath. Buddhist devotees and tourists travel to Bodh Gaya from way across Tibet.

Best Indian Cuisine - Every state and region in the Indian subcontinent has its own traditional cuisine and food ingredients that are integral to their culture. Your trip is incomplete if you have missed savoring dal baati churma in Rajasthani, the Lucknow Biryani, Hyderabadi Biryani and Murg Musallam during your visit to Hyderabad. The southern states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are popular for their preparation of idli, dosa, avail, dosa sambar, meen curry (fish curry) and upma while in the eastern part such as West Bengal, food lovers can taste doi maach (curd fish), hilsa curry, kebabs and a variety of desserts including rosogolla (sweet) and rabdi.