15 best cities to travel in India
India is a vast South Asian country with diverse terrain – from Himalayan peaks to Indian Ocean coastline – and history reaching back 5 millennia. In the north, Mughal Empire landmarks include Delhi’s Red Fort complex and massive Jama Masjid mosque, plus Agra’s iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum. Pilgrims bathe in the Ganges in Varanasi, and Rishikesh is a yoga centre and base for Himalayan trekking
A powerhouse of people power, India pushes forward into the modern era, creating cities that are a beguiling hotchpotch of urban innovation. Technology, money, poverty and ancient structures blend in the developing cities. Old markets brim with people and goods, sacred rivers draw pilgrims from afar and formidable forts conserve maze-like old towns. It’s an incredibly inviting destination to travel to, so here are the best cities in India for you to visit.
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.
Agra has three UNESCO world Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.
The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj Mahal.
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2. PANAJI
Panaji, also known in English as Panjim, is the capital city of the tiny state of Goa in India. It has its own charm, a river flowing along one side of the city, some areas which are low-rise and red-roofed, and even a Latin Quarter at the eastern end of town. Increasingly, it is shaping itself as a centre where cultures (many from across the globe, and from diverse areas of India too) meet and creativity flourishes.
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One of India’s most relaxed state capitals, Panaji (Panjim) crowds around the peninsula overlooking the broad Mandovi River, where cruise boats and floating casinos ply the waters, and advertising signs cast neon reflections in the night.
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3. MYSORE
Mysore also known as Mysuru, is Karnataka's second biggest city, situated in Southern India. It was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyar dynasty and is considered the cultural capital of the state. Mysore is the cleanest city in India and one of the most well-planned ones. The people of Mysore are famous for their peaceful attitude and helpful nature.
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In its center is opulent Mysore Palace, seat of the former ruling Wodeyar dynasty. The palace blends Hindu, Islamic, Gothic and Rajput styles. Mysore is also home to the centuries-old Devaraja Market, filled with spices, silk and sandalwood.
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4. VARANASI
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Varanasi once known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi, is a historical city in northern India. The city is sacred to Hindus and Jains and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back to the 11th century BC. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation/nirvana and so they make the trip to the city when they realize that they are close to death. For some, the culture shock of the burning corpses in plain view can be a bit overwhelming. However, the scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganga at sunrise set against the backdrop of the centuries old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world.
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5.JAIPUR
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6. KOLKATA
India’s second-biggest city is a daily festival of human existence, simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, decidedly futuristic while splendid in decay. By its old spelling, Calcutta readily conjures images of human suffering to most Westerners – although that's not a complete picture of this 350-year-old metropolis. Locally, Kolkata is regarded as India’s intellectual, artistic and cultural capital. Although poverty is certainly apparent, the self-made middle class drives the city's core machinery, a nascent hipster culture thrives among its millennial residents and its dapper Bengali gentry frequent grand, old colonial-era clubs.
India’s second-biggest city is a daily festival of human existence, simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate, decidedly futuristic while splendid in decay. By its old spelling, Calcutta readily conjures images of human suffering to most Westerners – although that's not a complete picture of this 350-year-old metropolis. Locally, Kolkata is regarded as India’s intellectual, artistic and cultural capital. Although poverty is certainly apparent, the self-made middle class drives the city's core machinery, a nascent hipster culture thrives among its millennial residents and its dapper Bengali gentry frequent grand, old colonial-era clubs.
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7. MADURAI
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Located on the banks of the river Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. This city was the capital of the Pandyan kingdom - initially at Korkai, around 600 BCE and later moved to Koodal (the present Madurai) during the reign of Nedunj Cheliyan I.
Madurai is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings in the Dravidian style of architecture. It is also one of India's most outstanding Hindu pilgrimage centres. Madurai is also called City of Junctions (Koodal nagaram), City of Jasmine (Malligai maanagar), Temple city, City that never sleeps (Thoonga nagaram) and City of four junctions.
8. AMRITSAR
Amritsar is a city in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab, 28 kilometers from the border with Pakistan. At the center of its walled old town, the gilded Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is the holiest gurdwara (religious complex) of the Sikh religion. It’s at the end of a causeway, surrounded by the sacred Amrit Sarovar tank (lake), where pilgrims bathe.
The name of the city derives from the name of the pool around the Golden Temple (also known as Harmandir Sahib) and means "holy pool of nectar" (Amrit: elixir; Sar: (short for sarovar) lake). It is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion, and they are rightfully very proud of the city and their very beautiful and unique Gurdwara (place of worship). The Golden Temple was initiated by Guru Ramdaas Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed in 1601 by his successor Guru Arjan Dev Ji. It is now a major pilgrimage and tourism hub.
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9.UDAIPUR
Udaipur is famous for its lakes, palaces, forts, temples, gardens, and romantic backdrops. It was the setting of many movies, including the 13th James Bond film, Octopussy
Udaipur, formerly the capital of the Mewar Kingdom, is a city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559, it’s set around a series of artificial lakes and is known for its lavish royal residences. City Palace, overlooking Lake Pichola, is a monumental complex of 11 palaces, courtyards and gardens, famed for its intricate peacock mosaics.
Udaipur is famous for its lakes, palaces, forts, temples, gardens, and romantic backdrops. It was the setting of many movies, including the 13th James Bond film, Octopussy
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10. HYDERABAD
Hyderabad is the capital of southern India's Telangana state. A major center for the technology industry, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Its historic sites include Golconda Fort, a former diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital. The Charminar, a 16th-century mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad Bazaar.
Hyderabad is the capital of southern India's Telangana state. A major center for the technology industry, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Its historic sites include Golconda Fort, a former diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital. The Charminar, a 16th-century mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad Bazaar.
Hyderabad is the capital of Telengana in southern India, located on the banks of the Musi River and on the Deccan Plateau. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are "twin cities" near Hussain Sagar Lake (also known as Tank Bund in local parlance) but both cities have grown so much that now they have become one big metropolis. The city and district of Hyderabad are coterminous. Hyderabad district is entirely contained within the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. Many of the suburbs of Hyderabad were recently merged into the city, now called Greater Hyderabad.
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A city rich with history and tradition, Hyderabad now competes with Bengalore and Chennai for the crown of India's IT capital; Microsoft and Google have their India headquarters here.
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11. JAISALMER
Jaisalmer, the "Golden City," is located on the westernmost frontier of India in the state of Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer is a former medieval trading center and a princely state in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, in the heart of the Thar Desert. Known as the "Golden City," it's distinguished by its yellow sandstone architecture. Dominating the skyline is Jaisalmer Fort, a sprawling hilltop citadel buttressed by 99 bastions. Behind its massive walls stand the ornate Maharaja's Palace and intricately carved Jain temples.
Jaisalmer, the "Golden City," is located on the westernmost frontier of India in the state of Rajasthan.
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12. KOCHI
Kochi or Cochin is a blend of urban settlement and historic heritage. This is the major port city in South-West Coast of India, located beside the Arabian Sea. Often regarded as ‘The Queen of Arabian Sea’, Kochi (Cochin) has been under the rule of Arabs, British, Dutch and Portuguese. And all these rulers have left their marks with spectacular architecture. Since about 600 years, Kochi is open to trading and tourism. On the eastern side of the city, Western Ghats are found sprawling and painting the canvas green. The giant Fish-Nets, in the Kochi Fort area are something you might not find anywhere else in India. Not just the Chinese fishing nets, but Portuguese houses, beautiful beaches and significant shrines are to be found here in Koch.
Kochi or Cochin is a blend of urban settlement and historic heritage. This is the major port city in South-West Coast of India, located beside the Arabian Sea. Often regarded as ‘The Queen of Arabian Sea’, Kochi (Cochin) has been under the rule of Arabs, British, Dutch and Portuguese. And all these rulers have left their marks with spectacular architecture. Since about 600 years, Kochi is open to trading and tourism. On the eastern side of the city, Western Ghats are found sprawling and painting the canvas green. The giant Fish-Nets, in the Kochi Fort area are something you might not find anywhere else in India. Not just the Chinese fishing nets, but Portuguese houses, beautiful beaches and significant shrines are to be found here in Koch.
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13. CHENNAI
With imprints of history in every corner owing to a magnificent past, exploring the coastal city of Chennai is like a visit back in time. From mornings that begin with scent of jasmine in the streets to perfectly tailored sunsets of serenity along the beaches, waiting to be greeted with freshly brewed filter coffee; the simplistic charm of Chennai caters all.With the annual average temperature hovering around 28 degrees, the winter months starting from November to February make the best times for a visit. Winter also brings the city of Chennai alive and energetic with festivities of Pongal. The summer peak temperature can go up to 45 °C. However, the ample amount of rainfall received ensures a pleasant weather throughout the year.
With imprints of history in every corner owing to a magnificent past, exploring the coastal city of Chennai is like a visit back in time. From mornings that begin with scent of jasmine in the streets to perfectly tailored sunsets of serenity along the beaches, waiting to be greeted with freshly brewed filter coffee; the simplistic charm of Chennai caters all.With the annual average temperature hovering around 28 degrees, the winter months starting from November to February make the best times for a visit. Winter also brings the city of Chennai alive and energetic with festivities of Pongal. The summer peak temperature can go up to 45 °C. However, the ample amount of rainfall received ensures a pleasant weather throughout the year.
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14.PUNE
Commonly referred as Poona, Pune is one of popular cities of India and forms a major destination of the state Maharashtra. The history of the city dates from the year 847 AD and was the first capital of Shivaji. The city is famed as the cultural capital of the state and holds several activities based on classical music, theater, spirituality, literature, and sports. From grand palaces to holy shrines, Pune houses numerous attractions. In fact, Pune marks a great mélange of years-old tradition and culture and modernity. The city has all what a travelers seeks for a perfect holiday. The natural beauty and various tourist sites allure a lot of Indian as well International travelers to Pune. Not to forget the thrilling adventures that the city allows to indulge in such as jungle trekking, paragliding, camping, rappelling and lake crossing.
15.MUMBAICommonly referred as Poona, Pune is one of popular cities of India and forms a major destination of the state Maharashtra. The history of the city dates from the year 847 AD and was the first capital of Shivaji. The city is famed as the cultural capital of the state and holds several activities based on classical music, theater, spirituality, literature, and sports. From grand palaces to holy shrines, Pune houses numerous attractions. In fact, Pune marks a great mélange of years-old tradition and culture and modernity. The city has all what a travelers seeks for a perfect holiday. The natural beauty and various tourist sites allure a lot of Indian as well International travelers to Pune. Not to forget the thrilling adventures that the city allows to indulge in such as jungle trekking, paragliding, camping, rappelling and lake crossing.
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