Best Places to See in India
Planning a trip to India? Good luck with that. Seriously though, the sheer number of options will make your head spin. 28 states, hundreds of cities, and everyone claiming their hometown is the “real” India. Spent three weeks scrolling through travel forums? Still confused? Welcome to the club.
The worst part? Coming back and realizing you missed something incredible because you followed outdated guidebook advice.
But here’s the thing – some places to see in India actually deserve the hype. These spots have been making travelers lose their minds for decades, not because of marketing, but because they deliver. Consistently.
Top Places to See in India That Won’t Disappoint
1. Delhi
Delhi’s basically three cities pretending to be one. Old Delhi throws medieval chaos at you – rickshaws weaving between sacred cows while vendors hawk everything from phone chargers to fresh mangoes. New Delhi tries to look proper with its wide boulevards and government buildings. South Delhi thinks it’s too cool for both.
Stepping into Red Fort feels weird. Not amazing-weird, just weird. These walls have seen Mughal emperors, British officers, and now tourists taking selfies.
India Gate works better as a evening hangout than a monument. Families spread picnic blankets, vendors sell ice cream, and the whole area buzzes with that particular Delhi energy. Plus, most international flights dump you here anyway, making it the obvious starting point for hitting other places to see in India.
2. Agra
Yeah, the Taj Mahal is exactly what you expect and completely different all at once. Photos don’t capture how the marble seems to glow from within. Or how massive it actually is. Or how your neck starts hurting from looking up at the dome.
Agra Fort gets ignored because everyone’s Taj-obsessed, which is ridiculous. The fortress is huge, packed with history, and offers killer views of the Taj from certain spots. Plus, significantly fewer people trying to photobomb your pictures.
3. Jaipur
The Pink City thing isn’t just marketing fluff – they actually painted the whole old city pink to welcome some British prince in 1876. The color stuck, probably because it looks good against the desert backdrop and hides dust better than white.
Hawa Mahal photographs beautifully but makes more sense when you learn the story. Royal women lived in strict purdah but still wanted to watch street festivals. So architects designed this elaborate facade with 953 windows – basically a royal box seat with built-in air conditioning courtesy of physics.
Amber Fort involves either hiking uphill in desert heat or riding an elephant (if that’s your thing). The mirror work inside Sheesh Mahal is legitimately impressive – light one candle and watch thousands of tiny mirrors transform the room into a constellation.
4. Mandawa
Most people skip Mandawa because it’s not on the typical Golden Triangle circuit. Their loss, really. This tiny Rajasthani town contains some of India’s most spectacular street art, except it’s painted on mansion walls instead of abandoned buildings.
5. Varanasi
Varanasi will either change your life or completely overwhelm you. Sometimes both.
The Ganges morning boat ride is mandatory, but brace yourself. Pilgrims bathing, priests chanting, bodies being cremated, life happening in all its messy glory. Some tourists can’t handle it. Others find it profound. Most fall somewhere in between.
Evening aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat draws massive crowds for good reason. Priests perform ancient fire rituals while hundreds of people sing along. The whole scene feels timeless, which is probably the point.
6. Udupi
South India operates differently than the north, and Udupi demonstrates this perfectly. The Krishna Temple follows unique worship traditions – devotees can only see the deity through a silver window, which creates this intimate, mysterious atmosphere.
The food here spawned what most Indians recognize as “Udupi cuisine” – those vegetarian restaurants found across the country trace their recipes back to this coastal Karnataka town. Local versions taste better than their franchise cousins, obviously.
Nearby beaches provide the perfect counterbalance to temple intensity. Clean sand, decent waves, and significantly fewer crowds than Goa make this one of the underrated places to see in India for combining culture with relaxation.
7. Varkala
Kerala has gorgeous beaches, but Varkala’s cliffs make it special. Red laterite formations drop straight into the Arabian Sea, creating dramatic scenery that photographs beautifully and provides natural shade during midday heat.
Cliff-top restaurants serve fresh seafood with sunset views. Prices run higher than inland spots, but eating grilled fish while watching the sun melt into the ocean justifies the extra cost. Ayurvedic massage places and yoga centers complete the wellness tourism experience.
8. Shimla
British colonial officers weren’t stupid – they picked the perfect spot for their summer capital. When the plains turn into furnaces, Shimla’s pine-covered hills offer blessed relief from Indian heat.
The toy train journey from Kalka builds anticipation through 96 tunnels and endless mountain curves. Takes forever, but the scenery makes it worthwhile. Plus, the engineering required to build this route through the Himalayas deserves respect.
Mall Road maintains its colonial character while adapting to modern tourism.
9. Darjeeling
Tea plantations cover every available hillside around Darjeeling, creating this green carpet effect that looks almost artificial. Tiger Hill sunrise views over Kanchenjunga require a 4 AM start, but clear weather reveals the world’s third-highest peak glowing golden in early light.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, another toy train (UNESCO World Heritage) experience, connects this hill station to the plains through impressive engineering.
10. Leh
Ladakh looks nothing like typical Indian landscapes. High-altitude desert, Buddhist monasteries clinging to impossible cliff faces, prayer flags fluttering against snow peaks – the whole region feels more Tibetan than Indian.
Pangong Lake’s blue waters stretch toward the Chinese border, creating surreal scenery that looks computer-generated. Nubra Valley adds sand dunes surrounded by Himalayan peaks for extra landscape confusion.
Final Thoughts
These destinations showcase India’s ridiculous diversity – ancient history, spiritual traditions, natural beauty, colonial heritage, and high-altitude adventures all within one country’s borders. Each spot offers something completely different from the others.
Planning logistics for such varied experiences requires serious local knowledge. Ghum India Ghum specializes in handling the complicated stuff – transportation, accommodations, timing, and local guides who actually know what they’re talking about. The stories created with them get told for years afterward.
