What are the Major Tourist Destinations in India?

Taj Mahal

One of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is located in Agra, Rajasthan. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built it in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. 

The Taj Mahal is a perfect example of Mughal architecture that combines Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Built entirely of marble, the monument is estimated to have taken twenty-two years to complete.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 
The Taj Mahal is a marble palace, the most important of which is a complex of buildings. Its construction is estimated to have begun around 1632 and was completed in 1653.

 It was completed by tens of thousands of workers. . The main sculptor is Ustad Ahmed Lahori. Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as a teardrop that fell on the cheeks of time.

Goa

Goa is the smallest state in India in terms of area and the fourth-smallest state in India in terms of population. The state is located in the Konkan region on the west coast of India. The neighboring states are Maharashtra and Karnataka. 

Goa is one of the best destinations in the world for beach tourism. This small state is the largest earner of foreign exchange for India from the tourism sector. Panaji is the capital of Goa. Vasco da Gama, abbreviated as Vasco da Gama, is the largest city in Goa. 

Madgaon, a Goan city, still remains a city with Portuguese landmarks. Famous Goan beaches and historic Goan cities attract thousands of local and foreign tourists to Goa every year.

 Goa is one of the most developed states in India. Goa is also known as the Rome of the East.

 

Kulu

Kullu is a popular tourist destination located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This small town is located on the banks of the Beas River in the valley of the Himalayas. Headquartered in Kullu district, the town has a population of 18,306 as of 2011. 

The Great Himalayan National Park, Raghunath Temple, Friendship Peak, Parvati Valley Truck, Manikaran, Bhrigu Lake, Nagar, Jagannath Devi Temple are some of the important attractions of the place. 

 

Manali

Manali is a hill station located in the northernmost state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Situated on the banks of the Beas River, this city is located at the northern end of the Kullu Valley. 

This small town has played an important role in the trade to Ladakh in ancient times. Manali and its environs make a significant contribution to the culture and heritage of India. Manali is now a major tourist destination of the state of Himachal Pradesh. 

About a quarter of the tourists in Himachal Pradesh visit Manali. The cool climate of the place makes it a favorite destination for tourists. Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Beas Kund Trek, Hadimba Temple, Chandrathal Baralacha Trek,

Manikaran attracts a large number of tourists. Dungguri or Hidimba Ambalam is one of the most visited places in the state. It was founded in 1533.

 

Kashmir

Kashmir is located in the heart of Asia, between South and Central Asia. It shares borders with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. Kashmir, with an area of 86,000 square miles, has a population of 13 million. 

Today, Indian Kashmir is divided into three parts. Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh. Surrounded by mountain ranges, this place is very beautiful. Kashmir is known as the garden of India. 

Most of Kashmir, i.e., about 90%, is uninhabited and almost unusable. The Kashmir Valley is an important settlement in Kashmir. The Jhelum River flows through the valley at an altitude of 6000 ft. 

The Pir Panjal Hills are located to the south and west of the valley and the Himadri to the north and east. The valley is located in the southern part of Kashmir. Srinagar is an important city in the Kashmir Valley. 

Three and four wooden story buildings can be found in Srinagar. Apart from the valley, the only other populated areas are the northern Gilgit Valley and the Indus Valley. The Kashmir Valley is accessed through very high passes. 

The Kashmir Valley is accessible from Jammu via the Banihal Pass in the Pir Panjal Hills, Pakistan via the Balakot Pass, and China via the Karakoram Pass. The Banihal Pass was initially snow-covered and impassable in winter. 

However, due to the tunnel built here later, the pass became usable all the time.
The name of this tunnel is Jawahar Tunnel. There are many lakes in the Kashmir Valley. The largest of these is Dal Lake. 

Apart from Jhelum, there are many small streams in the valley. In winter, the temperature in the Kashmir Valley reaches -1 ° C. In summer, it can reach up to 24 C. It rains here from June to September. Also, snowfall is common in winter.

 
Kashmir is also famous for its delicious fruits. The climate is ideal for apricots, apples, grapes, and walnuts. In addition to being eaten directly, the oil extracted from walnuts is also used by locals as a fuel for cooking.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a city located on the northern border of West Bengal. The capital of the Darjeeling district, this city is located at an elevation of 2134 m (6,982 ft) in the Shivalik Hills of the Himalayas. 

The word Darjeeling is derived from two Tibetan words - Dorje, which means thunder, and ling, which means place. During British rule, Darjeeling was used as a summer resort due to its cold climate. 

Darjeeling is world-famous for its Darjeeling tea, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tea gardens date back to the mid-1800s when the British began developing Darjeeling. 

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which connects the city of Darjeeling with the plains of India, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. This is one of the few ways in which steam engines run in India. 

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Tiger Hills, Batasia Loop, Darjeeling Ropeway, Nightingale Park, Rock Garden, Singleela National Park, Sandakfu Peak, and Teesta River Rafting are some of the important tourist attractions.

 

Golden Temple Amritsar

The Golden Temple is located in the city of Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab. The city of Amritsar was founded in 1574 by Guru Ramdas, the fourth Sikh Guru. The Golden Temple was built by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru. 

The Harmandar Sahib Stone Foundation was established on December 28, 1588, by Sai Hazrat Mian Mir, a Muslim and Sufi saint. 1604 Completed the scripture of the Holy Book of Adi and placed it in the gurudwara.

 Durbar Sahib is now a major pilgrimage center in India, which is visited by over 100,000 people daily. There is also a free community kitchen and free food available at all Sikh gurudwaras.
Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is a famous palace located in Mysore, Karnataka. It is also known locally as Amba Vilas Palace. The palace was the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty who ruled Mysore. Mysore is also known as the city of palaces.

 It is also the most famous palace in Mysore. The first palace was built by the Wadiyar kings in the 14th century. But it was later demolished and rebuilt several times. Construction of the palace we see today began in 1897.

 It was completed in 1912. The palace was re-expanded in the 1940s. Today, Mysore Palace is a major tourist attraction in India. It is estimated that around 27 lakh tourists visit the palace every year. Filming inside the palace is not allowed. 

The entry fee for Indian tourists is Rs 50, while for foreigners, it is Rs 200. No shoes are allowed inside the palace.

 

Red Fort

Red Fort or Red Fort is a large fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in Old Delhi in the 17th century and was known as the City of Walls. Shah Jahan called it Kila e Mualla. The fort is located at a distance of 2 km.
 
The fort was also inhabited by the Mughal rulers in the 17th century. It remained the capital of the Mughal dynasty until 1857 when the British captured the Red Fort from the then Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar. The Red Fort was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.

 

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is an arch located on the seafront in south Mumbai. Built of basalt and concrete, the arch is 26 meters high. It was built to commemorate the 1911 visit of King George V of Britain and Queen Mary to India. The foundation stone was laid in 1911.

 Completed in 1924. Inaugurated on December 4, 1924. Indo-Saracenic style. Gaman India was responsible for the production. The construction cost was Rs 21 lakh. 

It was a huge sum at the time, but the entrance to the arch could not be completed at that time. At that time, the GatewayGateway was the first sight for those arriving in the city by the sea. The 85 feet high Gateway, also known as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai, is still a major tourist attraction in the city.

 

Varanasi

Varanasi, also known as Banaras and Kashi, is a city located in the state of Uttar Pradesh on the west bank of the river Ganga for more than 6 km. A holy city for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, it is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world. 1200 BC It is believed that the city has existed here since.

 Kashi's bed rests on the trident of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu trinities. Kashi also means bright. It is said that Kashi was enlightened by the presence of scholars and sages. Varanasi is located on the banks of the river Ganges, between the rivers Varuna and Assi, which flow into the river.

Varanasi is one of the most important Hindu holy places. There are many temples in Varanasi, ranging from ancient stone temples to modern ones. Sarees woven by the locals of Varanasi are very popular. Local wrestling is another attraction here.

 

Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid, the oldest mosque in Hyderabad, is one of the largest mosques in the country. Adjacent to the Charminar and the Chowwa Mahalla Palace, this historic house is not only a place of worship for Muslims but also a major tourist attraction. 

The construction of the Mecca Masjid, which is on the protected list of the state government, was started by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in the 16th century but was completed by Aurangzeb. 

It is believed that the main entrance of the mosque was made of clay bricks brought from Makkah. History has it that Quilt Qutbsha ruled over the mosque.

Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a fort built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in Agra. Also known as the Red Fort of Agra, the fort was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The fort is located 2.5 km northwest of the world-famous Taj Mahal.

 It was the most important fort in India during the Mughal rule. The Mughal emperors from Babur to Aurangzeb ruled from here. It was also the largest treasury of the empire.

 

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves are a historical monument located at a distance of 30 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It was built by Rashtrakuta. Famous for its ancient cave temples, Ellora was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. 

Ellora is considered to be one of the finest examples of Indian cave architecture. Thirty-four caves are home to Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave temples and monasteries built between the 5th and 10th centuries. 

They are built by digging the steep part of the Charanadri hills. Of the 34 caves, one to twelve belong to Buddhist temples, the next seventeen (i.e., 13 to 29) to Hindu temples, and the next five to Jains.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is a city located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent. During the British rule, it was known as Cape Comorin. The nearest major city is Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. 

We are located at sea level. Kanyakumari is the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. Western_Ghats and Eastern_Ghats- Kanyakumari. 

It is bordered on the north and east by the Tirunelveli district and on the west and northwest by Thiruvananthapuram. The Kanyakumari Temple, the Vivekananda Rock, and the Thiruvalluvar Statue are some of the important attractions of the place. 

 

Ladakh

Ladakh is a union territory on the northern border of India. Ladakh is made up of two districts, Leh and Kargil. It is located between the Kunlun Hills in the north and the Himalayas in the south.

 Indo-Aryan and Tibetan people live here. Known as Little Tibet, the influence of Tibetan culture can be clearly seen here. Most people are Tibetan Buddhists.

Hemis Monastery, Alchi Monastery, Matho Monastery, Thiksi Monastery, Shay Monastery, Stoke Palace, Shanti Stupa, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Kargil, Dras War Memorial, Sorwar Fort, Suru Valley, and Chang La are some of the popular tourist destinations