The 20 most beautiful places to visit in India

Have you always dreamed of exploring India without knowing where to start? Great classics with hidden treasures, discover our selection of the most beautiful places to visit in India.

Between traditional roots and modern evolution, India is a country of contrasts, as beautiful as authentic. With almost a billion three hundred thousand inhabitants spread over three million square kilometers - five times the size of France - there are marvels in all areas: culture, history, gastronomy, architecture, religion, nature... Cities are alive, fascinating, lively and feel like they never sleep!

The rest of the land is shared between natural and wild parks, snow-covered mountain ranges, lost-view coastal landscapes and plains and rocky plateaus. Wherever you're on Indian territory, there's always something to explore, admire, experience... We therefore offer you to discover 20 must-see places to visit during your stay in India.

1. The palace of Mysore

Built in the city of the same name, the Mysore Palace is the second most visited in India. Dating back from the 14th century, it is both the royal residence where the Wodeyar Dynasty and the seat of the kingdom of Mysore remains. The building, made of granite, stone and marble, houses a dozen Hindu temples as well as many rooms with indo-Muslim and neo-gothic influences heteroclite architecture. If you're wondering what to do in India, the Mysore Palace is an excellent starting point.

2. Pondicherry

Former French colony, Pondicherry , coastal town of south-eastern India is today prosperous thanks to its port activities and its cotton and silk factories. Everywhere in the city, you will feel the mix between French and Tamil cultures: lifestyle, local customs, art scene, culinary traditions... Taste a chocolate bread while admiring the colorful facades of a Hindu temple? Sharing some petanque with premises? Humer the smells of Indian spices by walking in alleys with French names? Only in Pondicherry can you do all this!

3. Lake Chileka

Separated from the Gulf of Bengale with a huge sandy beach of sixty kilometers long, Lake Chileka impresses as much by its beauty as by its grandeur. A true lake paradise with unspoiled tranquility, you can see pink flamingos, fishermen and dolphins from Irrawaddy. Very protected, it is one of the sites recognized by the Ramsar Convention: Wetlands of International Importance for the Conservation of Natural Bird Habitat.

4. The Golden Temple

Located in Amritsar, in the northwest of India, temple d’Or is the most holy of all Sikh sanctuaries in the territory. It is essential if you want to visit India. The building is covered with fine gold and sits in the middle of the Nectar Basin: as sacred as majestic, the temple is a true symbol of openness to others, regardless of their origins and beliefs. Do not forget to wash your feet and cover your head before entering.

5. Jim Corbett National Park

If you are looking to escape from the urban hustle of Indian cities, go to the Jim Corbett National Park a few hours northeast of New Delhi. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife and its Tiger Project, it was built in 1936 and remains the oldest national park in the country. You can meet many animal species: tigers, Asian elephants, daims, snakes, flying foxes, birds...

6. The beaches of Goa

Turquoise and crystalline waters, long stretches of golden sand lined with palm trees, small bars and colorful restaurants, sunsets on the sea, juggler shows and tam-tam players: this is what awaits you on the sublime beaches of Goa . Animated and authentic, they spread throughout the province, southwest of India. Depending on your desires, you can practice yoga or meditate, drink a cocktail and party, or simply relax and enjoy the sun.

7. The Taj Mahal

With its facades of an immaculate white, its moghole architectural style and its cross-shaped canals surrounded by green gardens, Taj Mahal is one of the most enchanting places in India. This mausoleum of white marble was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his third wife. The most famous and most visited monument in the country is located in the heart of the city of Agra, north of India. He is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the seven new wonders in the world. In a word: it is essential on your trip to Indian territory.

8. The Dudhsagar Waterfall

High over 300 meters, the Dudhsagar cascade is one of the largest and most impressive in India. Located on the Mandovi River, in the heart of Mollem National Park, it delineates the border between the provinces of Goa and Karnataka, southwest of the country. Set in 4 waterfalls, you can admire this magnificent waterfall after a short walk just as surprising in the surrounding Indian forest.

9. New Delhi

The capital of India, nestled in Northern country , full of historical, cultural and architectural treasures not to be missed under any pretext. Its heritage is a unique blend between the pure tradition of the Indian Empire and modern international influences. To visit India authentically, a stopover in New Delhi is ideal. Discover Fort Rouge, the tomb of Humayun, the Gate of India , the temple of the Lotus and the Gandhi Memorial . Fascinating and eclectic, New Delhi is a city that will not leave you indifferent!

10. The caves of Ajanta

Listed to UNESCO’s World Heritage of Humanity, Ajanta caves form a set of 29 troglodyte Buddhist temples and monasteries. Stained in basalt cliffs, they once served as a refuge and a place of prayer to the monks. The interior is a true tribute to Buddha: you can admire sculptures, frescoes and engravings the representative, some of which dates back to the year 200 before Jesus Christ.

11. The fort of Mehrangarh

Perched at a hundred twenty-two meters high, the Fort of Mehrangarh overlooking the city of Jodhpur, northwest of India. This fortress, whose construction dates back to 1459, is one of the largest in the country. Surrounded by ramparts, from which you will have a magnificent and unspoilable view of Jodhpur, the fort houses several palaces as well as courses, gardens and galleries. You will also find a museum where costumes, decorative artworks, paintings, musical instruments and armour are displayed.

12. The Gange

What to do in India to get out of the beaten paths and overcrowded cities? The answer is simple: go and relax on the edges of the Gange . Considered the most holy of the seven sacred rivers of India, this river crosses the north of the country and extends over three thousand kilometers. A symbol of the ultimate truth in Hindus, you can admire the beauty and special biodiversity of the Gange without ever getting tired of it.

13. The ruins of Hami

If you want to learn more about the Hindu Empire and Religion, go to the village Hampi in the heart of the Tungabhadra valley. All around the city you can admire the ruins of Vijayanagara, a collection of remarkable monuments looted and abandoned in 1565: the Royal Lotus, the Queen's Bath and the temples of Virupaksha Vittala and Achyutaraya. To complete your visit, climb the six hundred steps of Mount Anjaneya that will lead you to Hanuman temple , place of pilgrimage where the god-singe of the same name would be born.

14. Ladakh region

Located in the extreme north of India, the Ladakh region is a land of contrasts, between high plateaus and snowy summits. It is one of the most beautiful regions to visit in India. During your stay, do not miss the sumptuous gardens of Shalimar in Srinagar, Hemis National Park , the monastery of Thiksey in the City of Leh and unbeatable views of the Himalayas. Known as the Little Tibet, this part of India offers many mountain paths and paths, perfect for hiking and trekking.

15. The channels of Kerala

Often called the land of God, State of Kerala It has a unique network of canals in the world: over the nine hundred kilometres of this territory, countless lagoons, bridges, rivers, dikes and small lakes cross and entangle to form the backwaters. Sail on these canals and admire the coconut trees, buffalo herds, rice fields and picturesque villages that line the shores.

16. The Thar Desert

What to do in India when you are passing through the Rajasthan region on the Pakistani border? Stop in the Thar Desert Of course! With more than eighty inhabitants per square kilometre, it is the most densely populated desert in the world. Sometimes called the Great Indian Desert, you can see antelopes, desert foxes and gazelles. Let your gaze get lost on the horizon and enjoy going to visit the magnificent golden city of Jaisalmer , all west of the desert.

17. The monastery of Tawang

Having once belonged to Tibet, the city of Tawang has retained a large part of the heritage and traditions acquired until it joined India in 1914. Among them is the Buddhist monastery of Tawang the largest in the country. More than three hundred monks live in the community and take care of the daily life of this sacred place with overturning architecture. If there was only one monastery to visit in India, it would undoubtedly be this one.

18. Bandipur National Park

This vast nature reserve, located south-west of India, is close to Mudumalai and Nagarhole National Parks. In the midst of sparse forests and green areas, go to meet elephants, mangostes, tigers and other wild bulls who populate this protected place. Since 2013, Bandipur National Park is one of the important areas for bird conservation in India.

19. Darjeeling

With its famous tea, its training institute for Tibetan medicine and its picturesque views of the high summits around it, Darjeeling breathes the authenticity and Buddhist hospitality of India. Perched in the extreme north of the country, between Nepal and Bhutan, it is an ideal compromise between urban spirit and natural landscapes.

20. The Andaman-et-Nicobar Islands

Isolated off the east coast of India, at the border between the Gulf of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, Andaman Islands are a jewel of Indian natural heritage. Eclectic Archipelago, you will find dense tropical and mangrove forests, crystal clear waters for snorkeling and diving, busy and hospital cities and endless white sand beaches. They are the ideal place if you want to visit India outside the beaten paths.