I believe that you can travel all your life and still not be able to visit all the fascinating, diverse and incredible parts of India. There are beautiful beaches, verdant hills, stark deserts and thick forests, besides architectural wonders and historical monuments to visit. It may not be possible to visit every corner of India, but I believe that there are some places that one must visit if one is to experience at least some of the quintessence of India. Here are some of the most popular Indian holiday destinations or rather the places I have lived in or visited in India that left an indelible impression on my mind:
The Taj Mahal is not the only attraction of Agra where I spent 8 years of my life. There is the Agra Fort and the lesser-known gem, Itmad-ud-Daula as well. Delhi (where I've lived for 5 years now) is not just India Gate and Red Fort but also Purana Qila, Tughlaqabad, the museums, Ferozshah Kotla, Qutub Minar and the adjoining Mehrauli Archeological Park, the food, the temples, Jama Masjid… I could go on and on! In Jaipur as well, there are the forts, the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, the old city, the shopping, the Jal Mahal… again I could go on and on.
It isn't just the miles upon miles of beaches, it is also the food and the culture and the laidback people of Goa that one has to experience. Whether one likes the party atmosphere in the North or the quiet of the South, a bit of history at Fort Aguada or the charming Panaji town or the churches… just Dil Chahta Hai!
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have the capital Port Blair with some interesting museums and the historic cellular jail or Kala Pani. Just off the coast of Pt Blair is the incredible abandoned and rediscovered Ross Island. The beaches of Havelock and Neil islands and several others are comparable with some of the best in the world!
Ladakh is a place like no other on earth: forbidding, pristine, spectacular and bitterly cold. The main city Leh is pretty, Khardulg La pass is an experience not to be missed, there is the spectacular Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and so much more!
The North East is quite unlike the rest of India – and altogether more civilized I feel. Shillong is such a pretty city and within driving distance is the Silent Forest, the Living Root Bridge the Mawsmai Caves, the cleanest village Mawlynnong, the rainiest place Cherrapunji and more!
God’s own country has everything – stunning beaches, lush forests, rolling hills, spice gardens, tea plantations, back waters, a deep history, amazing food and a truly syncretic culture. I’ve gone for four holidays to Kerala and I could go back again and again.
The Golden Temple is, in my view the most awe-inspiring of religious shrines: the sheer scale of people fed, the humility of the people who run it, the serenity and yes, the amazing Karah Prasad! Then there is Jalianwalah Baug. When you visit, the tremendous sacrifices people made for our independence really hits you. Some distance away is Wagah where the flag-lowering ceremony takes place at the border each evening. If ever there is an electric atmosphere to rival a live cricket match, it is here!
This is my home city – and the first Indian city to be declared a UNESCO heritage city. Ahmedabad is a great place to live, but it is also a fascinating place to visit. So now with COVID slowly loosening its tentacles upon our lives, go ahead and discover more of the many holiday destinations that India has to offer. This list is a tiny one --- there are so many other spectacular, confusing, amazing aspects of India to explore!
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