Best things to do in India

Extending from the summits of the Himalayas to the tropical greenery of Kerala, India encompasses an incomparable range of landscapes and cultures. As a result, it’s impossible to see everything in a single trip, which is why we’ve highlighted some of the country’s top attractions. Note, though, these are just a handful of the best things to do in India, with more detail in The Rough Guide to India.

1. Meander majestic Jaisalmer fort

Located in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer Fort is one of India’s most beautiful citadels.

Giant honey-coloured bastions enclose a labyrinth of narrow streets dotted with sandstone havelis and temples. And all this is dominated by the Palace of the Maharawal, open to the public as the Fort Palace Museum.  

The palace’s five-storey facade displays some of the finest masonry in Jaisalmer. 

Inside, the museum offers an intriguing snapshot of the life of Jaisalmer’s rulers through the ages. Meanwhile, the rooftop terrace gives unrivalled views over the city and surrounding countryside.

How to get to Jaisalmer fort

The best time to visit is during the winter months, from October to March, when the weather is more comfortable for exploring the fort and other attractions. 

For wider weather context, read up on when to go to India.

2. Venture to Kanha National Park

Deep in the eastern tracts of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is widely considered the greatest of India’s wildlife reserves.

Encompassing some 940 square kilometres of deciduous forest, savanna grassland, hills and gently meandering rivers, it’s home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. 

While tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed, even fleeting glimpses should be considered a great privilege. Moreover, the park's striking landscapes and overall wealth of wildlife make it a rewarding place to spend a few days.

In the unlikely event, your lodge can't organise your trip to Kanha National Park, you’ll need to book an entry ticket via the Madhya Pradesh Forestry Department.

How to get to Kanha National Park

3. Bliss out on Gokarna's sacred beaches

Among India’s most scenically situated sacred sites, Gokarna lies between a broad white-sand beach and the verdant foothills of the Western Ghats. 

Clustered around a long L-shaped bazaar, Gokarna has been a Shaivite centre for more than two millennia. Its main road runs west to the town beach, which is a sacred site in itself. Hindu mythology identifies it as the place Shiva was reborn from the underworld after a period of penance. 

Today Gokarna’s numerous temples and shrines continue to draw pilgrims, with the atmalinga (or pranalinga) enshrined in the medieval Shri Mahabaleshwar temple. 

South of town, several beautiful beaches reveal themselves. Hike over the headland from Kudle to reach exquisite Om Beach, so named because its twin crescent bays resemble the auspicious Om symbol. 

If you're set on a chilled-out coastal break, read up on the best beaches in India.

How to get to Gokarna 

To get to Gokarna, fly to Hubli or Goa International Airports, or else take a train — Gokarna has its own railway station, with Kumta and Ankola also offering good rail connectivity. 

Backpacking India on a budget? Gokarna is also well-served by buses. In fact getting around India is generally very affordable.

When to visit Gokarna 

Winter (December-February) is the best (and most popular) time to visit, thanks to its warm temperatures, and bright, dry, sunny days.

4. Fall for the Taj Mahal

Oft-cited as the most beautiful building in the world, the majesty of the Taj Mahal never fails to overwhelm those who see it in real life.

While the magic of this monument to love is strangely undiminished by throngs of tourists, it’s at its most alluring in the early morning. During these lesser-crowded hours, you’ll find it shrouded in mist and a soft red glow. That said, the Taj Mahal also features in our gallery of the world's best sunset spots.

Whatever time of day you visit, it's truly one of the best places to visit in India.

How to get to the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is located in Uttar Pradesh, about 4 hours north of Delhi. Agra Airport, also known as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport, is the nearest airport to the Taj Mahal, with Delhi having the closest international airport.

Also note that Agra is well-connected by train to major cities in India. The main railway station is Agra Cantt Railway Station, which is served by express trains form major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

When to visit the Taj Mahal

The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is during the winter, when the heat is less intense.

5. Explore Khajuraho's temples

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the immaculately preserved Hindu temples of Khajuraho are renowned for their uncompromisingly erotic carvings. 

Built between the tenth and twelfth centuries AD, these are the greatest architectural achievement of the Chandella dynasty, yet it’s still not known exactly why they were built. Some say they’re a “how-to” guide for brahmin boys, while others claim they symbolize the wedding party of Shiva and Parvati.  

Either way, they’re spectacularly intricate, with their beauty shifting through the day. They glow warm pink at sunrise, white at midday, and switch back to pink at sunset. Magic. 

How to get to Khajuraho

Khajuraho airport (about 5 km from the town) is served by regular domestic flights from Delhi, Varanasi, and sometimes Mumbai or Bhopal.

Alternatively, Khajuraho train station is about 6 km from the temples and is connected to Delhi, Jhansi, Varanasi, and Agra via limited trains. 

You could also take a train to Jhansi or Satna (major stations with better connections) and then travel by taxi or bus to Khajuraho.

When to visit Khajuraho

The best time to visit is between October and March, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for exploring the open-air temples.

6. Watch birds in Keoladeo National Park

The perfect antidote to the frenzy and pollution of nearby Agra and Jaipur, Keoladeo National Park in the Rajasthan region is Asia’s most famous bird reserve,

Some 385 species have been recorded here, including around two hundred year-round residents, along with 190-odd migratory species. These travel from as far afield as Tibet, China, Siberia and even Europe.

Keoladeo is probably best known for its stupendous array of aquatic birds, which descend on the park’s wetlands following the arrival of the monsoon in July. These include the majestic saras crane and a staggering two thousand painted storks, plus snake-necked darters, spoonbills, white ibis and grey pelican.  

But it’s not all about the birds — expect to see wild boar, mongoose, antelope, jackal, jungle cat, chital, nilgai and sambar. All of which means, Keoladeo National Park should be at the top of wildlife-lovers' "things not to miss in India" list.

How to get to Keoladeo National Park

The nearest airport is Agra Airport, about 56 km away, with taxis or buses available to Bharatpur. 

Meanwhile, Bharatpur train station is about 5-6 km from the park, and well-connected to major cities. 

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Agra, Jaipur, or Delhi, with major highways like NH 11 connecting to Bharatpur. 

When to visit Keoladeo National Park

The best time to visit Keoladeo National Park is from October to March, during the peak bird migration season. 

7. Visit Varanasi 

Founded by Shiva, and known as the City of Light, Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. As such, culture vultures wondering what to do in India would do well to include this treasure in their India itinerary.

Stretching along the River Ganges, its waterfront is dominated by stone ghats, where thousands of pilgrims and residents come for their daily ritual ablutions. 

Varanasi is among the holiest of all tirthas — “crossing places” — that allow devotees access to the divine, and enable gods and goddesses to come down to earth.  

As as result, Varanasi has attracted pilgrims throughout its history. Today widows and the elderly come here to live out their final days, finding shelter in temples, and assisted by alms from the faithful.

How to get to Varanasi

Varanasi is well connected by train, road and air, with two major railway stations (Varanasi Junction and Mughal Sarai Junction), and its own airport, served by daily flights to and from Mumbai and Delhi.

When to visit Varanasi

Again, visiting in winter offers the best conditions

8. Enjoy Jodhpur's mighty Mehrangarh Fort

For size, strength and sheer physical presence, few sights in India can rival Jodhpur’s mighty Mehrangarh Fort. In fact, it features in our run-down of the world's most epic fortresses.

The epitome of Rajput power and extravagance, the fort's ramparts tower above a labyrinthine, blue-painted old city. Its mass of impregnable masonry appears to have grown from the enormous rock outcrop it stands on.

If the steep walk up to the fort from the old city seems too much like hard work, you can reach the entrance along the road from Nagauri Gate. 

How to get to Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort is located in Jodhpur, which is easy to reach by air (it has an international airport), road or rail. 

When to visit Mehrangarh Fort

As temperatures can soar above 113°F in summer, it’s best to visit Mehrangarh Fort in cooler months, like November to March

9. Go to Amritsar's Golden Temple

Sikh pilgrims, domestic tourists and international visitors arrive en masse in Amritsar for one gleaming reason — the fabled Golden Temple. 

The largest city in Punjab, Amritsar is dominated by the Golden Temple’s soaring domes. Given that this is one of the most captivating sights in the whole country, it’s definitely one of the top things not to miss in India. 

In fact, it’s one of the reasons you voted India one of the most beautiful countries in the world. 

How to get to Amritsar

Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar is just 11 km from the city center.

Traveling from elsewhere in India? Amritsar Junction is a major railway station with excellent connectivity.

When to visit Amritsar

The best time to visit Amritsar is from October to March, thanks to it being cooler. Just be aware it can drop to freezing at night!

10. Jaipur's Rajasthani craft markets

The teeming bazaars of the Pink City in Jaipur burst with vibrant cloth, jewellery, Persian-style pottery and semiprecious stones. It's simply the best place to shop in the Subcontinent.

Jaipur’s attractions fall into three distinct areas. At the heart of the urban sprawl, the historic Pink City is where you’ll find the fine City Palace and the Hawa Mahal. 

The leafier and less hectic area south of the Pink City is home to the Ram Niwas Gardens and Central Museum. Meanwhile, the city’s outskirts are dotted with intriguing relics of royal rule, most notably Nahargarh Fort.

11. Gangotri and the Gaumukh Glacier

The atmospheric village of Gangotri in the Uttarakhand area serves as a base for a trek to the heart of the Hindu faith. Namely, Gaumukh — source of the Ganges. 

Although the wide Alaknanda may have a better technical claim to be the main channel of the Ganges, Gangotri is for Hindus the spiritual source of the great river. Meanwhile, its physical source is the ice cave of Gaumukh on the Gangotri Glacier. 

From here, the River Bhagirathi begins its tempestuous descent through mighty gorges. As such, this showcases India's natural beauty iat its most majestic.

How to get to Gangotri 

Gangotri is best accessed by mountain roads (the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 250 km from Gangotri).

For a sense of journey times, from Rishikesh or Dehradun, it takes around 10–12 hours to drive the 290–300 km.

When to visit Gangotri 

May to June is ideal for pilgrims and trekkers, while September to mid-November serves post-monsoon lushness and smaller crowds.

Also note that the Gangotri Temple closes around Diwali (October/November), and remains closed during the harsh winter months when heavy snowfall makes the region inaccessible. It usually reopens in opens in April or May.

12. Roam romantic Udaipur

Spreading around the shores of Lake Pichola, and backed by a ring of craggy green hills, the city of Udaipur paints a romantic picture.  

Think ornately turreted palaces, dazzling havelis and bathing ghats clustered around lakes or, in the case of the Lake Palace hotel and Jag Mandir Palace, floating on the lakes. 

North of the city, you’ll find the historic temples of Nagada, Eklingji, Nathdwara and Kankroli. To northwest, en route to Jodhpur, lie the superb Jain temples of Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh's rambling fort.

How to get to Udaipur

To get to Udaipur, you can fly to Dabok airport, take a train to Udaipur City Railway Station (it’s connected to stacks of major Indian cities), or travel by bus or car. National Highway 8 connects Udaipur to Delhi and Mumbai. 

When to visit Udaipur

The best time to visit Udaipur is from October to March — the cool peak season period. 

Summer (April to June) here is very hot, while the humid July to September monsoon season sees activities curbed by heavy rain.

New to the country? Read our tips for first time travellers to India.

13. Palolem — a picture-perfect beach

This exquisite crescent-shaped beach in Goa’s relaxed south is famous for its dolphins and local alcoholic spirit, feni. 

One of the best beaches in Goa, the bay is lined with a curtain of coconut palms, and forms a perfect curve of golden sand. Little wonder, then, that Palolem becomes somewhat deluged by tourists from late November.  

For more peace, head to smaller, quieter Patnem beach, just a short walk south around the headland.

How to get to Palolem

To get to Palolem, fly to Goa Dabolim Airport (GOI), then take a taxi or bus to Palolem. This transfer takes around 1 hour 40 minutes.

When to visit Palolem

The best time to visit Palolem is during the November to February dry season in Goa.

14. Manali–Leh Highway road-trip

Adventurers wondering about things not to miss in India would do well to tackle India’s epic Himalayan road trip. Namely, the Manali–Leh Highway.

Since it opened to foreign tourists in 1989, it's replaced the old Srinagar–Kargil route as the most popular approach to Ladakh.

In summer, a stream of vehicles set off from the Kullu Valley to travel along the second-highest road in the world. Crossing vast lunar wilderness and some of the world's highest mountain passes, it reaches a dizzying altitude of 5328m at Tanglang La.

Depending on road conditions and type of vehicle, the 485km journey can take anything from seventeen to thirty hours. Its surface varies wildly from smooth asphalt, to dirt tracks sliced by glacial streams. 

Into epic wheeled-excursions? Read up on some of the world’s best road trips.

How to get to the Manali–Leh Highway 

The closest airport is Bhuntar in Kullu, 50 km away from Manali. Air India flights operate between Kullu and Delhi.

Best time to drive the Manali–Leh Highway 

The best time to take the Manali to Leh road trip is between June and September, whe the roads are clear of snow, mountain passes are open, and the weather is relatively stable,

15. Discover Dharamsala's Tibetan culture

Home to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile, Dharamsala — or, more correctly, its upper town McLeod Ganj — is one of Himachal’s most irresistible destinations.

Perched on the edge of the Himalayas, and spread across wooded ridges beneath the Dhauladhar Range, the town is divided into two distinct sections. These are separated by 10km of a perilously twisting, high-altitude road.

McLeod Ganj has been transformed by Tibetan refugees fleeing Chinese oppression in their homeland. As a result, Tibetan influence here is very strong, with temples, schools, monasteries, nunneries and meditation centres.

It's also home to the most extensive library of Tibetan history and religion, and a starting point for exhilarating treks into the high Himalayas. All that considered, you might want to read up on Dharamsala’s many delights.

How to get to Dharamsala

The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport (DHM), located 13 km from Dharamshala, and served by flights from Delhi.

In addition, direct bus services are available from Delhi to Dharamshala, which can be booked online. You can also take buses from Pathankot to Dharamshala — there are daily overnight services (9–12 hours).

When to visit Dharamsala

The best time to visit is spring through to summer (February to June). 

16. Explore Madurai, the ancient city of sculptures

Situated on the banks of the River Vaigai, Madurai is one of the oldest cities in South Asia. In fact, it’s been an important centre of worship and commerce for thousands of years. 

Sitting centre stage is the spectacular, medieval Sri Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple — a maze of shrines and colonnades, with an estimated 33,000 sculptures. 

The life of the temple is absorbing, from the puja ceremonies, weddings, and brahmin boys under religious instruction, to the prostrations of countless devotees and the market stalls just inside the east entrance.

 Thinking about where to stay? Read up on accommodation in India.

How to get to Madurai

As a major city, Madurai is well connected by air, rail and road. To get here fast, you can fly from Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi or Hyderabad.

The city is also served by frequent trains. For example, it traveling from Chennai takes 8–10 hours, and the ride from Bangalore takes 9–10 hours, with bus journeys actually coming out with similar journey times. 

When to visit Madurai

Madurai has a hot and semi-arid climate, so timing your visit makes a big difference to your comfort and experience. 

For cooler conditions, visit between October and February. March-Junes sees temperatures soar super high.

17. Boat Kerala's backwaters

The state of Kerala has intoxicated visitors since the ancient Sumerians and Greeks sailed in search of spices to the shore known as the Malabar Coast. 

Stretching for 550km along India’s southwest coast, it’s divided between the densely forested mountains of the Western Ghats inland, and a lush coastal plain of lagoons, rivers and canals.  

One of the best aspects of exploring Kerala is travelling the spellbinding Kuttanad region by boat, especially historic Kollam (Quilon) and Alappuzha (Alleppey). 

Cruisers and beautiful wooden barges known as kettu vallam (“tied boats”) ply the backwaters, offering visitors a window on village life in India’s most densely populated state.

Keen to visit Kerala? Read up on the best things to do in Kerala, and the best temples in Kerala.

How to get to Kerala

Kerala has multiple major entry points depending on where you’re coming from and what part of Kerala you wish to explore.

When it comes to traveling by air, Kerala has four international airports: Cochin, near Kochi in central Kerala, Trivandrum in South Kerala, Calicut in North Kerala, and Kannur in the far north.

For the backwaters, you’ll want Kochi.

You can also travel by train from Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

When to visit Kerala

Winter (October to February) is best for backwater cruises.

Planning an independent trip? Read up on places to get off the tourist trail in India and wise up with our guide to how to plan a trip to India.

Not a fan of planning? Browse our India itineraries before contacting our local India travel experts to have them curate and book every aspect of your dream trip.