Top 15 must-see places in India

• Kolkata

Best time to visit: September to February

Yes, the place which is filled with an enormous amount of love for food and its rich Bengali culture. The Durga Puja is celebrated here with great enthusiasm and is witnessed by millions of people every year. The streets are filled with eateries and sweet shops which offer diverse Bengali delicacies.

How to reach:

Road: State-run and Private buses ply from all nearby states.

Train: Howrah Junction and Sealdah Junction are well connected to different parts of India.

Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the main airport.

Must visit attractions are: Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, and Howrah Bridge.

• Gangtok

Best time to visit: March to June and September to December.

The North-East has always been preferred for the love of mountains and the scenic beauty they offer throughout the different seasons. The ones who want to feel the essence of Buddhism and chants from monasteries then Sikkim is the place to be.

How to reach:

Road: Vehicles ply from Darjeeling and Siliguri.

Train: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station is 148km away.

Air: Bagdogra Airport is 125km away from Gangtok.

Must visit attractions are: Rumtek Monastery, Hanuman Tok and Nathu La.

• Cherrapunji

Best time to visit: November to May.

The places which are the wettest of all is a paradise in itself for the rain lovers and monsoon enthusiasts. The love for sipping a cup of coffee while it is raining outside can be cherished here in the lush green spaces of Cherrapunji.

How to reach:

Road: Private vehicles run from different places Guwahati.

Train: Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest.

Air: Guwahati has the nearest airport.

Must visit attractions are: Nohkalikai Falls, Root bridge and Seven Sisters fall.

• Agra

Best time to visit: April to October.

The epitome of love could be witnessed in the city of Agra. The state of Uttar Pradesh has always been preferred for the deep love of Mughals and their heritage buildings. The city of Agra is blessed with such monuments which mark the value of love with due respect and intrinsic details.

How to reach:

Road: Buses ply from Delhi and Lucknow regularly.

Train: Agra Cantonment station and Agra Fort station are well connected.

Air: Kheria Airport is connected via a flight to Delhi.

Must visit attractions are: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.

• Hampi

Best time to visit: October to February.

This is a world heritage site and a must-visit tourist place in India for the aesthetical beauty and old temples in the South of India. It is also a weekend getaway for the people who want to relax for the hustle-bustle of city life. It has traditional monuments and places of great historical importance.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Bangalore.

Train: Hospet Junction is just 13km away.

Air: Hubli Airport is the nearest airport.

Must visit attractions are: Vijaya Vittala Temple and Matanga Hill.

• Ooty

Best time to visit: October to February.

This place is also known for its rocky mountains and exquisite views of nature. Basking in the lap of hills the place offers rock climbing and other mountain-related sports activities for the ones who want to test their adrenaline. It has steep bends on the mountains with mystic parks as well as gardens for refreshing the mood.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Coimbatore and Chennai run regularly.

Train: Coimbatore Junction is just 90km away.

Air: Coimbatore International Airport is closest to Ooty.

Must visit attractions are: Ooty Botanical Garden, Rosegarden and Emerald Lake.

• Kodaikanal

Best time to visit: September to May.

The gift of nature is very clearly evident at Kodaikanal with the place having an immense amount of dense forests and greenery. The ones who love nature cannot miss this place in a lifetime and would be happy to be in a place surrounded by the hills. There are many must-see places in India, but Kodaikanal tops the list.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Ooty, Coimbatore, and Madurai.

Train: Kodai Road station is the nearest is just 100km away.

Air: Madurai airport is nearly 120km.

Must visit attractions are: Pillars rock and Kodai Lake.

• Pondicherry

Best time to visit: October to March.

The place is also known as the French Rivera of the East because of its beautiful streets and is often frequented by the ones who love relaxing by the beach. The place also has cafes which specialize in French delicacies to savour the people who drop by for a coffee.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Bangalore and Chennai.

Train: Villupuram Railway Junction is just 40km away.

Air: Chennai airport is the nearest airport to Pondicherry nearly 125km.

Must visit attractions are: The Seaside Promenade and Paradise Beach.

• Darjeeling

Best time to visit: October to March.

The place famous for its tea worldwide offers the beauty of nature and culture together. The hill station of West Bengal is an enthusiastic place to be for adventure sports and the beauty of mountains. The diversity of naturally carved spaces is just breath-taking.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Siliguri ply regularly.

Train: Jalpaiguri Railway Junction is just 65km away.

Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport nearly 40km.

Must visit attractions are: Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop and Rock Garden.

• Nainital

Best time to visit: March to June.

This place is filled with all the enthusiastic trekking crowd. If you love trekking by the rivers and mountains and want to relax amidst the Mother Nature, then you should head on to Nainital to beat the heat of the city. It is surrounded by snow-capped hills and lakes around its fringes which make it one of the must-see places in India.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from all major nearby places.

Train: Kathgodham Railway Station is just 35km away.

Air: New Delhi is the nearest airport city.

Must visit attractions are: Naina Peak, Khurpatal Lake, and Tiffin Top.

• Lakshwadeep Islands

Best time to visit: September to May.

This is an archipelago of 36 islands and is one of the places which is completely isolated from the dearth of the city life. The place is peaceful to enjoy the sun as well as the beach while you can have your favourite seafood in the sand.

How to reach:

Sea: Cochin has ship services.

Air: Cochin airport connects to it.

Must visit attractions are: Minicoy Islands and Agatti Islands.

• Spiti

Best time to visit: March to June.

Spiti is the place to be if you do not want to be in crowded tourist places amidst the hills. It is one of the lesser-known places and is frequented by the trekking groups for camping and mountaineering. It also has wide valleys and beautiful scenic beauty to relax your mind. 

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from different places in Himachal Pradesh.

Train: Chandigarh Railway Station is closest you can get.

Air: Bhuntar has the nearest airport 245km away.

Must visit attractions are: Suraj Tal Lake, Pin Valley National Park and Kunzum Pass.

• Ranikhet

Best time to visit: September to February.

This is a cantonment hill town, and if you love staying close to nature, then this place is the one you cannot miss in a lifetime. The place is filled with orchards and greenery, which attracts people from different places of the country to view the majesty of nature in Uttarakhand. 

How to reach:

Road: Buses run from Delhi 355 km away.

Train: Kathgodam Railway Station is closest you can get 75km away.

Air: Pantnagar Airport 110km away.

Must visit attractions are: Bhalu Dam and Jhula Devi Temple.

• Pahalgam

Best time to visit: any time of the year.

A hill station nibbling in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir is a real delight and also nature’s paradise. There are beautiful saffron farms which are spread across large areas, and it smells heavenly to be at such a beautiful place away from the chaos.

How to reach:

Road: Buses and car run regularly from nearby places.

Train: Not easily connected.

Air: Srinagar Airport 90km away.

Must visit attractions are: Aru Valley and Lidder river.

• Gokarna

Best time to visit: any time of the year.

This is a very spiritual and deeply rooted Hindu pilgrimage destination. The ones who are connected to the myths and mythologies of ancient India would find this place as a treat to their knowledge as it is surrounded by sacred sites and is one of the must-see places in India.

How to reach:

Road: Buses run regularly from nearby places.

Train: Dabolim airport in Goa is the nearest.

Air: Srinagar Airport 90km away.

Must visit attractions are: Mahabaleshwara Temple, Kudle Beach, and Gokarna Beach.