On all those occasions when the explorer inside you wakes up and craves to go to an excursion or when you simply need a break from your mundane routine, you don’t have a choice other than to pack your bags and move. However, deciding upon a destination is tricky because India has a giant list of fantastic and epic tourist places. India has a diverse terrain to offer to travelers – from the Himalayan peaks in the north to the Indian Ocean coastline in the south – along with a history reaching back to five millennia.

Whether you like visiting historical places, or simply want to enjoy nature’s magic, India is one of those countries where you get to satisfy each and every one of your traveler’s desire. Therefore, to help you decide a getaway, we have collated a list of the most amazing tourist destinations in India.

1. Chadar – Famous for its frozen river trek on theZanskar River, Chadar in the beautiful state of Jammu and Kashmir freezes in winters. From late January to the end of February and at times even till the end of March, people get a chance to trek across the frozen river to experience a completely off-beat trek.

2. Manali-Leh Road Trip – This is a 487 km long high-adrenaline road trip in the Himalayan terrain, from Himachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir, along its squally regions that have the most difficult roads to traverse. It is also famous for a magnetic hill where vehicles drive uphill naturally.

3. Markha Valley Trek – The trek along the Markha River in the beautiful Markha valley of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir treats the trekkers with the wonderful view of the Stock and Zanskar mountains and several monasteries and villages. This trek is for experienced trekkers because of its steep ascents and descents from two high passes with numerous stream crossings.

Rishikesh – One of the holiest cities for Hindus, Rishikesh in Uttarakhand is placed on the foothills of the Himalayas. It is renowned for its centers of meditation and yoga. Besides its scenic landscapes, the place also offers a variety of adventure sports such as white-water rafting and rappelling.
Manali – A high-altitude resort-town in Himachal Pradesh, Manali is situated in the beautiful green Beas Valley and is surrounded by high peaks. It is an around-the-year tourist destination because of its serene natural beauty and activities like paragliding and skiing.
Ladakh – Perhaps the most sought-after destination in India, Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir not only has pristine landscapes but is also home to the famous Leh palace and to some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries.
Jim Corbett Wildlife Safari – Located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, Jim Corbett National Park is one of the best protected parks in India and is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Its wildlife safari will let you watch some of the most beautiful flora and fauna and if you’re’ lucky you might even be able to get glimpses of world’s toughest sporting fish, the Mahseer.
Hard Ki Doon Trek – Home to the ancient villages of India, Hard KiDoon in Uttarakhand is a cradle-shaped village in the western Himalayas. This trek lets you walk the mystical path that the legendary Pandavas took before ascending to the heavens.
Pushkar –Pushkar in Rajasthan is one of the oldest cities of India and has a temple of the Hindu god Brahma, which are very few in number across the globe, in addition to other ancient temples. Eating non-vegetarian food in the city is strictly prohibited.
Dharamshala – Located in Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala hosts the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile where the Dalai Lama resides. It has a good number of Tibetan monasteries. The town gives a panoramic view of the Himalayas.
Spiti Valley – Lying between Tibet and India, SpitiValley in Himachal Pradesh is one of the least populated regions of the country and has one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Its gives a breathtaking view of Himalayan range.
Auli – Located in Uttarakhand, Auli is one of the few skiing towns of India where every year the National Championship of Snow Skiing and a special skiing festival are conducted. Its beautiful apple orchards, old oaks trees, pine trees, and the beautiful landscape make treks in and around the area very refreshing.
Valley of Flowers Trek – Located in Uttarakhand, the Valley of Flowers National park is a UNESCO world heritage site. Trekking along it would be something similar to walking across one of those fantasy lands in fairy tales. On the one side you see the beautiful landscape dotted with wonderful colors and on the other side you have snow-capped mountains.
Jaipur – Nicknamed ‘the pink city’, Jaipur in Rajasthan carries a legacy of kings and claims to be India’s first planned city. It has numerous forts and temples that talk about the glorious ancient past of the city. It also hosts one of the largest free literary festivals in the world.
Nainital – ‘The lake city’, Nainital, in Uttarakhand, is one of the most beautiful hill stations of India. It has many lakes and gives a fantastic view of the Himalayas from the Naina Peak.
Shimla – It is the most popular hill station in India and was once the summer capital of the British Raj. Besides its scenic beauty, it is famous for its fascinating toy train, which is a favorite among people of all ages.
Mussoorie – Uttarakhand’sMussoorie is another famous hill station of India, which has the Himalayan snow ranges on its northeast and the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges on its south. With activities such as sky walks and zip swings, tourists can be assured of getting their dose of adrenalin.
Kasol – A small village in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Kasol is located in the Parvati Valley. A river runs right through the middle of the town. It has many hot water springs and is very close to the famous Sikh pilgrimage siteManikaran Sahib.
Hampta Pass Trek – The characteristic features of this trek in Himachal Pradesh are vertical rock walls, hanging glaciers, waterfalls, tiny lakes, and peaks rising above 6000 m from the sea level. The trek is suitable for people of all ages.
Khajjiar – It’s a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh, which offers a well-defined trail of moderate ascent suitable for beginners and children with excellent views and a beautiful camping site. It also has a nine-hole golf course amidst the lush green and breathtaking landscapes.
Roopkund Trek – Located in Himachal Pradesh, it is famous for its skeleton lake. It is also one of the important places for trekking in India owing to its proximity with two Himalayan peaks and is a very picturesque place.
Mumbai – Rich with the colonial history, the capital of Maharashtra is also known as ‘the city of dreams’. It is the industrial capital of India and is home to the movie and television stars and some of the best beaches in India.
Pune – Also sometimes known as ‘a pensioner’s paradiseʼ, Pune in Maharashtra has multitudes of palaces such as the Shaniwar Wada palace and the Agha Khan palace and temples such as DagadusethHalwaiGanpati Temple, Chaturshringi Temple, and Pataleshwar Cave Temple.
Lonavala – Close to Pune is Lonavala, famous for its lush green valleys and ancient Buddhist shrines such as Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves that have been carved out of rocks. It has many waterfalls, hills, and lakes, which make it a favorite spot for hikers and trekkers.
Kamshet – Located in Maharashtra, this picturesque hill station in the Western Ghats is well known for paragliding and flying schools. Its paddy and sunflower fields give a spectacular view while paragliding over the area.
Alibaug – South of Mumbai lies this coastal town, famous for its beaches, which make it a popular weekend getaway for people of nearby areas. Due to the large number of tourists visiting the area all around the year, at times it is also called ‘mini Goa’.
Panchgani – This small town in Maharashtra gets this name because of the five hills that surround it. It is known for its scenic view of hills on one side and coastal plains on the other side and has many beautiful sunset and sunrise points.
Rajmachi – Another scenic town in Maharashtra is Rajmachi. Trekkers, nature lovers, and outdoor campers love this place for its picture-perfect landscapes. It also has close ties with history as it had played a strategic role in the first Anglo-Maratha war.
Mahabaleshwar – Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra is a hill station very close to Pune, and besides its strawberries, it is also famous for its rivers, cascades, and peaks. It has loads of ancient temples and dense forests, which make it a perfect spot for tourists.
Mount Abu – Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and is a very popular tourist destination in the state because of its lush green surroundings. Its famous DilwaraTemple, which was built almost 2 centuries ago, has the most intricate architecture.
Sunderbans – Another world heritage site, Sunderban is the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world located in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal. ItsSunderban National Park is famous for Royal Bengal Tigers and a variety of birds and reptiles such as the salt-water crocodile.
Arunachal Pradesh – It one of the less explored states of India and perhaps that is why it is a world of extraordinary beauty, which gives tourists a chance to discover experiences that cannot be found anywhere else on earth.
Meghalaya – Just like Arunachal Pradesh, it is a less explored state in the northeastern part of India, which treats tourists with a variety of landscapes, activities, food, and festivals. Cherrapunji is a city in Meghalaya famous for being one of the cities to receive the largest rainfall in the world.
Sandakphu Trek – Sandakphu is the highest peak in West Bengal and gives a spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and many other peaks. The Sandakphu-Phalut Trek is a favorite among trekkers. However, it is recommended that before going for this trek you must take a complete fitness test.
Sikkim – Although it is one of the smallest states of India, it doesn’t fail in attracting a large number of tourists with its numerous orchid nurseries, ancient monasteries, mountain peaks, holy lakes, and stunning trekking routes.
Goecha La Trek – At 4940 m from the sea level, this high mountain pass serves as a base camp for the southeast face of Kanchenjunga. It gives breathtaking views of the world’s third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, and 14 other summits; this trek is hard to resist. However, it is accessible only after a trekking permit has been obtained from the Tourism Department.
Darjeeling – Famous for its tea plantations, Darjeeling in West Bengal is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in India because of its scenic views of Kanchenjunga. Its toy train that runs on steam engine cannot be missed.
Coorg – A small rural town in Karnataka, Coorg is famous for its imposing mountains, misty landscape, acres of tea and coffee plantations, and lush forests. It is also home to the Kodavas, who are a clan specializing in martial arts.
Gokarna – This small coastal town in Karnataka was a popular Hindu pilgrimage site with ancient Hindu temples. Off late it has also become a favorite among tourists because of its calm and quiet beaches.
Chikmagalur – Coffee was cultivated for the first time in India in this hill station of Karnataka. The small town not only has numerous treks but also boasts of having mountains that are a source of rivers Tunga and Bhadra.
Wayanad – Set high on the Western Ghats, this town in Kerala has a historical cave from the Neolithic era. It is also famous for its homestays, spice plantations and wildlife.
Alleppey – Being the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala, Alleppey has numerous canals and is therefore at times compared with Venice and is also famous for its snake-boat race.
Munnar – Another gem in ‘God’s own country’, Kerala, Munnar has sprawling tea plantations in its serene lush green hills, which attract a huge number of tourists, paragliders, and trekkers around the year.
Ooty – It is a hill station in Tamil Nadu, which with its pine and eucalyptus trees, tea and coffee plantations, and pleasing weather attracts a large number of honeymooners throughout the year.
Pondicherry – This union territory of India was once a French colony. Despite being located far away from France and being liberated from French occupancy years ago, many parts of Pondicherry have been able to retain the French culture and cuisine.
Sakleshpur – Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, Sakleshpur is a quiet town, which has a unique star-shaped Manjarabad Fort. It also has a biodiverse forest called the Bisle Reserve Forest, which is home to cobras, deer, and birds. Interestingly, there is also a “green trek” somewhere near its abandoned railway station, but supposedly it is illegal to go on that trek.
Kannur – This quaint town in Kerala is a tourist haven because of its numerous beaches, ancient temples monuments, and picnic spots. Its structures are a reminiscence of the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British, and Mysore Sultanate and walking down its streets is like walking through the pages of history.
Bheemeshwari – This small town in Karnataka reflects the true spirit of rural India, where bullock carts can be still seen on its roads. There are many fishing sites, adventure camps, and trek trails that keep the tourists occupied.
Andaman-Nicobar – This union territory of India has very closely witnessed India’s struggle for freedom and its cellular jail is of great historical value. Among other attractions, it offers Scuba diving and snorkeling as attractions to tourists. However, the southern part of it is almost inaccessible to tourists.
Yercaud– This hill station in Tamil Nadu is located in the Eastern Ghats and is sometimes referred to as a poor man’s Ooty. It has vast coffee plantations, abundant forests, and some unique species of flora and fauna, which make it a good tourist attraction in India.
Lakshadweep – It is famous for its diving activities, especiallyin two of its islands, Kavaratti and Kadmat, which have state-of-the-art scuba facilities. Kadmat also offers kayaking, yachting, water skiing, and windsurfing. Its other islands offer a calm and quiet environment to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

By now I’m sure you must have prepared your bucket list, but before you start your trip, here are some professional tips:

• Always plan ahead

• Pack your bags at least a day before and if possible create a checklist

• Pack your clothes according to the climate of that place. You don’t want to waste your time shopping for clothes.

• As much as possible, walk or take a bicycle to explore the area. (It will help you get you your daily quota of workout, and you will get to enjoy that place at your own pace and leisure.)

• Remember you are not participating in a competition and you are there to relax and enjoy that place.

• Most importantly, travel like a responsible citizen.