Places to Visit in India: Cities, Landmarks & Hidden Gems

1. Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta Caves are a unique and absolutely mind-blowing UNESCO World Heritage Site. They consist of a series of 29 hand-carved chambers that have been cut out of a solid rock face almost 76 meters above the narrow Waghora stream in Ajanta, about 300 miles east of Mumbai.

Buddhist monks painstakingly chiseled the caves out of the rock over a period spanning from 2AD to around 6BC. More reminiscent of palaces than caves, each of the caves opens into a large hall covered from floor to ceiling with exceptionally detailed paintings depicting the Jataka stories, which tell of Buddha’s previous lives. The ceilings are also beautifully decorated with geometrical and floral patterns. Ajanta Caves are an absolute must-see for any visitor to Mumbai.

2. Amber Fort

The famous Amber Fort (aka Amer Fort) dates back to the 16th century and is located about seven miles outside Jaipur. The beautiful fort was built using red and white sandstone and demonstrates the use of both Rajput and Hindu style architecture, adorned with a mixture of Hindu and Muslim style ornamentation. You can tour the fort at your own pace with the help of an audio guide (English or Hindi) – there are several different beautifully decorated halls to admire, including the beautiful Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Hall). The evening Light Show lasts about 50 minutes and tells the story of the history of the fort and Jaipur city.

You can also visit the museum and formal gardens or take an elephant-back ride around the Amber Fort.

3. The Ancient Step Wells

The Ancient Step Wells of India were built in response to a grave shortage of water outside of the annual monsoon seasons. In order to preserve the abundant rainfall during the monsoons, deep, stepped wells were built all over the dry northern regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat as far back as 550 AD. The vast majority of these impressive structures have fallen into disrepair, but you can see a really excellent example at Adalaj Vav, about 12 miles north of Ahmedabad.

This step well is a full five stories deep and has been beautifully preserved. As you make your way down the series of ornately carved stairs you can see intricate carvings in a combination of Islamic and Hindu styles. The Ancient Step Wells

4. City Palace, Jaipur

Nestled in the heart of the Old Town, the opulent home of several generations of Indian royalty is a must-see attraction for every visitor to Jaipur. Originally built in the 1700s, the interior of the palace has seen several additions and changes over the years, and architecture enthusiasts will enjoy the chance to see an excellent combination of Rajastani and Mogul architectural styles.

You can tour at your own pace with the aid of an audio guide or hire a local guide who has all the necessary knowledge to enhance your visit. Inside the beautifully decorated palace there is a textile museum that showcases superb examples of royal finery and a very interesting armory museum. City Palace Map

5. Dudhsagar Falls

Located in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park on the border between Goa and Karnataka, the Dudhsagar Falls are an impressive sight to behold. The four-tier waterfall is the tallest in India (1017 feet), and when fed by the monsoon rains it can reach 100 feet wide. However, getting there is not for the faint hearted, and you have to be fairly fit and determined.

You can either make the 10km trek to the falls on foot along a railway line or hire a bike-taxi if you visit during the wet season when the falls are at their most spectacular. Jeep taxis are also available from October onwards when the roads are dryer. The view from the watch tower will be worth all the effort. Dudhsagar Falls

6. Ellora Caves

The remarkable Ellora Caves complex covers an area of over two square kilometers in the Maharashtra province and is essential viewing for all visitors to the area. The cave complex consists of a collection of 34 Buddhist, Jainist, and Brahmanist monolithic temples that have been hand-chiseled out of a mountainside and then filled with delicate art works. The temples were created between the 5th and 10th centuries, and unlike the similar caves at Ajanta, which are all Buddhist, these caves demonstrate remarkable religious tolerance, which was mostly unheard of at the time. Possibly due to a little competition between the artisans, these temples are remarkably elaborate and truly humbling when you consider what resources were available when they were created. You can visit both the Ellora and Ajanta cave sites on a day trip from Mumbai. Ellora Caves

7. Great Wall India

Second only to the Great Wall of China, the amazing Great Wall of India stretches for over 22 miles around the perimeter of the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the Rajsamand province in India. This remarkable miracle of engineering prowess was constructed over 500 years ago at the same time that the fort was built, and together the fort and wall safeguard over 300 ancient temples. The site is an absolute must see, but you will need to be fairly fit to climb to the top, which takes about 40 minutes. To get the most from your visit you should hire a guide to tell you all about the history and legend attached to this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site. Great Wall India

8. Hampi

From 1336 to 1565 the city of Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India and is thought to have been home to over 250,000 people, which would have made it the largest city in the world at that time. If you love architecture, you are in for a treat at Hampi, where Indo-Sarasanic architecture prevails, and you will see buildings with stunning geometric designs, popular in Islamic architecture, that are decorated with Hindu carvings and sculptures.

Highlights of your visit will include the superb Virupaksha Temple, the Lotus Mahal, and the wonderful geometric designs of the Stepped Tank. You can reach this unique UNESCO World Heritage site by road from Hubli or via the overnight train from Bangalore.

9. Hawa Mahal

Another of Jaipur city’s architectural gems, the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds is located in the heart of the city, where it forms part of the famous City Palace. You can visit this beautiful palace, which was built using red and white sandstone in 1799, on several of the Jaipur city tours or simply take a walk to the area to see the wonderful façade, which is best viewed from the street. The beautiful beehive-shaped façade with its thousands of small lattice windows was cleverly designed to allow the women of the palace, including the Maharaja’s harem, to be able to watch life on the streets without being observed by those outside the palace. Hawa Mahal