- Utkarsh Sharma
Travel in India | Complete Travel Guide for Traveling in India
This post is to help people choose places to visit while they are planning to travel to India. There are many blogs that suggest places that can be helpful for people but my advice is categorised and gives a holistic picture. Here, I will provide you with detailed information so that when you travel you are fully prepared. If you are planning to travel to India, there are a few things that you should keep in mind as India is unlike other countries.
Facts to keep in mind while planning to travel in India.
India is the second-largest populated country after China and some parts are very densely populated. It is obvious that you will see a lot of people in India. You will find a lot of people in markets and famous places.
India is a place of religious and cultural diversity, hence you will find the language, tradition, clothing, etc changes throughout the country.
Beware of pick-pocketers on the metro and trains as they may try to take advantage of the crowd.
If possible, always find a local guide from Instagram or other platforms so that your journey becomes easier and it also encourages small businesses to grow. It's just a suggestion not compulsory because a major section of tourists travel in India on their own and they don't find any problems.
Always book your hotels from an authorized website and check the review of the hotels too. Many times, I myself got into a situation where the hotel rooms were not good.
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Brief knowledge on the geography
India has a great extent of geography. Traveling in India is full of joy and adventure, it has everything that a traveler, trekker, or adventurer may need. It has it all from mighty mountains to massive plateaus, from picturesque lakes to cites at the riverbanks. The coastal areas have some of the most beautiful beaches and food and you’d find people used to trek on these adventurous plateaus, no matter whether it was winter, summer or monsoon. You will also see the culture changing every few miles. As we speak, we can categorize India into major four sections.
Northern India
Western India
Eastern India
Southern India
Explore Peaceful Mountains and Valleys | Northern India
If you are traveling in India, do start with these mountains, they are home for everyone and anyone. Camping in the Himalayas has been a lifetime dream for many trekkers, adventurers, and travelers and the temperature remains low compared to the other parts of the country. As a result, it has become the best holiday destination for people in summer to spend some time in cold mountains. Jammu and Kashmir are beautiful places, the view of the places in Kashmir are nowhere else found therefore, people travel in India from all over the world to experience it. You will find floating markets, floating houseboats, and much more. Arunachal Pradesh itself is for extreme travelers and best for the bike-riders as you can ride your bike along with the Himalayas.
Here are the most famous places in Himachal Pradesh: -
Rohtang La
Spiti Valley
Solang Nala
Mall Road
The Great Himalayan National Park
Here are the most famous places in Jammu and Kashmir
Gulmarg
Vaishno Devi
Amarnath
Pahalgam
Patnitop
Here are the most famous places in Arunachal Pradesh
Mayudia pass
Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary
Golden Pagoda
Pangsau Pass
Tawang City
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Travel in India to Understanding Culture | Western India
The western side of the country is influenced by a different culture. You will find the Sikh community, Gujraties (people from the state Gujrat), Marathis (people from the state Maharastra), Goan (people from the state Goa) and people on the western side. The western part of India also has a connection with the Arabian sea, hence you can find some of the beautiful beaches here.
Gujarat has been a cultural destination for the nation. Festivals like Navratra makes everyone full of joy and enthusiasm. Goa is famous for its party vibes; therefore the majority of people travel to India for Goa; from nightlife to beach fun and beautiful sightseeing, everything is present here. the food served at the beaches will surprise you with the taste. Next on track is Maharashtra, even though it’s a single state there are a lot of places in just Maharashtra that will amaze you. These include amazing hill stations and beautiful treks that become even more beautiful in the monsoon rain.
Here are the most famous places in Goa: -
Calangute Beach
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Dudhsagar Falls
Anjuna Beach
Colva Beach
Here are the most famous places in Gujarat: -
Rann of Kutch
Somnath
Bhuj
Rani ka Vav, Patan
Sasan Gir National Park
Here are the most famous places in Maharashtra: -
Gateway Of India Mumbai
Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves & Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Island
Bibi Ka Maqbara
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Bring yourself closer to Nature | Eastern India
I feel a lot when I am writing about Eastern India. The more East you will travel the more peaceful and closer you will find yourself to nature. Bihar and Jharkhand were once a single state but got divided due to its large surface area. This is the land where Gautam Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment - various archeological excavations evidence the greatness of the place. Our next stop is Odisha, this is the land of some of the most visited tourist spots throughout India. Now coming to the land that will amaze you through its beauty is Darjeeling, Sundarbans, etc. Yes! I am talking about West Bengal.
Here are the most famous places in Bihar and Jharkhand:-
Bodh Gaya
Nalanda
Madhubani
Deoghar
Dasham Falls
Here are the most famous places in Odisha:-
Puri
Bhubaneswar
Konark
Cuttack
Gopalpur
Here are the most famous places in West Bengal:-
Kolkata
Darjeeling
Sundarbans
Digha
Mirik
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Witness Ancient Cultural Heritage of India | Southern India
If you are planning to travel to South India, keep in mind the climate changes drastically. In Monsoon, the Kerala and Tamil Nadu you can expect rain most of the time. Yet, the joy of traveling in God's own country never fades. There are forest Treks, Hill Station, Tea Gardens, Beaches, backwater lagoons, etc in Kerala that attract a lot of tourists. Tamil Nadu is a neighboring state with some of the most visiting places like Kanyakumari. There are many other temples too which you can visit in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is a busier place than the other two, because of its contribution to various corporate industries.
Here are the most famous places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: -
Tirupati
Vizag
Araku Valley
Talakona Waterfalls
Papikondalu
Here are the most famous places in Karnataka: -
Mysore Palace
Sree Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Bangalore Palace
Jog Falls
Abbey Falls Madkeri Falls
Here are the most famous places in Kerala and Tamil Nadu: -
Thekkady
Vembanad Lake
Varkala Beach
Nilgiri Mountain Railway Line
Doddabetta Peak
Kodaikanal Lake
Travel in India cannot be completed in a week or months. There are so many places and geography that you cannot miss. So, whenever you plan to travel to India, always plan few places and explore them well. The people are very hospitable in India, even though the language and tradition are different, but you would find India as if it is your own country. I hope to see you someday in India with your family, kids, or fiancé. And we will try to create memories for you that will live with you throughout life.