What to See in India

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Top 5 Hotspots in India


Situated on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra was the first choice of Mughal emperors as their seat of power and the city retains several historical and cultural legacies from their times. Ram Bagh, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Itmad-ud-Daullah's Tomb are other delights of Agra Tourism that present an interesting narrative of evolution of Mughal Empire and its architecture and design that reached its pinnacle in Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jahan to fulfill the last wish of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal was the first historical monument to be voted to retain its place in the list of Seven Wonders of the World. Its highly polished marble walls, profusion of Rajput and Persian motifs in stone inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones in intricate lace carvings, verses from Quran, and most immaculate settings that are full of perfect symmetry and optical illusions make it the mainstay of Indian tourism.



Situated in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India, Khajuraho Temples have a most unexpected location at a small village surrounded by wilderness where date palm trees called Khajur grow in profusion. Built from 950 to 1050 AD by Chandela rulers, they represent the Indian architectural genius of the era. The ornate sculptures depict all faces of life from plowing fields to wars to dancing to musical pleasures to sexual and erotic positions in all conceivable and imaginable positions. From stone carvings immortalizing Kama Sutra, Khajuraho Temples tread gracefully into an arena that seems maverick to some and sacrilegious to others.




'Har Har Gange, Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Ganga Maiya' are the most frequent chants that thousands of Hindu pilgrims and devotees shout as they enter the chilly waters of the holy River Ganges with the first rays of the sun. The early morning boat rides place tourists in the middle of expansive Ganges, cruising slowly, to allow the full view of the Holy Ghats of Varanasi on both sides of the river. Varanasi is an example how the old world charm, age-old traditions, and worship rituals of thousands of temples can psychologically suck you in with a beauty that cannot be seen or explained but can only be experienced. Colorful bazaars famous for pure silk Benarasi saris; and the divine spectacle of evening Aarti with thousands of floating candles in the river are not to be missed at Varanasi.



Responsible tourism cannot be emphasized enough in the wetlands of Kerala. It is necessary to keep Kerala's backwaters and beaches attractive and viable for the tourism industry year after year and to conserve the unique ecology and biodiversity of the Vembanad Lake and other major backwater destinations of Kerala. Kerala backwaters and houseboat cruises take you to serene and tranquil natural surroundings away from boisterous crowds and traffic jams. Ultra luxury rides in Kerala waterways offer you views of tiny Kerala villages, paddy fields, passing canoes, colorful birds and fishes, aromatic spice plantations, and occasional historical monuments.





Amber Fort seems to be dipped in honey and emits amber hue in the evening. However, locals still call it Amer Qila or Amer Fort that was once the ancient and original capital of Kachhwaha Rajputs before they shifted to Jaipur, 11 km away. The fort presents ornate and artistic masterpiece that blends Hindu and Mughal architectural elements. The views of the city below and sound and light show in the evening are the main charms of the fort. There are several highly adorned palaces and structures in the fort complex but the Hall of Mirrors deserves a special mention. It is a huge hall marvel with exceptional mirror work that allows a single candle to illumine the entire hall with clever reflections.