Top 10 Tourist Destinations in India

It is very difficult to select only 10 best tourist destination because we have thousands of tourist places all over the India. However, after a long time of analysis, we are somewhat able to decide the top 10 tourist destination in India.

We know that India is the mother of cultures, colors, legends and lots of religion. Along with that, we have a great history and the heaven of earth. We have hills, mountains, deserts, valleys, forests, rivers, lakes, monuments, beaches and also oceans, lol.

Let's go to

#10. Sundarbans National Park

The Sundarban National Park is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, India. It is part of the Sundarbans on the Ganges Delta, and adjacent to the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Bangladesh. The delta is densely covered by mangrove forests and is one of the largest reserves for the Royal Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. The present Sundarban National Park was declared as the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1977. On 4 May 1984, it was declared a National Park. It is a UNESCO world heritage site inscripted in 1987. It is considered as a World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve) in 2001.

Visiting Sundarbans National Park can achieve a great experience of the "Beauty of Mangrove Forests", "Wide Rivers" and also "The Royal Bengal Tigers".

"Sealdah Railway Station" to "Canning Station". Then "Canning" to "Godkhali Ferry Ghat" by Bus. Then hire a boat and enjoy the beauty of Sundarban. It is the easiest way to reach Sundarbans.

After visiting Sundarbans you can visit "City of Joy". It is the cultural capital of India, yes I am talking about Kolkata. Victoria Memorial, Eco park, Nicco Park, Zoological Garden, Indian Museum(largest museum in India), Botanical Garden(The great Banyan Tree), Mother Wax Museum, Birla Industrial Museum, Birla Planetarium(biggest planetarium in India), Howrah Station(largest railway station in India), Howrah Bridge(busiest and beautiful bridge in India),Eden Gardens(largest cricket stadium in India and the second largest in the world), and also Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan(largest stadium in India), Birla temple, Nakhoda Mosque, St. Cathedral Church, Race course, Maidan, Millennium Park, Science City, Dakshineswar Temple, Tipu Sultan Mosque is the most famous tourist place in Kolkata.

#9. Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a town and a municipality in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Lesser Himalayas at an elevation of 6,700 ft. (2,042.2 m). It is noted for its tea industry, its spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darjeeling is the headquarters of the Darjeeling District which has a partially autonomous status within the state of West Bengal. It is also a popular tourist destination in India.

The recorded history of the town starts from the early 19th century when the colonial administration under the British Raj set up a sanatorium and a military depot in the region. Subsequently, extensive tea plantations were established in the region and tea growers developed hybrids of black tea and created new fermentation techniques. The resultant distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognized and ranks among the most popular black teas in the world.

Ghum railway station is the highest railway station in India located at Darjeeling. It is situated at an altitude of 2,258 metres

Toy Train, Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, Darjeeling Ropeway, Darjeeling Mall, Rock Garden and Ganga Maya Park, Japanese Temple, Bengal Natural History Museum, Observatory Hill, Tibetan refugee self help center is the most attractive tourist places in Darjeeling.

#8. Mumbai

Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. It is also one of the world's top ten centres of commerce in terms of global financial flow, generating 6.16% of India's GDP and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 70% of maritime trade in India (Mumbai Port Trust and JNPT), and 70% of capital transactions to India's economy. The city houses important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India, the SEBI and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations. It is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Indian Rare Earths, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Atomic Energy Commission of India, and the Department of Atomic Energy. The city also houses India's Hindi (Bollywood) and Marathi cinema industries. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher standard of living, attract migrants from all over India, making the city a melting pot of many communities and cultures.

Mumbai have lots of tourist places like Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Haji Ali Dargah, Kanheri Caves, Essel World, Kamala Nehru Park, Nehru Science Center, Tikuji-Ni-Wadi, Elephanta Island(cave), Chowpatty Beach, Hanging Gardens, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Flora Fountain, Mahalakshmi Temple, Bandra-Worli sea link, Mumba Devi temple, Juhu Beach, Aksa Beach, Jahangir Art Gallery, St. Thomas Cathedral, Mahakali Caves, Marve Beach, Water Kingdom, Marine Drive etc.

#7. Mysore

Mysore served as the capital city of the Kingdom of Mysore for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1956. The Kingdom was ruled by the Wadiyar dynasty, with a brief period of interregnum in the 1760s and 70s when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were in power. Patrons of art and culture, the Wodeyars contributed significantly to the cultural growth of the city and the state. The cultural ambiance and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet Cultural Capital of Karnataka.

Tourism is the major industry in Mysore. The city attracted about 3.15 million tourists in 2010. Most attractive tourist place of Mysore is Mysore palace, Chamundi Hills, Jaganmohan Palace, Railway Museum, Mysore Zoo, Sand Museum, Melody World Wax Museum, 3D selfi gallery, Great Tipu Sultan’s Tomb, Daria Daulat Bagh, Sri Nandi Temple, KRS Dam, GRS Fantasy Park, St. Philomena Church etc.

#6. Shimla

Shimla known as Simla, is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala being the other capital. Shimla is also a district which is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, and Solan and Sirmaur. In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India, succeeding Murree, northeast of Rawalpindi. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the hilly regions of the state. As of 2011, the city had 171,817 permanent residents, and was one of the least populous capital cities in India.

Shimla is home to a number of buildings that are styled in the Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architectures dating from the colonial era, as well as multiple temples and churches. The colonial architecture and churches, the temples and the natural environment of the city attracts tourists. Attractions include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and the Ridge, which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a major tourist attraction. Owing to its steep terrain, Shimla hosts the mountain biking race MTB Himalaya, which started in 2005 and is regarded as the biggest event of its kind in South Asia. Shimla also has the largest natural ice skating rink in South Asia. Apart from being a tourism centre, the city is also an educational hub with a number of colleges and research institutions.

Others attractions of Shimla is Jakhu Ropeway, Tattapani, The Mall, Summer Hill, Annandale, Tara Devi, Junga, Kufri, Chail, Sanjauli.

#5. Rajasthan

Rajasthan ("Land of Kings") is India's largest state by area(342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4% of India's total area). It is located on the north western side of the India, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known as the "Rajasthan Desert" and "Great Indian Desert") and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus river valley. Elsewhere it is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest.

Major features include the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilisation at Kalibanga; the Dilwara Temples, a Jain pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount Abu, in the ancient Aravalli mountain range; and in eastern Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, a World Heritage Site known for its bird life. Rajasthan is also home to three national tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hill Tiger Reserve in Kota.

The state was formed on 30 March 1949 when Rajputana – the name adopted by the British Raj for its dependencies in the region - was merged into the Dominion of India. Its capital and largest city is Jaipur. Other important cities are Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Kota and Ajmer.

Jodhpur: It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name. The capital of the kingdom was known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar Desert.

The city is known as the "Sun City" for the bright and sunny weather it enjoys all the year round. The old city circles the fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates. Jodhpur is also known as the "Blue City" because of the blue colours that decorate many of the houses in the old city area. However, the city has expanded greatly outside the wall over the past several decades.

Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre of the Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists.

Udaipur also is a very popular tourist destination and known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces. It is popularly known as the City of Lakes because of its sophisticated lake system. Five of the major lakes, namely Fateh Sagar Lake, Pichola Lake, Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rangsagar and Doodh Talai Lake have been included under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India.[7] Besides lakes, Udaipur is also popular for its massive historic forts and palaces, museums, galleries, natural locations and gardens, architectural temples, as well as traditional fairs, festivals and structures. This city is also known as the "City of Lakes," the "Venice of the East," or the "Kashmir of Rajasthan,".

#4. Delhi

According to Euromonitor International, Delhi ranked as 28th most visited city in the world and first in India by foreign visitors in 2015. There are numerous tourist attractions in Delhi, both historic and modern. The three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi, Qutb Complex, Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb are among the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. Another prominent landmark of Delhi is India Gate, a 1931 built war memorial to soldiers of British Indian Army who died during First World War. Delhi has several famous places of worship of various religions. One of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world, Akshardham is a major tourist attraction in the city. Other famous religious sites include Laxminarayan Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid and ISKCON Temple. Delhi is also a hub for shopping of all kinds. Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Khan Market and Dilli Haat are some of the major retail markets in Delhi. Major shopping malls include Select Citywalk, DLF Promenade, DLF Emporio, Metro Walk and Ansal Plaza.

Other tourist place of Delhi is Purana Qila, Lodi Garden, Rastrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, National Museum, National Zooligical Park, Gandhi Smriti, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, National Rail Museum, Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, Kashmiri Gate, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Science Center, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Naubat Khana, Jantar Mantar, Tughlaqabad Fort, Nijamuddin Dargah, Rajpath, Moti Mosjid(inside Red Fort), Feroz Shah Kotla.

#3. Goa

Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known as the Konkan in India. It is bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its Western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population.

Goa has two World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jesus Basilica and churches and convents of Old Goa.

Tourism is generally focused on the coastal areas of Goa, with decreased tourist activity inland. In 2010, there were more than two million tourists reported to have visited Goa, about 1.2 million of whom were from abroad. As of 2013 Goa was a destination of choice for Indian and foreign tourists, particularly Britons and Russians, with limited means who wanted to party. The state was hopeful that changes could be made which would attract a more upscale demographic. Goa also stands 6th in the Top 10 Nightlife cities in the world in a National Geographic Book. One of the biggest tourist attractions in Goa is water sports. Beaches like Baga and Calangute offer jet-skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, water scooter rides and more.

Over 450 years of Portuguese rule and the influence of the Portuguese culture presents to visitors to Goa a different cultural environment than what is found elsewhere in India. Goa is often described as a fusion between Eastern and Western culture with Portuguese culture having a dominant position in the state be it in its architectural, cultural or social settings. The state of Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, churches, and temples. The Bom Jesus Cathedral, Fort Aguada and a new wax museum on Indian history, culture and heritage in Old Goa are other tourism destinations.

#2. Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir consist of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammuis the winter capital. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with a Muslim-majority population. The Kashmir valley is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, and Jammu's numerous shrines attract tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.

Before the insurgency intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important part of the Kashmiri economy. The tourism economy in the Kashmir valley was worst hit. However, the holy shrines of Jammu and the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh continue to remain popular pilgrimage and tourism destinations. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath, which has had significant impact on the state's economy. It was estimated in 2007 that the Vaishno Devi yatra contributed ₹4.75 billion(US$74 million) to the local economy annually a few years ago. The contribution should be significantly greater now as the numbers of Indian visitors have increased considerably. Foreign tourists have been slower to return. The British government still advises against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir with the exception of the cities of Jammu and Srinagar, travel between these two cities on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, and the region of Ladakh, while Canada excludes the entire region excepting Leh.

Besides Kashmir, several areas in the Jammu region have a lot of tourist potential as well. Bhau Fort in Jammu city is the major attraction for the tourists visiting that city. Bage-e-Bahu is another tourist destination. The local aquarium, established by the fisheries department, is visited by many. Tourists from across India visit Jammu in a pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi. Mata Vaishno Devi is located in the Trikuta Hills, about 40 to 45 km from Jammu City. Approximately 10 million Pilgrims visit this holy place every year.

Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years, and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India. Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course. The state's recent decrease in violence has boosted the economy and tourism. It was reported that more than a million tourists visited Kashmir in 2011. The beauty of this place can easily enchant the mind of any individual. The snowy mountains, lush green grasses, forest etc. together creates a memorable moment in the life of a person. And that is the reason why thousands of tourists are attracted towards this destination every year. Thats why it is called the heaven of the world.

Other tourist places of Kashmir are Pathar Mosque, Khanqah-e-Moula, Chemrey Monastery, Amar Mahal Palace, Dal Lake, Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, Hazratbal, Apharwat Peak, Nigeen Lake, Sonamarg, Betab Valley, Nishat Garden, Mughal Garden, Aru Valley, Shalimar Bagh, Pari Mahal, Chasme Sahi Gardens, Zojila Pass, Jama Masjid Mosque, Yousmarg, Chandanwari, Baisaran.

#1. Agra

Agra is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is 378 kilometres (235 mi) west of the state capital, Lucknow, 206 kilometres (128 mi) south of the national capital New Delhi and 125 kilometres (78 mi) north of Gwalior. Agra is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh, and the 24th most populous in India.

Agra is a major tourist destination because of its many Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Others tourist places in Agra is Tomb of Akbar, Tomb of Itimad-ud-doulah, Jama Masjid, Chini Ka Rauza, Taj Museum, Jahangir Palace, Mehtab Bagh, Moti Mosjid, Tomb of Mariam-uz-zamani, Khas Mahal, Nagina Masjid, Diwan-e-Aam, Kalakriti, Anguri Bagh, Darwaza-e-Rauja, Sikandra.

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References: wikipedia,times of india,new york times,bbc,cctv,