Trying to find the most beautiful place in India is like finding a needle in a haystack. With the incredible range of diversity that you can find in India, it’s almost impossible to pick one place over the other in terms of beauty. Plus, India is still unexplored up to a certain extent in terms of tourist places.
Almost every year, new offbeat tourist places are discovered and added to the list of expanding Indian tourism markets. So, without further delay, let’s explore the best tourist spots you can visit in India today. Although, it’s important to mention that this list is not ranked in order of their mention on the list. Every tourist spot in India is the best in its own way.
10 best and most beautiful tourist places in India
Elephant Beach – Andaman and Nicobar Island
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Located on Havelock Island at Andaman, the elephant beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in India. Andaman is located far from the mainland of India, and so, often, it doesn’t get enough credit for the awestruck beauty of these islands. But, once you visit these white sand beaches and look at the blue ocean water, you are sure to experience a glimpse of heaven right there.
To make it even more enticing, you can even go scuba diving at the elephant beach and get a chance to explore the sea world unlike any other place in India. So, the incredible natural beauty, location, range of activities available, and overall charm make elephant beach one of the most beautiful places you can visit in India.
How to reach Elephant Beach?
By air: Havelock Island is located among the group of Andaman islands. These islands are completely separated from the Indian mainland and so, they can only be travelled by air or by sea. By air, you can find domestic flights to Andaman from any part of the country. For international flights, you can find flights from most countries to Andaman directly so it can be a great way for you to get to the island. The airport is located 73 km away from Havelock island. You can complete this distance by getting public transport such as a ferry to reach the island.
By water: The other option is for you to take a cruise trip that takes around 2 to 3 days to reach the Andaman islands. These cruises are available only from specific cities on the eastern coast of India such as Kolkata or Chennai. You would need to get to these cities first before boarding the cruise and taking your journey to Port Blair. From Port Blair, you can find local public transport such as ferries to reach Havelock island. The distance between these two islands is roughly 70 km and you have to take a ferry to reach Havelock from Port Blair. Or, you can take another cruise as well.
Loktak Lake – Manipur
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There are over 60 important lakes in India, located in various parts of the country. The Loktak Lake from Manipur is perhaps one of the most unique lakes in India. This lake is the biggest freshwater lake in Asia, with a pulsating coverage of 250 to 500 sq km.
However, as impressive as those stats are, they are not the most intriguing factors of Loktak lake. The most interesting part of the lake is the living biomass that floats on the lake, called phumdis. The flora and fauna of this lake make it unique ecologically, and to preserve it, Loktak Lake was included among the Ramsar wetland sites in India.
Being the largest freshwater lake in Asia, having unique ecological importance, and being breathtakingly beautiful makes Loktak Lake one of the most beautiful places in India. Now that you know about the breathtaking beauty of Loktak lake.
How to reach Loktak Lake?
By air: Manipur has its own International airport which is the Imphal international airport. You can easily get flights from most countries and Indian states to this airport. Once you are there, you have to get public transport such as cabs or buses to get to Loktak lake. The lake is located just around 24 km away from the airport. This distance can be easily covered by public transport and you can reach the lake in no time after landing at the Imphal international airport.
By road: To get to Loktak lake by road, you can easily get there thanks to a network of well-connected highways from all over the country. If you are travelling in a private vehicle, you can use the navigation to get to and from the lake easily. If you want to use public transport, you can do that too. First, you would need to get into Manipur from any part of the country. Once you are in Manipur, you will find public transport such as cabs and buses to reach the lake easily.
By train: You can not travel directly to Manipur by train. The closest train station to Manipur is in Nagaland located over 200 km away from Imphal. The Nagaland station is however well connected to different parts of the country so you can get there easily. Once you are out of the train station, you would need to hire a cab or get a bus to reach Manipur from Nagaland. Once you reach Manipur, you can directly get to Loktak lake using the same bus or using a different bus or cab. This journey may take time as it is quite long, however, you will be able to travel at your desired comfort level thanks to the various available options.
Kaziranga National Park – Assam
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There are over 100 national parks in India spread across the nation. Among the hundred, only 7 national parks in India are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Kaziranga National Park is one of them. Known to be the home of the largest population of the one-horn rhinoceros in the world, the Kaziranga National Park is one of the most successful examples of wildlife conservation efforts in India.
Spread over an area of over 1000 sq km, Kaziranga is also among the largest national parks in India. The natural beauty of this national park is unbelievable, which also makes it one of the most popular national parks in India. Being one of the 37 UNESCO World Heritage sites in India, being the most successful efforts of preserving the one-horn rhinoceros, and having unbelievable natural beauty makes Kaziranga National Park one of the best places to visit in India.
Assam is one of the major states in northeast India. It shares easy transport lines with most other parts of the country.
How to reach Kaziranga National Park?
By Road: Kaziranga National Park is located in a small town of Assam called Kohora. The town falls on NH 37, which ensures that the town is well-connected to all major cities of Assam and the rest of the country. To get to Kaziranga by road, you can simply follow the national highway and reach your location. But, if you want to travel by public transport like cabs you can do that too from any part of Assam.
For buses, you can find government and private buses from all the major cities of the state to reach Kaziranga/Kohora. All these travel modes and routes make travelling to Kaziranga by road, one of the best ways to reach the national park.
By Air: You can easily reach Kaziranga National Park by air, but there are some things you need to know first. There are two airports closest to Kaziranga; the first is the Guwahati airport, which is an international airport. Here you can get flights easily from all parts of India and other parts of the world. However, it’s located over 200 km away from the national park. This distance needs to be covered by cabs or buses that are available from outside the airport.
The other option you have would be to land at the Jorhat airport. This is a domestic airport with fewer flights connecting to it. However, it is located only 97 km away from Kaziranga. You can cover the distance using buses and cabs to help you reach the park. Based on your travel preferences and the location from where you are visiting, you can choose from among these two airports to reach Kaziranga easily.
By Train: You can get to Kaziranga by train as well. There are several options when it comes to getting to Kaziranga by train as there are several train stations where you can deboard to reach the park. The nearest station to Kaziranga is Furkating railway station, which is located just 75 km away from the national park. You can find cabs and buses from outside the station to reach Kaziranga.
There are two other options at your disposal. You can get down at the Guwahati railway station which is a major railway station in the northeastern railway line. The Guwahati railway station is located over 200 km away from Kaziranga, and the journey needs to be completed using buses or cabs available from outside the station. However, you should know that Guwahati is by far the easiest train station for you to get to as it is very well-connected to other parts of the country by rail.
The other train option you have is to get down at the Jorhat railway station which is located 90 km away from Kaziranga. From outside the Jorhat station, you can find cabs and buses to reach Kaziranga quicker as compared to Guwahati. The Jorhat railway station is also well-connected and can be reached from other parts of Eastern India easily.
Yumthang Valley, Sikkim
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India is home to the mighty Himalayas, which allows the country to be impenetrable from the north. It also gives India some of the most beautiful valleys in the world, and one of the most diverse and beautiful among them is the Yumthang Valley of Sikkim. The Yumthang valley is an exotic location, the likes of which are rare to come by often. The tree line of the mountains ends here, and you can experience an encapsulation of the incredible diversity of the Himalayan mountains.
The Yumthang valley is popularly known as the valley of flowers, so if you visit during the blooming season, you are sure to witness the unforgettable beauty of a valley. So, with unparalleled natural beauty, diversity, and the mighty Himalayas in the background, this unabashedly beautiful valley of flowers earns its spot as one of the most beautiful places to visit in India.
How to reach Yumthang Valley?
Now, let’s review how you can easily get to Sikkim from any part of India. However, it’s important to note that Sikkim does not have an active aeroplane or railway connection with the rest of India as of yet, so your options for reaching Sikkim directly are by road. You can reach Sikkim by train too, but you would have to take a different route for that, which will also be explained below.
By air: To reach Sikkim by Air, you would need to get a flight to Bagdogra airport, which is located in West Bengal. From there, you would need to get a cab or bus to reach Gangtok in Sikkim, which is the capital city of the state. The distance from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok is over 120 km. You should also note that Bagdogra is a domestic airport and does not have many connecting flights regularly. So, if you are travelling from other parts of the world, you must get a flight to the Kolkata International Airport first and then a connecting flight to the Bagdogra airport. Now, as you can see, you have only reached Gangtok so far and not the Yumthang valley; keep reading to know how you can get from Gangtok to the Yumthang valley.
By train: To get to Sikkim by train, you would have to get down at New Jalpaiguri, which is the closest railway station to Sikkim located in West Bengal. The New Jalpaiguri station is located around 140 km away from Gangtok. You can easily cover this distance using public transport like buses and cabs that are easily available from outside the station. The New Jalpaiguri station is also well-connected to other parts of the country by rail, and you can easily get a train to reach this station from other parts of India.
By road: If you are travelling by road, you can find direct buses to reach Gangtok from Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri, both of which are cities in West Bengal. If you are travelling in a private vehicle, you can reach Sikkim and Gangtok easily following the easily accessible network of highways. Direct buses to Gangtok are available from other major cities in Sikkim as well, which will help you get to the capital of Sikkim.
So, why do you have to get to Gangtok first? This is because every tourist, Indian or foreigner, needs to get a special government permit to visit the Yumthang valley, and it’s easiest to get the permit from Gangtok, which is the capital city of Sikkim. You need the permit because the Yumthang valley is located very close to the Indo-China border. Once you have your permit, you can then travel to the Yumthang valley only by road from Gangtok. The distance is around 142 km which you can complete via cabs and buses available from Gangtok and other cities in Sikkim.
Sundarbans, West Bengal
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The Indo-Gangetic plain is one of the largest uninterrupted formations of sedimented alluvium in the world. As most of these rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal, they drop their sediments before reaching the ocean, which creates the largest delta in the world, The Sundarbans. Sundarbans located in West Bengal are not only the largest delta in the world, but they are also the largest mangrove forest in the world.
The Sundarbans also are home to the Royal Bengal Tigers and hold the largest population of these tiger species in the world as well. Sundarbans are one of the most preserved biosphere reserves in India that hold an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. From Royal Bengal Tigers to saltwater crocodiles to a large variety of bird species, you will be surprised at every look when visiting the Sundarbans. And all these amazing factors make Sundarbans one of the most beautiful places to visit in India.
The Sunderbans are easily accessible by trains, roads, and flights. Roads and trains can lead you directly to the Sundarbans, but for flights, you would have to reach Kolkata and take trains or roadways from there to reach the Sundarbans. Let’s review how you can get to the amazing Sunderbans from other parts of India.
How to reach Sundarbans?
By air: To reach the Sunderbans by flight, you would have to get down at the Kolkata International Airport. Once you are in Kolkata, you can avail of trains, buses, or cabs to reach the Sunderbans. The distance between the airport and Sunderbans is around 112 km. The Kolkata International Airport is well-connected both nationally and internationally, so you can easily get to Kolkata by flight.
By road: The roadways are one of the easiest and best ways for you to get to the Sunderbans; you can cover the distance of around 110 km from Kolkata to Sunderbans using a network of well-connected roadways. However, you may still have to take the help of waterways to reach Sunderbans.
By Train: The closest railway station to the Sundarbans is Canning which is located just 48 km away from Sunderbans. You can easily get to Canning using local trains that are available throughout the day on the Sealdah Canning railway line. From the Canning railway station, you have to get buses to reach the closest ferry station from where you need to get a boat in order to reach the Sunderbans.
By Water: The easiest and most common way to reach the Sundarbans is by using riverine water transport such as ferries and motorboats. These boats will help you reach the gates of the Sundarbans from various points such as Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali, and Sajnekhali.
Bodh Gaya, Bihar
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India is not just home to natural beauties; India is also the birthplace of two major world religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Bodh Gaya is the place where the founder of Buddhism, Prince Siddhartha, attained enlightenment and became known as the Great Buddha. The Bodhi tree beneath which Buddha sat and meditated is still preserved and present at the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya.
It is the most sacred pilgrimage for Buddhists around the world to visit Bodh Gaya. With a history as fascinating and a spiritual charm that is sure to get you in touch with your inner self, Bodh Gaya in Bihar earns its place among the best places to visit in India. Bodh Gaya in Bihar is easily accessible through roadways, trains, and flights. Taking a train is perhaps the easiest way to get to Bodh Gaya, but you can also get any other mode of transport to reach the destination as well. Let’s review how you can get to and from Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
How to reach Bodh Gaya?
By Air: Bodh Gaya is located quite close to the Gaya airport, which is just 14 km away from Bodh Gaya. As a domestic airport, you can get flights there from most parts of the country. From the airport, you can get cabs or buses, both government and private, to get to Bodh Gaya. If you want to travel internationally, the best way for you to get to Bodh Gaya is to get a flight to the Kolkata International Airport, which is the closest international airport to Gaya. You can get a connecting flight from Kolkata to Gaya, which can help you reach your destination easily.
By Road: As Bihar is almost centrally located in India, you can get buses from various parts of the country to Bihar and Bodh Gaya regularly. If you are in Bihar, you can find government buses that run twice daily, which can help you get to Bodh Gaya. You can travel in your preferred luxury and comfort, as there are buses of various categories available for travel.
By Train: The Gaya railway station is located just 15 km away from Bodh Gaya. The Gaya railway station is well-connected with other parts of the country. The 15 km distance from the station to Bodh Gaya can easily be covered by public transport such as cabs and buses.
Taj Mahal, Agra
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What do you say about the Taj Mahal? It is one of the seven wonders of the world and arguably the most popular historical monument in India. The Taj Mahal is not only important historically for being a symbol of love worldwide, but it is also a glorious example of Mughal architecture. This iconic structure has stood the test of time and today happens to be just less than 400 years old (390). As one of the most iconic structures in the whole world that have millions of people pouring in from around the world to visit, it makes the Taj Mahal one of the best places to visit in India. The Indian city of Agra is well-connected with other parts of the country and the world; let’s briefly look at how exactly you can get to the Taj Mahal.
How to reach Taj Mahal?
By Air: Agra has its own airport, which is located just 7 km away from the Taj Mahal. You can easily get to the Taj from the airport using cabs or buses. The Agra airport is a domestic airport, so you can get there from most parts of the country.
By Road: Agra is well-connected by a series of important highways to the rest of the country. Agra falls within the golden quadrilateral network of highways, which makes it easy for you to get to Agra by car from any part of the country. If you are looking for public transport, you can find buses and cabs from Delhi, Lucknow, Haryana, or Chandigarh to reach Agra easily.
By Train: Agra is connected by train. The main station for Agra is called the Agra cantonment station. It is connected to all parts of the country, however, only special trains come to Agra like the Rajdhani, Palace on wheels, Shatabdi, and a few more important express trains.
Tungnath, Uttarakhand
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Of the two major religions that originated in India, the first is Hinduism. India holds the world’s largest population of Hindu followers in the world. Across India, you can find incredible temples dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. One of the most popular temples in India is the Tungnath temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The temple is ancient, and the town of Tungnath has existed for over 1000 years. This temple is the highest temple of Lord Shiva in the world, and the town of Tungnath also holds the Alaknanda and Mandakini river valleys. The magnificent and religiously important Tungnath temple, along with several other important Hindu pilgrimages, make Tungnath one of the best places to visit in India to explore Hindu spirituality.
Now that you know the importance of Tungnath, let’s explore how you can get to Tungnath from various parts of the country and the world.
How to reach Tungnath?
By Air: The closest airport to Tungnath is the Dehradun domestic airport, which is located at a distance of 116 km away from Tungnath. Once you get outside, you will find cabs or buses to help you reach Tungnath from Dehradun. As the capital of Uttarakhand, you will find both government and private, public transport from Dehradun to reach Tungnath. You should, however, know that no vehicle can get you to the gates of Tungnath because it’s quite high up; you have to trek a 3.5 km path on foot to reach Tungnath.
By Train: The closest railway station to Tungnath is Haridwar which is located over 220 km away from Tungnath. You can get public transport like cabs and buses from Haridwar to reach Chopta, from where you have to trek 3.5 km to reach Tungnath on foot.
By Road: By road, you can easily get to Tungnath using government and private buses from various parts of Uttarakhand and neighbouring states. The buses will help you reach Chopta from where you have to trek 3.5 km to reach Tungnath, which takes around 2-3 hours on foot.
Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh
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It is said that India has something of everything. The incredibly diverse natural landscape of India allows you to get a glimpse of the whole world right here in India. Khajjiar is one such beautiful town, which is known as the Switzerland of India. This small town in Himachal Pradesh amidst the Himalayas will almost make you forget about where you are. This town resembles the rolling mountains and beautiful valleys of the Alps in Europe.
And the best part is, this town is still quite unexplored, so you can spend your time here away from the crowds of most other tourist places on this list. The dashing natural beauty of this town, matched with equally beautiful architecture and people, makes the town of Khajjiar one of the best places to visit in India. As an offbeat location, it’s crucial for you to know how to get to Khajjiar before you set off on your journey, so let’s explore the travel guide to Khajjiar below.
How to reach Khajjiar?
By Air: The closest airport to Khajjiar is the Gaggal airport at Dharamshala, Punjab. This airport is domestic and receives flights from neighbouring states, so it has limited connectivity. The distance from the Gaggal airport to Khajjiar is over 100 km, which you have to cover using cabs or buses, both of which are available easily from outside the airport.
By Train: The closest railway station to Khajjiar is Pathankot, which is located around 118 km away from Khajjiar. You can get easily from Pathankot to Khajjiar using cabs and buses once you are out of the station. Pathankot is well-connected to other parts of the country, especially the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh states, to help you reach Khajjiar easily by train.
By Road: To get to Khajjiar by road, you can easily get buses from Shimla and other major cities in Himachal Pradesh to reach Khajjiar. Both government and private buses are easily available from major cities in Himachal Pradesh and other neighbouring states to reach Khajjiar easily. Buses are also available at various comfort levels to help you travel as you please.
Pangong Lake, Ladakh
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Pangong lake is the highest saltwater lake in the world. It lies partially in western Ladakh and partially in Tibet/China. This lake is also close to the actual border between India and China. Pangong lake is located at a height of over 4,000 metres above sea level. The blue water of this lake is a stark difference from its surroundings, which makes it an incredible visual treat. The beauty of this lake is hard to explain in words.
Also, if you are into Bollywood movies, this is where the climax scene of the immensely popular film 3 idiots was shot. So, the great geographical and natural importance of this lake, paired with its unparalleled beauty, makes Pangong lake one of the best places to visit in India. Reaching Pangong lake is a difficult task as you would need to take cabs from Leh to reach the destination. You can not reach Pangong lake any other way.
Pangong lake is located close to the Indo-China border, making its location exotic and adventurous. But, how do you get there? It’s anything but simple, so let’s explore.
How to reach Pangong Lake?
By Air: The closest airport to Pangong lake is in Srinagar, which is an international airport where you can get from various parts of the world. The Srinagar airport is located at a considerable distance from Pangong lake, which takes as long as 12 hours to complete by cabs. You are not likely to find many buses to reach Pangong lake, but if you do, you can avail of them. The best and fastest way to reach the lake from Srinagar would be to avail cabs.
By Train: The closest train station from Pangong is located in Himachal Pradesh at Kalka. You have to get buses from Kalka, Shimla, or Manali in Himachal Pradesh to reach Leh. Once in Leh, you have to get cabs to reach Pangong lake. The distance between Kalka and Pangong lake is over 800 km, so please consider that if you choose to travel to Pangong by train.
By Road: Roads are the only way to reach Pangong lake from Leh. The journey takes around 5 hours to reach the lake. The interesting factor is apart from cabs and buses that are available regularly in any tourist spot; you can actually hire motorcycles and jeeps at a reasonable cost from Leh to reach Pangong lake. This is one of the most sought-after experiences for driving and riding enthusiasts.
FAQs
Which is the best beach to visit in India?
India is surrounded by three separate water bodies, all of which have their own beauty. Based on your interests, you should visit beaches on all three sides of India and choose which one you like the best. For reference, you can visit Goa for the best beaches on the Arabian sea, Visakhapatnam or Puri for the best beaches on the Bay of Bengal, and Kanyakumari for beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Which hill station is best to visit in India?
There are a lot of hill stations in India spread across the country. If you want to visit a hill station that is based on the Himalayan range, you should visit Darjeeling. For the Western ghat hills, you can visit the Kodaikanal, and for the eastern ghats, you can visit the Araku Valley. There are many smaller hill stations and mountain ranges in India, so rest assured you have numerous places to explore in India before your options are exhausted.
What are some unique tourist spots in India?
India has a whole range of unique tourist spots. Including one of the seven wonders of the world and over 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites, there is a lot for you to explore in India, as India has practically all types of geographical features within the boundaries of the country. From deserts to cold deserts, there is a small piece of everything on the Indian subcontinent. So, technically, every tourist spot in India is unique in its own way.
