Visiting India? Here Are Some Places Worth Seeing

Though there are innumerable places to visit in India, these are the places which are considered to be a must! If anybody is making a conscious effort to explore the rich heritage and scenic beauty of Indian land, these are some of the places worth considering.

Leh and Ladakh: Ladakh is the district in Kashmir which shares its borders with Pakistan and Tibet. Leh is the capital of Ladakh and is situated at a height of 3505 meters. This place is one of the most scenic landscapes of Central Asia.

Nathu La Pass: This amazing landscape lies on the eastern part of Sikkim, and is the border between India and China. Nathu La is about 55 kms east of Gangtok (capital of Sikkim). The route from Gangtok to Nathu La is one of the world's highest navigable roads.

Rudraprayag: Rudraprayag is a district in the state of Uttarakhand (preciously Uttaranchal). This state is considered the 'abode of Gods and Goddesses.' Rudraprayag is the place where two holy rivers Alakananda and Mandakini merge. One of the holiest places for Hindus, Kedarnath, is situated at about 85 kms from Rudraprayag.

Jaisalmer: This beautiful city is in the state of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is nicknamed 'Golden City' because of its yellow sand which gives yellowish-golden touch to the city. Jaisalmer is entirely a part of the Indian desert, Thar. This Golden City is famous for its forts, museums, palaces, Jain temples, desert safaris, and the camel rides.

Banaras: Also called Varanasi, is located in the valley of the river Ganga, in the eastern part of the state Uttar Pradesh. Banaras is the most sacred pilgrimage place for Hindus of all denominations. Hindus believe that bathing in river Ganga here will take away all sins and dying here will take a person's soul directly to heaven. Banaras is famous for its ghats, hundreds of Hindu temples.

Mumbai: Formerly Bombay, is the capital of the state Maharashtra. Mumbai is the economical and entertainment center of India. This is one of the world's top ten centers of commerce, home to the Reserve Bank of India, Bombay Stock Exchange, and National Stock Exchange of India. This city is the world's largest producer of movies per year, and the film industry is known as 'Bollywood.' Mumbai is famous for its beaches, suburban railway service, Ganapathi festival, natural harbors, and of course Sachin Tendulkar!

Goa: This place doesn't need an introduction. Renowned for its beautiful beaches, Goa attracts people from all over the world. After India gained independence from British rule in 1947, Goa was still under the rule of Portuguese. Goa was made an Indian state in 1961, when Indian Army drove away the Portuguese. It is divided into North and South Goa. Northern part of Goa is more commercialized and crowded whereas southern Goa is peaceful and laidback. The most important beaches are Baga, Anjuna, Colva, Dona Paula, Miramar, and Palolem.

Thekkady: This is in the 'God's Own Country' Kerala. This is the location for the Periyar National Park, famous for the dense evergreen forests and savanna grasslands. Thekkady is considered one of the most beautiful places in India. This homes the famous natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.

Bangalore: The capital of Karnataka state. Home for a number of public sectors such as software companies, aerospace, telecommunication, and defense establishments. Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India as it is the leading contributor to India's IT industry. Bangalore was rated by CNN as "The best place to do business in the world." Due to the high elevation, this city enjoys a salubrious climate throughout the year, and this is one reason for people from all parts of the country to flock this city. The rapid growth has created several problems with traffic congestion and infrastructural problems. It is called "The Garden City" because of its greenery and many public parks. Bangalore is home to the Rock culture and other forms of western music. It's also called the Rock City of India recently as Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Bryan Adams, Roger Waters, Mark Knopfler have performed here. Bangalore is also the Pub Capital of India.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The union territory of India, is located in the Indian Ocean. Andaman and Nicobar is blessed with tropical rainforest canopy, comprised of Indian, Myanmarese, and Malaysian floral strains. The islands are hilly and fringed with coconut palm, covered with tropical jungles. Adventure tourism is the main attraction here, with trekking, camping, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and other water sports.