India is a magical country with the dreamiest places dotted all over the map. There are hill stations in Himalayas overlooking snow capped peaks to go trekking in. The backwaters in Kerala are filled with gorgeous waterways with birds sanctuaries all over the place. And cities like Jaipur and Varanasi to set my soul on fire. These 35 places in India are some of the best dream places to visit in India.
Planning a trip to India? Checkout my Ultimate Trip Planning Guide for the first timers to India.
Dream Places to visit in India
- Agra
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Jaipur
- Jaisalmer
- Haridwar
- Rishikesh
- Varanasi
- Amritsar
- Goa
- Kerala
- Ajanta and Ellora Caves
- Darjeeling
- Kolkata
- Shimla
1. Agra
The city home to the Taj Mahal, Agra is one of the cities on the Golden Triangle circuit most frequented by travelers. It is also home to the Agra Fort which is one of the best preserved UNESCO Mughal era monuments. Agra is one of the best dream places to visit in India for your first city to allow you to dip your toes into the Indian culture and prepare for the rest of your trip.
2. Delhi
My home town and the gorgeous capital of India, New Delhi is top of the list of dream places to visit in India It is filled with monuments such as the Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and Jama Masjid that are a treat for a history buff. Being the capital, Delhi also has restaurants with cuisines from all over the country that are amazing. Chandni Chowk is one of the must visit places with people, cows and spices squashed together in one market.
3. Mumbai
Pulsating with the energy from the Bollywood industry, Bombay is filled with unique things to do like visit the Elephanta Caves, spend an evening at the Marine Drive, spend a day at Juhu Beach and much more. There is so much to do in Mumbai that you’ll never get bored of the city.
4. Jaipur
My favorite city in India is Jaipur. It is filled with so many things to do and has some of the best street food I have ever had. My favorite places in Jaipur are the City Palace, Amer Fort and Bar Palladio. The gorgeous Hawa Mahal in the middle of the old city is an architectural wonder that should be visited at least once in your life. Jaipur is probably one of the most Instagrammable places in the world and one of my favorite dream places to visit in India.
5. Jaisalmer
The fort of Jaisalmer is a breathtaking piece of architecture that rises above the famous blue houses. The city is set in the middle of the desert surrounding a holy lake. Interestingly while exploring the city if you have to walk across the lake, you have to do so barefoot whether there be dirt or cow dung on your way. The city is full of gorgeous architecture found inside the fort, in the havelis surrounding in and in the markets full of color in the city center. If you want to experience the magic of the desert stay at one of the luxury desert camps and spend your evening around twinkling fire pots overlooking rolling golden desert.
6. Haridwar
Spirituality hangs heavy in the air near the shores of Ganga at Haridwar. It’s a city built around temples and resources for those that make the pilgrimage to seek the blessings of god. We spend our days trekking the city and visiting the innumerable beautiful temples that dot the area. Out of all the dream places to visit in India Haridwar is for those that are really in touch with their inner god.
7. Rishikesh
This city has been touted in the world as the center of yoga and rightfully so. Take an early morning walk and you will find groups of people laughing hysterically – they aren’t crazy they are doing Hasya Yoga (laughter yoga). The ashrams in Rishikesh are its driving force. You can learn yoga, how to meditate and heal yourself with naturopathy and massages. In the evenings the forest around gets really dreamy and the mountains surrounding the city make it the perfect setting to relax with a hot cup of tea.
8. Varanasi
If all of India could be condensed down into one experience, it would be visiting the city of Varanasi. Known as the Holy City of India, it centers around the holy river Ganga and its ghats where religious ceremonies take place everyday. Varanasi is not for the faint-hearted. The onslaught of people, smell and religion in Varanasi is as exhilarating as it is overwhelming. The Ganga aarti performed every night is witnessed by thousands of people on boats floating across the river. It’s truly marvelous and none of the other dream places to visit in India could beat it!
9. Amritsar
The grandiose Golden Temple, the holiest place in the world for Sikhs has made this city famous. The famed gilded structure is surrounded by a gorgeous pool with fish swimming in its depths. Amritsar is also famous for the Beating Retreat Ceremony at the border of India and Pakistan.
10. Goa
The gorgeous Portugese city of Goa has become the infamous party destination of the country. The truth is that the city has beautiful local beaches not known to many tourists, churches from the Portugese era and some of the most gorgeous outdoor markets and cafes that make you feel like you’re in Europe. My favorite Indian comic artist R.K.Laxman, writer of The Common Man also hails from here 🙂
11. Kerala
The mangroves in Kerala are a wonder of nature that are best experienced while staying in a houseboat. Lake Vembanad is the source of all activity in the Alleppey district. The small and wide waterways are filled with the song of birds inside Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Pathiramanal Island. If you prefer to take a lesser known route there is a plethora of intricate waterways to choose from that have itineraries including temple visit, seeing plantations or how rice is cultivated under the sea and much more.
How to see Kerala’s backwaters by houseboat
12. Ajanta and Ellora Caves
A staggering feat of architecture some two millennia old are the Ajanta and Ellora caves. If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones like me then be prepared for unmatched levels of excitement. The Kailasa Temple at Ellora is arguably the most famous cave. It is carved into the mountainside, twice the size of the Greek Pantheon and flanked by life sized stone elephants. At the Ajanta site inside Cave 1 is the dazzling Bodhisattva Padmapani depiction and Cave 26 with the famous massive reclining Budha statue.
13. Darjeeling
Set against the backdrop of Mt.Kanchenjunga is the lush green hill station of Darjeeling. Darjeeling is a town for rest. The typical day for me while visiting Darjeeling was getting up late, having a hearty local breakfast. Then I would head out to trek the local tea fields or forest. Come back for another hot meal. In the chilly afternoon I would go to visit a local temple or the famous toy train. Evenings were spent in the garden overlooking the gorgeous mountains and drinking hot tea. It’s the perfect place to discharge and wind down.
14. Kolkata
A mixture of the old and new, Kolkata is where the influence of the British rule in India can be clearly experienced. The Victoria Memorial and the Indian Museum are two of the best examples of this influence. Park Street is the liveliest market in the city. It has everything you would imagine from Bengal, good seafood, cute yellow taxis and the best sweets.
15. Shimla
One of the most popular dream places to visit in India is Shimla. It’s the perfect mixture between city and nature. I have visited here multiple times with my family and loved each of those trips. In the winters, the slopes are coated with snow to satisfy anyone inclined towards snow sports. The lush greenery, mountain treks and lakes dotting the area and why people love spending their summer vacations here.
