Top Travel Destinations in India: Best States & Places to Visit

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The best Travel Destinations in India

India is less a single destination than a continent of them. Every state has its own landscape, language, food and festivals, so the hardest part of planning a trip is choosing where to go. The guide below ranks the best states and top tourist places to visit in India, with what each is known for and the best time to go. Open any destination above to see the cities, attractions and private tours we run there.

Best States to visit in India: Quick Guide

State	Best known for	Best time to visit
Rajasthan	Desert forts, palaces, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer	October to March
Kerala	Backwaters, houseboats, tea hills, beaches	September to March
Goa	Beaches, Portuguese heritage, seafood	November to February
Uttar Pradesh	Taj Mahal in Agra, the ghats of Varanasi	October to March
Himachal Pradesh	Shimla, Manali and Himalayan hill stations	March to June, September to November
Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh	Mountain valleys, lakes, monasteries	April to October (Ladakh June to September)
Tamil Nadu	Dravidian temples, hill stations, coast	November to February
Karnataka	Hampi ruins, Mysore palace, the Western Ghats	October to March
Uttarakhand	Rishikesh, Himalayan treks, pilgrimage	March to June, September to November
Maharashtra	Mumbai, the Ajanta and Ellora caves	October to March
Madhya Pradesh	Tiger safaris, Khajuraho temples	October to March
Gujarat	The white desert of Kutch, Gir lions	November to February
Punjab	The Golden Temple at Amritsar	October to March
Sikkim and West Bengal	Darjeeling, Himalayan views, monasteries	March to May, October to December

Top tourist places in India:

If you are visiting for the first time, the icons are worth the hype: the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the pink forts of Jaipur, the backwaters of Alleppey, the beaches of Goa, the holy ghats of Varanasi, the houseboats of Srinagar, and the tea gardens of Munnar. Many of these sit on our Golden Triangle tours and our wider India tour packages.

India by Region:

It helps to think of India in regions. North India holds the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan and the Himalayas. South India is greener and slower, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The west brings Goa, Mumbai and Gujarat, while the east opens up Kolkata, the temples of Odisha and the tea country of Darjeeling. Most first trips focus on one or two regions rather than trying to see everything at once.

How to plan your India Destinations trip:

Distances in India are long and the roads are busy, so the most comfortable way to link several destinations is with a private car and an English-speaking driver. It lets you travel at your own pace, stop wherever you like, and skip the stress of trains and local transport. Tell us the places on your list and we will build a private route that fits your dates, your interests and your budget. Browse our car rental with driver or contact us for a free, tailored plan.

India Travel Destinations: Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to help you choose where to go in India.

What are the top travel destinations in India?

India's top destinations include the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the backwaters of Kerala, the beaches of Goa, the forts of Rajasthan, the holy city of Varanasi, and the mountains of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Most first trips combine three or four of these within one region.

Which are the best states to visit in India?

The most popular states for visitors are Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan is best for forts and palaces, Kerala for backwaters and tea hills, Goa for beaches, and Uttar Pradesh for the Taj Mahal and Varanasi.

What are the most beautiful states in India?

Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand are often called the most beautiful states in India for their mountains, lakes, backwaters and green valleys. Rajasthan and Goa add desert and coastal scenery to the list.

What are the top tourist places in India for first-time visitors?

First-time visitors usually start with the Taj Mahal in Agra, the pink forts of Jaipur, the markets and monuments of Delhi, the ghats of Varanasi, and the beaches of Goa or the backwaters of Kerala.

What is the best time to visit India?

October to March is the most comfortable time to visit most of India, with cool, dry weather across the north and south. The Himalayan states are best from spring to early autumn, while Ladakh is best from June to September.

What is the best way to travel between destinations in India?

For overseas visitors, the easiest way to travel between India destinations is with a private car and an English-speaking driver. It is more flexible and comfortable than trains or local transport, and lets you cover several states on one relaxed itinerary.

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