11 Places to Visit in India Before You Die

Pictured: The striking historical architectural structure is a Tomb of Bahar-ud-din Bhar located in Mahabat Maqbara Complex, Junagadh city of Gujarat.

It is worth seeing the site not only for its beauty but also for its unique construction. For travellers seeking a more challenging adventure in the local vicinity of Junagadh a 10,000 step climb to the top of Girnar Hill will be a respectable challenge. There is a reward at the top of the ancient hill and that is a large cluster of stunning temples (the hill is covered with over 800 Hindu and Jain temples). The site is just heavenly and well worth the 10,000 steps to redemption.

Pictured: Ladakh Mountains set against water.

Make Himalaya your travel destination to see spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers, monasteries, villages, communities and taste great food. Ladakh is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that currently extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south. The area is inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. Visiting Ladakh on a trip to India is a must as this will be a totally unique experience.

Pictured: Pink/red sandstone architectural delight Hawa Mahal, aka Palace of the Winds.

Hawal Mahal is located in the old city of Jaipur, the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. The old city of Jaipur is often referred to as the ‘pink city’ because most buildings inside the walled historic city are pinkish-red colour.

Pictured: The Taj Mahal white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in Agra, commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife.

While staying in Agra also see the Agra Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s a couple of kilometres northwest of the Taj Mahal.

Pictured: A two-decker houseboat in Kerala waters in Alappuzha (or Alleppey).

Houseboat cruises along the rustic Kerala backwaters are very popular in Alleppey. Kerala is known for backwaters and houseboats set against the tropical backdrop of coconut palms. In Kerala you can book a backwater boat cruise but you can also book a houseboat overnight stay inclusive of dinner and a chef on-board.

The state of Kerala is situated on India's tropical Malabar Coast boasting nearly 600km of gorgeous Arabian Sea shoreline.

Pictured: Caves of Badami cave temple complex located in Badami town in northern part of Karnataka, India. This is a great example of Indian rock-cut architecture possibly dating to the 6th century.

For travellers seeking further adventure camel rides from Jaisalmer to the desert can be booked, inclusive of overnight stay in a luxurious tent as well as traditional camp entertainment.

Pictured: Jaisalmer Maharaja Palace façades in India’s state of Rajastan.

Jaisalmer is a former trading centre (it was part of the famous Silk Route during the days of yore) and a princely state in the heart of the Thar Desert. The city is nicknamed ‘The Golden City’ for it’s stunning yellow shade of sandstone.

For travellers seeking further adventure camel rides from Jaisalmer to the desert can be booked, inclusive of overnight stay in a luxurious tent as well as traditional camp entertainment.

Pictured: Varanasi city on Ganges River.

Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world situated in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city dates back to the 11th century B.C. and is regarded as the spiritual capital of India. The city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Around 2000 temples can be found along the city's winding streets. The city is a popular travel destination for both, foreign and Indian visitors.

Pictured: Cows chilling on a sandy beach in Goa.

The Arabian Sea coastline is well known for its beaches. What makes Goa a fantastic travel destination is that there are beaches to suit different requirements of holiday makers. Some beaches are more popular for parties other beaches are totally laid-back with hardly anything going on apart from the natural tunes of nature. Practically, in Goa you can find the right beach to suit your mood. Goa’s long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 means that you can find lots of traditional Portuguese style villas, churches and other buildings.

Pictured: Golden décor of the Ajmer Jain temple.

Ajmer city in India is rich in history and there’s a lot to see. Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra historic mosque with Indo-Islamic design, a huge artificial lake build in 1100s, and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah fort. For an out of town adventure check out Pushkar city and hundreds of blue temples around the sacred lake. Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan, around 10km northwest of Ajmer, and its quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan.

Pictured is the Lotus Mahal Hampi, an ancient stone palace structure with tranquil gardens, arches & elaborate carvings.

Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka and a Unesco site. Karnatika is also known for waterfalls, so while there taking a waterfall tour will also be a breath taking adventure.