India and the sights of India occupy a special place among the countries of South Asia. India is located on the Hindustan Peninsula, surrounded by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan, has a territory of almost 3.3 million km 2 and a population exceeding 1.2 thousand million people. The natural and relief conditions of the country are diverse - from the majestic ranges of the Himalayas to the fertile valleys with the great rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus.
Sights of India - photos and descriptions.
This legendary land has preserved ancient cities and temples, which are considered a true treasury of the world heritage of history and architecture. There are 30 sites in India that are protected by UNESCO. Therefore, it annually attracts millions of tourists who want to get acquainted with its history and culture. Most of the architectural monuments of ancient India that have come down to us are a unique mixture of cultural and building traditions not only of various regions of the country, but also of the principles of foreign architecture that influenced them.
The calling card of the country and the most recognizable landmark of India can be called one of the seven wonders of the world - in Agra. It was erected by order of Emperor Shah Jahan on the banks of the Yamuna River in memory of the ruler’s beloved wife. More than 3 million tourists from different countries come here every year to see this luxurious architectural monument, built of snow-white marble and take a walk through the picturesque park located near it.
Qutub Minar in Delhi.
No less famous in India is the Qutub Minar, located in Delhi. It is considered the tallest structure of its type in the world. Its construction, which began in 1199, took more than 150 years. The material for construction was the remains of 27 destroyed Hindu temples. Thanks to the corrugated surface of the walls, created by alternating round and acute-angled edges, the 72-meter tower soaring into the sky seems light and airy. There are 379 steps leading to its top.
Chandragupta Pillar.
Next to the minaret on the territory of the complex of ancient ruins stands the iron pillar of Chandragupta, which came out from under the hammer of ancient blacksmiths in the 4th century BC. The height of this cultural landmark of India is more than 7 m, and its weight exceeds 6 tons. The uniqueness of the creation of human hands is that, despite the almost 100% iron content in it, it does not rust. According to local legends, if you hug this column and make a wish, it will certainly come true. Therefore, in order to protect the pillar from intrusive visitors, it was fenced off and armed guards were placed.
Amber fortress.
One of the examples of palace and defensive structures in India is the Amber fortress, located near Jaipur. A rocky hill near Lake Maota was chosen as the site for its construction. Tourists can climb to the fortress on foot or by car, and exotic lovers can ride on elephants.
There are many on the territory of the complex interesting places, including the Museum of Iron Figures and the “Ganesha Gate”, leading to the royal chambers, where you can stroll through the magnificent “Hall of a Thousand Mirrors”.
Another attraction of India - the Lal Qila complex, or Red Fort - will eloquently tell tourists about the greatness of the Mughal dynasty. It consists of many structures built in Muslim architectural traditions from red sandstone. The height of the walls of the octagonal fortress reaches 33 meters. The interior design of the halls and columns amazes with the elegance of the ornaments, intricate mosaics made of marble, openwork forged grilles and weightless domes. There are several museums on the territory of Lal Kila, where you can get acquainted with ancient treasures and personal belongings of members of the dynasty.
One of the pearls of Buddhist temple construction are the Ajanta Caves. This is an ancient monastery, which consists of 29 temples and numerous monastic cells, carved into the rock. Work on the creation of this ensemble began in the 2nd century BC. and continued until the 7th century AD.
What makes the caves unique are the beautifully preserved colorful wall paintings and carefully carved Buddha statues. The Indian monastery is located at a considerable distance from civilization, so you can only get to it as part of an excursion group.
India has many attractions, including ancient temples built to Krishna. However, there are also many modern buildings dedicated to this deity. One of them stands in New Delhi on Mandir Marg. The Lakshmi Narayana Temple is built from white and pink marble blocks in the Nagar style. The decoration of its numerous towers, arches and galleries amazes with the elegance of the carvings made by master stone carvers. Pilgrims and tourists can relax in cozy park with fountains set up near the temple, meditate in man-made caves or buy souvenirs in the shop located next to the temple.
Nearby is a landmark of India - the Lotus Temple, built in 1986 and resembling a lotus flower in its outline. It is one of the most visited places in India. Its 27 marble-covered petals create a lasting impression on visitors, especially in the evening when they are illuminated with special lighting.
In 2005, a new landmark of India was built - the Akshardham temple made of pink marble, eclipsing even the Taj Mahal in its splendor. This is a whole complex, which, in addition to the temple, includes a park area, man-made canals with light and music fountains, sculptures, souvenir shops and numerous cafeterias. All the gorgeous marble finishing was done by hand.
Strings of tourists are drawn to Madurai, a temple city located in South India and dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. This architectural ensemble, covering an area of more than 6 hectares, stands surrounded by high walls and 12 majestic towers, decorated with painted miniature sculptures. There are about 730 of them on the West Tower alone. Tourists can visit the local museum, which houses many different interesting exhibits.
A little unusual for Europeans are the temples of Khajuraho, decorated with bas-reliefs with scenes from the Kama Sutra. The complex of these religious buildings covers an area of more than 20 km 2 . Of the 85 buildings, only 22 have survived to this day; the rest were destroyed by Muslim troops. The art of the ancient builders made it possible to create the impression that each temple was carved from a solid mass and decorated with stone lace and figurines.
The skill of the ancient builders is evidenced by the Chand Baori well, built in the 9th century to collect groundwater and rainwater. This grandiose 13-tier reservoir, equipped with 3.5 thousand steps that made it possible to draw water anywhere, has a depth of more than 30 m.
In addition to temples, among the popular attractions in India, there are many museums, the exhibits of which will tell about the history and life of this beautiful, truly amazing country, soaked in the aromas of spices and exotic incense.
India is a land of fairy tales. Once here, anyone remembers children's books with exciting stories about sultans and the most beautiful palaces. For everyone, this country is associated with something special, for some it is amazing architecture, for others it is the indescribable smell of curry and all kinds of spices, for others it is yoga, unique culture and traditional clothing. Beautiful places can be found everywhere here; let’s look at the most remarkable of them.
Taj Mahal
Every country has a landmark that every tourist must visit; for India, this is the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a monument to true love, built by the Mughal Emperor for his wife, who died during childbirth. This architectural masterpiece, constructed entirely of white marble, took twenty-two years to build. It became the grave of the emperor’s beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, and later the emperor himself rested here.
Originally conceived as a mausoleum, today the Taj Mahal is a whole complex with delightful gardens, ponds and parks inhabited by a wide variety of birds and animals, which gives the right to call it the most beautiful place in India.
Goa
Nowadays, the most visited place in India is Goa. This small but lively town attracts tourists, first of all, with its inimitable nature. Golden beaches, blue skies, azure water- a small piece of paradise located on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
The most beautiful beach considered Palol, nature has formed a bay here, surrounded on both sides by high capes. But Goa is not only beaches and hotels; on its territory there is the second largest waterfall in India - Dudhasagar. Sung by many poets and called “milk waterfall” among them, it rightfully belongs to the most beautiful places of this fabulous country.
Mumbai
Mumbai is a city where everyone will find something interesting for themselves. All tourists are delighted with this city. Some people remember it thanks to a visit to the Prince of Wales Museum, which contains amazing paintings by artists from different times, while others get an unforgettable experience from sailing or horseback riding.
Mumbai is also famous for the fact that it houses the Mahalakshmi Temple, built to honor the gods Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati, and the temple of the god Shiva.
The most beautiful place in Mumbai is the so-called India Gate - a triumphal arch located above the entrance to the city harbor. The arch was built in the 1920s. for the arrival of the King and Queen of England.
Kerala
Kerala is another region of the country that is blessed with amazing natural beauty. Mountains, jungles, beaches, water canals - all the diversity natural features India collected in one place. Kerala is famous for its parks and national reserves, as well as amazingly delicious Indian tea, which is collected on local plantations. Despite the hard and painstaking work (harvested entirely by hand), tea here is inexpensive.
Jaisalmer
The most ancient and beautiful place in India is the city of Jaisalmer. Lost somewhere in the Indian desert, it managed to carry its greatness and indescribable beauty through the centuries. Touching the walls of the Jaisalmer fort, which is also called the “Golden Fortress”, is like touching history itself.
Today the population of this city is no more than 58 thousand people, most of whom live in the Maharaja's palace. Unfortunately, tourists rarely visit this city due to its remoteness from civilization, but for those who decide to see Jaisalmer with their own eyes, it will be remembered for a lifetime.
The fortress walls hide not only the palace, preserved in its original appearance, but also ancient temples, as well as a repository of manuscripts.
Varanasi
To the list of the most beautiful places India should include Varanasi, which is also considered the holiest city in India. What is surprising is the fact that its peer cities, such as Luxor and Babylon, have long since fallen into ruins, while Varanasi continues to thrive to this day. In ancient times it was called Kashi, which translated means “City of Light”. It is believed that everything in this city is imbued with spiritual power and divine light, even the stones here are sacred.
Interesting and geographical position Varanasi. It is built on three hills, which are considered to be the tops of the trident of the Indian god Shiva. In addition, this entire city is located on the left bank of the Ganges, but there is nothing on the right bank. This situation is not accidental; it is associated with the myth that the eastern bank of the Ganges serves as a refuge for the souls of the dead, transported there by Shiva.
India is one of the largest economically developed countries in the world in terms of territory and population. It was here that the ancient Indian culture was born and developed, giving the world many magnificent monuments.
Today, India is developing rapidly and moving forward by leaps and bounds. But its residents do not forget about their history and culture. They carefully preserve all their monuments and are happy to show them to guests and tourists who come to their ancient country.
TOP 10 attractions in India
India has a huge number of real wonders of the world; this country generally looks like a fairy-tale kingdom: magnificent temples, palaces, minarets, mausoleums, which we remember from our school days. Separately, we can say about natural attractions.
This mausoleum and mosque in Agra was built by order of Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, who died untimely in childbirth. This is one of the most beautiful architectural creations in India, delighting for many centuries with the harmony of its lines.
Construction of the Taj Mahal began at the very beginning of the 17th century and lasted at least 12 years. Today, Shah Jahan and his wife are buried in this magnificent snow-white mausoleum. Tourists from all over the world come to Agra to see this attraction with their own eyes.
2. City of Varanasi
This is the oldest Indian city, as significant for Hindus as the Vatican is for Catholics, i.e. being the center of Hinduism. It is located on main river country - and is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus from all over India and abroad.
Varanasi is at least three thousand years old. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda as the center of Brahmanism, science, literature and art. From the point of view of Indian cosmology, Varanasi is the center of the world, glorified in the verses of the Skanda Purana.
The largest Indian river, near which local tribes have settled since ancient times. It has always had enormous, decisive importance in the economy and culture of this country. The Ganges is the sacred river of the Hindus, bathing in it is a mandatory Hindu ritual.
The Ganges originates in Himalayan mountains, and flows into the Bay of Bengal. In some places the river is navigable. A tourist visiting India should definitely visit the Ganges to see one of the cradles where humanity was born.
Compared to Indian antiquities, this temple is very young. It was built in 1986 as a Baha'i center. Externally, the temple looks like a snow-white lotus flower, it looks extremely impressive, and is very loved by tourists from all over the world.
There is a beautiful garden around the Lotus Temple; the combination of magnificent architecture and the exquisite natural beauty of the garden’s flowers provides real aesthetic pleasure. The Lotus Temple today is a religious and tourist centre in Delhi.
These Buddhist temple and monastery complexes are located in 29 caves in the state of Maharashtra. There you can see prayer halls, cells for monks and sanctuaries with Buddha statues. On the walls of the caves are ancient paintings based on Buddhist myths and legends.
India is a vibrant country of incredible contrasts, where traditional and modern worlds. The world's seventh largest country by area and second by population, India boasts a rich heritage of centuries-old cultures and religions.
Tourists have the opportunity to visit countless sacred places, nature lovers will enjoy sunny beaches, stunning national parks and incredible wildlife sanctuaries.
From the majestic Taj Mahal to the shrines of the Golden Temple and mosques, visitors to this exotic country will discover spiritual, architectural and cultural treasures.
The poet Rabindranath Tagore called this building "a tear on the cheek of eternity", Kipling described it as "the embodiment of all that is pure." This building was built under Jahan's leadership as a memorial for his third wife, who died shortly after she gave birth to their 14th child.
Although the main building was built in eight years, the entire project of the complex was ready only by the end of 1653. After its completion, the emperor was overthrown and imprisoned, where until last days he could only look at his project through the window.
Location: Dharmaperi, Tejginj, Forest Colony, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001.
A complex of palaces, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is located right in the center of the Old Town. The outer wall was completed by Singh II, but the inside of the palace was reconstructed and expanded over the centuries. There are palace buildings from different eras, some of which date back to the early 20th century. It is a striking mixture of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
Here you can see Mubarak Mahal, built in the late 19th century as a place to receive dignitaries. The building was built in Islamic, Rajput and European style by the architect Sir Swinton Jacob. Nearby is the Armory, which houses one of the best collections of weapons in the country.
Location: Jaipur.
This magnificent fortress is adjacent to a vast palace complex, built of pale yellow and pink sandstone and white marble and divided into four main areas, each with its own courtyard.
The legendary temple is actually only a small part huge complex, known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib. The central shrine of this place is the Amrit Sarovar, excavated by the Sikh Guru Das.
The Golden Temple itself is a mesmerizing mixture of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, with an elegant marble lower level decorated with floral and animal motifs. The second level features intricately engraved gold panels and a gilded dome.
Location: Golden Temple Road, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab - 143006.
The colorful abode of the warrior goddess Meenakshi is generally considered a masterpiece of South Indian architecture. This site is as important an aesthetic heritage of this region as the Taj Mahal. This is not just a 17th century temple, but a 6-hectare complex with 12 tall gopuras surrounded by stunning sculptures of gods, goddesses and demons.
Location: Madurai Main, Tamil Nadu 625001.
It’s worth coming here twice: in the morning, when the granite building is flooded with the sun’s rays at dawn, and in the evening, when the sunset is in a palette of red, orange, yellow and pink flowers gives a special charm to the architecture of the temple. On the territory of the complex, tourists have the opportunity to see one of the largest statues in India, Nandi.
Location: Hospital Road, Thanjavur.
Designed as the chariot of the god Surya, this massive, breathtakingly magnificent temple was built in the mid-13th century.
Seven horses (representing the days of the week) move this stone leviathan on 24 stone wheels (representing the hours of the day). The temple was positioned so that the light of the rising sun illuminated the interior of the temple (temple sanctuary).
Location: Konarak - Kasia-Tamkuhi Road.
Hyderabad's most impressive landmark, this monumental fort lies on the western outskirts of the city. From the top there is a stunning view of the dusty foothills and the ruins of ancient buildings near the domed tombs of the Qutb Shahs.
Location: Hyderabad, Ibrahim Bagh.
The Asiatic lion's last refuge is this wooded, 1,412-kilometer sanctuary. It is a popular safari destination, traveling through dense, serene forests. It is easily accessible from the nearest village of Sasan Gir along a small highway. Best time to study the forest - from late December to April.
There were 68 tigers in the country in 2014, the vast majority of which are found in national park Bandhavgarh. It is part of the main area of the reserve.
The main base for visits is the small secluded village of Tala, 32 km northeast of Umaria, the nearest railway station. February-June is usually best months tiger sightings. All safaris start from Tala and head to the three zones of the national park.
Location: Badhavgarh, Umaria District, Tala, Madhya Pradesh 484661, State Highway - 10.
Set among palm trees and manicured lawns, this large religious center is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, inspired by the Indian sage Paramahamsa, who preached the unity of all religions.
Its central element is the Mandir building, which simultaneously looks like a cathedral, an Indian palace and the Hagia Sophia of Istanbul. Several small shrines are located near the river bank, including the Sri Sarada Devi Temple, where the wife of the spiritual leader Sarada is buried.
Location: 711202 Dist Howrah, West Bengal.
Here tourists will find extraordinary cultural riches, with more than 440 monuments - from the 10th century to the British era - surrounded by forests and villages. In the forest, the most impressive are the tombs of Balban, Kuli Khan, and the Jamali Hamali Mosque.
Location: New Delhi, Mehrauli on Mehrauli Gurgaon Road.
One of greatest monuments India, this amazing temple, carved out of solid rock, was built by King Krishna I. The temple houses several carved panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the adventures of Krishna.
It is also worth paying attention to the huge monolithic columns that stand in the courtyard, adjacent to the entrance on both sides, and the south-eastern gallery. The gallery has 10 giant panels depicting various avatars (incarnations of deity).
Location: Aurangabad city.
The main ritual embankment is considered the most favorable place for the cremation of a Hindu. Dead bodies wrapped in cloth are carried through the alleys of the Old City to the holy site on bamboo stretchers.
Huge piles of firewood are stacked along the embankment. Each type of wood has its own price, sandalwood being the most expensive. Cremations are allowed to be observed, but you must remain quiet during the ceremonies.
Location: Varanasi, Ghasi Tola Road.
The incredible Victoria Memorial is a huge, beautifully designed white marble memorial. If it had been built for a beautiful Indian princess rather than a colonial queen, this domed beauty fringing southern part The Maidan was undoubtedly considered one of the greatest buildings in India.
Commissioned by Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, it was intended to celebrate Victoria's crown, but construction was not completed until after the Queen's death. Tourists can enjoy a private tour of the sights of Kolkata, including the Mother House, Calcutta University and the Victoria Memorial.
Location: Hospital Road, West Bengal.
The site is believed to have inspired the creator of the Taj Mahal. The arched façade is inlaid with strips of white marble and red sandstone, and the building follows the strict rules of Islamic geometry. The tomb was restored over the course of six years, and they plan to open it nearby. new center for tourists. In the surrounding gardens are the tombs of the emperor's favorite barber - a trusted position given the proximity of the razor to the imperial throat.
Location: New Delhi, East Nizamudhin, Opp Nizamuddin Mosque.
It took 20 years to build it. This is perhaps the best of all the Khajuraho temples. On the south side of its base there are ancient drawings.
Here you can see carved figures of battalions of soldiers, images of musicians, hunters, elephants, horses and camels. Some excellent carvings can also be found in the inner sanctum. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, although it is similar in design to Shiva temples.
Location: Connaught Place, New Delhi.
It is the surreal fantasy of a local man who, starting in 1957, spent almost 20 years personally creating more than 2,000 sculptures using stones and debris left over from 50 destroyed villages.
Location: Sector No.1, Chandigarh.
This magnificent mansion, built in 1835, is as grand as any other Indian landmark. Probably one of the best-preserved royal houses in the country, its marble-draped halls house dusty statues of thinkers and dancing maidens.
Here you can see collections of Victorian tableware, trophy stuffed moose and beautiful paintings, including supposedly original works by Rubens. The ballroom houses a huge number of candle chandeliers with silvered glass balls. There is also a private menagerie where several species of monkeys and birds live.
Location: Muktaram Babu Street - 46.
Despite the tiring journey public transport, the beautiful 109-hectare botanical gardens located in Kolkata are great for escaping the noise and smells of the city. This is home to more than 12,000 plant species. The gardens played an important role in the cultivation of tea bushes smuggled out of China by the British, long before the drink became a local commodity.
Today you can see a huge collection of cacti, palm leaves and a lake with magnificent giant leaves of a special type of lily. The most popular place In the park is the 250-year-old world's largest banyan tree. It is located a five-minute walk from the central gate of the park.
India is amazing and mysterious eastern country, the birthplace of Hinduism, yoga, meditation and the ancient Vedas. Its culture itself is very exotic for us, but popular attractions like the Taj Mahal or the Lotus Temple have become almost something familiar to tourists. It is much more interesting to visit unusual India - impressive little known places, which surprise, frighten or reveal the culture and nature of this country from a completely different side.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
This complex looks like a futuristic space city from science fiction films and stories. In fact, this is a huge laboratory, which was built at the beginning of the 18th century to observe the sun and stars by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the ruler of the kingdom of Amber. There were five such laboratories in the country, but this one is the best preserved. The instruments are still used by scientists to predict certain weather phenomena.
Entrance to the open-air museum costs 50 rupees; for 150 rupees you can book a tour during which you will be told the purpose of all the buildings. Jantar Mantar itself is located in the city of Jaipur - you can get here by direct plane, and then get to the museum by bus or walk.
Great Indian Wall
Almost everyone has heard of the Great Wall of China, but some interesting places in India include the second longest continuous wall surrounding the Kumbalgarh fort. It is located in the state of Rajasthan, 84 kilometers north of Udaipur. The length of the wall is 34 kilometers, the width reaches 8 meters - and all this was created to protect one fort. Construction of the wall began in 1443 and lasted almost a hundred years. Thanks to this wall, Kumbalgarh Castle was taken only once, and then only by cunning - the enemy poisoned the water entering inside.
Tourists visit both the wall and the castle itself with ancient buildings. It is most convenient to do this as part of excursions - it will be easier to get there and learn more about the history of the ancient fort. You can take a taxi from Ranakpur or Udaipur, but it will cost 1500 rupees and above.
Temple with rodents Karni Mata
Externally, the temple building is unremarkable, so rare tourists visiting the town of Deshnok often pass by. But those who still decide to look into the temple will be in for a surprise - thousands of ordinary gray rats live in it. Parishioners and monks take care of them in memory of Karni Mata, the legendary woman who wandered around India and called people to goodness and peace. When, according to legend, the god Yama refused to revive her drowned nephew, she said that all the men of her caste, Charan, after death would not go to Yama, but would temporarily turn into rats, so that in the next incarnation they would immediately take on a human form. Therefore, all rodents in the temple are highly revered, with particular preference given to white rats, which are considered relatives of Karni.
You can get here from Bikaner city by bus, rickshaw or taxi.
Living bridges
Unusual places India is not only about temples and ancient fortresses. The state of Meghalaya is covered with subtropical forests so densely that it is impossible to build normal roads there. Therefore, the locals invented an original way of laying bridges, forming them from living tree roots.
Many centuries ago, people noticed that ficus roots could grow outward. Then they were adapted to create bridges. The roots are placed in hollowed out palm trunks and waited until they grow to the opposite bank. The result is a reliable and safe crossing - although its creation can take up to 15 years. Over the years, the bridge only gets stronger, because the roots grow and develop. The oldest ones reach 30 meters in length and can support fifty people.
To view the bridges, it is best to visit the town of Cherrapunji, the wettest and rainiest place in the world. It would be best to take an excursion here, since it is quite difficult to find bridges and local settlements in the jungle on your own.
Brahmin city Jodhpur
Johpur is the whole city in the state of Rajasthan, located in the arid Thar Desert. The settlement itself is not very remarkable - what makes it beautiful are the houses of the Brahmins, painted blue. Brahmins are the highest caste of India, priests, which is why their houses differ from those of ordinary townspeople. Visually, it looks like a huge sky-blue lake in the middle of an almost dead desert.
The city can be reached by plane from Jaipur or Udaipur, by train or by bus. Jodhpur has hotels, shops and attractions, such as the huge Mehrangarh Fort, which sits on a cliff overlooking the city.
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Almost everyone knows about the snow-white Taj Mahal, but the bright Meenakshi Amman temple in the town of Madurai is much less known. This sacred structure is dedicated to Shiva’s wife, Parvati, who combines both the creative and destructive principles.
The temple is a complex of 14 towers (gopurams). The towers have different heights: the highest, the southern one, reaches 52 meters. Also on its territory there are two gilded sculptural towers, which house the main temple shrines.
The complex is open to the public, but remember that this is not only a landmark, but also a place of pilgrimage - you need to behave accordingly there.
Madurai city can be reached from Delhi and other major settlements by train, bus and plane. Admission ticket costs 50 rupees, excursions are allowed from 5 to 13 and from 16 to 22 hours.
Ajanta Caves
This ancient place in India appeared two thousand years ago. For hundreds of years, monks have carved caves into the rock, decorating them with columns, statues and intricate carvings. In the year 1000 AD, the complex was abandoned, and only in 1819 was it accidentally discovered by a British officer, John Smith. In 1843, James Fergusson began to study the temple in detail - he discovered Buddha sculptures and well-preserved magnificent paintings inside.
In 1983 the monument was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. Tourists often come here, but this does not stop the place from being majestic and mysterious. People go to the caves regularly Shuttle Buses from Mumbai, Aurangabad and Delhi. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Snake village Shetpal
Small village near Indian city Sholapur became famous due to the fact that local residents Snakes are worshiped here. Cobras live in the ceiling rafters of every house, and snakes crawl freely along the streets and indoors. However, not a single case of snake bite has been recorded here.
Wetlands of Kerala
India is rich not only in architectural, but also natural attractions. Parallel to the Arabian Sea stretch the swamps and lagoons of Kerala, inhabited by numerous crabs, frogs, turtles, otters and rare waterfowl. Boat trips are regularly organized through these swamps.
Kanha National Park
This wild reserve is considered one of the most beautiful in Asia. Here you can see tigers in their natural habitat, look at the slender bamboo forests and picturesque Kanha gorges, which inspired Kipling to write his famous Jungle Book. In addition to tigers, birds, deer (including the rare barasingh) and Indian wolves live here.
It is better to go to the reserve from the city of Mandla, from February to June, during the less rainy season. In Mandla you can take a tourist bus and a jeep - the excursion costs about 2 thousand rupees.
Harmandir Sahiab Temple
A fairly famous holy place in India - representatives of the Sikh religion from all over the world come here on pilgrimage. This temple amazes tourists because it is actually covered with gold. It looks especially majestic at night, illuminated by lanterns and reflected in the surface of the sacred lake Amritsar (the city was named after it). There are regular buses and trains to Amritsar from major cities, you can fly by plane from Delhi.
Village without thieves Shani Shignapur
This quaint village in Maharashtra is said to be under the patronage of Shani Dev. The crime rate here is zero - the houses have not only locks, but even entrance doors. According to legend, any thief simply cannot escape from the village - he will walk all night, and at dawn he will find himself standing in the same place.
Bhangarh Fort
This fort in Rajasthan was built in 1613. Soon after construction it was abandoned. Hindus are sure that this happened due to the magician's curse. The builder's grandson Aja Singh built a palace there a few years later, but a curse befell him too - the roofs of houses under construction were constantly collapsing, so all the Indians left this place. According to legend, if you stay at the fort overnight, you will never return from here - there is even a sign here that says: “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited!” There are many mystical stories about the fort - people see ghosts and strange creatures, hear music and screams, and misfortunes befall tourists who stay overnight.
Getting to the Fort is easy. You can take a taxi from Jaipur, but it will cost around 3 thousand rupees. It is much easier to take a bus to small town Dawes and from there take a ticket to the village near the fort. From the village you can walk to the fort. There are also buses back.
Ecovillage Guda Bishnoi
If you value an eco-friendly lifestyle, then it makes sense to visit Guda Bishnoi village. The locals live in harmony with nature - they do not even cremate, but bury the dead in order to preserve the trees that are usually used when burning the dead. The locals are very hardworking and friendly, living according to ancient traditions. But what is especially striking is that wild animals walk freely among people here. You can reach the village from the city of Jodhpur.
Mount Kalipara
At the Kalipara Lokambika Temple, located on the top of Mount Kalipara, prayers and meditations are held at sunset. It is generally accepted that to completely cleanse yourself of negative thoughts, it is enough to spend only five minutes on this mountain. There is a small hotel at the foot of the mountain. You can reach the mountain from Kerala.
Kolukkumalai Tea Plantation
Regular tea gardens are not very interesting, but Kolukkumalai, located 32 kilometers from Munnar, is an exception. Tea bushes cover the mountain slopes here - the plantation is located at an altitude of 2.5 kilometers above sea level. At the plantation you can not only admire the growing bushes, but also taste real Indian tea.
