Top 10 must see cities in India in 2013

Top 10 must see cities in India in 2013

1. Kashmir-  The Paradise on Earth
After visiting Kashmir, people often struggle to describe it since adjectives like, beautiful and awesome don’t seem to do it any justice. For lack of a better superlative, Kashmir is generally described as Heaven or paradise on Earth.  Kashmir is at the peak of the map of India and is surrounded by the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. The valley’s beauty is enhanced by the truly spell bounding lakes, fresh water streams, delicious apple orchards, mighty ice capped mountains and lush meadows. Adding some spectacular views, Lush green surroundings, fresh non polluted mountain air and scenic landscapes makes Kashmir one of the best places to visit in India.

Also if you are an adventure junkie, Kashmir has its share of adrenaline pumping activities like Water Rafting, Trekking, Winter Sports, Wetlands, Wildlife, etc.

All in all, Kashmir has something for everyone. So be it Adventure fanatics, spirituality or just holiday revelers, Kashmir is sure to satisfy everyone. So don’t wait and visit this amazing tourist destination or at least put it on your bucket list.

2. Ladakh- The Moon land
A close second to Kashmir, there probably is no other place in the world quite like this travel destination. Set high up in the Himalaya’s at 3,000 m (9,800 ft), Ladakh is a plateau in the Indus Valley between the Karakoram mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south. Its altitude ranges from 9000 to 25000 feet.

Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It’s sometimes referred as “Moon land” & “Little Tibet” because of its natural barren beauty landscape and inhabitation by Tibetan people respectively. The main source of water is winter snowfall, this feeds the glaciers from which melt water, carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer.

3. Goa- God’s heaven on Earth
The common quote “Good things come in small packages” holds true for Goa since in terms of geographical area, Goa is the smallest state in India. However that doesn’t stop it from being the best places to visit in India attracting more than 2 million visitors annually.  With its pretty beaches, awesome seafood, vivid nightlife, picturesque churches and water sports, it’s not hard to figure out why.

And the fun does’nt stop just there. Goa has oodles of activities you can indulge in depending on your choice and taste. If you are a bit on the laidback side, then you can just idle away time on popular beaches like Anjuna Beach and Baga Beach or visit some of the awesome churches. If you are looking for your dose of adrenaline, you can indulge in water sports like paragliding, windsurfing, jet skiing and lots more.  If food and drink makes your day, try out some of the sumptuous seafood (our pick Goan fish curry!) and the famous Fenny (Goan Liquor) at your disposal.

 4. Kerala- God’s own Country

Not including tourist places in south India would not make this list complete. And they don’t come any better than Kerala. Kerala offers a very unique travel experience; it is famous for its natural beauty, amazing white sand beaches, delicious sea food, ayurvedic health resorts, enchanting art forms, magical festivals, cultural monuments and backwaters.

Backwaters which are a chain of lagoons are an integral part of Kerala’s Tourism Scenario and provide a really relaxing experience. Linked by a myriad of manmade and natural canals, they criss cross half of the length of Kerala. The ever popular houseboats navigate this labyrinth giving you amazing views and a sense of calm which rejuvenates your mind and body.  Must visit places along these backwaters include Kumarakom (bird sanctuary), Astamudi Lake (largest fresh water lake) and Kannur-Valiyaparambu (scenic beauty).

5. Rajasthan- The Land of Royals

The mere mention of Rajasthan conjures up images and visions of the Maharajas, Rajputana, Brave and fearless Rajput warriors, Breathtaking Palaces and Forts along with royal hospitality and splendor.  If there is one place that can transport you into a bygone era, it has to be Rajasthan.

Decked with monuments covered in history, Rajasthan is home to some of the most stunning places you can see. Be it Jaipur the capital, the famous lakes and palace of Udaipur, the barren but beautiful desserts of Bikaner, the blue hued Jaisalmer or the high hill station Mt Abu, Rajasthan’s bag of surprises are never-ending.  Combined with ASI’s amazing preservation work, most of the monuments, forts and palaces of Rajasthan still seem like time capsules where time has stood still.

6. Mumbai- The city of Dreams

Think Mumbai and you think Glitz, Glamour, Movies, Fashion, Finance and of course Bhel Puri. Probably one of the most cosmopolitan cites in India, Mumbai is as diverse an experience as you can imagine.  Dotted with impressive old monuments like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, architectural masterpieces like the splendid Taj Mahal Hotel and the famous skyscrapers which dominate the Mumbai skyline; this is a city full of surprises and a tourist’s delight

For the foodies, Mumbai boasts of some amazing street food like Pav Bhaji, Bhelpuri, Vada Pao and Pani puri. Although the hygiene standards might not be top class, the taste of the street food makes it worth a try. In case you feel adventurous and have a strong stomach, head over to Khau Galli where you are sure to find some of the best street foods in Mumbai.

7. Kodaikanal-Princess of Hill Stations

Yet another awesome tourist place in South India makes it to our list. For it’s hard to pronounce name, Kodaikanal is one of the most peaceful and popular hill-stations situated on the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, about 120 kms away from Madurai.  Originally served as a refuge for the British Bureaucrats to escape from the hot plains, it has now blossomed into a popular summer retreat.

In Tamil language Kodaikanal name means “The Gift of the Forest”. Kodaikanal has many places of interest. Everywhere you go, you are surrounded with enchanting waterfalls and scenic  beauty which sometimes seem straight out of a dream.

Kodaikanal has beautiful tourist attractions which are sure to wow you. The most popular one is Kodaikanal Lake (star-shaped man-made lake), bicycles and horses are available for rent at this lake to ride around the lake), Bryant Park or the Botanical Garden, Coaker’s Walk (1 km pedestrian path running along the edge of steep slopes on the southern side of Kodai), Bear Shola waterfall, Green valley view, Shembaganur museum and Guna caves are some of the other major attractions of Kodaikanal.

8. Darjeeling- Visitor’s Paradise

This list wouldn’t be complete without including this tourist destination. Starting from its humble beginnings as a cluster of villages, this was the first hill station established by the British.  Located in the state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is famous for its natural beauty, tea production, trekking and awe inspiring views of Kanchenjunga ( 3^rdhighest peak in India)

Darjeeling is speckled with some interesting and must visit tourist attractions. Some of the remarkable places to visit in Darjeeling are Tiger Hill (gives an immense view of Peak Kanchenjunga during sun-rise), Zoo, Mahakal Temple, Singalila National Park (trekking destination), Buddhist monasteries and the Himalayan Zoo.

9.Agra-City of Taj

A city that has three of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites is hard to keep out of this list. Located at the banks of Yamuna River, Agra is about 200 kms away from New Delhi.  From its early references in the Mahabharata to being the capital of the Mughal Empire, Arga is a city that shines with examples of intricate Mughal Architecture wherever you look.

The Taj Mahal probably is best described by Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity”.Attracting thousands of tourists in a day, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built in 23 years with the help of over 20000 workers, it is so perfectly designed and constructed that it looks similar from all its four sides. The Quranic inscriptions on its four entrances are carved in such subtle increase in size that may appear to be of the same size from top to bottom. Craftsmen from Italy and Persia were hired by Shah Jahan to help design his tribute of love to his wife. These and many more reasons make this monument a crowning achievement in Mughal architecture.

10.The Andaman and Nicobar Islands

This tourist destination might not be one everyone’s list and also off the beaten track. However that does’nt means it should be missed. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands which lie in the Bay of Bengal. The Andaman is separated to the north while Nicobar separated towards the south. Both the islands have been separated from Thailand and Burma by the Andaman Sea. Although these islands are one of the remote places on the planet, their beauty makes them a must visit destination.

Initially the islands were populated mainly by the local people who comprise of a bunch of aboriginal tribes some of which are totally cut off from the world. Port Blair does not have a glory past where it was used as a jail for rebels and freedom fighters by the Britishers. However contrary to that gory detail, the Andaman and Nicobar islands have some of the most beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and a good list of things to do along with places to visit.

Source:
http://www.incredibleindiatravels.in