India is as diverse as it is vast. It is also a country that sees many cultures come together, celebrating their differences and living in harmony. Similarly, there are varied locations in India that emphasize the beauty and diversity of the country.
Here, 11 awe-inspiring destinations that showcase the beauty and wonder of this vast, complex, and spiritual country.
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1. Taj Mahal, Agra
One simply cannot talk about India’s beauty without mentioning its most iconic piece of art—the ethereal Taj Mahal. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built this marble mausoleum in the 1600s as a monument of “undying love” in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal; they are both buried here. The tomb’s imposing ivory-white façade, a feat of Mughal architecture and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts upwards of 8 million visitors a year.
2. Nubra Valley, Ladakh
Non-locals require a permit (and a knowledgeable guide) to reach this cold desert valley, perched 10,000 feet above sea level in remote Ladakh, but what you’ll find here will take your breath away. Nubra’s lunar-like landscape is the result of little to no precipitation, so lack of vegetation leaves the spotlight entirely on its glaciated mountain peaks, desolate hinterlands, and a smattering of ancient Buddhist monasteries and tiny settlements built up along the roadside strung with prayer flags. A single “motorable road” carves its way through the valley.
3. Yumthang Valley, Sikkim
As far as natural beauty is concerned, it doesn’t get much better than Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim’s high Himalayan mountains, known as the “Valley of Flowers.” Every July to September, trekkers are allowed into the valley, whose sloping meadows are temporarily set ablaze with the colors of several hundred species of orchids, rhododendrons, and native wildflowers. On your hike, keep your eyes peeled for blue sheep and musk deer.
4. Athirapally Falls, Athirappilly, Kerala
5. Dal Lake, Kashmir
“The jewel in the crown of Kashmir,” as you might now guess, is the place to see in Kashmir valley. At Dal Lake, the tuk-tuk life of India’s frenetic cities is traded for slow cruises along the water in traditional wooden shikaras (similar to a canoe). Fishermen use these to paddle their way to and from ornate houseboats lining the shore and the lake’s famous floating market to peddle just-picked fruit and vegetables or flowers. Another landmark is the Shalimar Bagh, on the lake’s right bank, which is lauded as the finest Mughal garden in all of India.
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