Taj Mahal The world's most famous monument to love, which features on every first-timer's Indian itinery. Built by the seventeenth-century Mogul emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the body of his favourite wife, the vast mausoleum stands on the banks of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra, just a couple of hours' train ride from Delhi. It's worth staying in a hotel that's close by the Taj, so you can visit it at sunrise and/or in the moonlight, when the play of light on marble is especially memorable, and the site is less crowded (more than 20,000 visitors a day flock here). Not surprisingly, Agra is one of the worst places for touts, hawkers and hassle, so have your polite rebuffs at the ready View photos of the
Rajasthan India's desert state is deservedly the most popular region in the country, with its glorious forts at Jaipur and Jodhpur, magnificent maharajahs? palaces, and flamboyantly clad citizens. Graceful waterside temples, exquisite mansions, and the lovely City Palace make lakeside Udaipur a definite must-see, and the remote desert town of Jaisalmer, built entirely of honey-coloured sandstone, as another gem - and a departure point for overnight camels, strike out into the state's two most famous national parks; the lakes and swamps of Keoladeo National Park support huge breeding colonies of cranes, storks, flamingos and ibis, while Ranthambore National Park is one of the easiest places in India to see a wild tiger
View photos of and
Kerala The south of India has a quite different feel from the north, and the state of is particularly appealing because it seems less crazy and intense than the rest of the country. is most famous for its beach resort at Kovalam, and for the more low-key travellers? enclave at Varkala. The other big draw down here is the chance to go boating through the inland waterways near Allapuzha, but the tourist boat-rides are uninspired and overlong, so it's more rewarding to travel through the narrower rivers by local ferry bus. ?s Delightful old port city of Kochi is full of historic churches and warehouses built by European and Chinese merchants, and regularly stages traditional, elaborately costumed Kathakali dance performances.
View photos of
Ladakh Cradled by the soaring peaks of the Himalaya and ranges, is a fascinating high altitude outpost of Tibetan culture and religion. One of the furthest-flung parts of the country, this arid, stark mountainous region, dotted with tiny pockets of fertility, offers some of the best trekking in India, from easy two-day strolls to treks of several weeks across the exceptionally remote and spellbindingly beautiful region. The other highlights are the temples; Alchi, and Hemis are the best known, the last of these especially famed for its masked dances at festival time.the popular two or three day road journey from the lively hill town Ladakh's main town, Leh, is one of the great Asian road trips, with high-altitude passes and stunning scenery.
View photos of , , and
City life Any huge Indian metropolis can scare the life out of a first timer, but all visitors should have, and will probably be unable to avoid, the city experience at some point. The chaotic capital of Delhi coasts Mogul palaces inside the Red Fort, sweeping thorough fares in and the ultramodern Baha'i Temple, which is often favourably compared to the Sydney Opera House. Kipling's ?city of dreadful night?, , is famously warm-hearted and literary with dozens of bookshops and a reputation for intellectual liveliness. lines the banks of the sacred River Ganges, where pilgrims immerse themselves in the waters and cremate their dead on the banks. boasts a Louis Vutton store, some of the best, and most expensive, food in the country, but also some of the most awful poverty.
View photos of , , and
Go on safari India has a fabulous variety of wildlife including wild elephants and leopards, but its real claim to fame us that it is one of the best places on the planet to spot tigers. The best known national parks are in and Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, but the newer park of Pench, near Nagpur, is a less crowded option.
View photos of
Goa The beach front raves are no more but the 100-kilometre-long strip of beaches has something for everyone. And don't forget to venture inland to the palm groves, rice fields, markets and Portuguese-style facades that characterize the heart of the Goan state.
View photos of
Cool out at hill station Get away from the steamy heat of the plains in in the Western Ghats, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) in the Nilgiri Hills, Munnar in or in the Himalayan foothills; fine scenery (stunning vistas of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain on the world from ), trekking, tea and often quaint journeys all add to the character and charm
View photos of , and
Dharamsala Through the high profile of one resident, the Dalai Lama, and as the result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, ? the seat of the Tibetan government in exile ? is now world famous. Thanks to the large Tibetan population and influence in the area, this is a great place to take meditation courses, shop for Tibetan trinkets, see Tibetan folk opera and even, if you get lucky, shake hands with the Dalai Lama himself. It is also a good place to arrange local treks into the Dhauladhar range
View photos of
Amritsar At the heart of the Holy city of the Sikhs stands the sumptuous sixteenth-century Golden Temple, encircles by a sacred lake and constantly thronged by pilgrims in their finest ceremonial dress. You can easily spend half a day absorbing the ritual goings-on of the temple: arrive here at sunrise for the most awesome effect of gilt on water, then walk slowly through the long white marble colonnades that frame the lake; cross the causeway to enter the Golden Temple itself; and finally join the pilgrims for the free meal of chapatti and dhal, dished out to all visitors twice a day.
View photos of
Khajuraho The 25 Hindu and Jain temples here date back to the tenth century and are built of sandstone, with almost every facade carved into exuberantly in graphic and beautiful detail of encyclopedia of kama-Sutra like entanglements
View photos of
Gangotri Glacier trek The sacred frozen source of the River Ganges is spectacularly positioned amid spiky snow-clad peaks at 5000m above sea level, but is fairly easily reached along seventeen-kilometre pilgrims' route
View photos of
Play an extra in an Indian film India's film industry, known as Bollywood, is based in and produces twice as many movies as Hollywood each year. Non-Indians are invariably needed to pad out the cast, so hang out at the city's Salvation Army Red Shield Hostel, where many movie hopefuls are recruited
Snorkeling and diving in the Andaman islands This rarely visited archipelago of two hundred picture-perfect islands lies 100km off India's east coast. Tourism is a growing industry and the main areas are unaffected by the 2004 tsunami ? it's all about as far off the beaten track as you can get in India
View photos of
Tokyo Japan's modern-city capital lacks the refined aesthetic Kyoto, or the tranquility of Nara, but comes up trumps with contemporary icons, like the forest of skyscrapers that dominates the Shinjuku district, the everchanging gadgets exhibited in the Sony building and the hyper-trendy street fashions and boutiques of Harajuku. Historic highlights include the country's most venerated Shinto shrine, Meiji-jingu, and the impressive Senso-ji temple, while the old style early-morning fish market makes a lively contrast with the shopping malls of super-chic Ginza, the latest gadgets on sale in ?s ?Electronics Town? and the cutting-edge clubs in Roppongi. View Photos of , , and Kyoto
This historic former capital city should be at the top of every visitor's list. It has scores of breathtaking Buddhist temples, some of the country's finest Zen gardens, and lovely neighbourhoods of wooden homes and traditional tea houses. Don't miss the 1001 gilded statues of Buddha at Sanjusanngen-do temple, ?s Temple of the Silver Pavilion, or the inspirational rock garden. The modern face of is energetic and youthful, with good bars, clubs and restaurants, and there are invigorating hill walks within day-tripping distance. View Photos of , and Hiroshima Many visitors to Japan make a pilgrimage to ?s excellent Peace Memorial Museum, a balanced commemoration of the dropping of the atomic bomb here on August 6, 1945, and its horrific repercussions. The regenerated city has a breezy, upbeat atmosphere and is a pleasure to explore. Just a twenty-minute ferry ride away is the little island of , site of one of Japan's most scenically located Shinto shrines.
View Photos of and Mount Fuji Although the walk to the top of Japan's iconic snow-capped peak takes a grueling six hours, thousands of people make it up to the 3776-metre summit every summer. Unfortunately, the tracks are always heaving with hikers, the mountainside is strewn with unattractive volcanic debris and, due to persistent haze, the views are rarely spectacular. A better way to appreciate Fuji-san is to climb nearby Mount Tenjo, which you can do in just 45 minutes, giving you the chance to admire from a more interesting perspective. Or, more leisurely still, take a slow train ride through the surrounding Hakone region, an area of lakes and hot springs which also offers fine views of the sacred peak. View Photos of Himeji Castle With its five-tiered roofs, elegant proportions and chilly interiors, imposing looks much as it would have done when it housed the local lord and his samurai in the seventeenth century. Take the free guided tour to discover the castle's secret defenses?like floors that were designed to creak and a labyrinthine network of corridors
View Photos of The Tono Valey
For a glimpse of traditional life in rural Japan, hire a bike for a day's cycling here, visiting some of the restored eighteenth-century farmhouses and stopping in at one of the local folk museums View Photos of Kenrokuen in the city of Kanazawa Japanese gardens have inspired designers all over the world, and , the country's top garden, is a classic composition of ponds, pine trees, contemplative vistas and graceful teahouses.
View Photos of and
Nikko Set in a huge forested park of mountains, lakes and waterfalls, this complex of elaborately carved and gaudily painted shrines and temples looks especially fantastical in the snow.
View Photos of Nara
A popular side-trip from , and also a former capital, is dotted with venerable temples and shrines, in particular the historic Todai-ji temple, housing a fifteen-meter-high bronze Buddha. View Photos of Hiking in Kirishima National Park The southern island of boasts the most dramatic volcanis scenery in the country, nowhere more so than in , which has 23 peaks within its boundaries. There are plenty of bracing mountains trails here, plus waterfalls, an impressive gorge and an outdoor hot spring. View Photos of and Hokkaido The northernmost of Japan's four main islands is also its wildest and least populated. The volcanic landscape is dotted with lakes and forests, which makes it perfect hiking country: is especially rewarding, with lakes linked by forest paths, plus natural hot springs and challenging trails. View Photos of and A night is a ryokan These traditional inns are like a genuine step backwards in time; the rooms have tatami mat floors, sumptuous futons, sliding paper doors and views onto traditional Japanese gardens. Everyone pads around in their socks, and you can often ask to have dinner served on low tables in your room. A session at the onsen Bathing in the outdoor hot springs is a big thing in Japan and there are many lovely spots to enjoy some communal soaking, including popular on the southern island of Kyushu View Photos of
Farazila Abu has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Finance, Tourist Attractions. Click on any of any of the links above to view the most beautiful photos of India's main tourist attractions such as ,. Farazila Abu's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.