5 Things Not to Miss While Visiting India

The sheer size and diversity of India means that visiting it can be an overwhelming prospect. After all, this is the 7th biggest and 2nd most populous county on the planet.

India’s rich history and enormous range of cultures can be seen in the massive variety of attraction that can be visited here.

Taj Mahal

Without doubt, this is the attraction that first springs to mind for many people when they think about India. The stunning white marble Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most iconic buildings, as well as being a mausoleum with a fascinating history.

It sits by the Yamuna river in Agra and is visited by up to 8 million people every year. This is one of the New7Wonders of the World and is regarded as one of the most beautiful structures every built.

Taj Mahal in India

Red Fort

It may be less globally renowned that the Taj Mahal, but the glorious Red Ford in Delhi is another important piece of this country’s heritage. This fort is located in the centre of Delhi and many tourists choose to stay in the likes of Claridges Delhi to visit it comfortably.

The Red Fort was built in the mid-17th century and was the base for the leaders of the Mughal Empire for close to 2 centuries. These days, it is as imposing as ever and contains a number of museums.

red fort india

River Ganges

It isn’t often that a river makes it onto a list of tourist attractions in its own right. Yet, the Ganges isn’t any old river.

This massive body of water is sacred to Hindus and is a huge part of life in the many towns that if flows through on its way to the Bay of Bengal.

Numerous religious events take part on its banks and places such as Varanasi and Haridwar are excellent sites for seeing how this river is such a huge part of daily life in India.

River Ganges India

Golden Temple

This is the holiest site for Sikhs and a stunning piece of architecture. Located in Amritsar in the Punjab region, it is built around a man-made pool.

Visitors from all countries and religions are welcome to visit the temple and the museum here. It has a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere and there are a number of daily ceremonies or rituals to look out for.

Golden Temple in India

Holi Festival

India is also famous for its festivals, many of which aren’t for the faint-hearted. For instance, Kumbh Mela is one of the largest gatherings of people on Earth, with up to 30 million attending each day to bathe in the Ganges.

Just as exciting but perhaps less daunting for tourists is the Holi festival that is celebrated all over the country in spring. This is the joyous celebration of the end of the winter and of the triumph of good over evil that sees people eat, dance and throw coloured powder over each other.

You could spend the rest of your life exploring India without seeing all of its treasures. However, if you manage to see any of the attractions from this list then it is going to be a trip that you never forget.

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Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.

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