India as a tourist destination has a lot to offer in each category of tourists. Those seeking historical, cultural, hill stations, backwaters, islands, adventure, ecotourism, pilgrimage, etc. One can choose from heritage sites, temples, monuments, forts, palaces, fairs and festivals, fauna and flora, mountains, caves, hills, river, plateaus, plains, beaches, deltas and deserts. A traveler has a lot to the game in terms of India history City, natural -economic -cultural diversity and experience of engaging with the people here. Each destination has so many surprises, for tourist to explore and discover the full extent of life.

Here are the top tourist places of 29 states in India:

ANDHRA PRADESH:
Andhra Pradesh has many tourist attractions, such as beaches, hills, caves, wildlife forest and temples besides a mix of royal Heritage Nizami tradition. This place is known for spice up hot South Indian food. Pongal is the largest religious spring festival here.

The ideal time to visit: October- February.
Places to visit: Venkateswara temple, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Belum caves, Undavalli caves, Talakona waterfalls, Veerabhadra temple- lepakshi.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH:
Arunachal Pradesh is rich with scene splendor undisturbed mountains and forest and rich culture.
The ideal time to visit: October- April
Places to visit: Tawang, Roing, Itanagar, Bomdila, ziro Bhalukpong, Pasighat namdapha National Park, Anini, Pakhui wildlife sanctuary, Lohit district

Thukpa and momos are famous food one should not miss in Arunachal Pradesh.

ASSAM:
Assam is one of the less explored regions in India famous for its serene beauty.
The ideal time to visit: March- October
Guwahati is the gateway, either through flight or through the train.
Places to visit: Kaziranga National Park, Chitralekha udyan, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Kamakhya temple, Uma Nanda temple.

BIHAR:
Bihar is an ancient state in Eastern India with a rich cultural heritage with the deep imprint of Buddhism and Jainism evident everywhere. It is famous for old heritage culture like a folk song.

The ideal time to visit: October-April
Places to visit: For Hindu, Bihar is the holy place of goddess Sita, the incarnation of goddess Lakshmi was born. Bodhgaya, Mahabodhi Temple, Thai monastery, Hanuman Mandir, Nalanda University ruins, Vikramshila, Sasaram, Great Buddha statue and Golghar, are the most famous attraction of Bihar. Sama Chakeva is the famous festival of Bihar that shows the migration of birds from Himalaya to Mithila. Sattu paratha, Bihari kabab is the most famous food of this place.

CHHATTISGARH:
Chhattisgarh is a new State formed by bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh.
The ideal time to visit: winter.
Places to visit: Chitrakoot waterfalls, Tirathgarh falls, Kailash and Kutumsar cave, Maitri Bagh, Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary, Kanger Valley National Park, Maikal hills, Shri Rajiv lochan mandir, Bhoramdeo Temple, Shahid Veer Narayan Singh international cricket stadium, Chhattisgarh City center Mall, MM fun City.

DELHI:
The Capital City of India, New Delhi, is a vivid blend of traditions, cultural diversity, political importance as well as architectural styles.

The ideal time to visit: Winter
Places to visit : Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Bahai Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid,India Gate, Qutub Minar,Humayun tomb, galleries, museums, Mutiny Memorial, Hauz Khas Village, Dilli Haat, many markets to buy clothes and computer mobile products from and tombs of famous leaders like Raj Ghat, shantivan, shaktishali ,Veer Bhumi, Vijayanagar, Kisan ghat. Of course, parliament house and president's house can also be visited with special permission. Chandni Chowk offers 600-year-old Desi ghee Jalebi and is famous for parathe ki Gali and Natraj Dahi bhalle and chat.

GOA:
The culture of Goa has the lingering effect of being a Portuguese colony.
Places to visit: It is very different from the rest of the country, characterized by Agonda beach, Palolem beach, Fort Aguada, fort terekhol, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Santa Durga temple, Saint Francis church, Palace of Yusuf Adil Shah, Dudhsagar falls, Naval aviation museum. Apart from this, there are numerous festivals including the famous sunburn festival, a new year event that has been celebrated here. The Goan culture is rich with delicacies which travel always enjoy.

GUJARAT:
The state is distinguished by historical and cultural prominence evident in the exquisite piece of Heritage buildings, and religious sites. Gujarat is famous for the business of garments, spices, etc. Beaches, fairs, and festivals are the other attractions.

The ideal time to visit: October-March.
Places to visit: Gir National park, Sabarmati Ashram, Gopnath beach, Lakhota Museum, Bhavnath Mahadev, Saputara hills.

HARYANA:
The ancient land of Haryana, meaning abode of god, is a place where Veda Vyasa, the Saint, wrote the famous Epic Mahabharata.

The ideal time to visit: October- March
Places to visit: Kurukshetra,badkhal Lake, Karnal, Morni hills, dumdama lake, pinjore gardens resort, Kingdom of dreams, leisure valley park, Sultanpur National park Bird sanctuary, Sarovar Brahma, chattbir zoo and many more. The culture is fully based on agriculture. The delicacies like urs, lassi, and khichdi can make the tour an unforgettable one.

HIMACHAL PRADESH:
Himachal Pradesh, state of apples, us famous for the eco-friendly environment, picturesque natural beauty, colorful culture, adventure sports, warm and hospitable people and variety of fairs, festivals and celebrations throughout the year. One can experience Nati dance, Bakayang dance. Dry Sidu, a traditional food of wheat and flavored with butter.

The ideal time to visit: Spring season, more than during summer.
Places to visit: Mcleodganj, Shimla, Kullu-Manali, Khajjiar(mini Switzerland of India), Rohtang pass, Spiti valley, Dharamsala residence of Dalai Lama, Kasauli, Bir Billing and Mashobra-adventure's paradise, Kinnaur-famous for apples.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR:
It is popularly called as the Paradise on Earth and is world famous for its scenic beauty like snow-capped mountains, plentiful wildlife, exquisite monuments, hospitable people and local handicraft.

The ideal time to visit: April. Visiting Kashmir during winter season gives altogether a different experience.

Places to visit: Dal Lake , Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Yusmarg and charar-i-sharif, sinthan top, Vaishno Devi-trikuta hills, Amarnath cave in Pahalgam, Guru Nanak Dev Gurudwara,Nangli Sahib Gurudwara, Patnitop, Rizong-Likir monastery in Ladakh,Chemrey monastery, kardang monastery, Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden, Chashmashahi Garden,pari Mahal, Harwan Garden. Lohri and Baisakhi are a popular festival here. Pulaos is a famous food in this place.

JHARKHAND:
The region of Jharkhand has historical claims being part of Magadha Empire and the language used by tribes of Jharkhand are Identical to the one used by Harappan people. Flower feast, Sarhul- a tribal carnival and Litti Chokha - a special dish is very popular. Jharkhand is mostly covered by forests, wildlife sanctuaries, minerals, and industries.

The ideal time to visit: October- February
Places to visit: Baidyanath, Jyotirlinga, Hazaribagh Wildlife sanctuary, Jubilee Park, Parasnath, Deoghar, Canary Hill.

KARNATAKA:
A land known for its silks, spices, and sandalwood, Karnataka boasts of forests, hills, temples, caves, beaches, lakes, coffee estates, waterfalls, and ruins. Some adventures activities are Kayaking, camping, boat rides, and angling.

The ideal time to visit: November- April.
Places to visit: Mysore Palace, Bangalore city, Jog falls, Keshava temple, Shimoga, Coorg Hills, Bandipur and Nagarhole National Park, Gol Gumbaz, Coorg Hills, Udupi-Mookambika Temples, Hampi ruins, Gokarna Beaches, Shravanabelagola, Pattadakal Temples Dharmasthala, and many more places.

Notable celebrations of Karnataka are Ugadi, Dussehra, Yellamma fair. idli, chutney of coconut is a very prominent dish that attracts tourist.

KERALA:
Kerala is an extremely beautiful tourist destination that attracts global tourists. There are hill-stations, backwaters, rural villages, coconut tree lined beaches, treetop houses, Eco-tourism, besides the martial arts and the classical Kathakali dance out there. During December- January time boat race happens as a part of the famous Onam festival.

The ideal time to visit: November- February
Places to visit: Alleppey, Munnar, Varkala, Kumarakom, Kerala Folklore Theatre & Museum, Athirapally, waterfall, Kovalam Beach, Varkala Beach, Malampuzha Dam, Edakkal cave, Palakkad, Sarovaram bio-park, Regional Science centre and Planetarium, Dharmadam Island, Pookot Lake, Bakel fort, St Angelo Fort, Guruvayoor Temple, Sabarimala Temple.

MADHYA PRADESH:
Madhya Pradesh is one of the few landlocked states and is famous for its palaces, forts, Khajuraho temples which exhibit the erotic sculptures depicting the ancient India Kama Sutra text. The great Sanchi Stupa constructed during the reign of King Ashoka is situated in Bhopal. Tansen festival and Dhrupad festival is the famous attractions in India.

The ideal time to visit: winter
Places to visit: Bandhavgarh National park, Khajuraho temples, Buddhist monuments, Panna and Kanha National park, Mandu, Orchha Fort, Burhanpur Badshahi Quila, Garh Kundar Fort, Tikamgarh haveli, Bhimbetka caves.

MANIPUR:
It is a land with quick flowing rapids, exotic flowers, and lazy lakes. The state is called the “Switzerland of the East”.

The ideal time to visit: October- March
Places to visit: The remarkable tourist spots of this place are Sri Sri Govindajee Temple, Thoubal, Loktak Lake, Sirohi National Park, Bishnupur, Manipur state museum, Kangal fort, Imphal war cemetery, the Keibul Lamjao National Park. Fish dominates the major cuisines of Manipuri foods.

MAHARASHTRA:
It is a land of great history, culture, monuments, literature and film production.
The ideal time to visit: October- November. It's an all-time season tourist destination.
Places to visit: Caves, forts, hill stations, temples, museums, are the main attractions of the state. Some of them are Kanheri and Elephanta caves, Juhu- Chowpatty beaches, Konkan beaches, Gateway of India, Mumbadevi temple, Panhala Hills, Jain temple, Panchgani, Ajanta-Ellora caves, Mumbai City, Khandala-Lonavala. Mahabaleshwar, Nagpur, Ujjain, Sevagram, Shirdi, Pratapgad, Valour Fort, Lingmala waterfall and Matheran- Neral Hill train.

The food and culture in the state attract the population from all genre. The best Konkan foods are seafood and Marathi vegetarian foods.

MEGHALAYA:
It is one of the most visited destinations of the northeast, because of the diversity of natural aesthetic bounty here. Meghalaya is well known for its rich natural beauty

The ideal time to visit: except the monsoons, anytime.
Places to visit: Butterfly museum, Cherrapunji-mawsynram, laitlum canyon, Umiam lake, Mawsmai caves, Garo Hills, Shillong, Elephant falls and Double-decker living root bridge-Mawlynnong, Mawphlang sacred forests, Nohkalikai falls, mawkdok dympep valley

MIZORAM:
Mizoram is situated in northeast India, full of high heels and breathtaking valleys beside rivers and lakes. Most recipes have a mixture of Chinese and North Indian culture.

The ideal time to visit: October- March
Places to visit: Mizoram state museum, Durtlang hills, Lunglei, Champhai, Murlen National park, Dampa Tiger Reserve, Tam Dil lake, Lushai hills, Phawngpui National Park, Mamit, Kolasib, Reiek, Vantawang falls, Falkawn model village, Burrabazar.

NAGALAND:
It is a land with a serene environment for one to unwind and relax. And the beautiful sunrise and sunset of the state are the most attractive one. The dialect, culture, tradition, and lifestyle of this place give a very different experience to the tourist.

The ideal time to visit: October
Places to visit: Nagaland has a variety of places to visit like Kohima war cemetery, Naga heritage village, Kisama heritage village, Kachari ruins, Dzukou valley, Kohima museum.

PUNJAB:
The charming cities and towns of Punjab are dotted with numerous ancient monuments, Gurudwaras, temples, ashramas, serene lakes, sacred shrines, museums, and wildlife sanctuaries, which are home to many rare species of animals and migratory birds. Punjabi foods are known for being highly healthy and tasty appetites like Lassi, parathas, tawa roti and so on.

The ideal time to visit: October-March.
Places to visit: Punjab has various tourist attractions like Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), The Doraha fort, The rock garden, Akal Takht, Rangla Punjab Haveli, Bhatinda Zoological park, Bhakra Nangal Dam, Harike bird sanctuary, Qila Mubarak.

RAJASTHAN:
It is always referred to as “the land of kings”, and is replete with lavish palaces and majestic forts of ‘maharajas’ depicting their fabulous kingdoms.

The ideal time to visit: October-December.
Places to visit: The forts at Udaipur and Chittor, where stories of legendary Rana Pratap and Meerabai are inscribed. The Pink City and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur and the Mount Abu at Aravalli, Gadisar Lake, Amer fort and palace, besides the great Thar desert at Jaisalmer, with all its golden sand dunes, are some of the important places to be visited.

SIKKIM:
The northeastern state of India, that became a part of India in 1975. The area has a dramatic landscape that includes India’s highest mountain, Kangchenjunga. It is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows and thousands of varieties of wildflowers.

The ideal time to visit: March-May
Places to visit: The land of Buddhism, hosts the biggest monastery in India at Rumtek, near Gangtok. The luxurious hilly beauty is evident at Yung- Than and Peeling besides Kangchenjunga, Pemayangtse Monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La Pass, Ranka Monastery, Do Drul Chorten Stupa. Momos are one of the famous food of Sikkim.

TAMIL NADU:
Tamil Nadu offers every chance to the tourist or pilgrims to be enchanted with the vast plethora of history and beauty that it has. Famous temples, ancient arts, and traditions are crowding the state, along with rich food culture. Do not miss the Sambars, while visiting the state.

The ideal time to visit: October-November.
Places to visit: Mahabalipuram, Brihadeeswarar temple, Yercaud, Ooty Botanical gardens, Mahabalipuram monuments.

TELANGANA:
Telangana is the 29th state of India with a lot of historical and cultural background for people to know.

The ideal time to visit: October-March.
Places to visit: Charminar, a 16th-century mosque that overlooks Laad Bazaar: Golconda Fort, which was earlier a diamond-trading center, Warangal fort featured with carved stone towers and gateways. The other places are Chowmahalla palace, corridors of Golkonda fort, Pakhal Lake, Bhongir fort, Papikondalu hills, Nagarjuna Sagar, Warangal fort and Hussain Sagar lake. Hyderabadi biryani and Karachi bakery is the famous food of Telangana.

TRIPURA:
Tripura has a diverse culture, archaeology, handicrafts, and ethnicity- Bengali and Tibeto-Burmese population.

The ideal time to visit: In winter, November- February.
Places to visit: Jagannath temple, Ujjayanta Palace, Iskcon Radha-Govinda Mandir, Kumarghat, Neermahal palace, Tripureswari Mandir.

UTTARAKHAND:
The state is full of natural beauty and ancient holy places, mountains, forests and valleys, and an abundance of trekking options are some of the tourist attractions.

The ideal time to visit: Anytime. Summer and Winter give the full influx of visitors.
Places to visit: The attractions are Nainital lake, Abbott mount, Badrinath Temple, Gun hill, Kathgodam, Kotdwar Haridwar Nainital and Mussoorie, Mandua and barley is consumed more than rice and wheat. Baal is a famous mithai of Almora.

UTTAR PRADESH:
Uttar Pradesh is the home to some of the most beautiful monuments and cultural sights.
The ideal time to visit: October-March
Places to visit: Taj Mahal, Varanasi, Agra Fort, Mathura, Bara Imambara. UP is known for its Nawabi style in food, can advertise fantastic street food like Banarasi paan, the samosa and the kachori, the royal meaty feasts of the like of kebabs and Biryani.

WEST BENGAL:
Tourists throng the state and its mesmerizing landscapes, blossoming tea gardens, huge deltas, lush green forests, wildlife, temples and magnificent British monuments besides poetry, music, films, and theatre.

The ideal time to visit: October- March, though it is an all season destination.
Places to visit: Kolkata, Darjeeling mountain hills, Digha Sea beach, Mirik Dooars, Murshidabad Historical city, Kurseong, Tiger hill, Siliguri, Sundarban, Bakkhali, Mandarmoni, Gangasagar, Bankura, Bishnupur, Kamarpukur, and Jairambati. The culture of the state is adorned by colorful fairs and festivals.

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Profile of Khushi B
Khushi B  •  5y  •  Reply
That's a lot of data but useful. Do check my articles also
Profile of Sheetal ........
Sheetal ........  •  5y  •  Reply
Very informative!