Best Places to Visit in North India

The best tourist places to visit in North India include monuments, hill stations, and national parks in Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Get all the information you need in this exhaustive North India travel guide.

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Table of Contents

1. Uttar Pradesh Tourism
2. Punjab Tourism
3. Delhi Tourism
4. Himachal Pradesh Tourism
5. Uttarakhand Tourism
6. Rajasthan Tourism
7. Jammu-Kashmir Tourism

Uttar Pradesh Tourism

Lovers of history and  architecture must include Agra and Fatehpur Sikhri on their itinerary. While Agra is most famous for the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum that has been described as ‘a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time’, the Agra Fort, wrought out of red sandstone, is also most captivating. The same stone has been used to construct the stunning Jama Masjid and Salim Chishti’s tomb in Fatehpur Sikri. Striking shrines and mosques can also be found in Lucknow, the capital city.

If you’re on a spiritual quest, meditating on the banks of the Varanasi can be a transcendental experience. The ancient town on the bank of the River Ganga (Ganges to the West) is home to many impressive Hindu temples. While we’re on the subject of sacred cities, a visit to Mathura, the purported birthplace of Lord Krishna (one of the most playful deities in the Hindu pantheon) would also be worth your while

Best things to do in Uttar Pradesh: Visit Agra, Fatehpur Sikhri, Varanasi and Mathura

Must-try Uttar Pradesh foods: Veg kofta curry and rice, aloo puri for breakfast, Lucknowi chicken biryani, khasta kachori (snack), kadhi chawal, malaiyo (dessert)

Punjab Tourism

Punjab’s claim to fame is the magnificent Golden Temple in Amritsar. It is the primary Sikh shrine and sits pretty in the middle of the Amrit Sarovar water tank, whose waters are believed to have healing powers. The shrine is made partly from marble and reflects Islamic and Hindu architectural styles. Seeing it lit up in the night in all its golden glory is not something easily forgotten.

Also do visit the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, a beautifully designed city (by Swiss-French modernist architect, Le Corbusier in fact). Punjab is also worth a visit for the refreshing homestays in the countryside and the hearty cuisine. Specialities include makkai ki roti and sarson ka saag (corn flour flatbreads with spinach curry), paneer/murgh makhani (cottage cheese or chicken in buttery gravy) and malai lassi (sweet buttermilk with cream).

Top places to visit in Punjab: Amritsar & Chandigarh

Must-try Punjabi foods: Chole bathure, paneer tikka, butter chicken, chana masala, dal makhani

Himachal Pradesh Tourism

Set foot just about anywhere in Himachal Pradesh and you’ll be so glad you came to India. The most famous hill-stations here are Shimla, Manali and Kullu – also popular honeymoon destinations. Close on their heels come Dalhousie, Kasol, Kasauli and Dharamshala. But smaller towns like Solan, Chail and Palampur are entering the spotlight as well. Most of these destinations offer moderate to difficult trekking trails as well and the longer ones involve overnight camping.

Manali is the most rewarding hill-station in Himachal Pradesh with vistas rivalling those of the European Alps. The tinkling River Beas flows through the picture postcard town and offers many opportunities for peace and reflection. Hadimba Temple in the thick of Manali’s forests, Van Vihar park by the riverside and the Buddhist Temple with a rotating prayer wheel are all close the main market.

           

Further away, there is Vasishth village with a famous temple, hot springs and the Jogini Waterfalls, which involves a longish hike through beautiful woods. But the most stunning snow destination of Manali is Solang Valley, best visited between December-February. There, you can try a variety of snow sports and feast on the most exquisite views of Manali’s snow-covered peaks. As far as food is concerned, the town is known for good trout.

We also highly recommend making Kandaghat your base to explore lesser known Chail and Solan. You can find a full list of things to do in Chail here but we’ll talk about it in brief. The beautiful Chail Palace and courtyard offers rooms for overnight stay as well. Kali Ka Tabba is a pristine white temple atop the hills overlooking the Shivalik Range. And then there’s Sadhupul River, where you can eat and drink at makeshift hotels and maybe even stay at a cottage. But the place you absolutely cannot miss is Mohan Shakti Heritage Park, with 40 acres of stunning architecture galvanised by goose bump-inducing Vedic chants. Solan is home to the Directorate of Mushroom Research and state shops (by HPMC) sell delicious mushroom pickles and apple wine.

Depending on your level of fitness, you can trek to Chandra Taal, an untouched and ethereal lake in the Spiti Valley; scale the often dangerous Rohtang Pass or climb up to Bhrigu Lake at an elevation of 4250m above sea level. Other popular trekking routes will take you to Beas Kund and Hampta Pass. Most treks commence from Manali and the best way is to book through an adventure tour operator.

Top places to visit in Himachal: Manali, Chail, Dharamshala and Chandra Taal

Uttarakhand Tourism

Uttarakhand is a hill-station lover’s paradise. Apart from the usual suspects like Nainital, Mussoorie and Dehradun, there are numerous smaller destinations like Kanatal, Landour and Auli that offer less touristy environs. Other recommended hill-stations include Bhimtal and Landsdowne.

River-rafting is a popular activity in Rishikesh but the picturesque town is also famous as a starting point for Himalayan treks. There are serene yoga and meditation retreats in the town as well.

             

Head to Haridwar, a holy town on the banks of the Ganges if visiting Uttarakhand during a Hindu festival like Holi (but be wary of crowds). Other holy towns with various temples are the hilly Badrinath and Kedarnath.

For stunning sightings of Bengal tigers, elephants and elusive leopards, book a stay at a wildlife lodge near Jim Corbett National Park. Established in 1936, it is the oldest wildlife reserve in the country and home to around 50 mammal species.


Top places to visit in Uttarakhand: Nainital, Rishikesh, Haridwar & Jim Corbett National Park

Must-try Uttarakhand foods: Kulath ki dal, aloo dal pakora, chaulai ki laddu, baadi

Rajasthan Tourism

Rajasthan is synonymous not only with deserts and camels but also culture, wildlife, history and yes, even mountains and lakes. It is possibly the best place to capture the essence of India. And you could dedicate an entire visit to this state.

The two most popular destinations are Jaipur and Udaipur. Jaisalmer and Jodhpur come next. And then there are Pushkar and Ajmer, located close to each other. But apart from these towns, it’s also worth visiting wildlife reserves in Ranthambore and Sawai Madhopur. Rajasthan also has its own hill-station – Mount Abu, though it’s nothing like the Himalayan ones.

If you enjoy offbeat travel, make a trip to Shahpura, a little village in Bhilwara district. The erstwhile rulers still maintain a family home there and have worked hard to educate the children of Shahpura. Their estate is the perfect spot for birdwatching and taking long walks through the woods. With the help of their guide, you can visit the local school, situated in a palace whose ruins still contain remnants of phad paintings and beautiful mosaic flooring, and a fort with stunning sunset views.

Jammu-Kashmir Tourism

Often called ‘Paradise on Earth’, Kashmir is the gateway to the unworldly landscapes of Leh-Ladakh. Jammu-Kashmir is the northern-most state of India and renowned for the houseboats on Dal Lake and the ski-slopes of Gulmarg.

Stay in a houseboat in Srinagar’s dreamy Dal Lake and feast your eyes on the floating gardens and markets. Try white-water rafting and trout fishing in Pahalgam or sledging and skiing in Sonmarg in the winter. You can enjoy scenic views of Gulmarg with a 21-minute long cable car ride.

          

And if you’re an intrepid traveller, you wouldn’t want to miss the treasures of Ladakh, a desert town so high up in the Himalayas that the world doesn’t seem to have gotten to it yet. These days, you can even fly to Ladakh from Srinagar but riding on a bike from Delhi or Manali would be rather adventurous too. The main points of interest in Ladakh are Pangong Tso Lake, Nubra Valley, Tso-Moriri Lake, Thikse Monastery, Leh Monastery and the remote Zanskar Valley.

Top places to visit in Kashmir: Ladakh, Gulmarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam & Sonmarg

Must-try Kashmiri dishes: Kashmiri kahwa (tea), rogan josh (lamb), pulav, duma loo, goshtaba (meatballs)

Best time to visit North India: Oct-March (Avoid Dec-Jan if averse to cold weather and snow), Rajasthan is lovely in the monsoons too (June-Sep).