North India : South India : East India : West India : Central India

East India

Andaman Islands - The Emerald Islands - Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Floating in splendid isolation, east of the Indian mainland is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands, islets and rocks known as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This union territory stretches over a length of more than 700-kms. From north to south with 36 inhabited islands. Once a hill range extending from Burma to Indonesia, these undulating islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of exotic flora and fauna.

The clean roads as well as unpolluted fresh air attract any nature lover, who seeks absolute peace and tranquility in the lap of Mother Nature. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc., are the major attractions here. A visit to these islands is a memorable lifetime experience.

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Bihar - Bihar is bound on the north by Nepal, on the east by West Bengal , on the west by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh , and Orissa in the south. The present name of the state of Bihar owes its origin to the "Viharas" built by Lord Buddha who attained spiritual enlightenment on this land and preached love, peace and tolerance. The erstwhile capital city of Patliputra of Emperor Ashoka is the present day state capital, Patna.

Most travellers just pass through Patna on their way to Kolkata or Kathmandu. However, Bodhgaya is an excellent place to study Buddhism, and Rajgir, Nalanda and Sasaram are interesting places that are not on the tourist trail. Bodhgaya is one of the most sacred place for Buddhists and Hindus and has a number of Buddhist temples. In Gaya, visit the Mahabodhi Temple. In Vaishali, check out an ancient parliament, the Fort of King Vishal, and Ashok Pillar.

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Orissa - Perpetually washed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, Orissa lies on the east coast of India with a 482-km-long coastal stretch. It is bounded by West Bengal and Bihar on the north, Andhra Pradesh on the south, the Bay of Bengal on the east and Madhya Pradesh on the west . The state's history is divisible into the same four periods in which Indian history is usually analysed, i.e., the Hindu period, the Muslim period, the British period and the post-Independence period.

Orissa's main attractions are the temples of the capital Bhubaneswar, - the long sandy beach at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark and Simlipal and Nandankanan sanctuaries of Cuttack. The renowned Jagannatha temple dominate the landscape at Puri as does the Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar. 10 kms west of Bhubaneshwar are the Udayagiri Caves, which were occupied by the Buddhist monks as early as the 2nd century BC.

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West Bengal - West Bengal, is bounded on the north by Bhutan and the state of Sikkim , on the east by Bangladesh and the state of Assam , on the south by the Bay of Bengal, on the southwest by the state of Orissa , and on the west by Nepal and the state of Bihar . Its capital, Kolkata, is one of the largest cities in India.

In Kolkata, visit the Victoria Memorial and drive past Fort Williams. 51 kms from the city, the Hoogli turns towards the Bay of Bengal -- beyond is the beautiful Bakkhali beach. Darjeeling , the Queen of the Hills has the highest Race Course in the World. In Darjeeling trek to Tiger Hill and Ghoom monastery. Visit its neighbours Mirik and Kalimpong , reached by a fascinating journey through tea estates, winding roads and several view points from where the Himalayan range can be viewed.

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Sikkim - Famous for Kanchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world at 8,586m, the mountain kingdom of Sikkim has a tremendous variety of plant and wildlife besides a diverse ethnic mix of peoples with rich cultural traditions. One of the smallest states of India, it is bounded by Nepal to the west and Bhutan to the east; by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and northeast and by West Bengal to the south.

Travel Attractions

Cities Must See

• Gangtok
• Pelling
• Mangan
• Yoksum
• Tsuklakhang
• Rumtek

Indigenous

• Sikkim Himalayas
• Chogyals Of Sikkim

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Assam - So long hidden behind red tape, Assam's beauty is a fact that defies imagination. The rarest of flora and fauna, blue hills and green tea, a bustling capital and black oil, it is a beauty that soothes even as it disturbs. Assam is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan in the north, Nagaland to the east, and Manipur and Mizoram to the south. In the south-west, Assam touches the borders of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

In Guwahati, the commercial capital of Assam, the tour starts from Kamakhya temple, Basistha Ashram, Zoo, Gita mandir, Nabagraha temple, Assam State Museum. Assam is very rich in wildlife. There are three national parks and 12 wildlife sanctuaries of which Kaziranga and Manas are most well-known.

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Meghalaya - Glens, bracken, mist, burns...all that's missing are Scottish kilts and bagpipes. Meghalaya, of Scottish scenery and Indian charm, is a tiny state tucked away in-between Assam and Bangladesh. Among the wettest places on earth, it is home to an extraordinary diversity of peoples, the Khasi, Jantia and Garo tribes. Shillon is its capital.

Meghalaya is dotted with a number of divine tourist spots, where Nature unveils herself in all her glory. Shillong, the capital city has a number of beautiful sites like, Ward's lake, Lady Hydari park, Polo ground, Mini zoo, Elephant falls and Shillong peak, overlooking the city and the golf course, one of the best in the country.

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Arunachal Pradesh - Arunachal Pradesh, a serene land tucked into the north eastern tip of India, invites one to relax in its picturesque hills and dales enjoy its salubrious climate and meet its simple and hospitable people, with their glorious heritage of arts and crafts and colourful festivals that reflect their ancient faith in the inexorable power of nature.

The visitor has a wide variety of options to pick from. There are places of worship and pilgrimage such as Parashuramkund (also spelt as Parasuramkund) and the 400 years old Tawang monastery or the sites of archeological excavations like Malinithan and Itanagar, the serene beauty of lakes such as the Ganga Lake or Sela Lake or the numerous variations of scenic beauty of the snow clad silver mountain peaks and lush green meadows where thousands of species of flora and fauna prosper.

In addition, the state provides abundant scope for angling, boating, rafting, trekking and hiking. Besides, there are a number of wild life sanctuaries and national parks where rare animals, birds and plants will fascinate the visitor.

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Nagaland - The hills of Nagaland lie to the very east of India, south of Arunachal Pradesh, north of Manipur and east of Assam. To its west, it shares a border with Myanmar (Burma). It is one of the magnificent mountainous systems that extend from the Chittagong Hill tracts to the Patkao Mountains at a point where the range is joined by northeastern offshoot of the Himalayas.

Adjoining a part of the Chin Hills and Arakan Yoma mountain system, Nagaland comprises three massive mountain ranges, which run irregularly parallel to each other from north to south. They are the Barail, the Naga and the Patkai ranges. A number of rivers run the terrain too. The largest and the most important among them are the Doyang and the Dikhu. With many forests and a varied wildlife, Nagaland is a veritable treasure house of nature. It has also some of the most beautiful orchids and flowers.

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Manipur - Dancing With Nature

The tiny landlocked state in the northeast dates back to the days of the epic Mahabharata and has been a valley of enchantment for centuries. Today it has all the promises of becoming a great tourist attraction. An oval-shaped valley nestling among the verdant hills, it is home to diverse and colourful tribes whose repository of folklore and culture, myths and legends, dances and martial arts is a source of unending wonders.

The graceful Manipuri dance with its lilting songs are considered to be one of India's best classical dance forms; the energetic folk dances where men with their Dholaks, cymbals and other musical instruments exhibit their physical prowess are now one of the mainstays of any cultural programme. And most people consider Manipur to be the place from where the game of polo originated.

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Mizoram - Land Of The Blue Mountain

With the exclusion of a small portion lying in the plains, the entire state is full of ranges running in the north-south direction. The hilly ridges vary from about 3,000 feet to 7,000 feet. The slope of the hills is very steep while the gorges are narrow and so deep that in many cases one cannot fathom their bottom. The plains are mostly located in the eastern part of Mizoram, namely the places known as Champhai (about 7-km in length and 3-km in width) and a portion of Vanlaiphai (about 6-km in length and 3-km in width).

Through this land mass of hills and plains flow the main 13 rivers, which irrigate and render the soil fertile for cultivation. Perched on the high hills, Mizoram is flanked by Bangladesh in the west and Myanmar in the east and south, sharing around 630-kms with these foreign countries. Two sister states of Manipur and Assam border with it on the north, while Tripura lies in the west. The highest peak, the blue mountain known locally as "Phawngpui" (meaning "Vast Meadow") is 2,065m in height.

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Tripura- The erstwhile princely state of Tripura joined the Indian Republic as a state on January 21, 1972. Bounded on the north, west, south and southeast by Bangladesh, it has a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram in the east. Tripura is mainly a hilly territory with altitudes varying from 50 to 3,080 ft above sea level, though the major population of the state lives in the plains.

Agartala, the picturesque capital, with its beautiful palaces, gardens, hills, temples and lakes is best place to start the tourist journey of the state. Scenic Tirthamulkh with its lakes, waterfalls and reservoir is worth a visit. Pilak Pather and Lungthung are virtual treasure troves for those, historically inclined. Jampol hills, Rudrasagar and Neer Mahal - the lake cities, Sepahijala - the wildlife sanctuary, and the temples in and around Udaipur, are the other major places of interest in this tiny state.

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West India

Gujarat - Located on the country's western coast, Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and Pakistan to the northwest. Rajasthan neighbours it to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to the southeast. Gujarat has a fertile plain land in the south cut by several rivers, low hills in the west, and broad mudflats in the north that adjoin the Thar (Great Indian) Desert. A varied climate characterised by a dry northwest, scorching summers, a cold winter have made this state a land of unexplainable contrasts.

Ahmedabad is the first place to stop in Gujarat. Some of its sights include some outstanding mosques, including the Jami Masjid, Siddi Bashir's Shaking Minarets and Sabarmati Ashram. Gujarat's loveliest beach - and the state is well endowed with them - is Ahmedpur Mandvi whose chief attraction is the ethnic beach resort.

Situated on the Gujarat Coast, Dwarka is one of the holiest centres of Hindus.

Maharashtra - Rugged and vast, of enormous energy and vitality, Maharashtra, the third largest state in India, was created in 1960, from the Marathi-speaking regions of what was previously Bombay State. The state of Maharashtra is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, Gujarat in the northwest, Madhya Pradesh in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the southeast, and Karnataka and Goa in the south.The state has a 720-km coastline dotted by rugs standing as mute witnesses down the ages to the march of warrior kings, foreign trading vessels and invaders from across the seas.

Running parallel to the coast are the Western Ghats, which harbour some of the more scenic and inviting hill stations - particularly Matheran and Mahabaleshwar. The Ghats divide the Deccan from the Konkan coast, with its unspoilt beaches, today being developed as modern resorts, like Ganapatipule and Sindhudurg.

The intricately carved caves of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta highlight the Indian heritage and the spellbinding Indian Culture. Religious places like Pandharpur, Nashik, Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, Tuljapur, Ganapatipule, Bhimashankar etc are a refreshing experience and make a fascinating whole.

Goa - Life in the lush green state of Goa with wide beaches is place for seeking sand-'n'-sun food-'n'-wine and old churches.

Tourist Attractions in Goa

• GOA CITY GUIDE : Arambol, Canacona, Mapusa, Margao, Marmagoa / Mormugoa, Panjim / Panaji, Ponda, Vasco-Da-Gama.
  ...more Goa Cities

• TEMPLES IN GOA : Sri Ananata Temple, Mahadev temple, Sri Mahalasa temple, Sri Manguesh temple, Sri Saptakoteshwar temple.
  ...more Goa Temples

• SIGHTSEEING : Aguada Fort, Catigo Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapora Fort, Cabo Palace, Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Mayem Lake.
  ...more Places to see in Goa

Daman & Diu - Diu is a beautiful blend of sun, sand and sea. It is an island retreat gently rocked by the wind and the wave from the Arabian Sea. It offers you undisturbed peace and an unusual holiday. Diu a former Portuguese enclave, and now a Union Territory is steeped in history. It was a sea-port and naval base of considerable strategic importance from the 14th-16th centuries. It has also been a vital trade link with the rest of India for traders overseas. Diu was under the sway of Chanda and Vaghela dynasties till the 14th Century. The Muslim rulers ruled over the island town till 1380 AD. Then came the mighty wave of invasion of the foreign rule that lasted for 450 years.

Nagoa Beach, Jallandhar Shrine, St. Paul's Church, Diu Museum, Diu Fort, Fortress of Panikota, Ghoghla, Chakratirath Beach, Gangeshwar Temple.

Central India

Madhya Pradesh - At the heart of India, the magic of Madhya Pradesh lies in its exquisitely carved temples, proud fortresses and variety of wildlife. Most of the state is a high plateau, historically known as the Malwa region. Home to many pre-Aryan tribes such as the Gonds and Bhils, Madhya Pradesh is still overwhelmingly Indo-Aryan with the majority of the people speaking Hindi.

Besides, Gwalior city, MP's other attractions are: Udaygiri, an excursion from Bhopal, with notable cave sculptures of religious themes, the medieval city of Orchha with exquisite palaces and cenotaphs, the Khajuraho temples, cave paintings at Bhimbetka , Sanchi , unmatched repository of Buddhist art and architecture, the city of love, Mandu.