Best cities to visit in India
1. Ahmedabad
This is one of the most developed city of Gujarat State. It is the judicial capital of the state. It is located on the banks of River Sabarmati. It has earned the title of “Manchester of the East” as its believed to be the home of developing textile industry. This city is a blend of culture, talent, business opportunities, food and tradition.
One of the top B schools, IIM Ahmedabad, is located here & there are thousands of students coming in every year to polish their management skills. With the top education available in this city, on the other hand, it is also famous for its own Gujarati tradition. It’s fun to be here during the Navratri time. People celebrate this festival with full swing, with loads of music & dance all over the city. The entire city is decorated with lights & people are full of energy to play the traditional dances– garba and dandiya. They also dress themselves with the typical traditional Gujarati wear– girls in ghagra choli and boys in dhoti kurta and turban. Another festival that’s celebrated with lot of energy is the
Uttarayan — this is an annual kite flying day, where people enjoy the kite festival to the fullest. This is huge presentation of culture which also adds to the enjoyment of peoples life. While the summers get a little hotter, there are lakes to cool down the heat. The Vastrapur lake and the man-made Kankaria lake are the ones which people enjoy during the evenings.
This city is divided into two parts– old city and new city. The old city still holds the culture and tradition with the Sabarmati Ashram while the new city has all modern infrastructure for the young crowd to enjoy. With all this in one city, people also enjoy cricket and has their very own Sardar Patel Stadium.
Some of the places to visit in Ahmedabad are Sabarmati Ashram, Auto World Vintage Car Museum, Kankaria lake, ISKON temple, Sidi Sayed’s Mosque, Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Gujarat Science city.
2. Aurangabad
This city is located in Maharashtra & has been named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. This city is sometimes referred as Khujista Bunyad by the Chroniclers of Aurangzeb’s reign. It is also known as the “city of Gates”. There are a lot of gates in this city namely, Bhadkal Gate, Delhi Gate, Paithan Gate, Mecca or Makai Gate, Khas or Jalna Gate, Kaala Darwaza, Roshan Gate, Rangeen Darwaza, Katkat Gate (Islam Darwaza), Barapulla Gate, Naubat Gate, Mahmud Gate, Buland Darwaza.
This is a tourist destination as its popular for the world heritage site, Ajanta & Ellora Caves. The history of Auranagabad is found to be from 2nd century BC, when Pratishtanapura (which is called Paithan now), was the established capital by the Satavahana rulers. During this time the monasteries were carved out of caves in which Ajanta is located and the stunning cave paintings were made in the 19th century. The carvings in the Ellora caves track the changing fortunes of three major religions Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism between the 5th and the 10th century CE.
Some of the places of visit are :
- Daulatabad Fort
- Replica of the Taj! Bibi Ka Maqbara
- Panchakki is a 17th century water mill. The name has been derived from the mill that crushed grain for the pilgrims
- Aurangabad Caves
- Soneri Mahal
- History Museum – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University
- Chatrapati Shivaji Museum
- Lonar – This is site of a meteor which crashed on earth some 50,000 years ago and formed a large crater (few hundred meters in diameter) in the ground.
- Jaikwadi Dam over Godawari river – Paithan, Aurangabad
- Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pitalkhora lies peacefully nestled in the Satmala ranges of the Sahyadris, at a distance of 78km from Aurangabad.
- Siddharth Garden is a beautiful landscaped garden, with good variety of trees and shrubs.
3. Bangalore
The capital of Karnataka & the IT hub of India, this is namma Bengaluru (namma=my). It’s also referred as Garden City of India, Silicon Valley of India, Pensioner’s Paradise, IT capital of India or the Pub City. It has also got one of the top B school IIM Bangalore. The city has a moderate and best weather throughout the year.
Some of the places for visit are:
Vidhan Soudha – An enormous building built in granite which has the legislative house for the state of Karnataka.
Vikasa Soudha – Located adjacent to the Vidhan Soudha building and fitted with latest gizmos to help govern the state.
Seshadari Iyer Memorial – Built in red Sand stone in Cubbon park, it has the library & the High Court.
Bangalore Palace – It was constructed by the Maharajas of Mysore.
Tipu Sultan’s Palace – A two storeyed building made of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches.
Some of the temples include Bull Temple, Maha Bodhi Society Temple, ISKCON Temple, Maruthi mandir, Gavi Gangadeshwara Cave Temple, VenkataramanaSwamy Temple, Dodda Ganapathi, Vasanthapura, Shiva Temple, Banaswadi Hanuman Temple.
4. Chandigarh
It’s a city, a union territory & capital of two states- Haryana and Punjab. It’s one of the cleanest and the most well planned city of India. It has a blend of nature along with modernization. When you are approaching the city, you would see the jagged skyline of the Shivalik Hills looming large over the city and the faint image of an old temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi (15 km from Chandigarh) from which the city got its name. Most of Chandigarh is covered by dense banyan and eucalyptus plantations. Asoka, cassia, mulberry and other trees flourish in the forested ecosystem. The city has forests surrounding it which sustain many animal and plant species. Food is another attraction here. Punjabi food is the most tastiest food in India & it’s available in the best quality in Chandigarh.
Some of the places of visit here are The Rock Garden of Chandigarh, Chowki Dhani, Sukhna Lake, Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh Rose Garden, Zakir Rose Garden, Garden of fragrance, ISKON Temple, International Dolls Museum, Cactus Garden, Le Corbusier Center, The Capitol and many more.
5. Chennai
This is one of the four metro cities of India. It was formerly called as Madras. It is also called as “Cultural Capital of South India”. This 369-year-old city is the capital of the southern state of Tamilnadu and is India’s sixth-largest city in terms of population. It is located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal.
People are very traditional here and also present it through their clothing. A typical Tamilian clothing for a woman is a sari draped partially covering the midriff and that for a man is dhoti. Rice is a staple food here and all the south Indian cuisines like idli, dosa, medu vada, uttapam, pongal are the specialities here. Bharatnatyam is the traditional dance of this city.
Tourist attraction places include a lot of temples all over the city and besides that one can also visit Besant Nagar Beach, Marina Beach, Breezy Beach, National Art Gallery, Railway Museum, Crocodile Bank an San Thome Church.
6. Hyderabad
This city is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Located on the banks of Musi river, it’s the largest city in the state. It’s often referred as The City of Pearls. It was established in 1591 CE by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda. It remained under the rule of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1687, when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the region and the city became part of the Mughal empire. In 1724, Asif Jah I, a Mughal viceroy, declared his sovereignty and formed the Asif Jahi dynasty, also known as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The Nizams ruled the princely state of Hyderabad in a subsidiary alliance with the British Raj for more than two centuries. The city remained the capital from 1769 to 1948, when the Nizam signed an Instrument of Accession with the Indian Union as a result of Operation Polo. Between 1948 and 1956 Hyderabad city was the capital of the Hyderabad State. In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act merged Hyderabad State with the Andhra State to form the modern state of Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad city as its capital.
It’s a tourist attraction place as well as developed as another IT Hub of the country.
Food is another specialty here. It’s famous for the Hyderabad dum Biryani which is the tastiest of all. The local language spoken here is Telugu and Hindi. Some of the places to visit are Hussain Sagar Lake, Charminar, Golkonda Fort, Ramoji Film City, Birla Mandir, Falaknuma Palace, Salar Jung Museum, Nehru zoological Park, Snow world, Jagannath Temple and NTR Garden.
7. Kolkata
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. It was formerly called as Calcutta. It is located on the east bank of the Hooghly river. It is a blend of commercial, cultural, and educational center of East India. The local language spoken here is Bengali. Kolkata is the main commercial and financial hub of East and North-East India and also has the Calcutta Stock Exchange. One of the old and rarest transportation method available here is the tram — it’s the train that runs on the road.
Some of the places of visit are Mother House, Eden Gardens, South Park Street Cemetery, Victoria Memorial Hall, Howrah Bridge, Park Street, St. paul Cathedral, Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Marble Palace, Rabindra Sarovar, Fort William and many more.
Best time to visit Kolkata will be during winter that is November to February.
8. Lucknow
It’s the capital of Uttar Pradesh. Often referred to as the City of Nawabs, this city is really royal in its culture and tradition.It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India. It has emerged as an important centre of commerce, aerospace, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, music and poetry. The local language spoken here is Hindi. It is the second largest city in North, Central and East India.
Lucknow is one of the world’s great cities for Muslim culture.It has its own Nawabi style cusisine which makes this city really significant. Kebabs of different types are available– Kakori Kebabs, Galawati Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, Boti Kababs, Patili-ke-Kababs, Ghutwa Kababs and Seekh Kababs are among the known varieties.It is a sports-loving city. In the past pehlwani, kabbadi, chess, kite flying, pigeon flying, and cock fighting were popular pastimes. For decades Lucknow hosted the prestigious Sheesh Mahal Cricket Tournament. Today cricket, football, badminton, golf and hockey are among the most popular sports in the city. Some of the places of visit are Bara Imambara, British Residency, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Chowk, Hazratganj, Constantia House, Aminabad, Lucknow Zoo, Rumi Darwaza, Sikandar Bagh, Dilkusha Kothi Palace, Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Gautam Buddha Park, Husainabad Clock Tower, Crocodile Nursery and State Museum.
9. Mumbai
This is the capital city of Maharashtra. It was formerly called as Bombay. It is the financial and commercial capital of the country. The local language spoken here is Marathi. It’s the highest populated city in India & fourth most populated city in the world. It lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbor. The name Mumbai is derived from Mumba or Maha-Amba—the name of the Koli goddess Mumbadevi—and Aai, “mother” in the language of Marathi. There is also the world famous Bombay Stock Exchange located here. There is really a lot of visit in Mumbai. Right from beaches to museums to art galleries to water parks and the list goes on. You can see Bollywood celebrities on and off the city, as this is a home for Bollywood. There are different festivals throughout the year which are celebrated with lot of excitement in this city.Some of the popular fests are Mumbai Festival, Banganga Festival, Elephanta Festival , Mumbai Wine Fest .Some of the religious festivals celebrated here are Janmashtami, Ramadan-Id Muslim festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mt. Mary’s Feast, Navratri, Diwali and Christmas.
Places to visit here are Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum, Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mahalakshmi Temple, Marine Drive, Prithvi Theatre, Mount Mary Church, Bombay Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya), Kanheri Caves, Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Gateway of India, Haji Ali Mosque, Rajabai Clock Tower, Water Kingdom, Mumbadevi Temple, Essel World, Nehru Planetarium, Nehru Science Center, Elephanta Caves and many more.
10. New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital of the Republic of India, and the seat of executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of the Government of India. It also serves as the Centre of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and is one of the eleven districts of Delhi National Capital Territory. It is located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain .
New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the vast Indian bureaucracy and political system. National events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated with great enthusiasm in New Delhi. On India’s Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.[62] The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India’s cultural diversity and military might.
Religious festivals include Diwali, Maha Shivaratri, Teej, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Baisakhi, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Christmas and Mahavir Jayanti.The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami are held every year in Delhi.
Some of the tourist attraction places are Akshardham Temple, Azad Hind Gram, Bahai Temple, Birla Mandir, Dilli Haat, Garden of Five Senses, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Jama Masjid, Jantar Mantar, Lodi Tomb, Parliament House, Purana Quila, Qutab Minar, Safdarjang Tomb, Red Fort.
11. Pune
This city is often referred as the Oxford of India. It has the best of education across the country. Pune is the ninth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. Once the center of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 meters above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. The city is known for cultural activities like classical music, spirituality, theatre, sports, and literature. These activities and job opportunities attract migrants and students from all over India and abroad.
As one of the largest cities in India, and as a result of its many colleges and universities, Pune is emerging as a prominent location for IT and manufacturing companies to expand. Pune has the seventh largest metropolitan economy and the sixth highest per capita income in the country. Volkswagen India Plant and offices in Pune.
The automotive sector is prominent in Pune. It is home to the Automotive Research Association of India, which is responsible for the homologation of all vehicles available in India. All sectors of the automotive industry are represented, from two-wheelers and auto rickshaws to cars, tractors, tempos, excavators and trucks. Automotive companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, Force Motors (Firodia-Group), Kinetic Motors have set ups in Pune. Automotive companies including General Motors, Volkswagen, and Fiat have set up greenfield facilities near Pune, leading The Independent to cite Pune as India’s “Motor City”. Several automotive component manufacturers like Saint-Gobain Sekurit, TATA Autocomp Systems Limited, Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Visteon, and Continental Corporation are located here.
Specialties include Puran Poli, Pithla bhakri, Bhelpuri and Pav Bhaji. Mastani, a thick milkshake containing dried fruit, is a speciality of the city. Vada Pav, Misal Pav, Poha, Daabeli and Bhel Puri are common and famous street foods.
Some of the places to visit are Darshan Museum, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Temple, Sri Balaji Mandir, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Sinhagad Fort, Bhimashankar Temple, Chaturshrungi Temple, Rajgad Fort, Panshet Dam, Malshej Ghats, Parvati Temple, Pu La Deshpande Garden, Sarasbag, Shaniwarwada, Aga Khan Palace, Visapur Fort, Osho Ashram, Film and Television Institute of India, Mulshi Dam, Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Pune Tribal Museum and many more.
Source: HoneymoonTrip.in