Hampi
To the south, overlooking Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill has a scattering of early ruins, including monolithic sculptures of Narasimha (Vishnu in his…
Must-see attractions in India
Mumbai (Bombay)
One of Mumbai's oldest established art galleries, founded in 1963. It's always a safe bet for diving into India's contemporary art scene.
Kashmir & Ladakh
The spiritual heart of Bhaderwah for Hindus is this garish temple with its vividly painted shikhara (tower) and a central, octagonal building that looks…
Hyderabad
A throwback to a 1950s classroom, this well-maintained museum houses a bizarre collection of medical and public-health paraphernalia, including a scary…
Amritsar
At the east end of the Amrit Sarovar tank is the Ramgarhia Bunga, a protective fortress topped by two Islamic-style minarets; inside is a stone slab once…
Chandigarh
This architectural masterpiece by Le Corbusier is home to the state legislative assemblies of Punjab and Haryana. Tourists can only visit as part of their…
Gujarat & Diu
Women spin cotton upstairs at this large khadi (homespun cloth) workshop, while downstairs embroidered salwar kameez (traditional dress-like tunic and…
Mysuru (Mysore)
Life in the devout Hindu town of Melukote (Melkote), about 50km north of Mysuru, revolves around the 12th-century Cheluvanarayana Temple, with its rose…
Maharashtra
Cave 30, the Chhota Kailasa (Little Kailasa), is a poor imitation of the great Kailasa Temple and stands by itself some distance from the other Jain…
Srinagar
This large, popular Sufi shrine was ravaged by fire in 2012 but the colourful paper mache interior work for which it was renowned has been restored. The…
Uttarakhand
Standing majestically near the northern shore of Naini Lake, Nainital's ornate mosque was built in the late 19th century by the British for Muslim…
Nashik
Sita is said to have hidden in this cave-like temple while being assailed by the evil Ravana. You’ll have to stoop and shuffle your way into the cave as…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Crowned by a fine Wren-style spire, St Andrews was built in 1815. It still holds distinctive Scottish-Presbyterian services and also has responsibility…
Karnataka
Upli Buruj is a 16th-century, 24m-high watchtower near the western walls of the city. An external flight of stairs leads to the top, where you’ll find two…
Uttarakhand
If the skies are clear this tinsel-decorated temple is definitely worth a visit for its dramatic location looking out to spectacular views of terrace rice…
Hyderabad
The home of 'Tollywood' (the Telangana/Andhra Pradesh film industry) is a massive attraction for domestic tourists. Films and TV shows in Telugu, Tamil…
Nashik
The city’s holiest shrine dates back to 1794 and contains unusual black stone representations of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Legend has it that it occupies…
Orchha
This soaring temple-cum-fort, on the road out to Ganj village, has fine rooftop views and well-preserved murals on the ceilings of its domed towers.
Maharashtra
On the road to the temples you’ll pass the delightful Ambala Lake, lined with small Narsimha Temples in which mourners typically release the ashes of…
West Bengal
The extensive mansion of a Jain family that achieved high influence under both the nawabs and the British, the House of Jagat Seth is home to an eclectic…
Orchha
Built for a famous lover of the 16th-century Raja Indrajit, this pavilion features murals of Praveen in various dance poses, plus one of Indrajit on…
New Delhi
Opposite the fort of Purana Qila, this is a stunningly lovely mosque, now partially ruined, which was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar's wet nurse, Maham…
Varanasi
On the Banares Hindu University campus, this museum hosts a wonderful collection of miniature paintings, as well as 12th-century palm-leaf manuscripts,…
Maharashtra
Cave 11, the Do Thal (Two Storey) Cave, is entered through its third basement level (undiscovered until 1876). Like Cave 12, it possibly owes its size to…
Sikkim
This relatively new gompa, accessed opposite Hotel Tashi Gang, features an impressively stern statue of Guru Padmasambhava.
Odisha
Around 7km east of the Onkadelli Market, this beautiful waterfall plunges down the side of a gorge from a height of 175m. During rainy season (July to…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Opened in 1842, this understated Catholic church has a Doric-columned portico topped by a short octagonal spire. It was here that the body of Mother (St)…
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Pristine Kalapathar is a salt-white swathe of sand lapped by clear turquoise water. It's a favourite sunrise-gazing spot, and you may have to walk a bit…
Khajuraho
Facing the Lakshmana Temple, the little Varaha Shrine houses a wonderful 1.5m-high sandstone carving of Vishnu as his boar avatar, dating from AD 900 and…
Tamil Nadu
One of Chettinadu's oldest mansions, built in 1870 with distinctive egg-plaster walls, Burmese-teak columns, patterned tiled floors and intricate wood…
Chennai (Madras)
Styled with blue-and-white baroque elegance, pretty little palm-fringed Luz Church is Chennai's oldest European building, dating to 1516 – which also…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
This palace on an island-like spit of land at the corner of Munja Tank is thought to have been a private retreat for noble couples. It has several step…
Diu
On the south coast 9km west of Diu town begins the sandy 2.5km sweep of Gomptimata Beach. It's often empty, except at busy weekends, but it gets big waves…
Mysuru (Mysore)
The beauty of towering St Philomena’s Cathedral, built between 1933 and 1941 in neo-Gothic style, is emphasised by its wonderful stained-glass windows. It…
Odisha
This is the region's largest produce market, taking place from Thursday afternoon until Friday afternoon. Homemade alcohol brewed from the mahua flower is…
Chandigarh
Home to an overwhelming population of bougainvilleas, the eponymous Bougainvillea Garden has a thought-provoking memorial to Indian soldiers killed in…
Karnataka
This large Sikh temple on the northwestern side of town is dedicated to the Guru Nanak and was built in 1948. It's centred on the Amrit Kund (a water tank…
Institut Français de Pondichéry
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
This grand 19th-century neoclassical building is also a flourishing research institution devoted to Indian culture, history and ecology. Visitors can…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Within the Ramakrishna Mission compound on the Hooghly riverbank, several small shrines include the Sri Sarada Devi Temple, entombing the mystic's wife.
Northern Kerala
Isolated Kappil Beach, 6km north of Bekal, is a beautiful, lonely stretch of fine gold-hued sand with calm water, but beware of shifting sandbars…
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