100 Reasons to visit India

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Taj Mahal is one of the most symmetrically perfect manmade structures. Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for an additional ten years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million Indian rupees, which in 2015 would be valued at around 52.8 billion Indian rupees ($827 million US). Standing majestically upon red sandstone platform, Taj Mahal is made entirely of white marble and is famous for the exquisite workmanship reflected in lapidary, calligraphy, intricate carvings and pietra dura work. It took 20 years and 20000 masons, designers, architects and workers to build this greatest symbol of love on the planet.

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People from around the globe come to India in their quest for spirituality and self discovery. Major spiritual centers in India include Bodhgaya, Benares, Pushkar, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Auroville and Dharamshala. As the global community becomes increasingly capitalistic, the quest for spirituality grows in urgency. India, its people, its infrastructure, and indeed its very soil, encourage and breed Spiritualism, allowing religions to thrive, flourish and prosper. India boasts the presence of every major religion in the world, as well many of their off-shoots and facets, all being supported, nourished, and living in comparative harmony.

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You may find that there’s a lot to be said for chaos – and a lot to be said for learning to let go and go with the flow. Because rush hour here is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

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Indian Railways is the one of the world’s largest employer, and the train system in India is extensive to say the least. The best are Shatabdis and Rajdhanis – and three main classes: first, second and third.

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The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE. The caves include paintings and sculptures described by the government Archaeological Survey of India as "the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting", which are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, with figures of the Buddha and depictions of the Jataka tales. India is the home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Architecture in India has evolved through countless centuries due to the influence of the various dynasties and civilizations that have flourished in the region.

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In India, a trip to a Market is much more like a full-on cultural immersion. Experience the process of finding a good treasure and get into the mood of the place by haggling over the price.

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Many of the world’s highest mountains are part of this vast range that runs along India’s eastern border for more than 2,400 kilometres. Ladakh is one of the most daunting yet mesmerizing frontiers cradled in Greater Himalayas best known for some of the worl's highest motorable passes and the scintillating Pangong Tso Lake.

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There’s a festival just about every day in India. From the festival of colour (Holi) to festival of lights (Diwali).

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There are many yoga teachers and schools ain India to choose from. Yoga tours provide both physical and mental therapy. India has been the land of saints and sages who mediated, practiced and perfected Yoga.

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From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Assam, you will find diverse landscape, cultures, languages and traditions of the country.

. Luscious green trees, pristine water, crazy wildlife experience – visit Kerala for more such wonderful delights.

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India is home to a variety of species. There are many National Parks and protected biospheres. These wildlife sanctuaries are the best place to come face to face with the abundant wildlife in India. The wildlife sanctuaries of India are home to many endangered species on planet earth.

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The food items may vary from region to region, but all of them are rich in flavor and presentation. Indians are generally perceived as vegetarians, and there are a huge number of artful and great tasting vegetarian dishes and curries.

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The Carnatic influence from the 13th and the 14th century AD plays a major role in shaping traditional Indian music. There are, however, various forms of folk music which display a distinctive sound and feel which is specific to their region of origination.

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Indian Dance arts are few of the most complex and expressive dance forms in the world. Dance forms like Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kathak are a few to check out while visiting India.

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You can travel as cheaply or as lavishly as you want in India, and that's definitely part of its appeal as a tourist destination. There's a saying in India, "Athithi Devo Bhava", which means "the guest is God". Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home, and go out of their way to please them. There's nothing like Indian hospitality. And, as a result of the growing popularity of homestays in India, there are plenty of opportunities to experience it. While there are sporadic tourist scams like pick pocketing and overcharging by street vendors and taxi / auto rickshaw drivers, by and large the Indians are extremely helpful and friendly.

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A popular hill station perched high in the Himalayas on the northern edge of West Bengal, Darjeeling also gives its name to the world’s best tea. In the 19th century, Darjeeling was the summer destination for the British in Calcutta.

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Cherrapunji is a great sight for those who want to experience something surreal and out of the blue. The Root bridges will leave you awestruck.

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Bollywood is a national pastime and a cultural phenomenon. Sometimes you have to suspend the laws of reality and probability and just embrace the cheesiness, but they really are entertaining.

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The Ganges River runs 2,525 km from the northern Himalayas all the way to the Bay of Bengal. It is much more than a river to the one billion Hindus in India and beyond.

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Bandipur is a best place to visit in India when it comes to forests and drives. Get spooked by snake holes around, spot elephants, deers and monkeys as you go along the winding roads.

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Vehicles in India are an art form as much as a means of transportation. The main roads are crowded with colorfully painted trucks and buses, often loaded to the hilt.

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From the overcrowded and overwhelming streets of Delhi or Mumbai, to the absolute wilderness and solitude of the northern regions bordering Nepal. From the tropical Andaman beaches to the deserts of Rajastan, India will never stop to surprise you.

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Indian food is much more than the catch-all phrase of “curry,” and like most things in India there is a surprising amount of diversity in the country’s cuisine.

In Attari – Wagah, a border control sector between India and Pakistan.

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The Onam Festival of late August celebrates the tropical southern state’s rich cultural heritage when everything is fresh and radiant. During the 10-day festival, Kerala puts on a display of games and sports, traditional art forms, drama, and classical music.

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India is home to more than five hundred different tribes, each with their own customs and traditions that has remained unchanged for centuries.

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The enchanting architecture of Jaisalmer will transport you back in time and the mystery in the air will give you a sense of being a part of “Arabian Nights” with tales of desert, camels, harems and everything exotic.

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Qutub Minar, at 74 meters, is the second tallest minar in India after Fateh Burj at Mohali. Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutb Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The Red Fort was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It is located in the centre of Delhi and houses a number of museums.

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Leh, the region’s capital, has some of the best treks in India. The very accessible palace and royal monastery, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, is a great place to watch the sun rise over the Himalayas.

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Galab jamun is considered to be the King of desserts. This dish is delicate milk balls floating in fragrant syrup. In India, gulab jamun is cooked everywhere in urban bakeries, famous restaurants, and even in a huge pot on the sidewalk.

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The Golden Temple, the main shrine of the Sikhs who comprised the third largest religious community in India, was built for people of all faiths and beliefs. Thousands of pilgrims from around the world walk from dawn until late at night around the marble bordered pond Amrit Sarovar in the middle of which is a gold-plated dome in the form of lotus.

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Kodaikanal is a hill town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s set in an area of granite cliffs, forested valleys, lakes, waterfalls and grassy hills. At 2,000 meters above sea level, it has a cooler climate than the plains below and is a popular holiday destination. The town centers around star-shaped, man-made Kodaikanal Lake, bordered by evergreen forest.

India is place that everyone should visit once in their lives to get out of their comfort zones and get a different perspective on life. The culture shock in India can be hard to deal with.

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India is a vast country that's just over one-third of the size of the United States. Much of it is rural, and there are some incredible sights to be seen and discovered.

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The holy city of Rishikesh, in the base of the Himalayas, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for local Hindus.

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The majestic mountains can call tourists to experience the best of what nature has to offer. Triund offers the spectacular view of the Dhauladhar ranges.

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he only time when the entire city gathers together to celebrate the much lauded and divine festival, Durga Puja, experience the culture of Bengal in it’s full form.

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The local people in India, particularly in the rural areas, are some of the kindest you will meet.

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Viceregal Lodge

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Humayun’s Tomb

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Visitors to Shimla enjoy the laid-back vibe, Raj-era buildings, and spectacular views of the Himalayas from the The Mall — a ridge-top pedestrian-only thoroughfare that was once off-limits to Indians.

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India’s official Ghost Town, Dhanushkodi is the last point of Indian peninsula towards Sri Lanka

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Coorg is a postcard-perfect region of scattered villages and hamlets, which are the epitome of old-world charm.

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The backwaters are a network of waterways which meander through the lush green countryside of Kerala. Here you can hire a rice boat to travel down the river, staying in it overnight moored up in a secluded spot.

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Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati River – a community of friends and followers – was founded by Mohandas Ghandi in 1917,

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Here there are miles of white sandy beaches, offering an ideal place for diving and fresh seafood

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An ideal destination to escape from the hot beaches is the town of Munnar with hills and valleys covered with emerald green tea bushes and filled with aromas of cardamon.

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The Gate of India was built in 1926 on the shore of the Bay in Bombay. It is not just a symbol of Mumbai, but is also an ideal location to get general view and catch an impression of the city.

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India has an abundance of folk art, which is kept alive in the small rural communities and is being revived in the big cities.

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The women wear flowing saris of every imaginable color along with ornate jewelry. The men of Rajasthan wear colorful turbans.

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Many of the old palaces and lodges of India’s kings or Rajs have been turned into hotels so it’s possible to stay at a hotel that is as photogenic as other sites in the area.

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Dress to the nines and party like a rock star in celebration of Mysore heritage during the lively Dussehra festival, held for 10 days in October/November.

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Serenely spiritual Dharamsala is home to the largest Tibetan temple outside of Tibet. It’s known for its religious iconography and is the monastery of the Dalai Lama, who holds public lectures a few times a year.

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Pondicherry (or Puducherry), a French colonial settlement in India until 1954, is now a Union Territory town bounded by the southeastern Tamil Nadu state. Its French legacy is preserved in its French Quarter, with tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas and chic boutiques. A seaside promenade runs along the Bay of Bengal and passes several statues, including a 4m-high Gandhi Memorial.

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East meets West in this sun-soaked state, where Indian culture intertwines with Portuguese influences left over from a 500-year occupation. The beaches have long served as a magnet for serene hedonists.

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The architectural ruins of Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East, boasts several sparkling lakes against a backdrop of the Aravail hills. Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir, islands in Fateh Sagar Lake, are the site of Udaipur Solar Observatory and Nehru Garden.