The most beautiful places in India

We asked the Rough Guides team in Delhi to vote for the most beautiful places in India. After much deliberation, here are the results...

The information in this article is inspired by the Rough Guide to India, your essential guide for visiting India.

27. Agumbe, Karnataka

Agumbe is a village situated in the Thirthahalli taluka of Shimoga district. It is associated with rainforest conservation efforts and the documentation of medicinal plants. A stunning place to start off our list of the most beautiful places in India.

When travelling to India for the first time, don't forget to check out our list of tips for first-time visitors.

26. Ranthambore National Park

With more than ninety thousand visitors a year, Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s most popular national parks, which is renowned above all for its natural beauty.

There are currently around seventy adult tigers in the park, plus healthy populations of chital, nilgai, jackals, leopards, jungle cats and a wide array of birds. The original core section of the national park is flanked by buffer zones, designed to provide space for the park’s ever-expanding number of young, territory-seeking tigers.

25. Havelock

Havelock is the largest island in Ritchie’s Archipelago, and the most intensively cultivated, settled – like many in the region – by Bengali refugees after Partition. The right turn from the island’s main junction leads through paddy fields and other crops before dropping through some spectacular woodland to Radhnagar (Beach #7).

The arc of perfect white sand, backed by stands of giant mowhar trees and often touted as the most beautiful in India. The water is a sublime turquoise colour and, although the coral is sparse, the marine life here is diverse and plentiful, especially among the rocks around the corner from the main beach (accessible at low tide).

24. Tamhini Ghat

The forested hills of the Sahyadri mountains look like they come straight of out a Lord of the Rings movie. Shrouded in clouds and heavy with mist, the ≈mountain passage is a journey through nature at its most raw. The 25-km drive will take you past thundering waterfalls and through cloud cover. All along the way, there's incredible greenery. The drive is best enjoyed during monsoon season when the falls are at their fullest.

23. Nohkalikai Falls

Nohkalikai Falls, also known as Seven Sisters Waterfall, is located in the state of Meghalaya, one of the wettest places in the world (during British rule the area was appropriately nicknamed "Scotland of the East"). Tucked between Bangladesh and Bhutan, Meghalaya translates to "abode of the clouds". It's this abundance of rainfall that creates the spectacular effect of the falls.

The seven chutes of water only appear during the rainy season, cascading over limestone cliffs for some 315 metres, making it one of the highest falls in India. If you're lucky, when you visit the sunlight will hit at the right angle to create shimmering rainbows above the water.

22. Taj Mahal

No self-respecting list of the most beautiful places in India would be complete without this monumental mausoleum in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Finished in the mid-17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, it houses the tomb of his third (and favourite) wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In English, the name means "crown of palaces".

Constructed of white marble blocks and symmetrical in design, the building's walls display lines of scripture from the Quran. The complex also includes a mosque and several other mausoleums, including that of the Shah himself.

Stay in the most beautiful hotels, and have a knowledgeable private tour guide by your side all throughout this unique tailor-made trip to the Gems of India & Taj Mahal. Visit highlights like the Taj Mahal but also unknown areas like the villages in Rajasthan for nature, wildlife and cultural encounters unique to India.

21. Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is the quintessential desert town. Its golden, sand-coloured ramparts rise out of the arid Thar like a scene from the Arabian Nights. A long trip across the Thar is rewarded by the sublime vision of Jai Singh’s yellow-stone citadel floating above the sand flats. Camel treks can take you deep into the surrounding desert.

Where to stay in Jaisalmer

• For couples: Hotel Lal Garh Fort And Palace
• For historical charm: Hotel Garh Jaisal Haveli

Find your perfect place to stay in Jaisalmer

20. Dawki and caves, Meghalaya

Dawki, 35km from Mawlynnong, is the most important of the Meghalaya–Bangladesh border crossings to Tamabil, two and a half hours from Sylhet. The real attraction is the crystal clear water and suspended bridge at nearby Shnongpdeng, the source of the river, seven kilometres away.

19. Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh

Around 20km west of Jabalpur, the Narmada River suddenly narrows and plunges over a series of waterfalls. From there, it then squeezes through a seam of milky white marble before continuing on its westward course. The Marble Rocks, known locally as Bheraghat (or Bhedaghat), is a good place to while away an idle afternoon.

Find accommodations at any budget in Madhya Pradesh

18. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Lush forests of deodar cedars, apple orchards and giant, ice-dusted summits flank the hill resort of Manali. This is one of the most beautiful places in India, situated in the Kullu Valley — the starting point of the trans-Himalayan highway. Manali — long a favourite hangout of Western hippies — is set in idyllic mountain scenery and offers trekking and whitewater rafting. Or, relax in the hot springs in nearby Vashisht.

17. Ghats, Varanasi

The great riverbanks at Varanasi, are lined by stone steps – the ghats. Built high with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century pavilions and palaces, temples and terraces, the ghats stretch along the whole waterfront. They change dramatically in appearance with the seasonal fluctuations of the river level. Each of the hundred ghats, big and small, is marked by a lingam and occupies its own special place in the religious geography of the city.

The flat, sunburnt plains of the Ganges River are India's breadbasket: a densely populated area, it is home to many of the country's greatest sights. On this tailor-made trip to The Holy City of Varanasi, you will see Delhi and all its treasures, then fly to Varanasi, the most sacred stretch of the Ganges and one of India's most intense and atmospheric places.

Where to stay in Varanasi

• For cheery vibes: Ganpati Guest House
• For luxury: Palace On Ganges

Find places to stay in Varanasi

16. Dal Lake, Srinagar - one of many beautiful lake places in India

Srinagar would be a major draw on the strength of its Himalayan scenery alone, but it is the city’s serene lakes and grand gardens that make it irresistible. The largest is Dal Lake, with a surface area of approximately 21 square kilometres. The lake is usually as flat as a mirror and incredibly photogenic, with the surrounding peaks reflected in its greenish-blue waters.

15. Yumthang Valley, Sikkim

Walk through this spectacular rhododendron-filled valley with icy pinnacles towering overhead. A fragile road etches its way up the Teesta Valley and splits at Chungthang. One branch bearing northwest to Lachen and beyond, the other due north to Lachung, to the beautiful valley of Yumthang.

Find the best options to stay for your trip to Sikkim

14. Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

The famous Dudhsagar waterfalls, on the Goa–Karnataka border, are some of the highest in India. They are a spectacular enough sight to entice a steady stream of visitors from the coast into the rugged Western Ghats. The Konkani name for the falls, which literally translated means “sea of milk”, derives from clouds of foam kicked up at the bottom when the water levels are at their highest.

Find accommodation options to stay in the Goa region

13. Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

Heading east towards Chamba, the road descends through deodar forests to the meadow of Khajjiar. Here the small temple of Khajjinag looks down over a vast rolling green with a small lake cupped in the centre. Khajjiar is a popular day-trip from Dalhousie for Indian tourists who come to take pony rides.

12. Nubra Valley, Ladakh

Until 1994, the lands north of Leh were off-limits to tourists and had been unexplored by outsiders since the nineteenth century. Now the breathtaking Nubra Valley unfolds beyond one of the world’s highest stretches of driveable road.

11. Munnar, Kerala

Hiking around Munnar's tea plantations, grassy mountains and dazzling viewpoints is the perfect antidote to the heat and humidity of the coast. Munnar’s greenery and cool air draw streams of well-heeled honeymooners and weekenders from south India’s cities. However, increasing numbers of foreign visitors are stopping for a few days too, enticed by the superbly scenic bus ride from Periyar.

The intense greens of the Kerala backwaters, overhung by innumerable coconut palms, encapsulate tropical India like nowhere else. On this tailor-made trip to Magical Kerala you will enjoy a lazy cruise on a converted rice barge; visit fragrant spice plantations, explore Cochi and spot local wildlife.

Look for places to stay in Munnar

10. Chilika Lake, Odisha

Chilika Lake, a huge saltwater lagoon south of Bhubaneswar, is good for birdwatchers. Fed by fresh-water rivers and washed by the sea, this biodiversity hotspot is a wintering ground for migratory birds and home to a number of threatened aquatic species, including the Irrawaddy dolphin.

9. Madikeri, Coorg, Karnataka

Our Delhi team voted for Madikeri as an excellent base in India. From here one can explore the lush national parks, natural beauty and gorgeous coffee plantations that abound in this scenic stretch of the Western Ghats.

The pleasant road to Abbi Falls, Madikeri’s famous 21m cascade, winds through the hill country and makes for a good day’s outing. Viewed from a hanging bridge, the falls are at their best during and after the monsoons.

8. Mawlynnong, Meghalaya

Described by one of our editors as magical, this village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya is simply stunning. The surrounding areas are just as unforgettable, with natural bridges made by twisting the roots of rubber trees crossing the rivulets and streams. All this puts Mawlynnong on our list of the most beautiful places in India.

7. Kumarakom Backwaters, Kerala

Kerala's scenic backwaters edged with coconut palms, lush green rice paddies and picturesque villages, make for a beautiful escape from hectic city life. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary forms the focus of a line of ultra-luxurious resorts on the water’s edge. A backwaters cruise here is a great place for peace and quiet.

Find places to stay in Kerala

6. Mandu, Madhya Pradesh

Set against the rugged Vindhya hills, is the medieval ghost town of Mandu. 98km southwest of Indore, Mandu is one of central India’s most atmospheric monuments. This tranquil backwater sees far fewer visitors than it deserves, save for the busloads of exuberant Indian day-trippers on weekends. Even during the relentless heat of the dry season, the ruins are an exotic spectacle.

5. Hampi, Karnataka

Among a surreal landscape of golden-brown boulders and leafy banana fields, the ruined “The City of Victory,” Vijayanagar. Better known as Hampi, the city spills from the south bank of the River Tungabhadra.

This once dazzling Hindu capital was devastated by a six-month Muslim siege in the second half of the sixteenth century. Only stone, brick and stucco structures survived the ensuing sack. You'll find here monolithic deities, crumbling houses, and abandoned temples dominated by towering gopuras.

Find the best place to stay in Karnataka

4. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

This hot and desolate landscape is reputed to be the largest salt desert in the world. Situated right on the border with Pakistan, its striking white plains call out to many of the more intrepid explorers in our team. The treeless salt marshes to the north and east, the Great and Little Ranns of Kutch, are breathtaking expanses of cracked white earth. Be warned they can flood completely during a heavy monsoon from July to September.

Places to stay in Gujarat

3. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

From July to August, when its rolling alpine meadows are carpeted with wildflowers, this sprawling National Park is a bucket list destination for many in the Rough Guides office. Bhyundar Valley – the Valley of Flowers was discovered in 1931 by the visionary mountaineer Frank Smythe. It is named for its multitude of rare and beautiful flora. The meadows are at their best during the monsoon, from mid-July until mid-August.

2. Pangong Tso, Ladakh

Pangong Tso, 154km southeast of Leh, is one of the largest saltwater lakes in Asia. This icy saline lake, cradled by stark and sombre mountains 4350m above sea level, comes second in our list. We think it epitomises the breathtaking majesty of the high Himalayas.

Trek through the Markha Valley, taking in the jaw-dropping Himalayan landscape, camp in traditional mountain villages, and discover hilltop monasteries. This unique tailor-made journey to Ladakh's Markha Valley combines the culture of the Buddhist faith with the natural beauty of the mountains and the hustle and bustle of Delhi.

Find accommodation options to stay in Leh Ladakh

1. Lakshadweep - the most beautiful place in India

With its palm-tree-lined white-sand beaches overlooking the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, the idyllic cluster of islands that make up Lakshadweep boasts the country’s only coral atoll. Part of the same marine mountain range as the Maldives, the islands’ diving and snorkelling opportunities are unsurpassed, and they feel a world away from modern life, making this the ultimate Indian honeymoon destination.

Quiet lagoons, crystal-clear waters, coral reefs teeming with aquatic life and secluded white-sand beaches... The list goes on. The absolutely spectacular Lakshadweep was a unanimous choice at the top of our list of the most beautiful places in India.

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