8 most visited places in India

India is a huge country. It has old forts, snowy valleys, quiet backwaters and busy beaches. So where do most travellers actually go? This guide covers eight of the most visited places in India, with simple facts to help you plan a trip.

Indian tourism is big. Government figures show about 2,510 million domestic tourist visits in 2023. That number counts trips, not people, so one person can make many visits. The Taj Mahal alone drew about five million visitors in the financial year 2022 to 2023. We first published this list in 2015. We have now checked every place again, fixed some old mistakes and added useful details.

1. Agra

Agra sits on the bank of the Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh. It is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A World Heritage Site is a place that the United Nations body UNESCO lists for its special value to the world.

The Taj Mahal

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ordered the Taj Mahal in 1631. It is a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and later he was buried there too. The main tomb was finished in 1648. More than 20,000 workers and artists built it in white marble set with stones. UNESCO listed it in 1983. Keep one rule in mind: the Taj Mahal is closed to visitors on Fridays.

Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Akbar’s Tomb

Agra Fort stands about 2.5 km from the Taj. Emperor Akbar rebuilt it in red sandstone between 1565 and 1573. Part of it is still with the Indian Army and closed to the public.

Fatehpur Sikri is about 36 km away. Akbar built it as his capital in 1571, but it was left empty a few years later. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986. Akbar’s own tomb is in Sikandra, a part of Agra. His son Jahangir built it between 1605 and 1613. Planning a drive from the capital? Read our guide to a Delhi to Agra road trip.

2. Kashmir

The Kashmir Valley is about 135 km long and 32 km wide. High Himalayan ranges surround it, and the Jhelum river runs through it.

Most visitors start in Srinagar at Dal Lake. People stay in houseboats and ride small wooden boats called shikaras. Mughal gardens such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh line the shore. Lotus flowers bloom on the lake in July and August. In a harsh winter the lake can freeze.

Gulmarg means “meadow of flowers”. It sits at 2,650 metres, and a cable car called the Gulmarg Gondola takes people up the nearby Apharwat peak. In winter it is one of India’s top places for skiing. In spring and summer the same slopes fill with wild flowers. Sonamarg, the “meadow of gold”, lies about 80 km from Srinagar.

So which season is best? It depends on what you want. Come in winter for snow sports, or in summer for lakes and meadows. Always check the latest travel advice before you go.

3. Goa

Goa is India’s smallest state by area, but it pulls in visitors from across the world. Its beaches, like Baga and Calangute, offer jet skis, parasailing and banana boat rides.

Goa was once the capital of Portuguese India. That past shows in Old Goa, where a group of churches and convents became a World Heritage Site in 1986. The Basilica of Bom Jesus there holds the tomb of Saint Francis Xavier. Foreign visitors mostly come in winter. Indian families often come in summer and in the monsoon. Since 2004, Goa has also hosted the International Film Festival of India every November and December.

4. Jaipur and Udaipur

These two cities are in Rajasthan, in the north west of India.

Jaipur

Sawai Jai Singh II founded Jaipur in 1727. It was one of the first planned cities in modern India. Many old buildings are painted pink, so people call it the Pink City. UNESCO added the old walled city to its list of World Heritage Cities on 6 July 2019.

The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, was built in 1799. It has 953 small windows that let cool air flow inside. Amber Fort, 11 km from the city, became a World Heritage Site in 2013. Jantar Mantar is a set of 19 giant stone tools for studying the sky. It was finished in 1734 and has the largest stone sundial in the world. Jaipur, Delhi and Agra together form a popular route called the Golden Triangle.

Udaipur

Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes. Udai Singh II founded it in 1559. The grand City Palace looks over Lake Pichola. In the middle of the lake sits the Lake Palace, built in white marble around 1743 to 1746. It was once a summer home for the royal family of Mewar. Today it is a hotel and has appeared in several films.

5. Kerala

Kerala is often called “God’s own country”, a phrase used by its state tourism body. Its backwaters are a long network of lakes, canals and rivers. They stretch for more than 900 km of waterways, fed by 38 rivers. Here, river water meets salty sea water. Birds such as kingfishers and cormorants live along the banks, and otters and turtles live in the water.

Munnar is a hill town about 1,600 metres high, known for its tea gardens. Read more in our post on Munnar, the popular hill station. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park, a reserve known for elephants and tigers. The park lies about 4 km from Kumily and Thekkady.

6. Delhi

India’s capital has three World Heritage Sites, not just one as our old post said.

• Qutb Minar: a tall victory tower built mostly between 1199 and 1220. It has 399 steps.
• Red Fort: Shah Jahan ordered it in 1639. Every Independence Day, the Prime Minister raises the flag here. It was listed in 2007.
• Humayun’s Tomb: the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent, listed in 1993.

Delhi also has the Rashtrapati Bhavan, home of the President. It was built between 1912 and 1929 and has 340 rooms. Nearby in Old Delhi is the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Shah Jahan built it between 1644 and 1656.

7. Mysore

Mysore, now officially Mysuru, is often called the cultural capital of Karnataka. Its star sight is Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace. The present palace was built between 1897 and 1912. As of 2024, it drew more than four million visitors a year.

The city is most famous for its Dasara festival. It lasts ten days and ends with a grand elephant parade on Vijayadashami, usually in September or October. Mysore Zoo, about 700 metres from the palace, is the oldest zoo in India. St. Philomena’s Cathedral, built in 1936, is one of the tallest churches in Asia. Want a closer look inside the palace? Read what to see in Mysore Palace.

8. Ajanta and Ellora Caves

These two cave sites are in Maharashtra, near Aurangabad. Both are World Heritage Sites, and they lie about 100 km apart.

Ajanta has 30 caves cut into rock. All of them are Buddhist. They date from the second century BCE to about 480 CE. Their wall paintings tell stories from the past lives of the Buddha. They are among the finest old paintings in India.

Ellora is different. Our old post called these caves Buddhist, but that was only part of the story. Ellora has 34 caves open to the public: 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. Cave 16 is the Kailash temple. It was carved downwards from one single rock, the largest such carving in the world. For the full history, see our post on the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

Tips for Visiting the Most Visited Places in India

• Check opening days. The Taj Mahal, for example, is shut every Friday.
• Go early. Popular sites get crowded by late morning.
• Match the season to the place. Rajasthan and Goa are pleasant in winter. Kashmir meadows are best in summer.
• Book ahead during festivals like Mysore Dasara.

What We Changed From the Old Post

• The old post listed a “Sinkandra Fort” in Agra. There is no such fort. Sikandra is the place where Akbar’s tomb stands.
• It said winter is the best time for Kashmir. In fact, winter suits snow sports, while summer suits lakes and meadows.
• It called Ajanta and Ellora Buddhist only. Ellora also has Hindu and Jain caves.
• It named one Delhi World Heritage Site. Delhi has three.
• We fixed the “Lake place” typo. It is the Lake Palace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most visited monument in India?

The Taj Mahal is the best known. It drew about five million visitors in 2022 to 2023.

Is the Taj Mahal open every day?

No. It is closed on Fridays. On other days it opens one hour before sunrise.

When is the best time to visit Kashmir?

Visit in winter for skiing in Gulmarg. Visit in spring or summer for flowers, lakes and green meadows.

How many World Heritage Sites does Delhi have?

Three: the Qutb Minar complex, the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb.