Places to discover

Best places to visit in India

A trip to India guarantees a real change of scene and the presence of a big cultural shock in many senses. Smells, colours, heat and the crowds disturb perceptions and upset your emotions. India can leave you with unforgettable memories if you are well prepared.

The community of seasoned Evaneos travellers give you their advice. You'll discover their favourite stop-off points and especially a wealth of tips of the best way to behave because India is somewhat... disconcerting the first time round! There are as many trips in India as there are travellers so make the right choices. That said, nothing stops you from going back there again and again. It is said that the majority of travellers can no longer go without it!

A trip to northern India often starts with Delhi, the capital, and with the Taj Mahal in Agra. It's up to you to choose between the luxurious Mysore Palaces in the touristic region of Rajasthan, or immersing yourself in Hinduism around Varanasi, the cradle of this religion and the prettiest city in India, famous for its ghats on the Ganges River.

Not as exotic but more rich, the southern part of the country seduces for its backwaters in Kerala. It's also an opportunity to relax for a week on the mythical beaches of Goa's hippies.

In the summer months, you can get to the Buddhist region of Ladakh from Srinagar in Kashmir. That's where you'll find the best treks in the world in the mountains around Leh. For an off the beaten track trip, head t the North-East of the country, in the Ziro Valley and on the island of Majuli.

It's up to you to browse pages for inspiration and create a spiritual, historical, cultural, out of the ordinary trip... in your own way!

Both Mahatma Gandhi's base and gateway to the sublime state of Gujarat, Ahmedabad also contains some of the most beautiful mosques in India.
A town in Gujarat, in the heart of the Kutch district.
Puri is an Odisha State town, in eastern India. It's also one of the country's holiest sites.
The town in the state of Bihar where Prince Siddharta Guatama experienced awakening and became a Buddha.
Along is a small town in the middle of the forests of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India.
Halebid is a tiny village completely lost in the Karnataka countryside. Just 30 km from Hassan and only 16 from Belur, it's a 45 minute bus ride from Hassan to get to this haven of peace.
A mountain town, surrounded by lakes and waterfalls.
Only 10km from Mumbai on an island in the Oman Sea, Elephant Island is unmissable for its caves, classified a UNESCO World Heritage site.  
Home to the headquarters of the exiled Tibetan government, next to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.
Just 11 km from Jaipur, in Amer, there is a superb palace, a magnificent temple and a fort that dominates the whole area: enough for a very full and very enjoyable day of visits.
A Himalayan market town, on the road to Leh in the north of Manali.
A town in Madhya Pradesh, known for its 16th Century palaces.
At 105km from Aurangabad, you'll find Ajanta, with its collection of breathtaking caves. The wall paintings here are considered to be some of the finest examples of Buddhist art.
I used Bombay as my base and place to stay when I visited India. It's an enormous and chaotic city, with a population of around 23 million. Bombay is something of a shock at first, but it's enjoyable getting to know it.
Mandvi, on the Gujarat coast in northwest India, is famous for its shipyard.
Pemayangtse Gompa is a superb monastery a stone's throw from Pelling, in Sikkim.
A small town in Darjeeling that blends Indian charm with a bit of peace and quiet.
Kargil is a stop-over town midway between Srinagar in Kashmir and Leh in Ladakh. It's an obligatory stop-off point for a bite to eat or to spend the night, but above all, the surrounding landscapes are fabulous.
Agonda is a long white sandy beach south of the State of Goa, not far from the famous Palolem. Perfect for relaxing!
At the centre of Arunachal Pradesh, in the tribal States of the North-East, Daporijo, although often described as a dirty, uninteresting small town, is still worth a visit during yourtrip to India.