Ajanta Caves The Ajanta Caves, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra State of India. One of the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting, these

Bhojbasa Bhojbasa is a scenic spot on the rugged terrains, situated at an altitude of 3,775 mts above sea level. Bhojbasa can be reached by14 kms trek that starts from Gangotri. The trek goes through rugged terrains along with the

Nalanda Nalanda was an acclaimed Mahāvihāra, a large Buddhist monastery in ancient Magadha (modern-day state of Bihar). The site is located about 95 kilometres southeast of Patna near the city of Bihar Sharif, and was a centre of learning from

Allahabad The city’s original name – Prayaga, or “place of offerings” – comes from its position at the union of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati Rivers. It is the second-oldest city in India, and plays a central role in

Allahabad The city’s original name – Prayaga, or “place of offerings” – comes from its position at the union of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati Rivers. It is the second-oldest city in India, and plays a central role in

Goumukh Goumukh, the terminus or snout of the Gangotri Glacier, from where Bhagirathi River originates, is one of the primary sources of the Ganges River. The place is situated at a height of 13,200 ft in the state of Uttarakhand,

Rajgir The name Rajgir came from Rājagṛiha ‘house of the king’ or “royal house”, or the word ‘rajgir’ might have its origin in its plain literal meaning, “royal mountain”. It was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until

chennai The capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai (also known as Madras), is located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal and is known as the ‘Detroit of India’. The city of Chennai is

Cochin Cochin (also called Kochi), is a major port city on the south west coast of India by the Laccadive Sea and is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called Ernakulam, which

GOA Goa is a small state located in the West India and is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is

Ahmedabad The area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known as Ashaval (or Ashapalli). At that time, Karandev I, the Solanki ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a successful war against the Bhil king

Jaipur Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Northern India. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India. The city is unusual among pre-modern Indian cities in the regularity of its streets, and the division

Guwahati The name Guwahati is a portmanteau word consisting of the Assamese words ‘guwa’ (areca nut) and ‘haat’ (market place). Prior to colonial rule, the name was spelled as Gowhatty, and was then anglicized as Gauhati during British colonial rule.

Jorhat Jorhat is a city in the state of Assam in India. It was the last capital of the Ahom Kingdom and home to many historical monuments of Assamese culture. In the north of the district, the Brahmaputra River forms

Bagdogra Bagdogra is a town in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, which is surrounded by tea gardens. Bagdogra is part of the Greater Siliguri Metropolitan Area. Bagdogra is well connected by air from three major cities of India

Darjeeling The history of Darjeeling is intertwined with that of Sikkim,Nepal, British India and Bhutan. Until the early 19th century, the hilly area around Darjeeling was controlled by the kingdom of Sikkim, while the plains around Siliguri were intermittently occupied

Mumbai Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is one of the most populous urban regions in the world and is the wealthiest city in India. Mumbai came into existence in 1661 when

Nasik Nasik (also spelt as Nashik) is a city in western India in the state of Maharashtra. Nashik is located in the north-west of Maharashtra near Gujarat state, 171 km (106 mi) from Mumbai and 210 km (130 mi) from

Mangalore Mangalore (also known as Mangaluru) is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges. It developed as a port on the Arabian Sea—remaining, to this

Gangtok Like the rest of Sikkim, not much is known about the early history of Gangtok. The earliest records date from the construction of the hermitic Gangtok monastery in 1716. Gangtok remained a small hamlet until the construction of the

Kalimpong The precise etymology of the name Kalimpong means Land of Kings. There are many theories on the origin of the name. One widely-accepted theory claims that the name “Kalimpong” means “Assembly (or Stockade) of the King’s Ministers” in Tibetan,

Pelling Pelling is a town in the district of West Sikkim, India. Pelling is nestled at an altitude of 2,150 m (7,200 feet). The Himalayas and the Kanchenjanga may be viewed at close quarters from Pelling. Pelling also forms the

COORG The majority of the early accounts of Coorg (Kodagu) are fundamentally eminent and the genuine record of history in Coorg is available only following the ninth century. On the word of inscriptions, Coorg was under the rule of many

Wayanad Wayanad, One of the fourteen districts in Kerala (India) is situated in an elevated picturesque mountainous plateau in Western Ghats. There is a land not far from Calicut, the city of Zamorins, yet a world apart from Kerala’s agricultural

Coimbatore The region around Coimbatore was ruled by Sangam Cherasand it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap, the principal trade route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu. The Kossar tribe mentioned in the second century CE

Ooty Ooty is situated deep within the Nilagiri hills (which can be literally translated as The Blue Mountains). It is unknown whether this name arises from the blue smoky haze given off by the eucalyptus trees that cover the area

Bhopal According to folklore, Bhopal is said to have been founded by the king Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty (AD 1000–1055), who ruled from his capital at Dhar. This theory states that Bhopal was originally known as Bhojpal after the

Bhimbetka The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site of the Paleolithic, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent, and thus the beginning of the South Asian Stone Age. It is located in the Indian state

Bagh Caves The Bagh Caves are a group of nine rock-cut monuments, situated among the southern slopes of the Vindhyas in Bagh town of Dhar district in the state of Madhya Pradesh. These monuments are located at a distance of

Khetri Khetri in Rajasthan was ruled by Shekhawat sub-clan of Kachawa dynasty of Jaipur. The king of Khetri Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri gave name of Swami Vivekananda, to Narendra. The saffron turban and clothes was given to Vivekananda by

Jhunjhunu Jhunjhunu lies in the core of the well known erstwhile Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Maharao Shardul Singh won Jhunjhunu by defeating (in 1730) Rohilla Khan “Raseela”, the last Nawab of Jhunjhunu. Rani Sati Temple Panchdev Temple Khemi Sati Temple

Chirawa Chirawa town of Jhunjhunu district in the state of Rajasthan is a well known place of Shekhawati Rajasthan, the town is situated between Jhunjhunu, Khetri and Pilani. The identity of this town is because of it’s relation with the

Mandawa About the origin of Mandawa there have been earlier references to Mandu Jat as founder of the Mandawa village. He first established a dhani (hamlet) and dug a well here, which was completed on savan badi 5 samvat 1797

Fatehpur Fatehpur is a town in the Sikar district of Indian state of Rajasthan. It is part of the Shekhawati region. Fatehpur is famous for grand havelis with frescos, which are significant architectural structures of the Shekhawati region. A number

Dundlod Dundlod was under Shekhawat rulers under Jaipur state. Its fort was built in 1750 by Keshari Singh, the fifth and youngest son of a Rajput ruler Sardul Singh. Major additions were made in the early 19th century by his

Nawalgarh Thakur Nawal Singh Bahadur (Shekhawat) founded Nawalgarh in 1737 AD at the village site of Rohili, before abolition of Jagirs in Rajasthan. Many great business families of marwari community have their origins from Nawalgarh. Nawalgarh was a tazimi thikana

AMRITSAR Amritsar is one of the largest cities of the Punjab state in India. The city origin lies in the village of Tung, and was named after the lake founded by the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das in 1574 on

Jalandhar History of Jalandhar District comprises three periods – ancient, medieval and modern. According to the history of Jalandhar, in ancient time, the district comprised the whole of the Upper Doabas from Ravi River to Sutlej River. According to the

Leh Leh, was the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now Leh is a part the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is dominated by the ruined Leh Palace, the former mansion of the royal family of

Shani Shingnapur Shani Shingnapur or Shani Shinganapur or Shingnapur or Sonai is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is known for its popular temple of Shani, the Hindu god

Rajkot Rajkot has been under different rulers since it was founded. Rajkot has a long history and had a significant part in the Indian independence movement. Rajkot was home for many personalities like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Rajkot is in a

Sasan Gir The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir) is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat. Established in 1965, with a total area of 1412 km² (about 258 km² for the fully protected area

Jambur African by origin, Indian by nationality with Gujarati as their lingua franca – the Siddi tribe lives in a village called Jambur in the heart of Gujarat. Just like any other village, Jambur has red mud by lanes, houses

Veraval Veraval was founded in 13th or 14th century by Rao Veravalji Vadher(Rathore) a Rajput. Veraval was once a fortified port town of the royal family of Junagadh. It was a part of the Kingdom of Junagadh till 1953 when

Bangalore Bangalore, now officially known as Bengaluru, is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in southern India on the Deccan Plateau, at a height of over 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level, Bangalore is known for

Shimoga Shimoga, officially renamed as Shivamogga, is a city in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. The city lies on the banks of the Tunga River. Being the gateway for the hilly region of the Western Ghats,

MATTUR Mattur (or Mathur) is a village in Karnataka state, India, known for the usage of Sanskrit for day-to-day communication, although the general language of the state is Kannada. Mattur has a temple of Rama, a Shivalaya, Someshwara temple and

karauli The town itself dates back to 1348, and isKarauli (also spelt as Karoli or Kerowlee) is a town located in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Earlier, Karauli, along with Alwar, was part of the Matsya kingdom, according to the

Bundi In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes. Bundi and the eponymous princely state are said to derive their names from a former Meena tribe man called Bunda Meena. Bundi was previously called

Ranakpuri Ranakpur is a village located in the Pali district of Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur. 162 km from Jodhpur and 91 km from Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of the

Luni Luni is situated 35 kms away from Jodhpur, it is a charming and cloistered village which reflects the royal past of Rajasthan. In Luni many artisans are still pursuing their ancestral profession of carving metal, clay or wood into

Khimsar Khimsar is a small village situated around 92 km on the highway from Jodhpur to Bikaner in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. The village of Khimsar provides an excellent starting point to explore the district of Nagaur, which

Pushkar Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India. The date of its actual founding is not known, but legend associates Brahma with its creation. According to legend, Brahma was in search of a place for Mahayagna and he

SRINAGAR The independent Hindu and the Buddhist rule of Srinagar lasted until the 14th century when the Kashmir valley, including the city, came under the control of the several Muslim rulers, including the Mughals. It was also the capital during

Trivandrum Trivandrum, now better known as Thiruvananthapuram, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. The history of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) dates back to the 10th century AD. The city and several other places in the district occupy an

Kanyakumari Kanyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It lies at the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent (the southern extremity of India as a whole being Indira Point on

Sravasti Sravasti, capital of an ancient kingdom by the same name, is sacred to the Buddhists because it was here that Lord Buddha confounded his critics with a million fold manifestation of himself, seated on a thousand-petalled lotus, as fire

Lumbini Lumbini (in Nepal) is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who was born in the 7th or 6th century BC. According to Buddhist tradition, Maya Devi (or Mayadevi) gave birth to the Buddha on her way

KUSHINAGAR Kushinagar (also called Kusinara) is the site of the Buddha Shakyamuni’s death. It is located next to Kasia, a rural town in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 52 km from Gorakhpur, in northern India. Kushinagar was a celebrated center

Bharatpur Bharatpur is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Located in the Brij region, Bharatpur was once considered to be an impregnable city and was the capital of the Jat kingdom. The city is situated 55 km west

Ranthambore Ranthambore (Ranthambore National Park), near the town of Sawai Madhopur, the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India’s Independence. It has a formidable fort having been a focal point of

Chittorgarh Chittorgarh (also spelt as Chittaurgarh) is the epitome of Chattari Rajput (a Hindu Kshatriya [Warrior] caste) pride, romance and spirit, for people of Chittor always chose death before surrendering against anyone. It reverberates with history of heroism and sacrifice

Jodhpur Jodhpur is in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts

Pattadakal Pattadakal also spelled Pattadakalu is a World Heritage site, a village and an important tourist centre in the state of Karnataka and is located on the left bank of the Malaprabha River, 22 km from Badami and 514 km

Sarnath Sarnath, located just 12 km from the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, is the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma after his enlightenment. Sarnath is one of four holy Buddhist sites sanctioned by

Vaishali Vaishali is well known for its close association with the Buddha. After leaving Kapilavastu for renunciation, he came to Vaishali first and had his spiritual training from Ramaputra Udraka and Alara Kalama. After the Enlightenment the Buddha frequently visited

Jaisalmer Jaisalmer nicknamed “The Golden city”, is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert (great Indian desert). The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort,

Sanchi The Buddhist vihara at Sanchi, famous for its Great Stupa is located at Sanchi Town in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The ‘Great Stupa’ at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the

Hampi Hampi (Hampe) is a village in northern Karnataka, India. The name hampi can also mean “champion”. It is located within the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara,

Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is around 60 km south from the city of Chennai. It is an ancient historic town and was a bustling

Tanjore Tanjore is now known as Thanjavur. It is a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are

Sundarbans The Sundarbans is a natural region in the Bengal region comprising Bangladesh and Eastern India. It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans covers approximately 10,000 sq km (3,900 sq mi)

Panna Panna was a Gond settlement until the 13th century. When the Gondi were defeated by the Chandelas they migrated to other parts of Madhya Pradesh. Until that date, there were many rulers of the area. The famous mandir of

Chambal The valley is fast emerging as an exciting new destination, given its unique and unpolluted habitat, abundant wildlife and amazing landscapes, medieval temples, magnificent ancient ruins and animal fairs. The river safari in the Chambal river is a unique

Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar, popularly known as the ‘Temple City of India’, is the capital of the Indian State of Odisha, formerly Orissa. The city is an historical pilgrimage centre and comprises of over 500 temples around which the religious life of

Chandabali Before the 19th century AD, Chandabali was a small fishing village, and a natural river port. In 1866 trading began from this port to Bengal and in 1881 it was declared a government port by the British government. This

Bhitarkanika The Bhitarkanika Mangroves were in 1975 with an area of 672 km² was declared the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. The core area of the sanctuary, with an area of 145 km², was declared Bhitarkanika National Park in September 1998. The

Kaziranga The history of Kaziranga as a protected area can be traced back to 1904, when Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston, the wife of the Viceroy of India,Lord Curzon of Kedleston, visited the area. After failing to see a

Kanchipuram Kanchipuram otherwise known as Kanchi is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, about 75 km from Chennai – the capital of Tamil Nadu. Located on the banks of the Vegavathy River, Kanchipuram has been ruled by

Alleppey Alleppey also known as Alappuzha is a major town in the Indian state of Kerala. Alappuzha is considered to be the oldest planned city in this region and the lighthouse built here on the coast of the city is

Kanam Kanam is a small place in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is approximately 25 km from Kottayam Town on the way to Kumily. Originally Kanam kara of Kangazha muri, Vazhoor village of Changanacherry taluk in Kottayam Dist, Kerala, belonged

Munnar The name Munnar means “three rivers”, referring to its location at the confluence of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers. Munnar town is situated on the Kannan Devan Hills. Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have

Athirappilly Athirappilly is popular among tourists. Athirappilly Falls is one of the best places to visit in Kerala. Another popular waterfall to visit is theVazhachal Falls. Athirappilly Falls is a part of Chalakudy river and it is approximately 80 feet

Shimla Shimla, formerly Simla, is a beautiful hill station located in northern India and is the capital city of Himanchal Pradesh. Surrounded by lakes and lush green forests, this beautiful city of Shimla was discovered by the British. Since the

Chandigarh introduction Chandigarh, known internationally for its architecture and urban design, is the first planned city in India after Independence in 1947. It is a beautiful city having roads surrounded by trees and is rated third for having the forest

Mysore Mysore introduction Mysore also known as Mysuru, is in the state of Karnataka. It served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom (Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1947. Located at the base of

Karaikal Karaikal introduction Karaikal, located about 140 km south of the city of Pondicherry or Puducherry, is a small coastal society that was formerly a part of French India. One of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry

Cuddalore Cuddalore introduction Cuddalore, derived from Koodalur, which means confluence in Tamil, is a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is said to have been ruled by the Pallavas and Medieval Cholas. Thereafter, the control

Pondicherry pondicherry introduction Affectionately known as Pondy or Puducherry, Pondicherry is the regional capital and largest city of the Union Territory of India, rather than a state. Historically known as Pondicherry, the territory changed its official name on 20th September

Kakinada Kakinada introduction Kakinada, once known by the name of Kakinandivada, is a city in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh. Regarded as the 4th most populous city of the state, it was once called by the Dutch settlers as

Konark Konark introduction Konark, famous for the historical Sun Temple, is a small town located on the coast by the Bay of Bengal in the Puri district of Odisha state. It is about 70 Kilometers from the state capital, Bhubaneshwar.

Chikhaldara Chikhaldara introduction Chikhaldara is a Hill Station in Amravati district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Featured in the epic of the Mahabharata, this is the place where Bheema killed the villainous Keechaka in a herculean bout and then

Nagpur Nagpur Introduction Nagpur is the seat of the annual winter session of the Maharashtra state assembly, “Vidhan Sabha”. It is a major commercial and political centre of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In addition, the city derives political importance

Akola Akola Introduction Akola is a city in Vidarbha region in the state of Maharashtra in central India. It is about 584 km east of state capital Mumbai. Akola District along with the rest of the Berar province was part

Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam The city of Visakhapatnam, also known as the ‘Jewel of the East Coast’, is the largest city in terms of area and population in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh. Primarily industrial, the city is home to the

Chandannagar Chandannagar Chandannagar or formerly called as Chandernagor in French, is a former French Colony located about 35 km north of Kolkatta, in West Bengal, India. The name of Chandernagor is said to have been derived from two words –

Pune Pune Introduction It is situated 560 metres (1,837 feet) above sea level on the Deccan plateau, on the right bank of the Mutha river. Pune city is the administrative headquarters of Pune district and was once the centre of

Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri Introduction Fatehpur Sikri is a town in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar, and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from

Kanpur Kanpur Introduction Kanpur, (formerly known as Cawnpore), is famous for its own historical, religious and commercial importance. Also known as the “Leather City of the World” and the “Manchester of North India”, the city of Kanpur is an important