Photo by Tiago Rosado on Unsplash

5 Best Cities to Visit in India


 

The republic of India has the second-largest population in the world with over 1.3 billion people. India is the seventh-largest country by land size.

There are more than 200 cities in India. Seven of these cities has a population of more than 3 million. Greater Mumbai still is the most populated city.

The Indian cuisine is known to for its large variety of dishes and the use of spices and herbs in their cooking. The cuisine has also borrowed from neighboring countries.

This country is diverse in language, sartorial elegance, and cultural heritages. Its linguistic diversity is one of the largest for a country.

It is estimated that there are over 1000 spoken languages in India. The country has at least 22 official languages with English being one of them. 

The precise number of languages spoken in India is probably over 1,000, but it is often hard to define when one language begins and another ends.

From Kerala highlands, a popular tourist destination with is lush green tea farms to Agra where the Taj Mahal stands out, India has interesting places to visit and cultural heritage to admire.

Here are 5 best cities to visit in India.

1. Amritsar

By Swaran jeet singh dhami -wikimedia

Amritsar is a city in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. It is home to most Sikhs that live in the Punjab state.

In its old town is the Harmonic Sahib, the gilded Golden Temple. It is the holiest religious complex of the Sikh religion.  

Pilgrims to the temple bathe at the Amrit Sarovar lake. The temple receives millions of visitors each year. 

The Jallianwala Bagh memorial of the massacre that happened in 1919, and the Partition Museum from the post-partition riots; these are some places to visit for the country’s history.

Other activities not to miss out on are; sampling the street food, buying colorful souvenirs, visiting the sun city amusement park and water park and bird watching at Harike wetlands.

2. Chennai

By slasha -wikimedia

Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal East of India. This coastal city was called Madras.

Fort St. George that was built in 1644 in the city is a museum that exhibits the city’s origin as a British military garrison and East India Company outpost.

Some religious sites in the city include Kapaleeshwarar Temple that is decorated with carved and painted gods, there is also St. Mary’s Anglican church from the 17th century.

Other than the beautiful temples, the city boasts of immaculate beaches. It is an inviting destination that is the most visited in South India. 

The beachfront food stalls at Marina serve delicious Indian cuisine. 

Another historical site is the San Thome Cathedral, a soaring Roman Catholic cathedral, which is a short distance from the beach. 

It was founded by the Portuguese in 1523, the British rebuilt it in a neo-Gothic style later in 1896. It was the final resting place of St. Thomas the apostle.

3. Kochi

By RanjithSiji -wikimedia

Kochi, also known as Cochin, is a coastal city in Kerala state, southwest of India. 

The city has been a port area since 1314when it flooded and its harbor was carved out, making way for Arab, Chinese and European merchants.

Fort Kochi is one of the imprints left by the influence of the trade. It is a settlement with tiled colonial bungalows and various temples.

The city is full of cultural diversity and has a different atmosphere compared to other cities. 

The foreign influences can be seen throughout the city and through the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets.

The cultural influence from Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, typical of Kochi, have been in use for centuries.

The beaches, tea fields, spice estates, delicious cuisine are perfect examples that define this tourist destination. 

The Indo-Portuguese Museum at Fort Kochi, is a blend of Indian and Portuguese culture and architecture. It was built by former Bishop of the city, Joseph Urethra. 

The museum has 5 wings exhibiting Altar of Furniture, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life and Cathedral.  It is one of the best places to see in Kochi.

4. Agra

By A.Savin – wikimedia

The city of Agra is known for its iconic and impressive Taj Mahal. This city is on the banks of Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh state.

Agra is the fourth most populous city in its state and the 24th in India.

The city attracts millions of tourists each year who flock the Taj Mahal. This magnificent mausoleum was built by an emperor as a memorial for his wife.

 It symbolizes love, romance and adventure. The building was named as one of the seven wonders of the world. 

Other than the Taj, as it is commonly referred, Agra has more ancient attractive sites like the ancient Mughal-era Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One can see the Taj while looking over the walls of the fort. 

The Mehtabh Bagh, Mughal Heritage walk, Korai Village and Fatehpur Sikri are other top destination that are worth a visit.

5. Bangalore

Photo by pavan gupta on Unsplash

Bangalore is India’s Silicon Valley that is in the south. It is a booming cosmopolitan center of industry, open spaces and nightlife. 

This city has managed to emerge as the cultural hub for shopping, cuisine, drinking and merry-making. 

The restaurants in the city mainly serve vegetarian dishes. The Krishnarajendra Market is the best place to visit for a taste of Indian cuisines.

For some fashionable clothes at Brigade Road and souvenirs at the commercial street at affordable prices. 

The Indian Classical Dance at Nrityagram Dance Village is a dance school that lets in visitors to watch traditional Indian dances. 

It offers a unique experience of classical Indian dances such as the Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniattam, and Manipuri.


India’s diverse culture can be experienced in different cities, and they vary too. The religion, music, art and language are different across the nation. 

The film industry, Bollywood, in the country has flourished and has become a worldwide sensation with some winning the top film awards in Hollywood. 

It began in Mumbai and still has a strong presence in the city.

The Indians are well known for their colorful and bright festival that is celebrated in styles like Holi or the color festival and Diwali that involves partaking in a family feast.

 

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