North India Tourism tripadvisor

Things to do in North India

Northern India is perhaps best known for the Golden Triangle, the popular first-timer route of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. But there’s a whole lot more to the region than that: the peaks of the Himalayas tower over the far north, tigers roam the jungles and the scent of toasted spices fills the air. Whether it’s your first visit to India or your hundredth, you can’t fail to be blown away by the chaos, colour and culture of it all.

Ghats of Varanasi
Varanasi, one of the oldest cities of India and home to hermits and celibates as well as aghoras and black magicians, is also the fabled city of Lord Rudra. River Ganga flows past this settlement and sanctifies the many ghats (embankments) here that are as old as time. You must make sure to spend a day or two in Varanasi, touring the ghats and sighting the beauty that thrives here in religion, spirituality and the many means to attain it. Assi ghat is one very famous ghat, known as the ghat of Lord Shiva. A lot of people come to bathe in the Ganges on this ghat. Dasaswamedh ghat is always crowded and mostly by the sadhus, sanyasis and tapasvis (hermits, celibates and those performing penance). You will find so many here in saffron shrouds and dhotis. Ganga aarti is also very famous on these ghats.

Jammu-Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir make up the northern most state of India, bordering parts of Pakistan and China. This state is as much in news for its beauty as it is for the political tension surrounding its history. However, the warmth of the people and landscapes here are nothing short of welcoming. Maybe that is why Kashmir is often referred to as ‘heaven on earth.’
You can spend your days scouting varied sceneries here, from the Dal Lake and Hazratbal to Tupil Gardens and Pari Mahal in the city of Srinagar. There is Gurez Valley’s quiet, gorgeous landscape, Sonmarg’s golden meadows outlined by snow-capped mountains, some thrilling mountain sports, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Anantnag. Go down south to Jammu city and explore the many forts, ruins and lakes, including the beautiful city of Akhnoor (literally meaning ‘light of the eye’) and the holy town of Vaishno Devi. Eat some thorough local fare of breads, naans, pulavs, lotus stem and mutton gravies as well kahwa (flavoured Kashmiri tea). Shop for their renowned Pashmina shawls and don’t forget to take back baked goodies like mawa cakes, plum cakes, biscuits and milk cakes from local bakeries.

Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a brilliant burst of sensations, from culture to heritage, sights to food. You can spend a week or a month and the Maharaja (king)-style pampering will still not be enough. Spend some time in Jaipur, exploring the various palaces like Hawa Mahal, City palace, Jantar Mantar and Amer Fort, depicting the stories of Rajputana stronghold of an era bygone. Visit Udaipur to tour the many lakes that were picnic spots of kings and their consorts, take a tour of the great City Palace that is still home to the current ruling Maharana of Mewad. There is also the Lake Palace and the most expensive hotel in the world - 'The Leela' to pamper you in traditional Rajasthani way. Pay respects at the holy town of Nathdwara, alive with the effervescent culture and Vaishnav religion.
You can head to Jaisalmer, especially if you are here in the winters, for sand dune safaris, camel rides and camps in the middle of a cooling desert. Their New Year camps are very famous. Ranthambore Forest Reserve is also a famous getaway to sight some exotic Indian animals, including the Royal Bengal Tiger. This Reserve was once the hunting ground of the kings of Rajasthan.

Himachal
Himachal Pradesh is filled with destinations that are hilly, forested and ideal for a Nice cool vacation. The Garhwal region of Himalayas, encompassing the foothills of the mighty mountains, form a major chunk of Himachal. You can explore at leisure some beautiful towns and hill stations like Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Kufri, Kasauli and Spiti. Stay in plush resorts, boating in lakes, toy train rides and lots of idyllic sight seeing awaits you. There is also Dalhousie and Dharamshala, two Tibetan settlements that boast of Tibetan culture and food.

Punjab
The Punjab belt of North India is known for its large-hearted people as much as for its rich, buttery food. You can always spend your time sightseeing in Chandigarh and Amritsar, with attractions like the Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Golden Temple, Wagah Border etc. But what makes for the real delight in these parts of India, is the food, especially the local street food.
Scour the streets of Amritsar for some Chhole-kulche (chickpea gravy with Indian stuffed breads), chicken tikke, aloo paranthe and lassi. Kesar da dhaba serves some of the best dal fry, paranthe and lassi in the city, Brijwasi is famous for chaat and sweets, Makhan da dhaba for makhan fish (buttery fish) and paneer tikka (cottage cheese), Ahuja Milk Bhandar for flavoured milk and Jalebi Chowk for Jalebis and Gulab Jamuns (special Indian sweets). While in Chandigarh, Garg Chaat, Pal Dhaba for sarson ka saag and makke di roti (green leafy gravy and cornbread made Indian style), Amritsari Kulcha, Burger Point and Grand Punjab Restaurant in Mohali are your go-to places for foodgasm.


Popular Tourist Destinations in North India

North India is one part which always has a lot of visitors all round the globe. You can always find that rush in the major cities Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow etc. Who would not love to explore theses enchanting cities. These are some of the major tourist places to visit in India. With its magnificent glory of culture, tradition and its people. Don’t miss a chance to visit some of the best places in Delhi like Humayun’s Tomb, Akshardham, Lodi gardens, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Chandni Chowk , Rashtrapati Bhawan etc. From delicious cuisine to some amazing culture this place has been calling us to explore it more and more. Get soak on the beauty of this region with the valleys and the beaches and the amazing waterfalls. So just pack your bags and head out for a wonderful vacation to the North. Travelling across North India will offer you a soul-stirring experience. There won’t be a single moment you will feel out of place. All the holiday destinations in north India come with irresistible things to do and see. You can find the holiest river flowing through the dramatic mountain terrain into the oldest city in India, hike to the longest surviving Hindu temple in the Himalayan peaks, and marvel at some of the loveliest UNESCO attractions.