TOP 10 TOURIST PLACES IN NORTH INDIA

                             KASHMIR

Popularly known as the "Paradise on Earth" Jammu and Kashmir is world famous for its scenic splendour, snow-capped mountains, plentiful wildlife, exquisite monuments, hospitable people and local handicrafts. 

Places to visit

Jammu — the winter capital

Srinagar — the summer capital of the state, set around Dal Lake, with its floating houseboats.

Gulmarg  — A hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in the Baramulla district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Katra— In the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains and home of the holy Mata Vaishno Devi shrine

Pahalgam — A calm and serene place offering multiple trekking routes. The starting point of Amarnath Yatra

Patnitop —  A small hill station in Jammu.

HOW TO REACH-  To fly into Kashmir, you can take the Srinagar airport. It is well connected to prime Indian cities. Kashmir is also well connected by a network of state and private buses. If you choose to come by train, you can get down at Jammu Tavi Railway Station. 

                                DELHI 

According to Euromonitor International, Delhi ranked as 28th-most visited city in the world and first in India by foreign visitors in 2015. There are numerous tourist attractions in Delhi, both historic and modern. The three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi, Qutb Complex, RedFort and Humayun's Tomb are among the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.Another prominent landmark of Delhi is India Gate, a 1931 built war memorial to soldiers of British Indian Army who died during First World War. 

Delhi is famous for its tourist attractions,  food,and it's marketplaces. Since its the national capital of the country you can explore rashtrapati bhavan, parliament house, India gate. If you are dedicated to history you can visit qutub minar, humayun's tomb. 

 HOW TO REACH  - Delhi is well connected by air, railways and roads with all major cities across India. For a comfortable journey you can take a flight toDelhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport is just 20 km away from the city center. The railway stations in Delhi are all well connected with different parts of the city.

                HARIDWAR- RISHIKESH

Haridwar is often called the gateway to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of the 'Char Dhams' and attracts a huge number of tourists due to its amazing mountains, rivers and ancient temples.

Haridwar is an ancient city and important Hindu pilgrimage site in North India's Uttarakhand state, where the River Ganges exits the Himalayan foothills. The largest of several sacred ghats (bathing steps), Har Ki Pauri hosts a nightly Ganga Aarti (river-worshipping ceremony) in which tiny flickering lamps are floated off the steps. Worshipers fill the city during major festivals including the annual Kanwar Mela.

RISHIKESH-  is a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. The river is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation. Temples and ashrams (centers for spiritual studies) line the eastern bank around Swarg Ashram, a traffic-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian enclave upstream from Rishikesh town.

  There are various temples and ashrams that can be visited in and around Rishikesh like Parmarth Niketan and Gita Ashram. Rajaji Tiger Reserve, situated near Rishikesh, isfamous for a wildlife safari. Neelkanth Mahadev temple, Kunjapuri Temple and Bharat Mandir are visited by thousands of devotees

HOW TO REACH - Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is 37 km away fromHaridwar, whereas Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is 223 km away. You can reach Haridwar from these two airports via bus, taxi or train.

                            VARANASI

Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Varanasi is a very holy place for Hindus. The River Ganges is believed to be a personification of the goddess Ganga and bathing in it is thought to facilitate liberation from the cycle of life and death. If nothing else, prepare to flatten against the nearest wall as the funeral procession rushes past.

HOW TO REACH  - Varanasi airport is well-linked to some of the major cities in India like Delhi and Mumbai.Varanasi is also connected to major cities of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states by state-run buses.

The Varanasi railway station is connected to major cities of India via Indian Railway.

                        JIM CORBETT 

       

              

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district and Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett, a well known hunter and naturalist. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

A total of 488 different species of plants have been recorded in the park.Tree density inside the reserve is higher in the areas of Salforests and lowest in the Anogeissus-Acacia catechu forests.

As per my experience, Jim Corbett National Park is the best place to enjoy wildlife sanctuary. It is famous for the endangered royal Bengal Tiger located in the Uttarakhand. Also, it has enriching species of flora and fauna. It was the first national park of India.  

HOW TO REACH - The nearest railway station to Jim Corbett National Park is Ramnagar. A direct train to Ramnagar runs from Delhi. Alternatively, you can reach up toHaldwani/Kashipur/Kathgodam and come to Ramnagar by road. Many transportation facilities are easily available from these stations.

                       SPITI VALLEY

Spiti Valley is a cold desert mountain valley located high in the Himalayas in the north-eastern part of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The middle land", i.e. the land between Tibetand India.

The entire valley is a photographers delight. The play of light, altitude and crisp sunlight makes the barren landscape of Spiti a delight to photograph. The friendly people, the red robes of monks, the lush green tracts of agricultural land, the white patches of clouds in the blue sky add a splash of color to Spiti. Spiti valley is famous for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Tabo monastery is one of the most prominent attractions in Spiti. The monasteries in Spiti are renowned for spectacular murals, ancient temples, and several stupas.

From June till September is probably the best time to visit Spiti by road. This way you will be able to complete the circuit and will not be limited to just visiting from Shimla to Kaza. Places like Chandratal and Kunzum Pass are also accessible during this time only.

HOW TO REACH-  The nearest airport to Spiti region is the Kullu Airport at Bhuntar, Kullu.The nearest railway stations to Spiti valley are Joginder Nagar railway station, and Shimla railway station. Spiti is well-connected by road to the other cities and the adjoining states from, May to November. 

                     RANTHAMBHORE 

     

    

Ranthambhore wildlife sanctuary is known for its Bengal tigers and is a popular place in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can be easily spotted even in the daytime. The best times for tiger sightings at Ranthambhore National Park are deemed to be in November and May. The park's deciduous forests are characteristic examples of the type of jungle found in Central India. Other fauna include the Indian leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile and chital. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.

HOW TO REACH -It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, about 110 km northeast of Kota and 140 km southeast of Jaipur, which is also the nearest airport. The nearest town and railway station is at Sawai Madhopur, about 11 km away. The park is also close to the Kota railway station.

                                 AGRA 

Agra is a major tourist destination because of its many Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.It is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World.{TAJ MAHAL}

The most obvious choice reason that usually dictates a visit to Agra, the Taj Mahal is a beautiful symbol of love while simultaneously flaunting Indian history and architecture and leaving the world to marble its fine centuries old construction. 

HOW TO REACH - The nearest airports to reach Taj Mahal are in Agra and Delhi. The Taj Express and Shatabdi offer the best rail connections to Agra. You can also drive or travel by bus (243 km from Delhi). If you take the Taj Express Highway then the trip will take about 3 hours 50 minutes.

                         DHARAMSHALA

The place is known for its various attractions including the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama. The place is one of the most frequented spots in Dharamshala and is famous for its Tibetan culture, handicrafts and temples. 

Dharamshala is known for the mesmerizing backdrop, stunning lake, vibrant monasteries, colorful temples, sparkling waterfalls, and vintage forts & museums and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in north India.

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is the most picturesque cricket stadium in the world, located in the city of Dharamshala and the city is home of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. It is situated at an altitude of 1,457 m facing Himalayan mountains and selected as one of the six new Test match venues in India.

Triund is a small hill station in the Kangra district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Triund is a part of Dharamkot.The total distance between Triund and McLeodganj is 9 km, and thus, the averageTriund trek time is only about 4 hours to the top. Thus, it's possible to complete this trekwithin a day, and reach McLeodganj by the evening to rest and relax. In case you want to start from Dharamshala, the total distance becomes 18 km.

The months of May-June & September-October are the best time to visit this place as it is very pleasant here during these months. It can get pretty chilly here in winters and the summer season is a great time to come here to escape the scorching heat of the cities. 

HOW TO REACH - The nearest railway station to Dharamshala is Pathankot railway station, which is set at a distance of around 85km. Further you can take a bus or hire a taxi to reach Dharamshala. Located at a distance of 15 km fromDharamshala, Gaggal is the nearest airport.

                             NAINITAL

Nainital is a Himalayan resort town in the Kumaon region of India's Uttarakhand state at an elevation of roughly 2000m. Formerly a British hill station it’s set around Nainital Lake a popular boating site with Naina Devi Hindu Temple on its north shore. A cable car runs to Snow View observation point (at 2,270m), with vistas over the town and mountains including Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand’s highest peak.

A sight to soothe your eyes. Can be visited throughout the year. Also an ideal place for both devotees and adventure enthusiasts.The top places near to Nainital are Almora which is 30 km from Nainital, Ranikhet which is located 29 km from Nainital, Bhimtal which is located 9 km from Nainital, Mukteshwar which is located 20 km from Nainital, Sattal which is located 7 km from Nainital.

HOW TO REACH - There is no direct connectivity to Nainital, except by Road. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, some 35 km. from Nainital. 

There are five other extraordinary places in north INDIA about which we will tell you in our coming blogs separately.❤️