To fully appreciate this amazingly diverse country you need to move beyond the major cities. Welcome to Wehaveatrip, and today we're counting down our picks for the top ten regions of India. Are you a fan of our articles be sure to subscribe to Wehaveatrip and to be notified about our latest articles also drop your favorite destination in a comment. For this list we're highlighting some of India's most compelling regions that you should consider adding to your travel itinerary this is a nation with a lot of regionally specific cultures not to mention diverse landscapes. So the more you travel within the country the richer your overall experience will be.
Number 10
Delhi, We begin with the region of India that contains the nation's capital New Delhi this is a frequent source of confusion for travelers so to be the clear day is a city and union territory while new daily is a district within the city and it's this district that serves as the capital of India second only to Mumbai in terms of population the city of daily proper is home to approximately 11 million people with 26 million in the greater metropolitan area the city is for better or worse an incredibly overwhelming experience while some find the hustle and bustle claustrophobic the area's long history it's been inhabited for roughly 2,500 years makes it an important cultural hub.
Delhi's many bazaars and multi-story markets make it a shopaholics delight it's also one of the few places where regional cuisines from across India can be sampled all at once. Tourists around the world are constantly surprised by the incredible proximity of freshness and the Indian culture of Delhi. Well, Delhi has it all! One should not forget the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, the Red Fort, the humorous Humayun Tomb, Gandhi Smriti, the grand Akshardham, the picturesque gardens of the Mughal era, and a variety of museums and artist windows. In addition, Delhi is home to a variety of wrap-smooching local cuisine. Chandni-Chowk in Old Delhi reminds me of the soul of Delhi-food. You can find a wide variety of local dishes that you will not find anywhere in the world! There is also a lot of thinking among tourists for shopping for Delhi art-facts, hand-crafts, clothes.
Number 9
Himalayan north, The Himalayas are arguably India's most prominent geographic feature touching 11 of the country's 36 union territories and States but nowhere in the country does this iconic mountain range make a bigger impression than in the Himalayan north region which includes the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the disputed Jammu and Kashmir this is a land of rugged mountain peaks, rolling green hills, pristine forests, and awe-inspiring valleys and thankfully much of it is protected by various national parks including Valley of Flowers a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uttarakhand, Hemas, and cached water in Jammu and Kashmir and great Himalayan national park in Himachal Pradesh for those who can't get enough of natural splendor the region of Andhra Pradesh should also be added to your itinerary or for a change of pace after your Himalayan adventure take a trip south to explore Punjab and Haryana.
Number 8
Rajasthan for a crash course in India's architectural history and resilience against the elements Rajasthan is a must-visit taking up over 10% of the entire country it's the nation's largest state but is only seventh in terms of population that's because this northwestern region encapsulates s' the Thar desert a large and largely inhospitable area covering 77,000 square miles of land that is also commonly referred to as the great Indian desert you might not want to live there but it makes for some truly epic expeditions. Rajasthan is also home to not one but two historic fort city's.
Jodhpur was once the capital of the king of Madwad and is known as the blue city for the color of paint used on many homes. Jaipur often called the pink city of India is a UNESCO world heritage site, of course, the golden city Jesalmair is perhaps the most famous of all Gujarat lies to the southwest and is another region well worth checking out.
Number 7
Bihar wildlife lovers this one's for you among the lushest and greenest regions in India's northeast Bihar is known for its fertile plains and the abundance of creatures that call the area home its crowning jewel at least as far as conservation is concerned is the Valmiki National Park which attracts visitors from around the globe not only is it beautiful but it's home to rhinos, elephants, and Bengal tigers. Then there's the Chat Wat lake bird sanctuary which plays host to over 160 varieties of birds including 106 resident species and 60 migratory ones that pass through of course Bihar is also popular with travelers interested in Buddhism destinations within the region like Bodhgaya, Raj Gere, Melinda, and Vaishali collectively referred to as the Bihar Buddhist circuit were all set to have played an important part in the life of Buddha.
Number 6
Madhya Pradesh it's funny when the average person thinks of India the mental image that comes to mind is most often the incredibly busy cities of Delhi and Mumbai but in reality, some large swathes of the country are very much uncrowded and free from urbanization within the state of Madhya Pradesh located in central India you can visit both Bandhavgarh National Park and Pench National Park between the two you'll have the chance to spot everything from leopards and tigers to monkey and deer as well as a wide array of reptiles and butterflies perhaps the biggest draw to this area however is its far-reaching history
the Bhimbetka rock shelter dates back to the Stone Age here you can marvel at cave paintings dating back tens of thousands of years also known as the heart of India Madhya Pradesh where's its history proudly with many relics of Empires and dynasties past surviving to this day like the ancient city of Ujjain.
Number 5
Eastern India those seeking diverse geography will find no shortage of things to see and do in Eastern India the region encapsulates much of the country's central Eastern Area and includes the states of Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Bihar is technically part of the region but talking about it in the same breath as these other states are simply too much ground to cover at once in Darjeeling, the high altitudes make it the perfect environment for tea production in Kolkata the historic colonial buildings are sure to appeal to both architecture lovers and the uninitiated though only the country's seventh-largest population center the city formerly known as Kolkata has distinguished itself as something of a central hub for the arts continued further east and you'll enter northeastern India a rugged and wildland of surreal and epic landscapes northeast India with its flower-covered valleys and soaring mountains is very much defined by extremes.
Number 4
Maharashtra this region requires little introduction it's home to India's largest city and the most populated city Mumbai the state of Maharashtra stretches from the western Konkan coastline into central India and is known geographically speaking for its Declan plateau and got a mountain range Maharashtra's strength lies in its diversity it has a bit of everything to offer from the palm tree-lined beaches along the coast to its lush mountainous wilderness national parks and the Toba and dotty tiger reserve there's no shortage of natural wonder but it's also incredibly rich in historical attractions boasting numerous UNESCO world heritage sites highlights include Elora and Agente the cave temples the wonderfully uncrowded kissed beach and the unbelief Nature Reserve those with a penchant for history and architecture, in particular, should be sure to check out the Daulatabad Fort and Aurangabad Biki Ka Maqbara a Mausoleum often compared to the Taj Mahal.
Number 3
Kerala running along the Malabar Coast this Indian state almost feels like its own distinct country not only is the pace of life notably slower but Kerala boasts its own unique cultural heritage that sets it apart Malayalam this is the state's official language and belongs to the Dravidian group known as the Malayali who make up a 96.7% majority of the population.
Malayali culture colors every aspect of life the cuisine, in particular, could warrant weeks of exploration as there are many variations from region to region within the state of Kerala that being said as a whole Kerala is known throughout the country and Beyond for its tea and spices with the latter playing an important role in most dishes the backwaters of Kerala are also considered one of the state's defining characteristics of once you thoroughly explored Kerala be sure to at least pass through the neighboring region of Tamil Nadu.
Number 2
Goa looking to squeeze some beach time into your travel itinerary you can't ask for much better than go up though it's absolutely tiny compared to the other regions on our list it packs a whole lot of natural beauty and coastal fun into its relatively modest fourteen hundred and twenty-nine square miles of land seafood abounds, the golden beach runs, largely uninterrupted, and the various communities each have something distinct to offer,
but Goa is more than just one big seaside resort once a Portuguese colony that influence continues to be felt throughout the area not only in the form of architecture but also in the cuisine should you fall in love with India's distinct brand of beach getaway consider making the journey to the underman islands in the bay of Bengal many of the islands are off-limits to visitors and most are light on infrastructure but their unrivaled in terms of natural beauty and the diving is world-class.
Number 1
Uttar Pradesh the most populous state in the country Uttar Pradesh is a region whose cultural importance cannot be understated it encompasses the beautiful and historic city of Agra which is home to the country's single most cherished site the world-famous and instantly recognizable Taj Mahal
this white marble mausoleum was commissioned by Shah Jahan the Emperor of the Mughal Empire who reigned until 1658 taking into account inflation its construction cost an estimated nine hundred and sixteen million dollars. Uttar Pradesh is also home to two other UNESCO world heritage sites the town of Fatehpur Sikri and the Agra Fort of course for those who can't get enough historic sites you should also consider a trip to the Karnataka region in southern India as for Uttar Pradesh the region also claims to be the birthplace of the Hindu God Krishna and where Gautama Buddha delivered both his first and last sermon making it of great religious importance.
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