My Top 5 Bucket List Places In India

India is a huge country with so much to see. So many popular destinations and so many offbeat destinations awaiting to be discovered. While I usually stay away from popular “touristy” places and try to go down the offbeat path, sometimes it is just easier to go to popular places because they are well connected especially for my solo travels. While my India bucket list has TOO many places for a single blog, here are my top 5 that I hope to cover in the near(est) future –

Kashmir

Photo by Imad Clicks on Pexels.com

Every single photo I see of Kashmir makes me want to visit the place even more. Nestled in the north of India and often called heaven on earth – Kashmir has been on top of my bucket list for a few years now. I am hoping to visit Kashmir this winters and revel in the beautiful snow covered places in the state. From Sringar to Gulmarg to Nubhra Valley – I want to travel around Kashmir and revel in its beauty. I can’t wait to try skiing there! I also hope to interact with the locals and see life through a local’s eyes to understand how the hand they have been dealt with has impacted them.

Benares or Varanasi

Photo by Shootcase Chronicles on Pexels.com

Varanasi is a top tourist location in India for both locals and foreigners. While the touristy aspect of Varanasi makes it a little less interesting to me but its mythical feel invites me to its ghats. I can’t wait to sit on the ghats and listen to the evening prayers. I want to take boat rides on the river Ganges and have chai in winters along the banks of the mighty river and just soak in the culture and heritage of Benares. I also so want to shop for Banarasi silk. My friend, Srishty, and I have been planning this trip for SO long – I hope we get to go soon!

Meghalaya

Photo by AaiShi MaiTy on Pexels.com

The North East of India has forever fascinated me. This part of India is the least explored and the least touristy or commercialized. You can still discover pristine waterfalls and be one with nature without having too many tourists around. While Arunachal Pradesh is also on my bucket list, I definitely can’t wait to visit Meghalaya first and do a waterfall road trip i.e. drive from waterfall to waterfall. If it isn’t obvious already – I am OBSESSED with waterfalls. I also can’t wait to visit the living roots bridges which have been made by local tribes people using live roots. Exploring Mawsmai Cave is also on my bucket list. This trip is going to be a LONG one.

Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya: A Marvel Of Nature
PC: TravelTriangle

Lakshadweep

Don't roil Lakshadweep | Deccan Herald
PC: Deccan Herald

I am a total beach baby and I CANNOT wait to explore these clear blue waters of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep is a group of islands, south of India, that are mostly inhabited and hence are home to beautiful coral reels and pristine beaches. It is open to tourists via a permit issued by Government of India. Just looking at the clear blue waters and white sand beaches in the photos makes me wish I was living in Lakshadweep.

Ladakh

Photo by Chethan Gowda on Pexels.com

If you’ve seen photos of Leh-Ladakh – you are bound to want to visit. The place seems spell bindingly beautiful. Though it has slipped on my bucket list since SO many tourists have started going and actually polluting and dirtying this gorgeous, pristine place. If I have to pick one thing that I’d love to do it would be the Chadar Trek which is a very difficult winter trek over the frozen Zanskar river. But it would be a thrill to do this trek! I’d also love to visit the monasteries and get lucky and see a snow leopard. I hope I get to visit Ladakh in the near future.

Have you been to India? If you haven’t, I recommend adding my beautiful country to your bucket list! I promise it won’t disappoint you.

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54 Comments Add yours

  1. tubasarwat says:

    I dreamed of these places to visit especially Ladakh
    Lovely describes ā¤ļø

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Same! I hope I get to go there soon too! ā¤

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Pannaga says:

    Been to non of those places šŸ˜¦ But I really wish to go to Ladakh!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Me too! Especially to do the Chadar Trek! I hope I get to do it soon (when I am fitter)!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. SamSahana says:

    Iā€™ve never been to India before. But since you flex your countryā€™s beauty way too much, Iā€™m considering adding it to my bucket list. It better be worth it! šŸ˜‰

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      *snorts and the whole office hears* šŸ¤£

      If you ever do visit India (if you can find its entrance through the enchanted wardrobe) – let’s meet for “COFFEE”.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. SamSahana says:

        HOW Iā€™D ā€œLOVEā€ THAT! šŸ˜‚
        Iā€™m in great company, after all! šŸ˜‰

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I have never been to India but definitely is on my bucket list! But is so big and so many beautiful places to see šŸ˜‰

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      It is! There is so much to do and see and so many cultures to experience! If you ever plan a trip – I’d love to give recommendations for less touristy places to visit. šŸ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. When the time will come I know who to contact šŸ˜‰ Thank you ā˜ŗļø

        Like

  5. Wow these pictures are stunning! I can’t wait to visit India, it’s been on my travel list in like forever!šŸ’•

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Yesss, girl! We should do our own exchange program – I’ll come visit you in SL and you come visit me in India!! If you ever plan a trip – I’d LOVE to give recommendations.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Srishty says:

    I am glad Kashmir is right there at the top. I would love to go there again any day! Leh has gone down in my excitement levels as well but I read up about the Chadar trek and realized that the difficulty level is more to do with fitness, rather than ascends and descends, so now that’s pretty exciting too. šŸ™‚

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      I really hope I get to go to Kashmir this winters. ā˜ŗļø
      Ya but fitness doesn’t have to do with just being able to walk – its crazy cold, getting assimilated to less oxygen, carrying all your stuff in that weather while wearing heavy clothes- it will be extremely physically taxing.

      Like

      1. Srishty says:

        Yea, what I meant was that at least I don’tneed to worry about vertigo. Can prepare for fitness

        Like

  7. Divi says:

    Never been to any of these places but I’m 14 got a whole long life ahead of me šŸ˜‚šŸ˜Ž! I’ve been yearning to go to the north east since like, forever! Hopefully everything gets settled soon and my parents agree for a looooooong trip!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      North East is beautiful! I’ve been to Sikkim and Assam and both were wow. Now got my eyes on Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. ā˜ŗļø
      Yesss..use your 20s to travel the world. ā¤ļø

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Amruta says:

    Varanasi is also in my travels bucket list..

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Me too. It sounds like such a mystical place. I can’t wait to go

      Like

  9. God these places look beautiful! I canā€™t wait to see a blog post and LOTS of photos when you finally get to go to these places, which you will!! šŸŒ

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Haha yesss! Hopefully in the next year – if things steadily improve.
      Hopefully in the coming years you’ll come visit too.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Would LOVE to šŸ™‚ !!!

        Like

  10. Dreamy choices. When I saw Varanasi on a Netflix documentary, I thought it was magical for the same reasons you mentioned.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Hope you come to India again – to visit Varanasi!!! ā˜ŗļø

      Like

  11. Nehal Jain says:

    Oh, I wanna go to Goa!!!!!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      I’ve been to Goa and while it is beautiful – I think it is super over hyped. It’s a great place to go with friends to party and chill. But I prefer Andaman beaches!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Riya says:

    I wanna go to Ladakh too!! Meghayala is just beautiful!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Ooh you’ve been to Meghalaya? It looks beautiful and pristine. I can’t wait to to go there for a long trip.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Riya says:

        someday soon!! *sigh*šŸ„ŗ

        Like

      2. oh yeah? meghalaya. that sounds blissful.

        Like

    2. me too…heard so much about the place…..

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Aah looks like you have shared my bucket list šŸ˜‚. I have been to Meghalaya last year and I was mesmerized. The beauty of Meghalaya is beyond words.. the crystal clear water, cascading waterfalls, limestone cliffs, deep caves, root bridges. I don’t have enough words to describe its beauty.
    Now I have added Spiti on my list along with the other four shared by you. Lets hope we cover our bucket list soon.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      Wow. How long was your trip? And did you fly to Guwahati or Shillong airport? And which month did you travel in? Got a lot of questions.šŸ™ˆ
      I was mesmerized by Spiti too but the sheer number of tourists heading there now just makes me not want to go that bad.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It was a 7 day trip in last year December. I fly to Guwahati and from there drive to Shillong. I have also written a post on my trip.. Lost in falls since you are so intrigued with Meghalaya I suggest you check the post just for pictures. I am sure that will motivate you further šŸ™ˆ
        I know most of beautiful places are now flooded with tourists.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. winteroseca says:

    I love the variety you have and each place has a unique natural feature

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      I like travelling to places where I can reconnect with nature, disconnect from life and also reconnect with myself. Badly need a trip like that soon.

      Like

      1. winteroseca says:

        I hear you! I love trips like that too! Hope you get to do that soon!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. akshita1776 says:

    I have gone to Kashmir but the others are place I really wanna visit!!
    I also want to go to Kerela!!

    Liked by 4 people

  16. celly1989 says:

    So many varied landscapes…absolutely beautiful…now I can’t wait to visit India too … šŸ˜Š

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Happy Panda says:

      India is beautiful! Hope you get to visit it once things are better. šŸ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. celly1989 says:

        Yes for sure.. it is on my bucketlist. šŸ˜Š

        Like

  17. cbholganza says:

    thank you for this list! now, i have something to add for my planned visit there. stay happy, and stay safe, dear friend!

    Liked by 2 people

  18. da-AL says:

    I love your take on life! Would you be so kind as to guest blog post for my site? If youā€™re so inclined, hereā€™s a link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ

    Liked by 1 person

  19. LifeAndDiary says:

    I want to go to Northeast India. I’m attracted to northeast India. and I wish someday I will go there. This is on my wishlist. šŸ˜ƒ

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Wow, these spots look amazing! Im adding them to my bucket list!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. sonalivaidya says:

    Such a great post! Thanks for sharing it ā¤ļø

    Liked by 1 person

  22. brilliant stuff….reading through the comments made me wanna pack up and leave….can’t wait.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Wonder if such beautiful places we can visit and cherish nature šŸ¤”

    Like

  24. Aryajha says:

    šŸ¤ā¤šŸ„³

    Like

  25. IndiaNetzone says:

    Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh is one of the major earners for the state. Arunachal Pradesh boasts of its tourism as it possesses countryside views which attract tourists from all over the world. Arunachal Pradesh means “land of the dawn lit mountains” in Sanskrit. Major tourist attractions include Tawang, Ziro, the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Changlang district and Sela Lake near Bomdila with its bamboo bridges overhanging the river. Religious places of interest include Malinithan in Lekhabali, Rukhmininagar near Roing and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district. Other than that, Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh includes several festivals, local sports and traditional art and crafts of the state.
    https://www.indianetzone.com/51/tourism_arunachal_pradesh.htm

    Like

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