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Anyone who has ever visited India tends to have a rather extreme opinion: you either love it unconditionally or you end up hating it and never want to return. At least that’s what I heard from various travelers before starting my trip through this incredible country.
I had the opportunity to travel through India from south to north for three months. I started in Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southeast of the country, then traveled to Kerala, in the southwest, and from there I gradually made my way north until I reached the Indian Himalayas. I traveled the entire way by land, using local buses and trains.
And my opinion, at least in my case, leans more towards the positive than the negative. Because India isn’t all black and white. Among the many things that surprised me, and which I will focus on in this post, is the enormous diversity of historical sites that you can find throughout the country.
It’s something I honestly didn’t expect, and in this article I want to take the opportunity to show you some of those architectural and historical wonders that I discovered during my time in India.
Unique Places to Visit in India
Mahabalipuram, the first temples that caught my attention
It was the first time I had seen temples with such a high level of detail carved directly into large rocks.
The complex consists of several temples, shrines, and reliefs built during the Pallava dynasty, mainly between the 7th and 8th centuries.
It’s not a very large place, so you’ll be able to explore it easily on foot. Among the most outstanding monuments you’ll find in the city are the Pancha Rathas, a group of five monolithic temples carved into the rock, the enormous and beautiful relief of Arjuna’s Penance, and the famous Shore Temples, located practically on the seashore.
As it was the first archaeological site I visited in India, Mahabalipuram seemed interesting. But, after three months traveling through India and discovering other sites, I have to admit that it ended up feeling a bit small compared to some of the wonders that would come later.
Useful information for visiting Mahabalipuram:
- Visit duration: It’s a small city, so 2 to 4 hours is enough to see the main monuments at a leisurely pace.
- Getting there: Chennai is the nearest large city. It’s about 60 km away and can be reached by bus or taxi/tuk-tuk.
- Best time to visit: You can visit year-round, but the most pleasant temperatures are between November and February, when it’s cooler.
Temples of Trichy
Not far from Mahabalipuram lies Tiruchirappalli, also known as Trichy. The town isn’t particularly flashy, but its strength lies in the numerous colorful temples that are an integral part of the daily lives of its inhabitants.
In my opinion, the best is Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam. The scale of the complex is such that it resembles a city within a city, with its own streets, houses, shops, and hustle and bustle.
Walking through the area will give you the feeling of stepping back in time. If it weren’t for the tuk-tuks and motorbikes cruising the streets, you could easily imagine that life still functions as it did many years ago, with people going to pray, fruit stalls, and street vendors.
Useful information for visiting Trichy:
- Visit time: you can see the main attractions in one full day.
- How to get there: Puducherry and Coimbatore are the nearest major cities. You can get there by train or bus.
- The best time to visit: as in the rest of Tamil Nadu, the most pleasant temperatures are between November and February, when it is not so hot.
- Tip: You can combine your visit to Trechy with the nearby city of Thanjavur, where the temples are also outstanding.
Mysore, the Palace That Impressed Me Most in India
India is full of incredible palaces, and Jaipur’s is certainly one of the most famous, but personally, of all the ones I visited during my trip, Mysore Palace was my favorite.
The current palace was built in the early 20th century, after the previous building was destroyed by fire, and it is the historic residence of the Wadiyar royal family.
Its architecture blends different styles, primarily Indo-Saracenic, Hindu, Muslim, and European elements, something we can appreciate both on the exterior and in its enormous interior halls.
During your visit, you can explore different rooms decorated with paintings, columns, stained glass windows, and a vast array of details. But if there’s one moment when the palace truly transforms, it’s at night, when thousands of lights illuminate the entire facade.
Useful information for visiting Mysore:
- Visit duration: One day is enough to see the palace, although you could stay two days if you want to explore more of the city.
- Getting there: Bangalore and Coimbatore are the nearest major cities. However, you can also reach the palace by train and bus from various points in southern India.
- Best time to visit: The palace can be visited year-round, but temperatures are more pleasant between October and February.
- Illuminated Palace: The palace is usually illuminated on Sundays and during certain celebrations and festivals, so it’s advisable to check the schedule before you go.
Hampi, an Open-Air Museum
If I had to choose one of the places I loved most in India, Hampi would undoubtedly be one of them.
Firstly, because it has a much more tranquil atmosphere compared to what I had seen in India, which was a real relief. But what made me never want to leave Hampi was the atmosphere and landscape in which its ruins are scattered.
In the area, you’ll find a huge number of temples, shrines, and structures left as a legacy by the ancient kingdom of Vijayanagara, scattered among hills, rock formations, and banana and rice paddies.
You can go from walking among ruins to suddenly encountering a temple full of monkeys amidst the vegetation or rice paddies in true Vietnamese style.
And if that weren’t enough, the vast majority of the sites can be visited for free. It’s practically like wandering through a huge open-air museum, discovering temples and ruins as you make your way along the paths. Only a few major complexes have an entrance, including the one that houses the famous Stone Chariot and the Royal Enclosure area.
Useful information for visiting Hampi:
- Visiting time: You could easily spend weeks visiting the ruins of Hampi; the place practically begs you to. But if you’re short on time, the minimum is 2 or 3 days.
- How to get there: The nearest train station is Hosapete (Hospet), from where you can continue by bus or tuk-tuk to Hampi. There are also some direct bus services to the town; just check if they run from your departure city.
- Best time to visit: It’s recommended to go between October and February, when the heat isn’t so oppressive for walking among the ruins.
- Getting around: The best way to reach the more remote areas is by bicycle, motorbike, or tuk-tuk. The area is quite large, and some sites are rather spread out.
Ellora Caves, a wonder that deserves worldwide recognition.
I think that this complex could easily be considered one of the great wonders of the world. Why? Well, the scale of the work required to build it is difficult to imagine, especially considering that everything was carved directly into the rock.
Ellora consists of 34 caves hewn from the mountain, built between the 5th and 10th centuries. Their purpose was to serve as temples and monasteries belonging to three different religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
But why all the excitement about this place? You have to understand that all of these caves were literally carved and excavated from the rock, using tools and techniques that make it even harder to imagine the amount of time and effort such a feat must have taken. And among all the caves, there is one that seems almost unreal: the Kailasa Temple.
Unlike how a traditional temple is built, adding stone upon stone, Kailasa was carved from a massive rock face, with tons of material removed until a complete monumental structure was achieved, complete with courtyards, columns, sculptures, and different levels. Furthermore, you’ll see that the walls are filled with details and reliefs depicting scenes and figures from Hindu tradition.
It was only when I saw Ellora Caves that Mahabalipuram began to seem much smaller in comparison. Because after seeing what was done here, the scale and complexity of those “small carved temples” simply took on a whole new dimension.
Useful information for visiting Ellora Caves:
- Visit time: You can explore all the caves at your own pace in 4-5 hours.
- Getting there: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) is the closest city to stay in. From there, you can reach the caves by bus, tuk-tuk, taxi, or with an organized tour.
- Best time to visit: The best time to visit the caves is between October and February, when the heat is less intense. Keep in mind that you’ll be doing a fair amount of walking in the sun.
- Entrance fee: The current entrance fee for foreigners is 600 rupees.
Jodhpur, the fortress that impressed me the most
Just as India is full of palaces straight out of the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, it also has a large number of forts scattered throughout the country, especially in the state of Rajasthan.
After visiting several during my trip, I can say that the one I liked the most was, without a doubt, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
The first thing that will surprise us is the fortress’s location, perched atop a massive rocky hill.
It is truly breathtaking to behold from the various viewpoints on the surrounding hills, or even from the terraces of some of the city’s buildings.
But it’s not just a beautiful place to admire from afar; its interior is also breathtaking. You’ll wander through a multitude of courtyards, halls, and rooms to explore, many adorned with paintings, ornamental details, and features that allow us to imagine how the region’s royal families lived.
And as the cherry on top, from its walls you’ll have incredible views of Jodhpur and the famous blue houses that give it the nickname of the blue city.
Useful information for visiting Jodhpur:
- Visit time: you will need 3 to 4 hours to explore the fort at a leisurely pace.
- How to get there: The fort is located within Jodhpur and is easily accessible by tuk-tuk, taxi, or even on foot from some parts of the city.
- Best time to visit the area: You can go all year round, but between October and March it’s more pleasant because it’s not so hot.
Final thoughts on unique places to visit in India
These are just a few of the historical sites I had the opportunity to visit during my three months traveling through India. I could have included many more palaces, forts, temples, and archaeological sites that are also worth a visit, but if I included them all, this article would have become far too long. Therefore, I chose to focus on those that, for one reason or another, became my favorites.
India is a country that you may like more or less. Its chaos, its contrasts, and its way of life can be fascinating to some and overwhelming to others. But I think there is one thing that is difficult to dispute, and that is the enormous richness of its historical and architectural heritage.
About the Author: Fernando is an Argentinian travel blogger who spent over a year independently traveling the legendary Silk Road, from China to Turkey. On his blog, “The prism of Fer,” he shares his experiences from this adventure, along with guides and tips for other destinations around the world.
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Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.