Top Holiday Destinations in India to Travel
Occasionally, people contact me on Instagram or other social media platforms asking about my top holiday destinations in India. They inquire if I have a list of the top places to suggest. While I sometimes recommend new locations, most of my recommended places to visit in India remain unchanged.
Today, I am providing a detailed list of my top holiday destinations in India. If you’re from Delhi, you might also want to explore places to visit near Delhi. Similarly, if you’re from Bangalore, consider reading about destinations within 250, 500, and 1000 km of Bangalore.
Most of my trips are planned with a limited budget in mind. The suggestions below will suit backpackers and solo travellers, with an emphasis on slow travel.
Additionally, before planning your trip—especially if you’re travelling from abroad—be sure to check the Translayte travel advisory for the latest visa requirements, translation needs, and entry guidelines for India.
Let’s start alphabetically with my favourite place in South India: Alleppey…
Places to Visit in India
Alleppey, Kerala
Alleppey epitomises Kerala travel. Whether you visit a tour company or read a travel blog about Kerala, Alleppey is often recommended. Therefore, Alleppey secures its place in the list of top 10 holiday destinations in India too.
The experience of hiring a houseboat and cruising through a labyrinth of interconnected lagoons, canals, and lakes—while enjoying a rich variety of flora, fauna, and local life—is unforgettable. Nothing else in India can compare to what Alleppey offers. No Goa or Thailand matches the charm of a houseboat experience in the Alleppey backwaters.
Also, check out this video I made during my recent all-India road trip from Delhi to Bangalore (before continuing on to Kerala). It features my ride from Kochi to Alleppey with many drone shots of the area.
I have visited Alleppey twice, staying at least a week each time. There is something captivating about Alleppey that makes visitors want to stay longer. Besides taking a houseboat, it’s fun to stay at one of the backpacker hostels and meet fellow travellers.
Watch duck-herding, fishing, and beautiful sunsets while enjoying Alleppey’s leisurely pace of life—truly one of the top places to visit in India.
Bodoland, Assam
Until 2003, Bodoland was a disputed territory. Like many other parts of Northeast India, locals had been fighting for their land. However, in 2003, peace agreements were signed, bringing stability to the region. Over time, tourism flourished, and Bodoland became a popular destination within Assam.
In 2020, Bodoland hosted one of the country’s biggest annual festivals, called the Dwijing Festival. Read more about it in my blog on the Dwijing Festival in Bodoland.
If you’re seeking emerging travel destinations in India, I highly recommend Bodoland.
During my visit, I explored local villages and national parks. You might be surprised to learn that Bodoland’s Manas National Park—despite having no one-horned rhinos left by 2003 due to poaching—now hosts one of the highest rhino populations in India. It’s possible to visit Manas National Park on a day trip from Guwahati. Bodoland makes for an excellent family holiday destination.
Bodoland borders Bhutan, making it possible to undertake a day trip to Bhutan from Gelephu. The Bodo tribal people are some of the most welcoming and warm-hearted in India. From natural vistas to local cuisine, Bodoland is worth exploring. There’s plenty to see and do, and I could go on.
Pabbar Valley, Himachal Pradesh
I happened to visit Pabbar Valley in 2019 during my 1-month motorcycle trip across Himachal Pradesh. I had never heard of Pabbar Valley before and got to know about it from someone I met near Shimla. And as soon as I visited it, it suddenly became an obvious suggestion every time someone asked me for the best places to visit in India.
I would love to visit Pabbar Valley with my family too, sometime.
Pabbar Valley is home to Shimla District’s highest motorable Pass (Chanshal Pass) that links Dodra Kwar and Rohru. If you don’t know what Dodra Kwar is, you need to Google it, you’re certainly missing the most offbeat highlight in Himachal Pradesh.
So, when I got introduced to Pabbar Valley, I checked a few Google Photos and instantly fell in love with the place. By statistics, Pabbar Valley is Himachal Pradesh’s least visited place.
During my trip, I figured that Chanshal Pass, in Pabbar Valley, is almost as high as Rohtang Pass, gets almost as much snow, and is just as far from Delhi. Yet, it’s hardly visited. Why? Because no one knows about it. And that’s what makes it more beautiful. A visit to Chanshal Pass in Pabbar Valley, Himachal, takes you to a place just as beautiful as some of the most beautiful destinations, minus the crowd.