We’re sure you’ve heard of Kolkata, Delhi, and Goa, but there’s so much more to see and do in India than visiting the top three tourist destinations. India is a vast country, filled with incredible sights and sounds. It’s a place everyone should visit at least once in their life to experience everything it has to offer. Just don’t forget to put these three lesser-known yet excellent Indian travel destinations on your list — you’ll be happy you did!
Chennai
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the Southern Indian state Tamil Nadu. It’s a city that’s rich in natural beauty and historical charm. It may be the fourth largest metropolis, but it doesn’t give off a large city feel. In fact, it’s more known for its beautiful natural beauty and arts scene. Here you can spend a day at the Marina Beach, visit stunning temples, like the Kapaleeswarar, take a stroll through the National Image Art Gallery, or hang out in the artist’s village of Kalakshetra. If you love shopping, there are a number of excellent malls in the Chennai city, such as the Phoenix Marketcity and Ampa Skywalk which house some of the biggest brands around the world. You’ll find everything here, from trendy nightclubs to 5-star hotels, to multi-cuisine restaurants, to museums and stunning temples.
Pune
Pune was once the political center of India. In its state, it is the cultural capital and known as the ‘Oxford of the East’ due to its various education centres. It’s a working city known for its tech, manufacturing, and automobile industries, but it’s also a lovely place to visit with many tourist attractions. Here you’ll also be able to see and experience the true Maratha culture. Being one of the capitals of the Maratha Empire, Pune’s rich history is reflected in the Sinhagad hilltop temple that was a memorial for the emperors of the Maratha empire. The Shaniwar Wada fort symbolizes the Martha culture, and the Aga Khan Palace is one of the most significant landmarks in India that’s worth a visit. Pune has lots to see and do beyond the many stunning temples — spend a day at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park with the Bengal tigers, leopards and elephants, check out the local markets at Hongkong lane, eat international cuisine in Little Italy, and try Marathi cuisine at the Maratha Fine Dine.
Trivandrum
The capital of the Indian state of Kerala is located on the west coast of India and is known as the “Evergreen city of India.” Although it’s a small city by numbers, Trivandrum has several fantastic places to visit. The most sough-after tourist attraction here is the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, which is one of the oldest temples in all of India. Other notable sites include the Napier museum, the Shri Chitra art gallery, the Zoological Gardens and museums (the oldest zoo in India), the stunning picnic spot of Veli, the wildlife sanctuary near Neyyar Dam, and the glorious Shankhumugham beaches just outside the city that are worth the trip. If you love festivals, Trivandrum has several exciting religious and cultural festivals worth checking out, such as the Onam Festival, Vishu New Year Festival and the 75-day Soorya cultural festival — the world’s longest cultural festival featuring music, dance, theatre and more.
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