India · 9 themes
Things to do in India
The same places as the city guides, grouped by what they are. A place can belong to more than one theme.
Quick answer
The top things to do in India are exploring its temples and sacred sites, Himalayan places, and 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For mountains, go to the Himalaya between June and September. 196 of our 349 places are free to visit.
Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · Updated · How we rank places
9
themes
349
places
196
free to visit
41
city guides
Browse by theme
Every theme page ranks its places and lists fees, hours and time needed
122 placesTemples & Sacred Sites
Temples, gurdwaras, mosques, monasteries and pilgrimage sites
Best Oct–MarExplore
78 placesThe Himalaya
Passes, valleys, monasteries and viewpoints in the mountains
Best Jun–SepExplore
49 placesMuseums
Museums and galleries worth planning around
Best All yearExplore
47 placesUNESCO World Heritage Sites
Places inside a UNESCO World Heritage property
Best Oct–MarExplore
41 placesForts & Palaces
Hill forts, royal palaces and fortified cities
Best Oct–MarExplore
30 placesLakes & Waterfalls
Lakes, waterfalls and riverside sights
Best Sep–MarExplore
19 placesWildlife & National Parks
National parks, tiger reserves and sanctuaries
Best Oct–JunExplore
10 placesBeaches & Islands
Beaches, islands and coral reefs
Explore
196 placesFree to Visit
Places with no entry ticket
Best All yearExplore
Photos: Alappuzha Beach & Pier: Photo: Mohanrangaphotography / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rajaji National Park: Photo: Nilesh Keshri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Pichola: Photo: Uri Sittan Tripo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Amber Fort & Palace: Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Taj Mahal: Photo: Yann; edited by Jim Carter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mehrangarh Fort: Photo: Sanhitasinha / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pangong Tso: Photo: Stanzin1945 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib): Photo: Shagil Kannur / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gateway of India: Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons, FAL
What to do by season
Match the theme to the time of year
Oct – MarOn now
Winter
Forts & Palaces · Temples · UNESCO sites · Wildlife
The best season for most of India: Rajasthan, the plains and the south.
Apr – Jun
Summer
The plains get too hot, so head for Ladakh, Darjeeling and the hills.
Jul – Sep
Monsoon
Waterfalls are at their fullest and indoor sights beat the rain. Ladakh stays dry.
Free things to do in India
196 places with no entry ticket, including:
Things to do by city
Each city guide ranks its top places
- Jaipur12
- Ahmedabad10
- Chennai10
- Hampi10
- Hyderabad10
- Jaisalmer10
- Kolkata10
- Madurai10
- Mahabalipuram10
- Mumbai10
- Munnar10
- Shimla10
- Udaipur10
- Varanasi10
- Agra9
- Darjeeling9
- Jodhpur9
- Khajuraho9
- Leh9
- Nainital9
- New Delhi9
- Panaji9
- Puducherry (Pondicherry)9
- Bengaluru8
- Dharamshala8
- Gwalior8
- Kochi8
- Mussoorie8
- Mysuru8
- Srinagar8
- Aurangabad7
- Gangtok7
- Haridwar7
- Puri7
- Pushkar7
- Alappuzha6
- Amritsar6
- Manali6
- Ooty6
- Rishikesh6
- Bodh Gaya5
Things to do FAQs
Missing a theme? Suggest one
What are the best things to do in India?
The most popular are visiting temples and sacred sites, Himalayan places, and India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Our guides cover 349 places across 9 themes, and 196 of them are free to visit.
What can you do in India for free?
Visit the Golden Temple, the Gateway of India, Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Attari–Wagah Border Ceremony, India Gate and 191 more places with no entry ticket. Most working temples, gurdwaras and mosques are free; some places charge for cameras or shoe deposits.
What is the best time of year for sightseeing in India?
October to March for most of the country, including Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and the south. April to June is too hot on the plains, so go to the Himalaya instead; Ladakh is best from June to September.
Which UNESCO World Heritage Sites can you visit in India?
Our guides cover 47, including the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, the Vittala Temple, the Red Fort, Agra Fort and the Qutub Minar. Several are parts of one listing, such as the Hampi group.
What are the best things to do in the Himalaya?
Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Hemis Monastery top our list. Leh sits at about 3,500 m, so allow two days to acclimatise before going higher.