Visiting India for the first time, any recommended places?

Hi, this is being summer vacation in India so there are available many places to visit near by Varanasi like Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Rajasthan and so on which is near by from Varanasi. But I'd suggest you to visit Himachal Pradesh at this time as I've been traveling in India since 2007. Himachal Pradesh is well-known for the best hill stations, snowfalls, waterfalls, pilgrimages place, and many more. I let you list of around Himachal Pradesh like Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala , Dalhousie, Kullu, Chamba and so on. Thanks!!

After Varanasi you can go to Goa full of beaches, then there's Kerala which is also known as God's Own Country for its Backwaters and greenery, then there's Rajasthan which is full of tradition and a historic place to visit and then there's Kanyakumari again a beautiful place to visit in India.

Hey there

In India, there are many places to visit and to gain life time experience like Agra, Amritsar (golden temple),Jaipur, udaipur, Ajanta and Ellora caves,Hampi, kerala back water, Madurai, Goa etc.These are the best places in India which have been seen by travelers the most.

These are the places near by or in Varanasi where you can visit easily and also these places are very nice to visit

Bodh Gaya,Lucknow,Kanpur, Khajuraho, Agra( Taaj Mahal), Chandra Prabha Sanctuary, Chunar Fort, Ram Nagar Durg.

and also you can visit most rivers in Varanasi.

India is known for its traditional culture and heritage. You can visit Goa. Goa is known for its beaches, evening life. Last week I visited there through eartherntravels. Amenities provided as per tour package were awesome. See this link for best tour package-

Many place in India to see. but in my opinion u see Rajasthan like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ranthambore National Park. You never forget this journey. Royal rajasthan on wheels train offers you 7 Nights tour Program in Rajasthan.

Varanasi is among the most revered holy shrines and places of Hinduism.

Many other equally important shrines are located nearby.

You can observe Indian Saints/ Sanyasees who persevere to attain karma-Moksha or Eternal Bliss from painful re-incarnation.

Their mannerisms will reflect this great spiritual quest to be attainedby them.Like smearing ashes over their body.They tend to renounce worldly dreams to fulfill their goal. ( Its a great theology to be researched and made understood to mind-HINDUISM).Most people wont understand much.

!000s of mystics and mystical activity wait to be seen by you ,here in Hindu - Varanasi and Holy- Ganges river of Hinduism and other major Hindu- Cities like Badrinath , etc.

Kailash or Lord Shivas abode is in the Himalayas.There is a Huge, Striking to mind statue of Lord Shiva (3rd of 3 THE MAJOR DEITIES OF HINDU GODS)-- THE OTHER 2 BEING ( BRAHMA AND VISHNU ) nearby Kailash.(Himalayas).

South India from Varanasi by train covers to about 1000 kilometres.

Tamil Nadu State(South right tip of india(east) has famous Ooty Hillstation and Kodaikanal Hillstation which is cold-climated throughout the year.

Kerala State(south left tip of india(west) Has Munnar hillstation in Iddukki District of Kerala where tea-leaves are grown extensivley.

Karnataka State , Andhra-Pradesh State and newly fomed Telangana State are the 3 other south-indian states.We have techno giants of our nation- Bangalore and Hyderabad located here.Unless u r coming to see our technology.Mumbai is our film capital , Chennai is very important also Kolkata( Calcutta in british times) , and our national modern-age capital New Delhi.