Planned Your Summer Vacation Yet? 10 Best Places to Visit in North India for Your Vacation in 2020 and 5 Tips for a Successful Vacation.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the shrine of Badrinath is situated in the banks of Alakhnanda between two captivating snowy mountains known as Nara and Narayana in the backdrop of humongous Neelkanth Mountain. You can drive or trek to see the only place river Saraswati is visible at a distance of 6 km from the Badrinath area. After you cross the bridge of Alkhnanda here, you stand in the path known as Swargadwar ( Gateway to Heaven) through which the Pandavas begin their mythological journey to heaven. There are numerous hotels and Dharamshala in this temple town to suit any budget. You can reach Badrinath by road.

Kedarnath is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Rudra Himalayan Range. Adi Sankaracharya built this famous Jyotirlinga temple. You will reach here in summer, where grassy meadows cover the valley surrounded by lofty snow peaks. Kedarnath can be reached only by trek or pony service on a 22 kilometres uphill route. Otherwise, you have to choose helicopter services. You will see the Mandakini river all along this majestic route.

Yamunotri and Gangotri are the temples dedicated to Yamuna and Gangotri at the foothills of their sources. Gangotri can be reached by road. To reach Yamunotri, you have to trek a distance of 14 km from Hanuman Chatti. You can hire palanquin or pony services. The route and destination to both temples are a visual treat. The 'Chota Char Dham' can start from Rishikesh and Dehradun. You will travel through Uttarkashi, witnessing a breathtaking view of the lofty mountains and various confluence of rivers such as Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Traditionally the visit is in the following order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. All these sites are above 3,200 meters from sea level.

Manali is a resort town nestled in the gorgeous Beas rivel valley amidst snow-capped mountain and the alluring ambience of lush greenery. You can avail of various tour package to Manali, which boasts of over 1000 hotels and resorts. While in Manali, you can also seek thrill with rafting, mountaineering, hiking, paragliding, and heli-skiing. Beas river, Rohtang Pass, Jogni waterfalls, Bhrigu lake, and Solang valley, are the places to visit in Manali. You can reach Manali by air through the nearest airport located at Bhuntar.

Chamba is the most picturesque of the valleys of Himachal. It is on the banks of river Ravi amidst two mountain ridges full of sparkling streams, meadows, wildlife, and alpine forest. Chamba is also famous for historical and architectural landmarks, palaces, and temples and is also a repository of local art and folk culture. Places to visit in and around Chamba are its various famous temples, The Rangmahal or The Old Palace, The Bhuri Singh Museum. St. Andrew’s church and Gandhi gate. Nearby places are Jhumhar, Chamera lake, Dalhousie and Jhajjar.

Dharamshala is also known as ‘The Little Lasha’ of India and is famous as the holy residence of the Dalai Lama. This scenic stretch of land is separated into two distinct upper and lower divisions with different climates. The upper-division is the Mcleodganj, and the lower division is Dharamshala. A Tibetian hub, the town of Dharamshala is a perfect amalgamation of culture, tranquillity, and beauty. The places to visit within Dharamshala are Tsuglagkhang Complex, Namgyal Monastery, Gyuto Monastery, and Dal Lake. Other nearby places are Masrur, Kareri Lake, Kangra Fort and Museum, Naddi Village, Bhagsunag temple and falls, Jwalamukhi temple, Tibetan market, tea garden, and the Dalai Lama Temple complex. And if you are a cricket enthusiast, you would not want to miss the Dharamshala Cricket stadium. You can reach Dharamshala by air. The nearest railway station is Pathankot, 85 km away.

Jaipur is the capital and boasts of many historical monuments. Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar are world heritage sites. Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort are captivating as well. Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, various holy temples and handicraft shopping, and so on make for a complete holiday destination.

Jaisalmer is famous for Jaisalmer Fort. The city is also a famous Jain heritage site with temples of Tirthankara Parshvanath and Shanthinath. Being the historic capital of Marwar, Jodhpur also stands tall with its various imposing monuments and history. The famous Mehrangarh Fort will take an entire day to soak in its grandeur. Umaid Bhavan palace will impress you likewise. Ghanta Ghar and Jaswant Thada are other attractions.

Udaipur is known as ‘City of Lakes’ and is a tourist favourite due to its various offerings of culture, heritage and architecture. The City Palace, Jag Mandir, Lake Palace and Monsoon Palace are significant attractions. Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola, Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, Jagadish temple, and so on are other must-visit places.

The famous Ajmer Sharif Dargah brings millions of devotees and tourists to the venerated Maqbara of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. The Puskar Mela of November is held in Pushkar town,15 km away from Ajmer. A famous religious site, Puskar, has the only Brahma temple in the world. The Dilwara temples in the beautiful Aravalli hills of Mount Abu is a must-visit as well.

The world heritage sites are Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb. Now is the chance to visit the Red Fort you often have watched the Country's Prime Minister addressing the Nation from its precincts on Independence day. Nearby Red Fort, you can also find the magnificent Jama Masjid. Jantar Mantar, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Nizamuddin Dargah, Lakshmi Narayan Birla Temple, Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, and so on are revered places of worship, and many are architectural marvels. You would not want to miss any of them.

The memorial of Mahatma Gandhi is in Raj Ghat. You will find several other memorials near Raj Ghat dedicated to eminent personalities such as Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jawarharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi. Apart from paying homage, these places are serene with parks and lawns to enjoy your day. To pay tribute to our fallen soldiers, visit National War Memorial and Amar Jawan Jyothi near India Gate. Rajpath, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament House in and around the magnificent India Gate.

Delhi is a shopping paradise. Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Haus Khas village Sarojini Market, Karol Bagh, Khan Market, Dilli Haat, and so on are places to stroll, wander and purchase. If you are a foodie, Pranthe Wali Gali, Khan Market, Chandni Chowk, Jama masjid, and perhaps every street of Delhi have small and large eateries for your gastronomical delight. Finally, if you are a connoisseur of art, artefacts, and history, there abut 30 famous museums in Delhi.

Kashi Viswanath Temple, situated at the banks of Ganga, is a Jyothirlinga and is amongst the most revered of the Hindu deities. In and around the complex, you will find several other temples. The famous Asi Ghat, Dahwamedha ghat, Harishchandra Ghat are located here at the banks of river Ganga. The Ganga arati from the Ghat area or, from a boat in the Ganga, is the most spectacular experience you will carry in your memory forever. Sankatmochan Hanuman Temple, Vishalakshi Temple, Batuk Bhairav Mandir, and dozen other ancient and revered temples are all around the city. Tulsi Manas Mandir, Bharat Mata Temple, New Vishwanath Temple at Benara Hindu University are other must-visit places.

A visit to Varanasi is incomplete without the visit to Sarnath located ten kilometres away from Varanasi. Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha first taught Dharma to his disciples after enlightenment and is, therefore, knowns as ‘Gateway to Buddhist Pilgrimage.’ King Ashoka built the famous Dhamekh Stupa and the Ashoka Pillar here. The eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism, Shreyansanath, was born a kilometre away from here, making Sarnath an important Jain Pilgrim centre.

The gorgeous waterfronts, colourful houseboats (Shikaras), and traditional Kashmiri handicrafts add to the distinct characteristics of the city. The pristine beauty of Dal lake is where you can hire a colourful houseboat or Shikaras to roam around its 26 square kilometre area dotted with beautiful landscape and famous Shalimar and Nishat Bagh garden. The Wular lake, Nagin lake, and Manasbal lake are other famous waterfronts.

The many fabulous Mughal gardens are the most delightful visits of Srinagar. Laden with trees and blooming flowers in beautiful terraced lawns and amidst numerous fountains, the gardens of Shirnagar will lock themselves many times in your memory and cameras. The Shalimarbag, Mughal garden, Tulip gardens, and Botanical garden are sensory delights.

The Hazratbal mosque that holds the relic (hair) of Prophet Mohammad is amongst the holiest shrine of the Muslims. The white marble domed shrine is a beautiful architectural edifice and is a must-visit. Jamia Masjid is another sacred shrine reflecting elegant Indo-Saracenic architecture. The multi terraced Pari Mahal gardens are an exclusive visit for its beauty and the majestic view of the Dal lake from its periphery. You can also visit apple orchids and pluck some for yourselves.

The Kheer Bhawani temple and Shankaracharya temple are significant religious shrines. A trip to Srinagar is incomplete without buying its famous Kashmiri handicrafts while walking the bylanes of the old city. You will witness intricate and colourful Kashmiri art on wooden houses all along the street. A trip to Kasmir will also be incomplete if you do not visit the gorgeous Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Pahalgam, Patni top, and Sinthan top areas outside Srinagar.

Leh's Shanthi Stupa is the main attraction. It is a white-domed Buddhist stupa on a hilltop and holds a relic of Lord Buddha. Leh Palace is a 15-minute walk from the Leh market. It is a nine-story medieval Tibetan palace with mural painting but now mostly in ruins. It is atop Namgyal hill, and you can have a panoramic view of the lovely Leh valley from here.

Spituk monastery, Thiksey monastery, Hemis monastery, Alchi monastery, Lamayuru monastery, Phayang monastery, Shey Monastery are famous religious places of visit. They represent the cultural, architectural, and spiritual heritage of the people of Leh and Ladakh. You can also find exquisite Thangka paintings, stupas, idols, ancients masks, weapons, and other artefacts here. They are also in scenic mountain areas and offer great visuals of the surroundings. You can also time your visit to see various colourful festivals such as Matho Nagrang festival, Harvest festival, Hemis festival, Losar festival, and so on. Other places to visit are Sangam valley, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Pangong lake, Vajra Bhairav shrine, Magnetic hill, Nubra valley, Sindhu ghat and so on. Khardung La and Chang La pass are also a must-visit.

Other places in Ladakh abundantly offer Buddhist heritage and pristine beauty. There are various places to spend your entire vacation. You can explore Kargil by bike or enjoy a beautiful homestay Zanskar valley. You can visit the world's highest observatory of Indian Astronomical observatory in Hanle. You can visit and stay in the beautiful Hanle village with all the modern facilities.

Hanle monastery is a lovely Tibetan style architecture. You can also see the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river in the Leh- Srinagar highway. The Likir monastery with 75 feet gold-glided Maitreya statue is a must-visit amongst the various monasteries. Pangong Tso and Tso Mriri lakes in a distance of around 200 km from Leh are beautiful blue water lakes and amongst the largest and high altitude lakes around the world.

Golden Temple is a gurudwara known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib. This spectacular two storey Swarna Mandir is covered with 400 kgs of gold and reflects both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles. The temple is surrounded by Amrit Sarover, whose water is believed to have medicinal and curative properties. The Golden Temple also houses the Central Sikh Museum and has a Parikrama dotted with several holy shrines and memorials. The Guru Granth Sahib is displayed in the Sanctorum from morning to evening and kept in Akal Takhat at nights. Beautiful marble works and decoration with precious and semi-precious gems adorn its hallways and Sanctorum. The serene yet imposing Golden temple is open to all for a lovely spiritual sojourn.

There are numerous other must-visit places in and around Amritsar. The Wagah border between India and Pakistan is 22 km away if you want to witness the famous Beating Retreat ceremony. You can revisit history and pay respects to our fallen innocent people in the beautiful Jallianwala Bagh. You can hear enchanting Punjabi bhajans while you bow down to the Guru Granth Sahib at the magnificent Gurudwara Guru Ke Mahal. Gurudwara Mata Kaulan, Bibeksar Sahib, Akal Takht, Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree, Durgiana temple, Goindwal Baoli, Gurudwara Chhehatra Sahi, Gurudwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib, Tarn Taran Sahib, Sri Ram Tirth Temple, Mata Lal Devi Temple and Khair-ud-Din Masjid are other famous shrines.

The partition museum, Maharaj Ranjit Singh museum, and Govindgarh Fort encase the trauma of partition and glorious heritage of Punjab, respectively. Also, visit the historic Khalsa college and later Hall Bazar for shopping. The weather in Amritsar is pleasant from November to March.

The Krishna Balaram Temple complex of the ISKON is the main ISKON temple worldwide. It also houses the tomb of the founder Swami Prabhupada. The temple complex is of white marble and has an intricate design all over the walls. The chanting, bhajans, drums, harmonium, and mridangam will make anybody either rooted spellbound or dancing enchantingly in front of the deities. Such is the extraordinary vibrations at this wonderful spiritual congregation. You can also attend beautiful Bhagvat Gita classes here. The famous ISKCON food here is delightful.

The Prem Mandir is another ethereal experience. It is dedicated to the pristine love of Radha and Krishna. The best time to visit is in the evening, where the humongous area, the complex is housed displays the magic of changing lights on all its structure every minute. The entire marble structure and intricate carving in every ounce of the Prem mandir is perhaps the rarest work of art in the world. The whole complex has dozens of massive life-size representations from the divine life play of Lord Krishna.

Though the Taj Mahal usurps all the glory, there are few places in Agra you will not want to miss. The architectural brilliance of Agra Fort will tell you why. This symbol of Mughal grandeur contains many magnificent palaces, halls, and mosques.

The Tomb of Itimad Ud Daulah and Akbar’s tomb is in nearby Sikandra. You would not want to miss the World Heritage site of Fathepur Sikri just 36 km away from Agra. Once a capital of the Mughal empire, Fatehpur Sikri is one of the most exceptional archaeological and architectural marvels of India.