10 Tourist Destinations in India to Visit in the Month of December

Capital of Tripura, Agartala is situated on the banks of river Haora close to the border with Bangladesh. Tripura is among the seven states that form the north eastern region of India.
It was the capital of the former princely state of Tripura. It shot into prominence only after Maharaja Krishna Manikya shifted his capital to the city.
Agartala offers some outstandingly beautiful palaces, gardens, hills, temples and lakes. Perfection is the word for the architectural monuments of the city. The red government buildings are in contrast against the remarkably usually white old British buildings that are still in existence and in use. Some of the monuments have been selected as UNESCO world heritage sites.

Agra is home to the Taj Mahal, one of the seven Wonders of the World and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Needless to say, it features on the itinerary of not just domestic tourists but also foreign travelers. Agra is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and along with Jaipur and Delhi forms the Golden Triangle of Indian tourism.

Believed to have been built in 1475, Agra even finds a mention in the epic Mahabharatha where it is called Agraban (meaning paradise). The renowned second century geographer Ptolemy had also spotted this place as Agra in his world map. The present Agra city was established by Sikandar Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty in the 16th century and was the capital of the Lodi and Mughal dynasties.

Once used as the settlement for penal punishment, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have now become a big tourist attraction. Nature lovers throng the island for its clean environment, roads, greenery and unpolluted fresh air.

The tropical rain forests and waters of Bay of Bengal are home to a vast collection of plants, animals and marine life.

Topographically, the islands are hilly in places, fringed with coconut palms, covered with tropical jungle and interspersed with flat stretches of crescent shaped beaches. A marvelous mix of nature’s most precious delights, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer a once in a lifetime holiday experience.

Once the capital of the mighty Chalukyas, Badami, located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka, is known for its rock-cut temples built in 5th and 8th century AD. The town faces the Agastya lake which is surrounded by two hills, Vatapi and Ilvala named after the two demon siblings who wreaked havoc in the region till the sage Agastya outsmarted them.

Badami became the capital of the Chalukyas, after they moved their capital from Aihole. The Chalukyas ruled the region between 6th and 8th century. While Pulakesi laid the foundations of Badami it was his son Kirthivarman and his brother Mangalesha I who built several cave temples in the town. During the reign of the Chalukyas, four rock-cut cave temples were constructed. While three are dedicated to Hindu gods, the fourth temple is dedicated to Jain Tirthankars.

Spread over 450 sq km, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh is known for its thriving flora and fauna. Considered the original home of white tigers, the park is also the habitat for Indian bison, sambars, langurs and cheetals. The park is surrounded by hilly terrains of sandstone and rocks and is covered with marshy lands. Before it became a national park, the forest around Bandhavgarh had been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve, of the Maharajahs of Rewa.

Bandhavgarh came under the jurisdiction of Madhya Pradesh in 1947 after Rewa merged with Madhya Pradesh. The hunting rights remained with Maharaja of Rewa. Until 1968 when the areas were constituted as a national park, no special conservation measures were taken. Several steps were taken later to retain Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt natural habitat.

The bustling city of Bhubaneshwar is the capital of Odisha and is most famous for its architecture and ancient temples. Bhubaneshwar is also a Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage center. The 10th century Lingaraja temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a must visit.

The city and this temple form an integral part of the Golden Triangle that includes the holy city of Puri (Jagannath Temple) and Konark (Sun temple).

Designed by a German architect, Otto Konigsberger, Bhubaneshwar was one of the first planned cities of India along with Jamshedpur and Chandigarh.

Capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar, Chittorgarh is located on the banks of river Gambhiri in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan. The Chittorgarh fort, from which the city derives its name, stands as a testimony to the Rajput pride and valor. Venue to several glorious battles, the one most remembered was the siege by Ala-ud-din Khilji when rather than falling into the hands of the attackers, the women committed jauhar (self-immolation) while the men went to war.

The Chittorgarh fort was built by the Mauryans in 7th century AD. Standing atop a 180 m high hill, the fort has 22 water bodies, palaces, towers and temples and is is spread over 700 acres. The fort is one of the strongest forts in India and its main attractions are the two commemoration towers, Kirti Stambh and Vijay Stambh. The former was built to honor the first Jain Tirthankar and the latter was built to commemorate the victory over Mohammed Khilji.

Coorg (also known as Kodagu) is a hill station located in Karnataka famous for its coffee and tea plantations. Coorg is called the ‘Scotland of India’ and also ‘Kashmir of the South’ thanks to its majestic beauty and cool climate. It is situated at 3500 ft above sea level. Nestled among lush greenery of the Western Ghats, Coorg offers an unmatched beautiful vacation to tourists.

Several South Indian dynasties like the Kadambas, Gangas, Cholas, Chalukyas, Rastrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijaynagar Rayas ruled over Kodagu. Despite the Kodavas being members of the Indian warrior caste and known in India as ‘brave warriors’, Kodagu did not have indigenous rulers, as the Kodavas failed to evolve political consensus. Many diverse ethnic communities can be found in Coorg, with Kodavas being the main ethnic group.

Darjeeling is one of the most scenic and hugely popular hill resorts in India. At 2,134 meters above mean sea level, it is 686 km from Kolkata in West Bengal. Amidst the backdrop of the mighty snow-clad Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling has been popular with tourists for its beauty and pleasant climate. You can get a clear view of the world’s third highest peak, Kanchenjunga, from the town on a sunny day. Avoid the monsoons as Kanchenjunga is not visible. Skip June, July and August and definitely avoid December and January.

It is home to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a World Heritage Site. Tourists can enjoy leisurely walks through the town’s quaint streets, watching the laidback life of the locals.

Known for its temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha and its white sand beach, Ganpatipule is located in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. There are two schools of thought as to how the town got its name. According to folklore, Lord Ganesha, offended by a remark left Gule, his original abode, and reached Pule. Another school of thought believes that the town got its name from the white sand (or Pule in Marathi) from which the idol of Ganesha was formed.

Today, the town has become a major pilgrimage center. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Swayambhu Ganpati temple, where the idol is self-manifested. The Ganesha temple in Ganpatipule is unique because it is one of the few temples in the country in which the presiding deity faces west. The 400- year-old temple is one of the prime tourist attractions of the town.