Top 25 Places to Visit in India Before You Turn 30

The mere mention of Goa brings a smile on every youngster’s face. Not only is this tiny union territory filled with many cosy shacks and pubs, but it’s also the best place to party in the country. At Goa, apart from the all-year-round party scene, you can kayak at Palolem, or ride a banana boat at Vagator — or better yet, paraglide at Calangute. Goa is always on the top of everyone’s list of places to visit in India.

Being on top of the travel list of every youngster’s and every group of friends, the budget-friendly flight tickets and hotel accommodation in Goa can become extremely difficult, especially during the peak season. So, it’s always advised to make your reservations, well in advance.

Also Read: Goa Nightlife- 10 Best Clubs in Goa to Party All Night Long

Riding a bike to Ladakh with your friend is a surreal experience. But be warned — the road trip will push you two to the absolute limits of physical and mental endurance. If nothing else, you will emerge with an even stronger friendship. Ladakh, with its many beautiful terrains and mesmerizing landscapes, is one of the best places to visit in India.

Jammu and Kashmir is one of the best places to visit in India. And even if you and your friends only have a day to spend there, head to Srinagar. Spend a night at the Dal Lake on a boathouse and visit the Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden in the morning — you’ll thank us later.

Dharamshala, a tiny slice of Tibet in Himachal Pradesh is also home to the Dalai Lama, who you may get to meet if you’re lucky. Other than that, Dharamshala has a lot to offer for a couple of travel junkies such as yourselves — you can hang-glide, trek, camp and try out a rented motorcycle tour. This is one of the best places to visit India, especially if you’re looking for an escape.

Manali is full of places to eat, see and stay. Why is it one of the best tourist places in India? Well, for starters, you can ski, bathe in a hot spring and visit one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. Very few cities offer so much at the same time.

Solang Valley is so mesmerizing, it can give the Swiss Alps a run for its money. Close your eyes, breathe in the cool mountain air, and then when you open them, you two will be greeted with a stunning view of snow-capped mountains, lush forests and skies so clear you’ll feel like God Himself painted the clouds. This clearly makes Solang Valley, one of the best places to visit in India - especially with a companion.

Shimla, the setting for scores of successful Indian movies, was also the winter capital during the British rule of India. An interesting thing about Shimla is this — it’s crowded throughout the year. Thus, we recommend booking you and your sidekick into a homestay well in advance. The plethora of adventure activities and tourist spots in and around Shimla make it one of the best places to visit in India.

Kanatal, thanks to its excellent environs, is becoming one of the best tourist places in India. There are many reasons why you should visit Kanatal with your friend — great camping spots, picturesque trekking trails and opportunities to take part in adventure sports all year round. It’s pretty light on the wallet, too, since Kanatal is still a small town.

If you’re planning to visit Bir Billing, we recommend taking the Toy Train ride from Pathankot to Baijnath —the ride itself will be well worth it, and this is enough to rate it as one of the best places to visit in India with a friend.

Mount Abu is a place that can rival the best tourist spots from Europe. The drive up Abu Road is an adrenaline rush, especially if your friend happens to be a good driver. It’s Rajasthan’s only hill station, and one of the best places to visit in India. Here’s what you should do — visit the Nakki Lake, meet the crocodiles at Trevor’s Tank and then go see the Peace Park to round off a day well-spent.

Often considered one of the best places to visit in India, Munnar has forests aplenty. We recommend hiring a vehicle and taking a scenic tour of the Adimali Forest road. A word of caution though- the roads have tight hairpin bends, so if you're a spirited driver, your companion may get motion sick. Also get your kind of accommodation by booking your hotel stay here and earn precious InterMiles!

Why rate Ooty as one of the best places to visit in India? Well, here are some reasons —wonderful weather, excellent landscape, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and more. By more, we mean things like the Thread Garden —an entire garden made completely out of embroidered cloth. You and your mate will have great fun boating on the Ooty Lake, too.

At one time a French colony, and now home to the world-famous Auroville. Peace, quiet, cheap food and alcohol. Plenty of reasons to make Pondicherry one of the best places to visit in India, especially with your buddy

Also Read: Top 10 Places to Visit in Pondicherry for a Fulfilling Retreat

While planning a tour of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you have to include sea-walking. Sea walking is like a nature walk, but underwater, and what better way to do it than with your partner in crime? The Andaman-Nicobar Islands have plenty of spots for scuba diving, snorkelling and other water sports. Its natural beauty and adventure offerings make it one of the best places to visit in India.

While all the destinations in Andaman are breathtakingly beautiful, travelling to Andaman is also a memorable experience. Flying over pristine blue waters and arriving in the heart of this idyllic island is undoubtedly an experience that you are going to remember forever.

Pushkar, is an ancient Rajasthani city steeped in history and culture, making it one of the best places to visit in India. Pushkar is also home to the Pushkar Mela, which sees millions of tourists every year, and it’s an unearthly experience. Don’t miss a camel ride when at Pushkar!

Haridwar, or ‘the door to heaven’ in Hindi, is a mystical land with a touch of the divine. You and your friend should sign up for one of the many treks available year-round. Haridwar is one of seven holiest cities in India— and one of the more peaceful places to visit in India.

No trip to Uttarakhand is complete without visiting this historic hill station. Like Shimla, Mussoorie offers plenty of scope to sharpen your adventure chops, especially if you’re a thrill-seeking duo. Whether its mountain biking, rock-climbing or fishing, Mussoorie has it all — hence, it is one of the best places to visit in India.

Assam, the home of the Indian one-horned rhino is often hailed as one of the best places to visit in India. If your friend loves nature, this is the next best thing to Africa. Assam is full of flora and fauna — the Kaziranga National Park is a must-visit when in Assam.

If you and your best friend love the outdoors, then a visit to the Sunderbans is all it takes to realise why it’s one of the best places to visit in India. If you’re lucky, you will be able to see a Royal Bengal Tiger basking in the sun at the Sunderbans National Park. Did you know that the Sunderbans area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

While at Diu, you’ll teleport back to the days of old, when the Portuguese ruled the place. The tiny beach town is filled with churches, museums and temples, and the two of you will be spoilt for choice while deciding where to go next. Definitely one of the coolest places to visit in India.

It’s great if your friend loves war movies as Vishakapatnam is home of the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet. Here, you must check out the Submarine Museum, where you’ll get a feel of what life in a sub is like. It’s one of the best tourist places in India because apart from the Submarine Museum, Vizag has pristine beaches, killer adventure spots and lip-smacking food.

At Mahabalipuram, you and your compadre will be treated to the best of Dravidian history and culture. A key attraction here is the centuries-old rock temple, at the top of which you can see all the way to Chennai, which is 100-odd km away. Marble trinkets are pretty popular there, so this makes Mahabalipuram a rare exception — it’s one of the best places to visit in India if you love art.

Rann of Kutch is a salt desert, much like the Bonneville Salt Flats in the U.S. Every year, the Gujarat State Government organizes a three-month-long festival where you’ll get to see camel shows, campfire dances, get to ride a camel and more. Best experienced with a friend, ROK is one of the most storied places to visit in India.

Coorg, or Kodagu, is also called the ‘Scotland of India’. Like the European country, this hill station has sheer cliffs, vast rolling plans and cascading coffee plantations. Caffeine and adrenaline addicts both call Coorg home. Why? The world’s best coffee is grown here. It’s one of the best places to visit in India on a friend-trip (pun intended).

Rajmachi has are plenty of camping spots, trekking trails and places to explore. If the two of you love wheels, rent a couple of motorcycles from Pune, and ride up and down the steep inclines — you’ll be tired, but happy, and that’s why Rajmachi is one of the top places to visit in India before you turn 30.

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