Beyond the Taj Mahal: India's Lesser-known Attractions

This rather unassuming building, sitting on the edge of the cool Kala Ghoda neighborhood in Mumbai, is one of the city’s most exciting places to see art. With five galleries, the exhibitions change almost weekly and they showcase everything from photography to sculpture to paintings by up-and-coming artists from across the country. The most exciting part, though? The artists themselves are there everyday, and if you fall in love with a work you can even purchase it there and then.

This intriguing temple isn’t your typical place of worship. It belongs to the Bahá'í faith, which teaches the unity of God, religion and humanity. Designed to look like a lotus flower, there are 27 free-standing marble-clad ‘petals’ making up its exterior walls, and inside it’s a simple, serene space. It sits within some beautifully landscaped gardens—the ideal place to escape the madness of Delhi’s center.

Just 25 miles west of Agra lies a spectacular fortified city, but with the Taj Mahal taking up most travelers’ time, fewer people come to see this incredible sight. Built mostly with striking red sandstone in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, it is astonishingly well preserved and has a mosque which is still in use today. Explore the three palaces at sunset for a spellbinding experience.

Nagaland is one of India’s least-visited regions due to its remoteness—it’s sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar and there are no public transport links from the country’s main hubs. But those that arrive here are richly rewarded with the unique culture of the Naga people. The Naga Heritage Village is the place to see it all in action. You can visit traditional thatched Naga homes, see small exhibitions and, once a year, experience the wonderful Hornbill Festival. Every December, the region’s communities come together to sing and dance in their traditional way.

Orchha means “hidden place”, so it’s unsurprising that many travelers to India have never heard of this magical medieval town. It’s a truly beguiling spot, with ancient, crumbling cenotaphs towering above the deserted fortified settlement and the Betwa River running past its yellow sandstone structures. It’s most affecting at sunset, when the buildings turn a glorious gold and its many spires are silhouetted against a changing sky.

The city of Mysuru (formerly Mysore) isn’t on many an Indian bucket list, but the palace here makes it well worth a stop on your itinerary. Fortifications have stood on this ground since the 14th century, and the current structure dates from the early 1900s. A sprawling display of wealth, it comprises three floors of ornate bedrooms with original furniture, grand halls painted with spectacular murals and intricately carved, gilded pillars. It has to be one of the finest royal palaces in the country.

The Amber Fort in Rajasthan is one of the most popular stops for visitors in India, but Gwalior is equally impressive and has far fewer crowds. This imposing sandstone citadel was built between the 8th and 14th centuries and has been ruled by various kingdoms in northern India. It has two main palaces, and a temple where the second-earliest inscription of the number zero, dating from 1500 years ago, can be seen.

Most of us have heard of Bolivia’s famous salt flats, but few know India has its own version: the Rann of Kutch. On the edge of the Thar Desert in the western state of Gujarat lies an enormous plain which flits between wet marshland in summer and bright white salt flat in winter. Come at night on a full moon to see the salts shimmering under the sky’s bright light.

Among a rocky landscape peppered with banana trees lies the ruined ‘City of Victory’—better known as Hampi. This ancient city was one of the most sophisticated in all of India and its highlight is the Vittala Temple, a 15th-century structure with intricate carvings and an ornate stone chariot, which you’ll recognize from the 50-rupee note.

Niagara Falls eat your heart out. Chitrakote Falls in the leafy state of Chhattisgarh is a veritable rival. At nearly 1,000 feet wide and 100 feet high, it’s a spectacular rush of thundering water fed by the Indravati River. Between December and June, providing the current isn’t too strong, you can paddle in the pools at its foot, and there’s opportunity for rafting or rowing up to the spray with local fishermen.

This marble Jain temple is simply mind-blowing. Among its 80 domes and 29 different rooms are 1,444 hand-carved pillars. Each one is individual, completely different from the rest, and the entire space is a wonderfully calm and cool place to hide from the dry heat outside. Solid marble elephants are scattered throughout, and the inside of each dome is carved with equally elaborate patterns and symbols. Even more astonishing is that this epic feat of devotion was created in the 15th century.