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Humayun’s Tomb (40)
Photo: Humayun’s Tomb

India
3,829 Photos
27° 5′ N, 76° 58′ E

Description

India (भारत गणराज्य), officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world.

Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east.

In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.

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Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history.

Four world religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism originated here, whereas Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region’s diverse culture.

Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Indian economy is the world’s eleventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country.

However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 28 states and 7 union territories.

India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

Map: India

List of sights
3,829 Photos

Taj Mahal (300)
Photo: Taj Mahal

Agra (IN)
162 Photos

Agra, a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1658. …

Map: AgraList of sights: Red Fort of Agra, Taj Mahal, Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah
Ajanta Caves (503) Cave 26
Photo: Ajanta Caves, Cave 26

Ajanta (IN)
140 Photos

The Ajanta Caves, in Maharashtra, are 31 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BC. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered …

Map: Ajanta
Alchi (45)
Photo: Alchi

Alchi (IN)
40 Photos

Alchi, a village and monastery situated on the bank of Indus River 70 km from the capital in Leh, is situated, unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, on lowland, …

Map: Alchi
Alwar (33)
Photo: Alwar

Alwar (IN)
51 Photos

Alwar is a city and administrative headquarters of Alwar District in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is located around 160 km south of Delhi, and about …

Map: Alwar
Aurangabad (10) Bibi Ka Maqbara
Photo: Aurangabad, Bibi Ka Maqbara

Aurangabad (IN)
21 Photos

Aurangabad is a city of Maharashtra, named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The city is surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves

Map: Aurangabad
Bundi (257) Taragarh Fort
Photo: Bundi, Taragarh Fort

Bundi (IN)
68 Photos

Bundi, is a city in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan state in north-west India. It is of particular architectural note for its ornate forts, palaces, and …

Map: Bundi
Chemrey (5)
Photo: Chemrey

Chemrey (IN)
30 Photos

Chemrey, gompa of the Drukpa (Red Hat) sect in eastern Ladakh, was founded in 1664 as a memorial to a local king.

Map: Chemrey
Chittaurgarh (92)
Photo: Chittaurgarh

Chittaurgarh (IN)
69 Photos

Chittaurgarh (Chittorgarh), is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and …

Map: Chittaurgarh
Datia (215) Bir Singh Deo Palace
Photo: Datia, Bir Singh Deo Palace

Datia (IN)
95 Photos

Datia, a small rural town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near …

Map: Datia
Deeg (168) Deeg Palace (Jal Mahal)
Photo: Deeg, Deeg Palace (Jal Mahal)

Deeg (IN)
48 Photos

Deeg Palace, built in 1772, is situated near Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Deeg was the first capital of the newly carved out Jat State of Bharatpur, when Badan Singh

Map: Deeg
Humayun’s Tomb (91)
Photo: Humayun’s Tomb

Delhi (IN)
308 Photos

Delhi, the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India after Mumbai, is the capital of India. Located on the banks …

Map: DelhiList of sights: Begumpur Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid (Delhi), Jantar Mantar (Delhi), Lodi Gardens, Lotus Temple, Mehrauli archaeological park, Qutb-Minar, Tomb …
Ellora Caves (525) Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple)
Photo: Ellora Caves, Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple)

Ellora (IN)
118 Photos

Ellora is an archaeological site, 30 km from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra built by the Rashtrakuta rulers. Well-known for its …

Map: Ellora
Fatehpur Sikri (2) Diwan-i-Khas
Photo: Fatehpur Sikri, Diwan-i-Khas

Fatehpur Sikri (IN)
106 Photos

Fatehpur Sikri, a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire’s capital from …

Map: Fatehpur Sikri
Gwalior (35) Gwalior Fort
Photo: Gwalior, Gwalior Fort

Gwalior (IN)
46 Photos

Gwalior Fort, built in the 8th century in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, stands on an isolated rock, overlooking the Gwalior town. It is one …

Map: Gwalior
Hemis (148)
Photo: Hemis

Hemis (IN)
64 Photos

Hemis Gompa, a monastery 40 km south-east of Leh in Ladakh, was established in 1672 by King Senge Nampar Gyalva.

Map: Hemis
Jaipur (592) Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)
Photo: Jaipur, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)

Jaipur (IN)
190 Photos

Jaipur, also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. During the British rule in India, Jaipur

Map: Jaipur
Jaisalmer (904) Jaisalmer Fort
Photo: Jaisalmer, Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer (IN)
212 Photos

Jaisalmer, nicknamed “The Golden City”, is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 575 km west from the state capital Jaipur. The town stands …

Map: Jaisalmer
Jodhpur (6) Mehrangarh Fort
Photo: Jodhpur, Mehrangarh Fort

Jodhpur (IN)
248 Photos

Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 335 km west from the state capital, Jaipur. The city is known as the …

Map: Jodhpur
Kumbhalgarh (18)
Photo: Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh (IN)
8 Photos

Kumbhalgarh (literally “Kumbhal fort”) is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan

Map: Kumbhalgarh
Kusum Sarovar (161)
Photo: Kusum Sarovar

Kusum Sarovar (IN)
75 Photos

Kusum Sarovar, close to Govardhan, is crowned by the cenotaphs of the members of the royal family of Bharatpur, a significant architectural group erected …

Map: Kusum Sarovar
Lamayuru (1)
Photo: Lamayuru

Lamayuru (IN)
30 Photos

Lamayuru Gompa, one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, housed up to 400 monks. The Indian scholar Mahasiddhacarya Naropa (956 - 1041) caused a …

Map: Lamayuru
Leh (234)
Photo: Leh

Leh (IN)
78 Photos

Leh, the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, is dominated by the ruined Leh Palace former home of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same …

Map: Leh
Matho (223) Festival of the Oracles
Photo: Matho, Festival of the Oracles

Matho (IN)
212 Photos

Matho Gompa, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh east of Leh, is the only example of the Sakyapa sect. It is known for its annual Oracle Festival, Matho Nagran

Map: Matho
Mathura (83)
Photo: Mathura

Mathura (IN)
37 Photos

Mathura, said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, was as per the epics Mahabharata, the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kansa the maternal uncle …

Map: Mathura
Nagda (122) Sahasra Bahu Temples
Photo: Nagda, Sahasra Bahu Temples

Nagda (IN)
53 Photos

Nagda is a small town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. In the 6th century, Nagda was found by Nagaditya, the fourth Mewar King. Initially it was known …

Map: Nagda
Orchha (84) Jahangir Mahal
Photo: Orchha, Jahangir Mahal

Orchha (IN)
115 Photos

Orchha, a town 15 km from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, lies on the Betwa River and was the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the …

Map: Orchha
Phyang (3)
Photo: Phyang

Phyang (IN)
16 Photos

Phyang Gompa, a Buddhist monastery located 16 km west of Leh, was established in 1515. The monastery is one of only two in Ladakh belonging to the Drigungpa School

Map: Phyang
Pushkar (366) Pushkar Camel Fair (Kartik Mela)
Photo: Pushkar, Pushkar Camel Fair (Kartik Mela)

Pushkar (IN)
255 Photos

Pushkar, is a town in the state of Rajasthan, situated at 14 km north-west from Ajmer, and is one of the five sacred Dhams (pilgrimage sites for devout …

Map: Pushkar
Ranakpur (163) Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara
Photo: Ranakpur, Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara

Ranakpur (IN)
140 Photos

Ranakpur is widely known for its marble Jain temple, and for a much older Sun Temple which lies opposite the former. Light coloured marble has been used …

Map: Ranakpur
Rizong (10)
Photo: Rizong

Rizong (IN)
17 Photos

Rizong Gompa, a Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Buddhist monastery, is situated at the top of a rocky side valley on the west of Alchi on the way to Lamayuru. It …

Map: Rizong
Saspol (75)
Photo: Saspol

Saspol (IN)
25 Photos

Saspol has some caves with wall-paintings as old as those at Alchi.

Map: Saspol
Spituk (20)
Photo: Spituk

Spituk (IN)
25 Photos

Spituk Gompa, a Buddhist monastery located 8 km from Leh, was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od in the 11th century.

Map: Spituk
Stakna (27)
Photo: Stakna

Stakna (IN)
8 Photos

Stakna Gompa, a Buddhist monastery of the Drugpa Sect, is located 25 km south-west from Leh on the right bank of the Indus River. It was founded in the …

Map: Stakna
Stok (288) Stok Guru Tsechu Festival
Photo: Stok, Stok Guru Tsechu Festival

Stok (IN)
242 Photos

Stok Gompa, a Buddhist monastery 15 km south of Leh, was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th century. A ritual dance-mask festival is held annually. …

Map: Stok
Takthok (33)
Photo: Takthok

Takthok (IN)
26 Photos

Takthok Gompa, a monastery in the Sakti village 46 km east of Leh in Ladakh, was founded in the mid 16th century during the reign of Tshewang Namgyal on …

Map: Takthok
Thiksey (36)
Photo: Thiksey

Thiksey (IN)
58 Photos

Thiksey Gompa (Thiksay Gompa, Thikse Gompa, Tikse Gompa), a Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) Buddhist monastery, is located east of Leh at an altitude of 3,600 m. The …

Map: Thiksey
Udaipur (9) City Palace
Photo: Udaipur, City Palace

Udaipur (IN)
49 Photos

Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is a city in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located 400 km south-west of the state capital, Jaipur

Map: Udaipur
Varanasi (248) Prayag Ghat
Photo: Varanasi, Prayag Ghat

Varanasi (IN)
160 Photos

Varanasi, also commonly known as Benares, is a city situated on the banks of the Ganges River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is regarded as a …

Map: Varanasi
Zanskar (153)
Photo: Zanskar

Zanskar (IN)
184 Photos

Zanskar covers an area of about 7,000 km², at an altitude between 3,500 and 7,000 m. It consists of the country lying along the two main branches of the …

Map: Zanskar