11. Varanasi
Certain places offer photographers a chance to click something unique, such as monuments, historically popular places of interest, festivals, culture or landscapes. Some places, however, are able to offer everything in a nutshell. One such place is Varanasi. This region is best known for its religious reverence along with its bright culture, vivid hues, elaborate traditional, cheery locals, and ghats.
Defined by colours, unity in diversity, death and birth, indulgence and spirituality, this place is unique for photography. A trip to Varanasi can easily bring out the photographer in a person. In fact, even people who believe that they don’t need a camera will take one and click images of sadhus, priests, and ladies dipping into the holy water of the Ganges. Such is the mesmerising capacity of this place! Varanasi with its spiritual and vintage charm gives you some unique scenes. Uttar Pradesh’s biggest draw gets our votes for its deluge of 80 river ghats along the River Ganga.
12. Kashmir
Set like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted diamond, changing its hues with the seasons – always extravagantly beautiful. Cradled in the lap of majestic mountains of the Himalayas, this is a land where myriad holiday ideas are realised.
In winter, when snow carpets the mountains, there is skiing, tobogganing, sledge-riding, etc. along the gentle slopes. In spring and summer, the honey-dewed orchards, rippling lakes, and blue skies beckon every soul to sample the many delights the mountains and valleys have to offer.
Golfing at 2,700 m above the sea, water-skiing in the lakes and angling for prized rainbow trout, or simply drifting down the willow-fringed alleys of lakes in shikaris and living in gorgeous houseboats are some of the most favoured experiences. Throughout the ages Kashmire has remained another name for Paradise.