5 Must See Places In India, Besides The Taj Mahal

Exploring India is more than just visiting the Taj Mahal. The places, the people, the food and the activities provide a wonderful experience that is never to be forgotten. All of these experiences and opportunities were during my amazing Fall semester studying abroad with the Alliance for Global Education, the Contemporary India program.

1. Hampi

°One of the first things that appealed me most was the scenery. All of the beautiful rock formations, all the mountains, and different temples. It was a completely a different India than I had read about and seen in my travels.

° The little town of Hampi is adorable. Only about two streets long with fun shops with local handmade jewelry, tapestry, clothes and much more. There are also many eateries a long the streets. Small little coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants where you can relax after a long day of touring, drink a nice cold mango lassi, and sit in a beanbag overlooking the town while playing chess with other travelers.

° It's very affordable. Especially the restaurants and staying in the hostels

° You will run into people at least three times in one day because the town is so small. This is nice because, it is a great conversation starter. And on your trip, you will most likely have dinner with the people you meet, and ride bikes across the river as well. Everyone is so friendly!!

° You can rent bikes, or motorcycles to get around and even rickshaws for an entire weekend

° Beautiful hiking trails

° Fun Fact: It is a dry city; meaning you will not find alcohol! Point. Blank. Period.

2. Goa

°Goa, the smallest state of India is known for its exotic beaches with amazing sunset view, golden sand and coconut palms playing with the wind.

° If having a great time with a loved one is on your mind, Goa is the perfect place for togetherness.

° Tasty seafood, parasailing, wind surfing and water-skiing facilities make the beaches of Goa a core fun place.

° Alorna Fort, Ancestral Goa Museum, Arvalam Waterfalls, Chapora Fort and Calangute beach are some of the popular destinations in Goa.

° Beautiful churches, and festive carnivals

° Restaurants and bars on the beach

° One of the top tourist destinations in India

° Amazing nightlife

° Great place to visit if you are looking to have a great time (aka party all night)

° Extremely inexpensive

° Wide variety of restaurants (Greek, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Russian, American)

° The weather is always nice! Between 70-90 degrees almost year round

° The architecture in Goa is very different than other parts of India. It is a combination of Portuguese and Islamic.

3. Ellora and Ajanta Caves

° The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are 30 rock-cut cave monuments and these splendid architectural wonders portray the rich heritage of India.

° The paintings and sculptures in these caves are supposed to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.

° The cave temples are positioned in a horse-shoe shaped cliff.

° The cave temples of Ellora located in the Deccan Plateau were excavated between 600 AD and 900 AD.

° Made from solid rock.

° The Kailas (heaven of Siva) temple in Ellora is one of the most interesting and attractive cave temples here.

° Ellora, also known as Ellooru, represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.

° Like the other ancient Buddhist monasteries, Ajanta had a large emphasis on teaching, and was divided into several different caves for living, education and worship, under a central direction.

° Monks back in the day were assigned to specific caves for living.

° The layout reflects this organizational structure, with most of the caves only connected through the exterior.

° Beautiful hiking trails to waterfalls as well!

° Within every cave, there are different paintings, and carved details that should not be missed.

° Ellora is known for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples built during the 6th and 9th centuries

° These structures consist mostly of viharas or monasteries: large, multi-storeyed buildings carved into the mountain face, including living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and other rooms.

° In many of these caves, sculptors have endeavored to give the stone the look of wood.

° Drink plenty of water and hydrate beforehand! It can be very hot, humid and tiring after all the walking within the caves.

4. Humayun's Tomb

° The tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India.

° This was by far my favorite place to visit besides the Taj Mahal.

° Turkish and Mughal rule in the Indian subcontinent, also introduced Central Asian and Persian styles of Islamic architecture in the region, and by the late 12th century early monuments in this style were appearing in and around Delhi.

° The building was first to use its unique combination of red sandstone and white marble, and includes several elements of Indian architectural, like the small canopies, or chhatris surrounding the central dome, popular in Rajasthani architecture and which were originally covered with blue tiles.

° Along with the main building (Tumb), there are many beautiful small buildings leading up to the main one. Each representing something different.

° It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

° Built by the same person who built the Taj Mahal.

5. Jaipur and Udaipur

° Jaipur and Udaipur, located in Rajasthan gives us an insight into the rich cultural and artistic traditions of the state.

° Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of Winds', located in Jaipur , designed in the form of the crown of Lord Krishna is a beautiful construction, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

° Pyramid shaped monument with 953 small windows stands as the entrance to the City Palace, Jaipur and is a notable sight.

° Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India.

° In Jaipur there are many colonies of Rhesus macaque monkeys. You can buy bananas and feed them.

° There are many spacious gardens, temples, places of worship, forts and monuments.

° There are skilled artisans, artists and craftsmen from India and abroad who live and work there.

° Jaipur is a major hub for arts and crafts. Therefore, the shopping is endless!

° The Lake Place of Udaipur is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, which is now converted into a hotel equipped with 66 rooms and 17 suites.

° Apart from its history, culture, and scenic locations, it is also known for its Rajput-era palaces.

° It is often called the "Venice of the East."

° There are five major lakes in Udaipur.

° Because of its picturesque and scenic locations, Udaipur has been the shooting location for many Hollywood and Bollywood movies. That's fun!