Rishikesh Uttarakhand

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas along the confluence of the Ganges and Chandrabhaga rivers, Rishikesh is a small town in the Dehradun district, located near Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Rishikesh (also called Hrishikesh) is known for its adventure activities, ancient temples, popular cafes, and the "yoga capital of the world." Rishikesh is a gateway to the Garhwal Himalaya, which is also a pilgrimage city and one of the holiest places for Hindus.

Rishikesh became known around the world in the 1960s after Maharishi Maharishi Yogi of the Beatles visited here. Today, the place is as famous as The Beatles Ashram, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The sleepy city has long been a spiritual center, but is equally popular for rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and camping along the fast-flowing holy Ganges River. It also serves as a gateway to many Himalayan treks.

Located on the holy banks of the Ganges River, Rishikesh was a center for sadhus (saints) with the emergence of many ashrams to teach spirituality, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. Since it is a religious city, it is strictly forbidden to eat non-vegetarian food and alcohol here. Rishikesh sees the most beautiful nocturnal aarti on the banks of the Ganges river, which is not too crowded unlike its contemporaries in Varanasi and Hardwar. The International Yoga Festival is organized here in the first week of March and is attended by yoga enthusiasts from all over the world.

Rishikesh is divided into two main areas: the city center known as Rishikesh City, where the famous Triveni Ghat is located. Two kilometers upstream from the famous Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula is the other side of Rishikesh, where most of the popular ashrams, cafes, lodgings and tourists are located. Haridwar and Rishikesh are the first Indian cities to receive the title of "Two National Heritage Cities".

Goa

Located on the west coast, Goa is the smallest state in India, and unlike any other, Goa is known for its endless beaches, stellar nightlife, eclectic seafood, and World Heritage-listed architecture. Goa stretches for just 3,702 km and is located in the Konkan region. It's a far cry from a hippie getaway or a beach getaway, and it's one of the few destinations open 24/7. Relaxation (susegad) in Goa attracts as many international tourists as Indians, or even more.

The people of Goa are very friendly to tourists and celebrate many festivals throughout the year, the most famous of which are the New Year and the Goa Carnival. While the seafood is excellent, Goa is one of the best places for nightlife in India with trendy bars, beach huts, elegant cafes and many clubs and discos. Thanks to the low prices of alcohol in the state, Goa is also ideal for young tourists with relatively tight pockets.

For those of us who are always confused between North Goa and South Goa, this might help: Goa is divided into North Goa and South Goa. While North Goa is the epicenter of nightlife with all the tourist beaches, flea markets and beach huts, South Goa is the land of luxury resorts and laid-back beach vibe.

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Since Portuguese architecture has been a Portuguese territory for almost 450 years, Portuguese architecture is not as prevalent as in Goa - visit one of the many whitewashed churches, ruined forts, or impressive chapels. Yellow houses with purple doors, ocher mansions and oyster windows complete the architecture of the Goa Kaleidoscope.

Panjim, the centrally located capital overlooking the tranquil Mandovi River, is where Goa's famous floating casinos are docked. The center is well connected to an international airport and there are roads and trains from North to South Goa. With a coastline of over 100 kilometers, Goa has stunning beaches. While Baga and Calangute are more popular with the crowd of Indian families, Anjuna and Arambol attract many foreign tourists. South Goa's beaches are relatively less explored, but some like Agonda and Palolem are more beautiful.

Kasol, Himachal Pradesh

Kasol is a small picturesque town in Himachal located on the banks of the Parvati River. Known as the "Amsterdam of India", Kasol is a tourist attraction that is rapidly gaining fame as a popular hub for backpackers, backpackers and nature lovers. Located 23 km from Bhuntar and adjacent to the religious city of Manikaran, Kasol is one of the best places in the country to sit and relax in the panorama of snow capped mountains, pine trees and the gurgling river.

Kasol is well known for its trekking itineraries, which include treks to Kheerganga, Yanker Pass, Sar Pass, and Pin Parbati Pass. To get a real idea of the culture of this region, visit Malana Village. Located a few kilometers from Kasol, Malana is a small town inhabited by people living in isolation. Malana's people claim to be of Aryan descent, so they avoid interaction with strangers. However, the town has a lot of stunning scenery and is often called "Little Greece".

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Kasol is inhabited by a large number of people from Israel, who can be distinguished from the abundant Israeli food available and the street signs written in Hebrew. Kasol has quite a few roadside cafes serving delicious food, the experience of sitting and enjoying a meal amidst deep green forests and stunning mountains makes for a more enjoyable meal.

In Kasol there is a flea market that sells a variety of items, so you can buy trinkets, souvenirs, pendants and even semi-precious stones to take home with family and friends.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Kasol is a small picturesque town in Himachal located on the banks of the Parvati River. Known as the "Amsterdam of India", Kasol is a tourist attraction that is rapidly gaining fame as a popular hub for backpackers, backpackers and nature lovers. Located 23 km from Bhuntar and adjacent to the religious city of Manikaran, Kasol is one of the best places in the country to sit and relax in the panorama of snow capped mountains, pine trees and the gurgling river.

Kasol is well known for its trekking itineraries, which include treks to Kheerganga, Yanker Pass, Sar Pass, and Pin Parbati Pass. To get a real idea of the culture of this region, visit Malana Village. Located a few kilometers from Kasol, Malana is a small town inhabited by people living in isolation. Malana's people claim to be of Aryan descent, so they avoid interaction with strangers. However, the town has a lot of stunning scenery and is often called "Little Greece".

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Kasol is inhabited by a large number of people from Israel, who can be distinguished from the abundant Israeli food available and the street signs written in Hebrew. Kasol has quite a few roadside cafes serving delicious food, the experience of sitting and enjoying a meal amidst deep green forests and stunning mountains makes for a more enjoyable meal.

In Kasol there is a flea market that sells a variety of items, so you can buy trinkets, souvenirs, pendants and even semi-precious stones to take home with family and friends.