After years of travel to far-off exotic destinations, I thought I’d seen just about everything. But there I was, walking amongst hundreds of rats at the Karni Mata Rat Temple, a place where
Knowing that it was a bit off the tourist trail, I arrived in Bikaner expecting a relatively laidback and sleepy town. But Bikaner, it turns out, is actually Rajasthan’s fourth-largest city. Be that
It would be hard to argue against Jaisalmer, Rajasthan being one of India’s most picturesque towns. But perhaps the small city has gotten too popular for its own good, with awful traffic and
Jaisalmer, situated at the western end of Rajasthan by the edge of the Thar Desert, has long been touted as one of India’s top hidden gems. Today, however, the secret is very much
Experiencing a Desert Safari is often touted as one of the can’t-miss experiences in Jaisalmer, if not Rajasthan as a whole. The tour consists of a jeep ride out to the Thar Desert,
With a population of around 1.6 million, Jodhpur may be Rajasthan’s second-largest city, but it’s also one of the state’s most charming. Known as the ‘Blue City’ thanks to its vibrant blue houses,
Rajasthan is perhaps India’s most colorful state, with Jaipur being dubbed the ‘Pink City,’ Udaipur the ‘White City,’ Jaisalmer the ‘Golden City,’ and Jodhpur the ‘Blue City.’ But in addition to the beautiful
Centered around a picturesque sacred lake, Rajasthan’s Pushkar holds the distinction of being the only place where Brahma – the Creator of the Universe himself – is actively worshipped in India. Accordingly, the
Founded in 1559 after the sacking of Chittorgarh by Mughal Emperor Akbar, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s – and India’s – most scenic cities. Centered around five artificial lakes, it’s become a major tourist
A visit to Kumbalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple from Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s most essential day trips. In a single day, you can enjoy one of India’s most impressive fortresses and one of
In a country of over 1,000 surviving ancient fortresses, Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh holds the distinction of being India’s largest. So large, in fact, that it remains home to thousands of inhabitants. And its landmarks
Bundi, while not totally obscure, is still somewhat of a hidden gem in Rajasthan. It has everything that draws tourists to the state – a hilltop fortress, an ornately decorated palace, ancient cenotaphs,
Despite being the third-largest city in one of India’s most touristic states, Kota is almost entirely void of foreign tourists. But there’s more to it than first meets the eye. Given its status
Some of India’s most scenic traditional towns remain well off the backpacker trail, largely ignored by social media hype. Madhya Pradesh’s Maheshwar is one such town. And you can even think of it
Having spent a cumulative 1.5 years of my life in India, I’d have to say that Mandu is my favorite Indian town. That honor previously belonged to Jaisalmer, a place which has since
There’s nowhere else in India quite like Mandu. Having been to over a dozen Indian states, I can safely say that Mandu is my favorite town in the country. Largely developed from the
While Varanasi often steals the spotlight as India’s spiritual heart, the country is home to a plethora of holy cities that most outside of India have never heard of. Among them is Ujjain
Not many foreign travelers have Indore on their radars. But the city of 3.5 million – the largest in Madhya Pradesh – is the starting point for noteworthy towns like Ujjain, Maheshwar and
If there were any single archaeological site synonymous with the mighty emperor Ashoka, it would have to be Sanchi. The Great Sanchi Stupa was commissioned by the Maurya Emperor in the 3rd century
Located about 45 km southeast of Bhopal, the rock shelters of Bhimbetka are home to some of the world’s oldest rock art, with some dating as far back as 100,000 years! Rediscovered in
Bhopal may be a bustling city of nearly 3 million people and the state capital of Madhya Pradesh, but the few foreign tourists seem to visit. But not only is Bhopal the base
Mostly carved from the 2nd century BC to the 5th or 6th century AD, the Ajanta Caves are undoubtedly one of India’s most important Buddhist sites. While some caves are mainly known for
Carved between the 6th-12th centuries AD, Maharashtra’s Ellora Caves are hailed by many as an overlooked wonder of the world. The site is home to the spectacular Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), but over
Kailasa Temple is easily among the most stunning Hindu temples in India, and it arguably rivals Angkor Wat for the finest of them all. Like many temples, it features towers, multiple stories, and
Daulatabad Fort isn’t that well-known, and it hardly ever appears on lists of India’s top forts. But it’s arguably one of the country’s most enjoyable forts to visit. While it lacks the grandeur
Aurangabad is mainly known for being the base from which to visit both the Ellora Caves and the Ajanta Caves. But with a population of over 1 million and a rich history, consider
Nashik may be a city of 1.5 million inhabitants that’s just a few hours from Mumbai, but it’s well off the tourist trail – at least for foreigners. The city largely attracts religious
Due to the abundance of volcanic rock in the region, the Indian state of Maharashtra is teeming with ancient manmade caves. The most impressive among them are the Ajanta and Ellora caves near
Mumbai may lack the old forts, palaces, and tombs of cities like Delhi or Jaipur. But the bustling port city is home to some of the country’s most unique buildings. Many of these
A trip from hectic Mumbai to the Elephanta Caves feels like entering a vastly different world. But the journey to see these enigmatic Shiva carvings located on a small island to the east
Though privately run, Mumbai’s CSMVS Museum is arguably India’s flagship museum. Or, it’s at least on par with New Delhi’s National Museum. But what can one expect to see here, and what does
The 3 Dune Challenge is arguably the top hike in the Indiana Dunes region. As the name suggests, it takes hikers up and down three large sand dunes situated near Lake Michigan. They’re
Indiana Dunes National Park is a unique and biologically diverse park that’s just one of only several National Parks in the Midwest. While many visitors come mainly to relax on its beaches, the
One of the most-visited museums in the country, Chicago’s Field Museum has a little something for everyone. It was originally created to house objects that had been accumulated for the Chicago World’s Fair
Visiting a major cemetery is often one of the best ways to learn about a city’s history and its former notable residents. And Milwaukee’s Forest Home Cemetery is no exception. Located in the
The site of Cahokia, located just outside of St. Louis, is home to the largest earthen pyramid in the United States. But amazingly, it had a sister city roughly 360 miles away, now
Northeast Iowa is home to one of the largest concentrations of ancient mounds in the US, many of which are now located in Effigy Mounds National Monument. Established as a protected area in 1949,
Stillwater, an easy day trip from Minneapolis, is considered one of Minnesota’s most charming towns, while it’s also one of the state’s oldest. You can simply show up and explore the town center
Known for their remarkable badlands, massive sculptures, and ample wildlife, the Dakotas are gradually becoming known as must-visit destinations for both nature and history lovers. But if you’ve never been to the area
If you find yourself driving across the state of North Dakota – either to or from the underrated Theodore Roosevelt National Park – you may be wondering how to break up the journey.
At over 11,000 acres, Makoshika State Park, located just outside of Glendive, is Montana’s largest state park. ‘Makoshika’ is the Lakota word for ‘badland,’ and the park accordingly shares a lot in common
Theodore Roosevelt Park is easily one of the country’s most underrated parks. And even among those who do make it out to this remote part of North Dakota, not everyone ends up visiting
The Caprock Coulee Trail is Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s flagship hike. Though I didn’t embark on it with any special expectations, its ever-changing scenery continued to amaze me throughout, and I’d even go as
There’s no shortage of things to do at Theodore Roosevelt National Park – easily one of America’s most underrated parks. And it’s in the South Unit that you’ll find the Scenic Loop Drive,
North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park is easily one of America’s most underrated parks. And the Painted Canyon area, which serves as many visitors’ introduction to the park, is a great way to
Not many people would expect the highest point of a particular state to be a hidden gem. But that’s exactly the case with White Butte, North Dakota, a geological formation located in the
Deadwood is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved Old West towns in America. In addition to its historical architecture and beautiful surroundings, many come to learn about its infamous former residents, such
Located just outside the city of Sturgis and an easy drive from Deadwood, South Dakota’s Bear Butte State Park is part outdoor, part cultural experience. In addition to learning about Native American history
Situated along a 19-mile stretch of South Dakota’s Highway 14A, the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is fast gaining a reputation as one of the state’s top scenic drives. Much of the area’s beauty can
The ominously-titled Devils Tower, known for its unique vertical stone columns, was declared the first-ever US National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. But being located at the opposite end of Wyoming
Most visitors to Badlands National Park stick to the easily accessible Badlands Loop Road. But who wants to come out to such a remote landscape only to be surrounded by crowds? Fortunately, there
Despite its remoteness, Badlands National Park attracts around 1 million visitors each year, who are drawn by the park’s rugged terrain, unique formations and wildlife. And for most visitors, the sights and hikes
Mount Rushmore was originally conceived of as a way to boost tourism to South Dakota’s Black Hills region. And with over two million people visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial each year, the effort
Aside from its hikes, the Custer State Park and Black Elk Wilderness areas are equally known for their scenic drives. And popular drives like the Wildlife Loop, the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain
Often touted as one of the top things to do in South Dakota’s Black Hills region, the Crazy Horse Memorial has been a work in progress since 1948, and it was initiated in
For those who’ve already seen Custer State Park’s famous landmarks and are looking to experience more but without the crowds, consider hiking the Sunday Gulch Trail. The thrilling yet relatively short trail takes
Custer State Park is arguably South Dakota’s top attraction for hikers – perhaps even outshining the state’s two National Parks. The massive 71,000-acre park is known for its spiky granite outcrops, forests, lakes,
As its name suggests, the most popular activity at South Dakota’s Wind Cave National Park is visiting its caves. But as the caves were closed for renovations at the time of my visit,
Tucked away in a remote corner of northwest Nebraska are some fascinating badlands that will change the way you think about the Cornhusker State. Many of Toadstool Geologic Park’s highlights can be explored
To most outsiders, Nebraska isn’t particularly known for its geological formations. Quite the opposite, in fact, as most of the state is covered by seemingly endless flat plains. But a visit to sites