India is a vast country which borders 7 different countries and many others lie in its vicinity. Most Indian tourists often choose far away countries, located in a different continent for their ease of accessibility and preference. But our neighbouring countries are also very beautiful, with excellent world class tourist places. Let’s check out some of the cities where you can enjoy a foreign trip just beyond the border of India.
1)Kandy, Sri Lanka
Unlike the other tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, Kandy is located on a hill-top in the central hilly region of Sri Lanka. Kandy is full of palaces, Buddhist temples, serene lakes and lush green forests, making it a perfect tourist destination. Don’t forget to take the Main Line train journey as you go from Colombo to Kandy. The train ride through mountainous country, steep gradients, tea plantations and quiet scenic stations is an experience of a lifetime.
2)Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka is one of the most populous cities in South Asia. The old Dhaka charm is unique in every sense, its bustling streets, its wide variety of street food, its wide rivers that criss-cross through the city. Dhaka is also famous for its long cruise journeys to southern ports and the jamdani sarees, which are exported to all parts of the world. It forms an important junction of transit to other parts of Bangladesh, whether by road, rail, air or water.
3)Male, Maldives
Maldives are fast becoming one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world. The small archipelago consisting of at least a thousand islands is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The coral islands, the pristine blue ocean, excellent hospitality, and world-class tourism facilities attract tourists from all over the world, including India. However, with rise in sea-level, it is feared that some or all of the beautiful islands may be lost in the near future.
4)Bagan, Myanmar
This pagoda town is dotted with hundreds of Buddhist temples and pagodas. Old Bagan is unlike any other place in the world where amidst the greenery you can see a number of tall spikes of Buddhist temples, with the Irrawaddy river flowing by. The hot-air balloon ride at Old Bagan is something straight out of a movie. However, owing to Junta takeover, Myanmar is not accessible to all tourists anymore.
5)Kathmandu, Nepal
The capital of Nepal is not to be missed from this list. Kathmandu valley is not only Nepal’s most populous region but also one of the most populous tourist places in the world. A number of temples dot the valley at the backdrop of the Himalayas, such as the Pashupatinath Temple. It was also the seat of throne of the Nepal monarchs until its abolition recently. The nearby places of Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, and Lumbini are all major tourist sites located in and around the Kathmandu Valley.
6)Thimphu, Bhutan
The quiet little kingdom of Bhutan is one of the biggest hotspots of tourism in South Asia. Its capital, Thimphu, is home to the monarch of Bhutan. All tourist places of Bhutan centre around Thimphu. Its location in the Great Himalayan range also attracts trekkers from around the world. Bhutan is also home to several renowned monasteries, of which Paro Taktsang is worth mentioning.
7)Lahore, Pakistan
A country which is not much known for tourism, is not without its own attractions. Famously known as the City of Gardens, Lahore is famous for its cuisine, culture, stunning monuments, iconic mosques and what not. Lahore was once the capital of the Mughal Empire, and later the Sikh Empire. When one is visiting Pakistan, Lahore is always on the bucket-list. However, Pakistan does not get much tourists compared to most of its neighbouring countries.
Written by – Himadri Paul