Choose from 274 Fun Things to Do in India
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Mandawa
One of the most charming towns in the Shekhawati region, Mandawa is celebrated for its numerous havelis (traditional mansions) and its fort, which is adorned with intricate frescoes. The 18th-century town feels like something out of a Rajasthani fairytale, and its havelis are often collectively referred to as the "open-air art gallery" of Rajasthan.
The Basics
Mandawa's main draw is its frescoes, many of which portray scenes from local history or religious stories. Visiting with a guide can be helpful, particularly for travelers not versed in Hindu mythology, in gaining greater insight into the significance of the works on display here. That said, it’s not the most popular stop on fixed-itinerary Golden Triangle tours, so travelers looking to spend time here may want to visit on a daytrip from Jaipur.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as Mandawa can get hot.
- This is great for history buffs and art and architecture fans.
- Wheelchair users might find getting around Mandawa challenging.
How to Get There
Mandawa is located in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan, about a 4-hour drive from Jaipur or a 5-hour drive from Delhi. It’s frequently visited by people traveling between the two cities, usually in conjunction with other area attractions, such as the nearby city of Jhunjhunu, a 45-minute drive away. Although there are busses connecting Mandawa to all major cities in the region, it’s much easier to come here by car or as part of an organized tour.
When to Get There
While Mandawa is a year-round attraction, it’s best visited from October through March, when temperatures are cooler. April and May can be oppressively hot; June through September aren’t always much cooler—they’re just more humid due to the monsoon season, and the area can get some heavy downpours in June and July. Most of the havelis in Mandawa are open daily during daylight hours.
Mandawa Fort
One of Mandawa's major attractions is its 18th-century fort, now a heritage hotel. It's full of beautiful old frescoes, many focused on Lord Krishna, and it’s worth visiting even if you don't plan to spend the night. They’ll even waive the admission fee if you come for a meal at the on-site restaurant.
Address: Mandawa, India
From $ 180
Kapaleeshwar Temple
Near the San Thome Cathedral in the Tamil Nadu capital of Chennai sits the Kapaleeshwar Temple (spelled Kapaleeshwarar or Kapaleshwar too). The most impressive temple in the city by far, Kapaleeshwar honors the god Shiva with shrines dedicated to many other deities in the South Indian pantheon.
The working temple offers a good example of classical Dravidian architecture, with a stepped pyramid design blanketed in colorful statues of gods, demons, warriors and royalty. The detailing makes the temple exterior busy to the point where you don't quite know where to rest your eyes, but the structure is quite photogenic.
You're likely to see many more devotees than tourists at the temple, so you'll get a realistic insight into what modern temple worship looks like, particularly during the weekly Friday worship services. To avoid the crowds, show up at 6am when the temple first opens. If you want to see the temple at its most festive, plan your trip to coincide with the Arupathumoovar Festival in early March.
The working temple offers a good example of classical Dravidian architecture, with a stepped pyramid design blanketed in colorful statues of gods, demons, warriors and royalty. The detailing makes the temple exterior busy to the point where you don't quite know where to rest your eyes, but the structure is quite photogenic.
You're likely to see many more devotees than tourists at the temple, so you'll get a realistic insight into what modern temple worship looks like, particularly during the weekly Friday worship services. To avoid the crowds, show up at 6am when the temple first opens. If you want to see the temple at its most festive, plan your trip to coincide with the Arupathumoovar Festival in early March.
Address: North Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai, India
Hours: Daily 5am-12pm & 4pm-8pm
From $ 22
Karol Bagh
Karol Bagh is a residential and commercial neighborhood of New Delhi that’s particularly well-known for its markets. One of the earliest shopping hubs in the city, today the streets of Karol Bagh boast eye-catching shops that sell everything from from inexpensive clothing and cotton yarn, to dusty second hand books and gleaming golden jewellery.
As the markets here have grown, both large-brand retailers and local street stalls have spilt over to areas like Padam Singh Road, Gurudwara Road, and Beadonpura. A shopper’s paradise, you’ll find clothes, shoes, handbags, underwear, and cosmetics, as well as more traditional Punjabi items such as extravagantly embroidered garments and colorful spices.
Karol Bagh is the ideal place for keen shoppers, and can be enjoyed as part of a guided tour of Delhi's markets. As well as having an expert's opinion as you shop and haggle for bargains, this offers the added benefit of being privately transported to several of the city’s other popular markets.
Insider’s Tip: If you get hungry while visiting the markets of Karol Bagh, make a stop at Bikanervala Angan for a delicious South Indian snack. You’ll find it at 82 Arya Samaj Road.
Practical Info
If not arriving as part of an organized tour, you can take the blue line of the metro to Karol Bagh station.
Address: Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India
Hours: Most shops operate 10am-7pm Tues-Sun
From $ 35
Kaveri River
Known also by its English name Cauvery, this large river holds significance in Indian culture and history and provides extensive irrigation to southern India. The river covers a distance of about 475 miles (765 km) and flows through the Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before emerging in the Bay of Bengal.
Many legends exist about how the Kaveri came into being. It is believed to meet up with the Ganges River and is considered sacred by many who believe it also has the power to wash away sins. There are many tributaries and pilgrimage sites, with the Talakaveri, or start of the river, being one of the most significant.
Dams such as the Krishna Raja Sangara and Mettur store water collected during monsoons and release them during the dry months. The Kallanai Dam, constructed by King Karikala Chola over 1,600 years ago, was originally built of mud and stone, and is one of the oldest dams still in use today. The old city of Srirangapatna, home to the Dariya Daulat Palace (Summer Palace), is also located on an island on the river.
Practical Info
The Kaveri River flows throughout southern India and is accessible via both Bangalore and Mysore. The roads to many of the towns along the river’s course have been recently improved, and driving is the best way to reach most of them.
Address: India
From $ 64
Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum
In the ornate terraced home where Mahatma Gandhi stayed while on trips to Mumbai from 1917 to 1934, the touching Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum tells the story of Gandhi’s life as one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures who peacefully led India to independence from the British through his peaceful campaign of Civil Disobedience.
The most moving part of any visit to the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum is seeing Gandhi’s simple room on the second floor. This is the spot where Gandhi developed his philosophy of nonviolent protest. Furnished only with a small mattress, a book, some low tables, and his iconic spinning wheel (immortalized in the center of India’s national flag), leaders including Barack Obama and Martin Luther King have visited Gandhi’s room to pay their respects to the father of the Indian nation.
Set on a leafy avenue a few streets north of Chowpatty Beach in South Mumbai, as you wander the rooms of the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum you’ll get to learn about Gandhi through dioramas, press clippings, documents, images, films, memorabilia, and letters he sent to a range of figures including Hitler and Roosevelt.
You can also visit the library with its famous Mahatma Gandhi statue. Up the staircase, head to the photo gallery on the first floor to see photos from his childhood right up until his assassination in 1948.
Practical Info
On 19 Laburnum Road in South Mumbai, Mani Bhavan Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Entrance is free, though donations are appreciated.
Address: 19 Laburnum Road, Mumbai, India
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
From $ 11
Mansa Devi Temple
Mansa Devi Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the wishgranting goddess Mansa Devi. It’s located on the top of a hill in Haridwar, which is one of seven holy pilgrimage centers in India known as Sapta Puri.
Mansa Devi Temple is a hugely popular site, with hundreds of pilgrims flocking to it daily with their prasad (food offerings) for the goddess in the hopes of getting their wishes granted.
Visitors can either walk the one and a half kilometers up the hill to the temple, or take a cable car ride up instead. Along the way there’s always a large number of people selling everything from food and flowers to music and jewelry.
Once inside the temple, devotees offer some of their prasad to the Hindu priests and receive a blessing in return. Visitors are then encouraged into the inner sanctum where the idol of the Mansa Devi resides. It is here that the rest of the prasad is offered, pieces of coconut are received, and wishes are finally uttered.
Practical Info
Walking the 1.5 kilometers uphill to the Mansa Devi Temple can prove challenging in the hotter months. Many therefore take the cable car up and walk back down. Visitors should be wary of the monkeys on the walk up, as they are well-known for stealing food and other items!
Address: Bilwa Parvat, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249401, India
Hours: Cable car opens: 7am April-October / 8am November-March
Admission: Rs.48 for return cable car ride
From $ 12
Marine Drive (Queen's Necklace)
Stretching along the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point in the south to ritzy Malabar Hill in the north, Mumbai’s Marine Drive is an iconic palm-lined promenade that makes for an especially popular sunset stroll among couples, families and friends. Hugging the Mumbai coast, the two-mile-long boulevard’s nickname, Queen’s Necklace, makes perfect sense as day turns to night and the avenue’s lights shine like a string of glittering pearls along the bay.
As you stroll north past the wealthy Walkeshwar district, home to Mumbai celebrities and five-star hotels, you’ll come to Marine Drive’s famous Chowpatty Beach. This is a popular place to devour that famous Mumbai speciality — Bhelpuri — which is a beachside snack of puffed rice and vegetables slathered in tamarind sauce. The best time to visit Chowpatty Beach? Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This celebration happens every August or September, and thousands come to the shore to submerge huge Ganesh statues in the water. Marine Drive is also famous for its art deco buildings. In fact, the only place on the globe with more art deco builds along its beachfront is Miami.
Practical Info
In the center of South Mumbai, which is the cultural and commercial heart of the city, there are public transport connections to Marine Drive (Queen’s Necklace) along the bay.
Address: Marine Drive, Mumbai, India
From $ 9
National Gandhi Museum
Known as the father of the nation for his leading role in India’s independence, Mahatma Gandhi is among the most important activists of the 20th century. The National Gandhi Museum was inaugurated in his honor in 1961, and today attracts visitors interested in Gandhi, the Independence Movement, and the struggle for peace.
The Basics
This small museum houses numerous artifacts related to Gandhi’s life, including old documents, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and personal effects. The museum also houses 23 models of spinning wheels in honor of Gandhi’s devotion to self-sufficiency through weaving. The museum’s library houses a huge collection of documents of academic interest; you can search the entire catalog online ahead of your visit.
Most visitors go to the museum before or after paying their condolences at Raj Ghat across the street, where Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Private and small-group Gandhi-themed tours stop here and at Raj Ghat, as well as at the Gandhi Smriti, where the leader was killed.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The National Gandhi Museum is a must for fans of history, politics, social justice, and Gandhi himself.
- Still photography is permitted in the museum.
- There’s a small on-site bookshop with many hard-to-find books.
- The museum is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The museum is located just west of the Yamuna River, across the street from Raj Ghat. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Purple Line’s Delhi Gate Station and a 15-minute drive from Connaught Place and Old Delhi. Most visitors arrive by car or as part of an organized tour.
When to Get There
The museum is open 9:30am to 5:30pm Tuesday through Sunday. It’s always a good time to visit, though Sundays can be quieter due to the absence of school groups. If you plan to pair a trip to the museum with the outdoor Raj Ghat, you may want to avoid hotter months such as May and June, or come earlier in the day, before the heat reaches its full intensity.
India’s Many Gandhi Museums
This museum is just one of many dedicated to Gandhi located across the country. Others include the Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai, South India; the Mani Bhavan in Mumbai; three museums in East India; and the Mahatma’s own ashram in his home state of Gujarat. Also in New Delhi, the Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum is housed in the Gandhi Smriti, where the leader was assassinated, and features all sorts of audiovisual materials and exhibits that tell Gandhi’s story by mixing computer-generated imagery with physical objects.
Address: Raj Ghat, New Delhi 110 002, India
Admission: Varies
From $ 23
Maota Lake
Situated in the town of Amber (Amer) in the outskirts of Jaipur in Rajasthan, Maota Lake was the main water source for the formidable Amber Fort (Amer Fort) back in its heyday. At the center of the lake is an island covered with lush gardens—including a saffron garden—planted by a 15th-century maharaja, Kesar Kyari Bagh.
The Basics
Maota Lake played an integral role in the development of Amber, acting as a primary source of water for Amber Fort and for the common people of the desert community, filling with rainwater from nearby hills during the monsoon. These days its role is more ornamental, though it is still used during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi processions, during which an idol of the elephant-headed deity Ganesh is submerged in the lake’s waters.
Most tours of Jaipur and the Golden Triangle visit Amber Fort, and many stop at the lake for photos before heading up to explore the fort.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Swimming and bathing are not allowed in the lake.
- Wear lots of sunscreen and a sun hat.
- You can get great photos of the lake from the interior of Amber Fort just above it.
How to Get There
Maota Lake is located at the base of Amber Fort, west of Jaigarh Fort and approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Jaipur’s Pink City and the City Palace—about a 20-minute drive. Nearly all visitors come here as part of an excursion to Amber Fort or a larger Jaipur sightseeing tour.
When to Get There
You can visit the lake throughout the year, though Jaipur and Amber get very hot during the months of April through June. As such, the lake and its surrounding attractions are best visited early in the day, before it get too balmy, especially if you’re visiting in the warmer season.
Amber Attractions
Although Jaipur is now the capital of Rajasthan, the town of Amber was originally a stronghold of power and the ruling seat of Maharaja Man Singh. While the main attraction here is the Amber Fort, the area is home to a number of historic attractions, including the Jaigarh Fort, the Anokhi Museum, and, of course, Maota Lake.
Address: Amer, India
From $ 43
Marina Beach
Located on the Bay of Bengal in the city of Chennai, natural Marina Beach extends for just over 8 miles (13 kilometers) from close to Fort St. George to Besant Nagar in the South, making it India’s longest natural urban beach.
While not an ideal swimming beach, Marina Beach makes an excellent spot for people watching in the cooler hours of the morning and evening, when the main stretch near Triplicane becomes a flurry of activity. You’ll see kids flying kites, locals playing cricket and munching on snacks from the food vendors, open air markets and fortune tellers hawking their trade to passersby. If you get there early enough in the morning, you can watch fishing boats heading out to sea.
Practical Info
The waters along Marina Beach have strong rip tides, making swimming quite dangerous.
Address: Chennai, India
From $ 30
Marble Palace
The Marble Palace, one of Kolkata’s (Calcutta) odder landmarks, was constructed in 1835 by a wealthy merchant and art enthusiast by the name of Raja Rajendra Mullick. Made from more than 90 varieties of marble, the palatial mansion draws inspiration from nearly every cultural influence imaginable.
The Romanesque structure houses a collection of Buddhist, Catholic and Hindu religious relics as well as Ming Dynasty vases, Egyptian statues and works of art from more than 90 different countries, all lit by Venetian chandeliers. Authentic Rubens and Renoir pieces are said to adorn the walls. The neighboring Marble Palace Zoo is more of an aviary with several varieties of impressively feathered species with a few monkeys and deer as well.
The Marble Palace remains privately owned by Mullick’s relatives, and while admission is free, you’ll need to secure a permit at least 24 hours in advance. Be prepared to pay what you saved in admission on tips for everyone from the staff tour guides to the bathroom attendants.
The Romanesque structure houses a collection of Buddhist, Catholic and Hindu religious relics as well as Ming Dynasty vases, Egyptian statues and works of art from more than 90 different countries, all lit by Venetian chandeliers. Authentic Rubens and Renoir pieces are said to adorn the walls. The neighboring Marble Palace Zoo is more of an aviary with several varieties of impressively feathered species with a few monkeys and deer as well.
The Marble Palace remains privately owned by Mullick’s relatives, and while admission is free, you’ll need to secure a permit at least 24 hours in advance. Be prepared to pay what you saved in admission on tips for everyone from the staff tour guides to the bathroom attendants.
Address: 46 Muktaram Babu St, Kolkata, India
Hours: Open daily: 10am-4pm (closed Monday & Thursday)
From $ 49
National Rail Museum
India is home to the largest rail network in the world, and the National Rail Museum in Delhi is one of the best of its kind on the planet. Indoor and outdoor exhibits spread over 10 acres (4 hectares) of land feature dozens of authentic locomotives and old carriages, including the private saloon of the Maharaja of Mysore dating back to 1899 and the 1855 Fairy Queen, the oldest functioning steam engine in the world.
Train lovers will appreciate the collections of model trains and vintage railway maps, while a train ride that takes passengers in a loop around the site is always a hit with kids.
Train lovers will appreciate the collections of model trains and vintage railway maps, while a train ride that takes passengers in a loop around the site is always a hit with kids.
Practical Info
The National Rail Museum is located in South Delhi near Lodi Gardens in
Chanakyapuri. The museum is closed on Mondays and has shortened hours
during the winter.
Address: Shanti Path, Near Bhutan Embassy, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-5pm, closed Mondays
From $ 18
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, the old capital city of the Pallava Dynasty in Tamil Nadu, is one of seven holy pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The Pallava, Chola and Pandyan Dynasties all occupied the area, each trying to outdo the others with bigger and better shrines, and the result is a fascinating study in Dravidian architectural development from the eighth century onward.
The nickname ‘Golden City of 1,000 Temples’ is well earned, and travelers who make the 45-mile (72-kilometer) trek from Chennai will be rewarded with a veritable treasure trove of Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples. The most notable, the Devarajaswami Temple dedicated to Vishnu, includes a 96-pillar marriage hall and a huge chain carved from stone.
Most of the temples open in the morning and again during the late afternoon and evening hours, but the cooler morning hours are typically a much more pleasant time to visit. For a memorable photo opportunity, give a rupee or two to one of the temple elephants. After passing your donation to the handler, the elephant will offer you a blessing by touching your head with its trunk.
The nickname ‘Golden City of 1,000 Temples’ is well earned, and travelers who make the 45-mile (72-kilometer) trek from Chennai will be rewarded with a veritable treasure trove of Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples. The most notable, the Devarajaswami Temple dedicated to Vishnu, includes a 96-pillar marriage hall and a huge chain carved from stone.
Most of the temples open in the morning and again during the late afternoon and evening hours, but the cooler morning hours are typically a much more pleasant time to visit. For a memorable photo opportunity, give a rupee or two to one of the temple elephants. After passing your donation to the handler, the elephant will offer you a blessing by touching your head with its trunk.
Address: India
From $ 11
Manu Temple
The ancient Manu Temple is dedicated to the Indian sage of the same name. It’s located up in the clouds in Old Manali, offering some wonderful views of the valley beyond it. According to Hindu legend, Manu was the creator of the human race and the writer of Manusmriti, with Manali believed to be the region where he meditated and dwelt.
The temple is considered to be the only Manu temple in existence, and as such it’s an important place of worship for locals and pilgrims. Inside, the temple is made up of some exquisite wood and stone architecture, with plenty of unique features and elaborate carvings. The grand vaulted ceiling and marble flooring were added in 1992.
Practical Info
Manu Temple is located around three kilometers from the main market at the end of a narrow road. Visitors are advised to dress conservatively, ensuring knees and shoulders are covered.
Address: Old Manali, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India 175131, India
From $ 600
National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai
Occupying a former auditorium popularly known as Sir C. J. Hall, the National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai opened to the public in 1996 and has since become the most notable modern art museum in India. Notable German art historian Herman Goetz curated the museum’s first exhibition — a collection of sculptures by prominent Indian and international artists — and today the collection some 17,000 works dating from 1850 onward. Highlights include works by lauded Indian painters Raja Ravi Varma, M. F. Husain and Tyeb Mehta.
As worthwhile as the permanent collection are the museum’s rotating exhibitions, which often highlight prominent Indian or international artists.
Practical Info
The National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai maintains an updated calendar of current and upcoming exhibitions, so give it a look before you visit to see what might be showing.
Address: M G Road, Mumbai 400032, India
Hours: Open Tues-Sun 11am-6pm
Admission: 150 rupees
From $ 42
Manikarnika Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred ghats in Varanasi. It is the main cremation ghat in the area, with the bodies of devout Hindus being burned here before their ashes are carried away by the holy waters of the Ganges.
Hindu mythology links this ghat with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It’s said that those cremated here will attain moksha (salvation). Bodies are brought to Manikarnika Ghat via a stretcher made from bamboo and covered in red cloth, before being consigned to flames amid prayers that their souls rest in peace for eternity.
There is a sacred well at the ghat called the Manikarnika Kund, which is said to have been dug by Lord Vishnu at the time of creation. Lord Vishnu was said to have meditated for many years at the ghat, and it’s believed that his charana paduka (footprints) can be seen here in a circular marble slab. Manikarnika Ghat is also famous for the temple of the Lord Shiva and Mata Durga, which was built here in the mid-1800s.
Practical Info
Along with the other ghats of Varanasi, the best way to reach Manikarnika Ghat is by rickshaw or by taking a boat-ride along the river.
Address: Ghasi Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India
From $ 7
Karla Caves
A popular day trip from Mumbai, the Karla Caves are carved out of a hillside situated in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. These Buddhist shrines were developed thousands of years ago in ancient India and depict the Buddhist architecture and culture of that time.
The Karla Caves feature a collection of intricately carved chaityas (prayer halls) with the largest measuring 45 meters and dating all the way back to the 1st century BC. It has an exquisitely carved teak-wood roof and rows of pillars decorated with sculptures of human couples, elephants and horses. (Despite its Buddhist origins, the Karla Caves in fact contain very few representations of the Buddha.) A large window at the entrance of the main prayer hall deflects rays of sunlight towards the rear, impressively illuminating the stupa situated there. The smaller of the Karla Caves feature viharas (monasteries) created for the Buddhist monks, who used to gather here to live and pray.
Reaching the Karla Caves involves a walk up a steep flight of 350 steps from the base of the hill (or nearly 200 steps from the car park half way up the hill). The steps are usually lined with vendors selling religious paraphernalia plus snacks and drinks and there’s even a vegetarian restaurant in the car park.
Practical Info
The Karla Caves are located above the village of Karla in Maharashtra. Karla is located just off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and is approximately a two-hour drive from Mumbai. While many choose to visit the Karla Caves as part of a day tour from Mumbai, also taking in the other significant caves in the area, they can also be reached via public transport, with frequent local buses running from nearby Lonavala from 6am daily.
Address: India
From $ 75
Howrah Bridge
More than 2 million people cross the Hooghly River by way of the Howrah Bridge each day, earning it the title of the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. The 2,313 foot (705 meter) expanse of steel girders hanging over the water connect the sister cities of Howrah and Kolkata (Calcutta) with eight lanes of chaotic auto rickshaws, scooters, bikes, cars, animals and pedestrian traffic.
A bridge linking the cities was originally proposed in 1862, but plans for the bridge didn’t come to fruition until 1943. Since its erection, the Howrah Bridge has become a cultural icon in Kolkata and West Bengal and has served as a setting and inspiration for the 1958 film Howrah Bridge by director Shakti Samanta.
Visit the bridge in the early morning to see early rising denizens washing along the ghats at the base of the bridge. Under the eastern side of the bridge, you’ll find the colorful and chaotic Mullik Ghat Flower Market, a great place to people watch while sipping on tea.
A bridge linking the cities was originally proposed in 1862, but plans for the bridge didn’t come to fruition until 1943. Since its erection, the Howrah Bridge has become a cultural icon in Kolkata and West Bengal and has served as a setting and inspiration for the 1958 film Howrah Bridge by director Shakti Samanta.
Visit the bridge in the early morning to see early rising denizens washing along the ghats at the base of the bridge. Under the eastern side of the bridge, you’ll find the colorful and chaotic Mullik Ghat Flower Market, a great place to people watch while sipping on tea.
Address: Kolkata, India
From $ 49
Kanheri Caves
Deep in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Kanheri Caves comprise 109 basalt grottos that were carved between the first century BC and the 10th century AD. The caves served as Buddhist monastic dwellings for many centuries, and some of the newer ones feature intricate carvings, pillars, and even rock-cut cisterns.
The Basics
The Kanheri Caves are accessible by steep stone steps. The first cave visitors reach is Great Chaitya, featuring a large meditation hall full of intricate stone carvings and pillars. The two caves on both sides of Chaitya contain small stupas and more beautifully preserved carvings. The caves can be visited on a dedicated half-day excursion or as part of a larger tour of Mumbai-area attractions.
Things to Know Before You Go
- A must-visit for history buffs and art lovers.
- The caves are only accessible via stone-cut stairs, so wear solid footwear and be prepared to walk.
- Bottled water is available for purchase near the site, but sunscreen and insect repellant are not.
How to Get There
The caves are located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the northeastern outskirts of Mumbai, about an hour from the airport (depending on traffic). The nearest railway station is Borivali, with regular connections to the Andheri West commuter train station. Shuttles run from Borivali to the caves every hour.
When to Get There
The Kanheri Caves are open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30am to 6pm, though the last entry is at 4pm. Travelers are welcome year-round, but the caves are best visited in the cooler, drier months (October to March). However, if travelers are in the area during the sweltering months of May and June, the caves do provide relief from the heat.
Brahmi: India’s Ancient Script
Many of the inscriptions on the cave walls are in the Brahmi script, which was likely at its peak at some point in the fourth and fifth centuries BC. Many of the myriad scripts used in India today descended from Brahmi, including Devanagari, which is used for writing Hindi and Sanskrit.
Address: Mumbai, India
Admission: Varies
From $ 28
Mother House
In 1950 Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity (MOC) in the city of Kolkata (Calcutta) to lend aid to the poor, disabled and infirm. What started out as a small community of 12 Sisters has grown to include more than 4,500 volunteer Sisters working worldwide.
Mother House, the headquarters of the MOC, was Mother Teresa’s home for 44 years during her time in Kolkata, and visitors come here to pay respects at her tomb. The room where she slept has been preserved, and you can look in on the simple camp bed where she slept. A photo above the bed shows her meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1986, 11 years before her death in 1997. The neighboring museum houses her threadbare sandals and chipped ceramic bowl.
Since Mother House is still a working missionary center, visiting hours are strictly adhered to, so double check the latest times before you head over. If you want to dig deeper and really get a sense for the work being done, consider volunteering for a day or two during your visit to Kolkata.
Mother House, the headquarters of the MOC, was Mother Teresa’s home for 44 years during her time in Kolkata, and visitors come here to pay respects at her tomb. The room where she slept has been preserved, and you can look in on the simple camp bed where she slept. A photo above the bed shows her meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1986, 11 years before her death in 1997. The neighboring museum houses her threadbare sandals and chipped ceramic bowl.
Since Mother House is still a working missionary center, visiting hours are strictly adhered to, so double check the latest times before you head over. If you want to dig deeper and really get a sense for the work being done, consider volunteering for a day or two during your visit to Kolkata.
Address: 54a Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Rd, Kolkata, India
Hours: Open: 8am - 12pm & 3pm - 6pm (closed Thursday)
From $ 71