What to See in Eastern India

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of East India

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Eastern India has 7 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Assam:

Kaziranga National Park (1985)
The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich wildlife, notably rhinoceroses, tigers, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, etc., which can be discovered on safari.

Manas National Park (1985)
This other UNESCO-listed park in Assam is home to tigers, leopards, rhinos, and pandas. It extends into the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.

West Bengal:

Sundarbans National Park (1987)
This vast site in the Ganges Delta, shared with Bangladesh, is home to a large population of tigers, as well as crocodiles and numerous bird species. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors explore it by boat through the mangrove forest and the delta’s countless waterways.

Bihar:

Bodh Gaya (2002)
This sacred Buddhist city is home to the towering Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with numerous other Buddhist structures in various styles.

Nalanda (2016)
These are the UNESCO-listed ruins of a Buddhist university dating from 450 AD, which once housed up to 10,000 monks.

Odisha:

Konark (1984)
This small town is home to the famous—and stunning—Surya (Sun) Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is renowned throughout the country and beyond for its architecture and decoration.

Sikkim:

Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)
This high-altitude UNESCO-listed park is home to India’s highest peak (Kanchenjunga at 8,598 m). It’s renowned for its mountain and glacier landscapes, as well as its trekking opportunities.

Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Odisha

This state (formerly called Orissa) borders the Bay of Bengal. It is best known for its "Golden Triangle" between the cities of Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneswar, which houses several important temples.

Bhubaneswar
The capital of Odisha is renowned for its architecture and especially its temples.

Gopalpur-on-Sea
A seaside resort on the Bay of Bengal.

Konark
This small town is home to the famous—and stunning—Surya (Sun) Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is renowned throughout the country and beyond for its architecture and decoration.

Puri
The holy Hindu city on the Bay of Bengal is known for its temples, including the Jagannath, and its beaches.

Natural Heritage

Chilika Lake
This lake near the city of Puri, close to the sea, is renowned for its birdlife.

Bhitarkanika National Park
A small coastal park east of Odisha's capital. Home to numerous birds, turtles, pythons, and crocodiles. Explore on foot or by boat.

Simlipal National Park
This pretty park with several waterfalls and mountains is home to a significant population of tigers, elephants, buffalo, and birds. You can hike here.

Chhattisgarh

One of the states created in 2000, formerly part of eastern Madhya Pradesh. It is not very touristy, though it contains several parks, waterfalls, caves, and other natural treasures.

Bhoramdeo
A renowned temple nestled in the heart of a hilly forested region.

Raipur
It's the capital of Chhattisgarh state, not a major tourist destination.

Natural Heritage

Chitrakot Waterfalls
These are the third-highest waterfalls in India.

Indravati National Park
One of the region's main parks. It is home to tigers, leopards, bears, crocodiles, and birds.

Kanger Ghati National Park
This park is home to several caves and waterfalls, including those of Tirathgarh. It is considered one of the most beautiful in the country, with a particularly rich wildlife (tigers, leopards, bears, etc.).

Bihar and Jharkhand

Bihar

Bordering Nepal, this relatively poor state primarily attracts religious tourism, as it is home to several holy sites and cities for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Muslims.

Bodh Gaya
This sacred Buddhist city is home to the towering Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with numerous other Buddhist structures in various styles.

Rohtasgarh Fort
These are the remains of one of the oldest fortresses in India.

Nalanda
These are the UNESCO-listed ruins of a Buddhist university dating from 450 AD, which once housed up to 10,000 monks.

Patna
The capital of Bihar is home to several ancient temples and buildings. But it is also, and above all, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, and Jains.

Rajgir
A city in the heart of Bihar, Rajgir is a pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. It boasts numerous historical sites, monuments, and monasteries.

Natural Heritage

Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary
This forest park in southern Bihar is home to tigers, leopards, bears, crocodiles, snakes, and numerous bird species.

Kakolat Falls
These are waterfalls about fifty metres high surrounded by forests.

Jharkhand

Created in 2000 from the southern part of Bihar, this state is not often visited but has a few natural parks and cities with temples or historical ruins.

Deoghar
A city in Jharkhand with many temples.

Palamu Forts
The ruins of two ancient forts lost in the forest about twenty kilometers from the city of Daltonganj.

Parasnath Hills
A Jain holy site with many temples nestled in nature, attracting pilgrimages.

Ranchi
It's the capital of Jharkhand, not really a tourist destination.

Natural Heritage

Palamau Forest
This forest is home to tigers, elephants, bears, and wolves.

Betla National Park
A tiger population and elephant-back rides in this small park.

Hazaribagh National Park
A nature reserve with a few tigers and leopards.

West Bengal

From the Bay of Bengal (Kolkata) to the Himalayan peaks (Darjeeling), West Bengal offers a great diversity of landscapes.

Bishnupur
A city in central Bengal known for its many terracotta temples.

Kolkata
Known as Calcutta until 2001. Bustling and challenging, it's the largest city in eastern India. It boasts numerous colonial-era buildings and traditional Indian architecture.

Darjeeling
This hill station is famous for its tea plantations and its UNESCO-listed "Darjeeling Himalayan Railway," part of India’s "Mountain Railways." It’s also a great base for planning treks in the region.

Digha
A beach resort in Bengal popular with local tourists.

Sagar Island
In the Ganges Delta, the island is a Hindu pilgrimage site.

Natural Heritage

Gorumara National Park
This park is home to a good number of elephants, rhinoceroses, bears, snakes, and birds.

Singalila National Park
This park in the Darjeeling region, near Nepal, is renowned as a premier trekking destination amid stunning high-altitude landscapes.

Sundarbans National Park
This vast site in the Ganges Delta, shared with Bangladesh, is home to a large population of tigers, as well as crocodiles and numerous bird species. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors explore it by boat through the mangrove forest and the delta’s countless waterways.

Sikkim

Wedged between Nepal and Bhutan, this micro-state is a paradise for trekking enthusiasts. You can also discover many Buddhist monasteries, as well as the culture and traditions of a population largely of Nepali origin.

Gangtok
Set in a picturesque landscape, the capital of Sikkim is primarily used by visitors as a base for preparing treks in the surrounding area.

Pelling
In a stunning setting, this small town near Nepal is the base for beautiful hikes in the surrounding area to discover monasteries, lakes, and waterfalls.

Yuksom
This is a small town in the far north of Sikkim, serving as the starting point for organizing the many treks available in the region.

Natural Heritage

Lake Gurudongmar
At 5,210 m, it is one of the highest lakes in the world and a prized destination for trekkers.

Khangchendzonga National Park
This high-altitude UNESCO-listed park is home to India’s highest peak (Kanchenjunga at 8,598 m). It’s renowned for its mountain and glacier landscapes, as well as its trekking opportunities.

Chopta Valley
At an average altitude of 4,000 m, bordering the Thangu Valley, this is a trekking valley in northern Sikkim.

Yumthang Valley
With its landscapes and rhododendrons, it is the main attraction in northern Sikkim. The area is ideal for trekking.

Northeastern States

Arunachal Pradesh

At the far northeastern tip of India, bordering China and Bhutan. You can trek through beautiful landscapes while encountering local cultures.

Bomdila
A small town near Bhutan with several Buddhist temples and trekking opportunities in the surrounding area.

Pasighat
The oldest city in Arunachal. It can serve as a base for treks and other nature activities like rafting on the Brahmaputra.

Eagle Nest Sanctuary
This is a protected area for birds where you can also find tigers, bears, and elephants.

Tawang
This large town near Bhutan is home to an important Tibetan monastery. You can go trekking in the Tawang area.

Assam

Located between Bhutan and Bangladesh, Assam is a "nature state" par excellence. It has many wildlife-rich parks (tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants, birds, etc.), two of which are even UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Brahmaputra
Born in the Himalayas, this river flows through Assam before continuing toward Bangladesh and the sea. You can take boat cruises on it locally.

Guwahati
The largest city in Assam and former capital, home to numerous temples.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
This national park on the banks of the Brahmaputra is home to many bird species.

Kaziranga National Park
The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich wildlife, notably rhinoceroses, tigers, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, etc., which can be discovered on safari.

Manas National Park
This other UNESCO-listed park in Assam is home to tigers, leopards, rhinos, and pandas. It extends into the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.

Orang National Park
This is a site with rhinoceroses, tigers, elephants, and numerous birds and snakes.

Tezpur
This city on the banks of the Brahmaputra has several temples and the remains of a fortress.

Tinsukia
A locality known for its tea plantations.

Manipur

In northeastern India, bordering Myanmar, this is a "sensitive" state with regulated access. It has a very strong culture and traditions.

Imphal
It's the capital of the state of Manipur. It's not really a tourist destination.

Loktak Lake
A beautiful lake with several small floating islands. It also encompasses Keibul Lamjao National Park, known for its birds.

Meghalaya

This small northeastern state on the border with Bangladesh has undeniable natural beauty. However, it has been more or less plagued by internal conflicts over the years.

Jaintia Hills
A picturesque group of districts in Meghalaya with numerous lakes and caves.

Shillong
Surrounded by caves, waterfalls, and small lakes, the capital of Meghalaya offers a blend of British and Indian architectural styles.

Mizoram

A stunning northeastern state bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. The local cultures and traditions of its people remain very much alive.

Aizawl
It's the capital of the state of Mizoram.

Lake Tamdil
This is a lake surrounded by beautiful scenery that you can explore by boat.

Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park
It's a lovely national park where you can go hiking.

Reiek
The site is home to a reconstructed traditional Mizo village.

Dampa Reserve
This nature reserve near Bangladesh consists of forests and grasslands. It is home to many tigers.

Nagaland

This small northeastern state, backed by Myanmar, is one of those where the population has some of the strongest cultures and traditions.

Kohima
It is the capital of the state of Nagaland.

Touphema Tourist Village
This village north of the capital showcases the culture and traditions of the region’s diverse communities.

Tuensang
A district in Nagaland bordering Myanmar where communities with very strong traditions still live.

Dzukou Valley
A stunning mountain valley with rivers and waterfalls perfect for hiking.

Tripura

One of the least visited states in India. While it offers beautiful landscapes and strong local cultures, it also occasionally faces internal security issues.

Agartala
The capital of Tripura has a beautiful royal palace and several temples.

Jampui Hills
These small mountains offer beautiful panoramic views of the region's valleys and villages.

Neermahal Palace
On Lake Rudrasagar, accessible only by boat, this palace is a former princely summer residence built in 1930.

Udaipur
Not to be confused with its namesake in Rajasthan. This former capital is home to several temples, the most famous being the Tripura Sundari Temple.