India's 10 most beautiful states

New Delhi: India has vast mountain ranges, deserts, dense forests, beaches, plateaus and plains. It has 28 states and 7 union territories.These states and Union Territories have varied cultures, traditions, scenic beauty, and major tourist attractions.We give you a list of India's 10 most beautiful states : 1. Jammu and Kashmir Called the ‘paradise on earth', Kashmir is the most beautiful state of India.The state has spectacular scenic beauty, snow clad mountains, undulating green valleys, alpine villages, cascading waterfalls, amazing gardens. The best places to go for capturing the beauty of the state are Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Tulip Garden and Nishat Garden in Srinagar, Nagin Lake, Pari Mahal, Yeusmarg, Shankaracharya shrine, Mughal Gardens and Pahalgam.2. Uttarakhand The state is known for pilgrimage places, snow-capped mountains, flower valleys, skiing slopes and dark forests, glaciers. Haridwar is a very famous holy city for the Hindus.The colorful play of nature and the flora and fauna of Uttarakhand can leave one mesmerized. Mussorie is called the Queen of Hills, while Nainital captivates you with its amazing lakes. The Valley of Flowers in Nanda Devi Park, Jim Corbett Park, Ranikhet, Lansdowne, Mukteshwar and Kausani are other tourist attractions. 3. Kerala Also called God's own country, Kerala is one of the favourite destination for tourists who come to stay in its backwaters.A sail in the house boats gives tourists a unique and exciting opportunity to experience the beauty of nearby greenery and villages.Kovalam beach, Kottayam, Munnar, Kochi, Kumarakom are places to visit. The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival is said to be Asia's largest shopping festival. 4. Rajasthan Rajasthan, a state famous for its royal palaces, king and memorials. The state is known for the warriors, rulers with courage and gallantry. The state attracts tourists from all over the world due to the hotel converted palaces. The magic of vibrant Rajasthan – its rich tradition, vibrant culture, breathtaking desert safaris, flawless sand-dunes, amazing lush forests and wildlife, makes it an unforgettable destination.Jaipur is known as Pink City while Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes. Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur is a good bird sanctuary, while Jodhpur, Jaisalmer can bring you closer to life in the desert..5. Goa The ultimate destinations for party lovers and water adventure sports. Goa is loved for its beaches, beautiful golden sand and coconut leaves playing with cool breeze and astonishing sunset view. Goa has its own ethnicity and culture, and has its share of monuments. Portuguese churches, Hindu temples, and wildlife sanctuaries are not to be forgotten. Panaji, Candolim, Margao are places to visit. 6. Gujarat Gujarat is a state with rich culture and heritage. It is famous for its handicrafts. Rann of Kutch is a good destination spot. The world famous archaeological sites of Lothal and Dholavira of Indus Valley Civilization are among the major tourist attractions. Somnath Beach and the Somnath temple is an ideal break out for a tranquil vacation.Gujarat is the exclusive home of the pure Asiatic Lions and is said to be one of the most protected areas in Asia. Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Valsad, Dwarka and Somnath are places to visit. 7. Madhya Pradesh Monuments, exclusively carved temples, forts, tombs dot the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Khajuraho temples are world renowned for their beautiful erotic sculptures. Gwalior is famous for its fort. The Kanha national park has tigers to watch out for. Bhedaghat Falls and the holy Narmada river are also highlights of the state and make it a beautiful place to see. 8. Punjab The jolly, rich and happy go luck people of the state make it one of the most beautiful states of India. The villages of Punjab are a must watch. Apart from this, the holy Golden Temple in Amritsar is a good place to visit. The Jallianwala Bagh is a must watch place if you want to explore the history of pre independence era. Pinjore Gardens, Rock Garden in the beautiful and clean city of Chandigarh is also worth visiting.Other tourist hubs in Punjab are Jalandhar, Patiala, Nabha and Ludhiana. 9. Himachal Pradesh It is famous for its beautiful Himalayan landscapes and hill stations. This hill state in India has breathtaking and pristine natural beauty.Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, paragliding, biking on mountains, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are major tourist attractions.Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Dharamsala, and Kullu are popular hill stations. 10. West Bengal West Bengal stretches from the verdant hills of Darjeeling to the Sunderbands, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. Tourists go to Digha sea beach, Kalimpong, Murshidabad, Kurseong and Santiniketan too. Kolkata was till independence was India's major metro, which has the famous Victoria Museum, Hooghly Bridge, and Fort Williams. The architectural variety here is in European style and its tastes were imported by the British.