Agra · Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal
Sunrise (gates open 30 min before) · try: Symmetry from the main gate archway
Photography destinations by season
Light, weather and landscape change dramatically across India's seasons. Match the place to the season and you'll come home with very different photographs from everyone else.
How we chose these: Places whose best season covers most of the months in each season, with their golden-hour spot.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Ekta Nagar · Gujarat
Statue of Unity
Evening laser show and sunset · try: Full statue from the bridge approach
Puri · Odisha
Puri
Sunrise on Puri beach · try: Fishermen launching boats at dawn
Amritsar · Punjab
Golden Temple
Night, reflected in the sarovar · try: Temple reflected in the holy tank at night
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Morning from the viewpoint across the gorge · try: Horseshoe gorge of 30 caves from the viewpoint
New Delhi · Delhi
Qutub Minar
Evening illumination · try: Looking straight up the 73 m minaret
Konark · Odisha
Konark Sun Temple
Sunrise from the east entrance · try: Giant stone chariot wheel
Guwahati · Assam
Kamakhya Temple
Sunset over the Brahmaputra from Nilachal Hill · try: Beehive-shaped shikhara
Khajuraho · Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Temples
Sunrise on the Western Group · try: Kandariya Mahadeva spires at sunrise
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ellora Caves
Late afternoon on the Kailasa temple · try: Kailasa temple from the top of the cliff
Madurai · Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Temple
Sunset from nearby rooftops · try: Colourful gopuram towers
New Delhi · Delhi
India Gate
Blue hour when the arch lights up · try: Arch lit at blue hour
Spring and summer (Mar–May)
Guwahati · Assam
Kamakhya Temple
Sunset over the Brahmaputra from Nilachal Hill · try: Beehive-shaped shikhara
Rishikesh · Uttarakhand
Rishikesh
Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat · try: Ram Jhula bridge over the Ganga
Anantnag · Jammu & Kashmir
Pahalgam
Morning in Betaab Valley · try: Lidder river with pine forests
Dharamshala · Himachal Pradesh
McLeod Ganj
Sunset at Triund · try: Prayer flags over the valley
Rameswaram · Tamil Nadu
Pamban Bridge
Sunrise · try: Train crossing the sea bridge
Port Blair · Andaman & Nicobar
Cellular Jail
Evening light & sound show · try: Radial wings from the central tower
Nainital · Uttarakhand
Nainital
Sunrise from Snow View Point · try: Pear-shaped lake from Tiffin Top
Golaghat · Assam
Kaziranga National Park
Early morning elephant or jeep safari · try: One-horned rhino in tall grass
Munnar · Kerala
Munnar Tea Gardens
Morning mist around 7 AM · try: Rolling tea rows from Top Station
Sasan Gir · Gujarat
Gir National Park
Early morning safari · try: Asiatic lion in golden grass
Baramulla · Jammu & Kashmir
Gulmarg
Afternoon from the gondola · try: Gondola over snow peaks
Srinagar · Jammu & Kashmir
Dal Lake
Sunrise floating flower market · try: Shikara on still water at dawn
Monsoon (Jun–Sep)
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Morning from the viewpoint across the gorge · try: Horseshoe gorge of 30 caves from the viewpoint
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ellora Caves
Late afternoon on the Kailasa temple · try: Kailasa temple from the top of the cliff
Anantnag · Jammu & Kashmir
Pahalgam
Morning in Betaab Valley · try: Lidder river with pine forests
Lahaul · Himachal Pradesh
Chandra Taal
Dawn reflections · try: Mirror reflection of peaks in the moon lake
Thrissur · Kerala
Athirappilly Falls
Morning, before tour buses · try: Wide shot from the top viewpoint
Sonaulim · Goa
Dudhsagar Falls
Late morning when sun reaches the gorge · try: Train crossing in front of the falls
Leh · Ladakh
Pangong Tso
Early morning when the water is still · try: Colour bands of the lake from shore
Srinagar · Jammu & Kashmir
Dal Lake
Sunrise floating flower market · try: Shikara on still water at dawn
Ganderbal · Jammu & Kashmir
Sonamarg
Golden afternoon light · try: Thajiwas glacier walk
Cherrapunji · Meghalaya
Nohkalikai Falls
Morning, before clouds · try: Plunge falls with turquoise pool
Lower Subansiri · Arunachal Pradesh
Ziro Valley
Morning over the paddy fields · try: Green rice terraces with pine hills
Bastar · Chhattisgarh
Chitrakote Falls
Sunset with rainbows in the spray · try: Horseshoe falls from the viewpoint
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Agra · Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal
Sunrise (gates open 30 min before) · try: Symmetry from the main gate archway
Ekta Nagar · Gujarat
Statue of Unity
Evening laser show and sunset · try: Full statue from the bridge approach
Puri · Odisha
Puri
Sunrise on Puri beach · try: Fishermen launching boats at dawn
Amritsar · Punjab
Golden Temple
Night, reflected in the sarovar · try: Temple reflected in the holy tank at night
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Morning from the viewpoint across the gorge · try: Horseshoe gorge of 30 caves from the viewpoint
New Delhi · Delhi
Qutub Minar
Evening illumination · try: Looking straight up the 73 m minaret
Konark · Odisha
Konark Sun Temple
Sunrise from the east entrance · try: Giant stone chariot wheel
Guwahati · Assam
Kamakhya Temple
Sunset over the Brahmaputra from Nilachal Hill · try: Beehive-shaped shikhara
Khajuraho · Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Temples
Sunrise on the Western Group · try: Kandariya Mahadeva spires at sunrise
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ellora Caves
Late afternoon on the Kailasa temple · try: Kailasa temple from the top of the cliff
Madurai · Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Temple
Sunset from nearby rooftops · try: Colourful gopuram towers
New Delhi · Delhi
India Gate
Blue hour when the arch lights up · try: Arch lit at blue hour