The normal trip for many tourists include visiting places like the Taj Mahal, but did you know that there are other sites that happen to be just as beautiful?

The Great Stūpa (स्तूप) of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh (मध्य प्रदेश) is a Buddhist monument shaped in the form of a mound. The mound contains the relics of the Buddha and a gate appears before the monument.

The Ellora (वेरूळ) caves in Mahārāshtra (महाराष्ट्र) is an example of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism coming together to exist in harmony. The Buddhist cave contains a large statue of the Buddha in a cave where the walls look like the ribcage of an animal. The Hindu cave honors Lord Shiva (शिव) in carved figures. The Jain caves contain a shrine and a four pillared hall with a lotus flower on the ceiling.

The Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttrākhand (उत्तराखण्ड) contains some of the most exquisite flowers the world has ever seen. There are about eighty different types of flowers. My favorite is the Himalayan Bell Flower (pictured below). The Park is a preservation site for these precious flowers.