Hidden way up in northeast India, with little infrastructure and very few tourists, Nagaland is a fascinating place. Naga Heritage Village is a thrilling place year-round, with its traditional houses and brilliant exhibitions on the local culture. But come during December to see the village at its most vibrant, as the Hornbill Festival sees tribes come from all over the state to celebrate their colourful cultures, cuisines and crafts. There are sports events, dance displays and flower shows, and you'll get to meet hundreds of indigenous people in incredible traditional dress.

Known as the City of Lakes, Udaipur is arguably India's most romantic city. Take a boat ride around Lake Pichola to admire the white City Palace, once home to the Maharani of Udaipur, and marvel at the Lake Palace which seems to float on the water. This marble beauty was the summer palace of the Maharanas of Udaipur, and is now an extravagant hotel. 

The sprawling Mehrangarh Fort dominates the skyline of Jodhpur and is one of India’s largest palaces. Other must-sees include the blue houses of the labyrinthine old city, and the Umaid Bhawan Palace.

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This arid region covers 77,000 square miles of sand dunes and open skies and is fringed by gorgeous Rajasthani cities like Jaisalmer and Jaipur. The best way to see the Thar Desert is on an overnight camel trek. Hop on the back of one of these humped animals and strike out into the desert with a local tour operator. You'll trek for a couple hours before stopping at an open-air camp, where you'll enjoy traditional entertainment, a serious Rajasthani feast, and then overnight under the millions of stars.

These magnificent falls are where rainwater collected on a small plateau tumbles down over 1,100-foot-tall, precipitous cliffs. It's the highest plunge waterfall in India, and is at its strongest from December through February after the rainy season. The beautiful falls have a bleak folktale attached to them about an unfortunate woman who, after her daughter was murdered by her husband, was tricked into eating her remains and eventually ran off the edge of the cliff where the water now flows.

High in the Western Ghats, this hill station and former resort for the upper echelons of the British Raj looks out over lush plantations and mist-covered hilltops. There are lovely walks through the tea estates, which were originally established by the Scottish. But do keep a watch out for elephants, which are often spotted (or heard) crashing through the greenery. Come to Munnar at the right time and you might even be lucky enough to see the neelakurinji flowers, which only bloom every 12 years. The next event is due to happen in 2030.

This fort, with parts dating from the 10th-century, has more than beauty on its side. It's a treasure trove of history, with walls dating back to the 1400s and an archaeological museum on site, and the second-oldest written use of the number 'zero' in an inscription in a small temple at its top. It's an excellent example of a classic Indian fortification, towering over the city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, and was even described by a Mughal emperor as the "pearl of Indian fortresses". The panoramic views of the surrounding city are breathtaking too.

The seemingly endless expanse of salty and marshy land in the Thar Desert is a surreal sight. This desolate wilderness stretches to Pakistan from the northwest of Gujarat. Part of it is a salt marsh and wildlife sanctuary called Little Rann of Kutch, which is home to the Asiatic wild ass, known locally as ghorkhur, as well as wolves and flamingos.

It's not necessarily the landscape that's gorgeous here, but it's what lies within. Roaming this 27-square-mile area are around 500 Asiatic lions, characterised by their dark mane and small size compared to their African cousins. Visit and you'll also see mesmerisingly beautiful leopards, striped hyenas and even honey badgers. Stay just outside the park boundaries at The Gateway Hotel and you'll find even more beauty – views from the bedrooms and restaurant out to the surrounding countryside are spellbinding.

The sight of this serene lake against the striking backdrop of the Pir Panjal mountains makes it one of the most popular spots in India's Himalayan region. Visitors can sleep in a houseboat and take shikara (small boats) to the colourful floating flower and vegetable markets. Don’t miss the elegant terraced hillside gardens, created by Mughal emperors, on the eastern shore. Discover more of the world's most  beautiful gardens.

This French colonial architecture is usually more associated with locations in the Caribbean, but here in Pondicherry the old French quarter is a delightful place to spend some time. Wide, clean streets and brightly-painted buildings with bougainvillea tumbling down their walls characterise this area, and it's a hotbed for boutique hotels, lifestyle shops and galleries by Indian artists and designers. This city was under French rule until the mid-1950s, so expect plenty of good French food and beer.

The River Ganges is the spiritual life force of India's Hindus and you'll feel the energy watching devotees bathing, or on a boat ride at sunrise or sunset to see morning fire ceremonies and the evening Aarti ceremony on the Ghats. Varanasi’s warren of lanes and the sight of funeral pyres on the shores can be overwhelming, but there is beauty in this centuries-old holy city.

An easy drive from the city of Agra in northern India, the power of this fortified city, built by 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar, is striking. It was the Mughal’s capital for 14 years and is one of the greatest pieces of Muslim architecture in all of India, with its rich complex of palaces, royal pavilions, harem, mosque, gardens, ornamental pools and courtyards.

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There's something about the combination of water that meets undulating land that makes us swoon, and Chilika Lake is no exception. This serene body of water, fed by rivers and met by the ocean on the eastern coast of India, is a hotbed for migratory birds in winter. Expect to see white-bellied sea eagles, purple moorhen, greylag geese and even flamingos. Plus, the lake is home to a rare species: the Irrawaddy dolphin. 

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Strewn across both banks of the Besa River, Manali is a hugely popular Himalayan destination and a prime honeymooning spot for Indians. No wonder – the scenery makes for incredibly romantic days walking around its pretty Nature Park in summer, and winter brings plentiful snowfall. Hot air balloon rides offer a totally different perspective on the town and surrounding mountains, too. 

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