Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, located at a distance of 100km from Bhubaneswar, are two key sites (the third being Ratnagiri) comprising the Diamond Triangle of ancient Buddhist architecture in Odisha. Lalitgiri is considered the oldest of the three, while Udayagiri is the largest Buddhist complex in the state, with two monastery sites, a stupa and a stepped well. For a state often associated with its coastline, this is an opportunity to discover a more contemplative side of Odisha, where centuries of Buddhist history sit amid green hills and open landscapes. Odisha is quite popular for its beaches, but if you’ve already done the beach holiday, let the monasteries, sculptures and archaeological remains take centre stage this time.
20. Punjab: Kapurthala
Kapurthala is known as the ‘Paris of Punjab’—remind me again why a place is called the ‘something of something’?—because of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh’s legacy and his strong affinity towards French and European design. His eponymous palace, modelled on Versailles, now houses the Sainik School, but sadly, you can only take in its splendour from the outside if you’re not a student. Luckily, the Moorish Mosque, built in the late 1920s and modelled on the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh, is open to visitors. It’s an unexpected architectural detour in Punjab, where European grandeur and North African influences sit alongside local history. Try to include the Jagatjit Club, the Panch Mandir and the Kanjli wetland in your itinerary. Kapurthala, a quick 20km from Jalandhar, is for the curious traveller who enjoys asking, “How did this end up here?” and then spending the afternoon finding out.
21. Rajasthan: Bundi
Bundi Palace
