Pic: Indian Vagabond
1. Chandraketugarh, West Bengal Located near Kolkata, Chandraketugarh is a 2,300-year-old archaeological site that was once a thriving port city with links to the Maurya and Gupta empires.
Pic: Indian Vagabond
What makes it special Excavations have unearthed terracotta artefacts, Roman coins, and fine pottery, indicating Bengal’s ancient trade ties with Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
Pic: Indian Vagabond
2. Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh This Mughal-era town served as a strategic Deccan outpost, boasting majestic mosques, hammams, and palaces overlooking the Tapti River.
Pic: Femina
What makes it special Shah Jahan planned to build the Taj Mahal here. Mumtaz Mahal died in Burhanpur, and her body was initially buried in a local tomb.
Pic: Burhanpur Diary
3. Rabdentse, Sikkim Rabdentse was the capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. Today, it stands as a quiet ruin shrouded by mist and forest.
Pic: Incredible India
What makes it special Overlooking the Himalayas, it’s a key stop in the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit. Ancient walls and chortens still stand tall, echoing its regal past.
4. Chandravalli Caves, Karnataka These rock shelters near Chitradurga date back to the 3rd century BCE, showing habitation by Mauryas, Satavahanas, and Hoysalas.
Pic: touring with pk
What makes it special Roman coins, painted pottery, and tools discovered here prove it was a trading and spiritual hub through the ages.
Pic: touring with pk
5. Sisupalgarh, Odisha Older than most ancient cities, this fortified town near Bhubaneswar had grid-planned streets and advanced civic design in the 3rd century BCE.
Pic: Rangan Dutta
What makes it special Once home to 20,000 people, its geometric urban planning predates many global cities. It's among India’s earliest known planned settlements.
Pic: Rangan Dutta