Monday 20 July 2015

Places in India looking like Europe?

Are there any places in India that look like Europe?
add photo.

If we understand your question to ask whether a certain part of India could be mistaken to some European locale, I can give you the answer from having traveled around India a fair bit and having grown up in Europe.  

There are some buildings and monuments here and there that - from afar - look like they might come out of Europe.  And there are some beaches and mountains that - from afar - look like they might come out of Europe.  

But the closer you get, the faster the illusion is broken.  There is no historical neighborhood in Europe that is in such overall disrepair asConnaught Place.  It feels very strange.  It looks familiar, but then the small things tip you off that it's completely different.  

The top answer for this question is not just bad, but laughably bad.  Reine, Norway doesn't look anything like Dal Lake, Manarola, Italy doesn't look anything like Jodhpur, etc.  It's not even remotely close.  These places could only be seen as similar if judged from afar, via random Internet photos.  

But...  

There are more places than you think that feel like Europe in India.  And it's not the monuments, it's not the historical buildings, and it's not the lakes/beaches/mountains.  They are ordinary small neighborhoods, office parks, new developments, new infrastructure.  Walking down some residential streets in Defense Colony, shopping centers in Gurgaon, IT parks in Noida, new developments in Delhi exburbs, driving down some new highways, it can be hard to tell whether you are in India or Europe.  In fact, in some instances it is the beautiful details that tip you off that that you are in India and not in Europe.  Companies in Europe will not have the lush and gorgeous landscaping in front of their buildings - not nearly to the extent some Indian companies have, for example.  

Which leads me into my last point.  If you think Europe (and US) are all nice and pretty you might be rather disappointed.  India is moving forward quite fast and building up from scratch, while Europe (and US) are aging and fixing old broken stuff.  The "new" stuff in India is often nicer and better than things you find in Europe/US.  London Tube and NYC Subway look like an apocalyptic cesspool compared to Delhi Metro, for example.
Deepak Mehta
Deepak MehtaIndian by birth.
One thing you do not question about India is its diversity - be it cultures, languages, peoples, customs or places.

I mean, we have the tallest mountain range guarding our borders in the north, 7500 km of coastline in the south, a beautiful desert in the north-west, deltas and mangroves in the east, beautiful mountains and rainforests in the north-east, plateaus and hill ranges in the deccan, rivers criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country, beaches adoring the states of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala etc.

Any place you point out in the world, there is a high chance that you can find similar scenery in India.

Take a look at the below examples:






And this is just a glimpse, my friend. We haven't yet touched the Andamans and Lakshdweep, or the tea gardens of Darjeeling, the blinding white snow peaks of Uttaranchal and Himachal, the vast expanses of Rann of Kutch, the valley of flowers, the ghats of Varanasi, the mighty forts of Rajasthan, the backwaters of Kerala, the tea estates of Munnar, the palaces of Mysore, the monasteries of Sikkim, the national parks, the lively, crowded yet adorable cities, the small, silent yet gorgeous villages.

This is India. Not for the faint-hearted. We have the concept of reincarnation, most likely because one lifetime isn't enough to explore all of it.
Puducherry looks like one.

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Images via Google
Vagamon :Also known as 'Scotland of  Asia'
this hill station is not so popular as it is untouched by commercialisation.you will not find big hotel or restaurant but natural beauty is worth noticing ,located in kottayam Idukki border (kerela).
It is famous for lust green meadows and pine forest,tea plantation.

#pine forest




#meadows
Vagamon:'Scotland of Asia'
Vagamon
Oresund Bridge, Sweden to Denmark – Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai
The Oresund Bridge in Europe is better known for supporting the passion of driving. It is a road to drive fast, faster than what you could imagine; the road without speed limits. The bridge not only offers great views of the surrounding beauty but also boasts of connecting two states, two different cultures and two sides of the world.
The 5.6km long Bandra Worli Sea Link which crosses the Arabian Sea to link Mumbai suburbs with south Mumbai is also viewed as an engineering marvel. It gives you the European feel of the Oresund Bridge thoroughly. The bridge weighs equivalent to that of 50,000 African elephants and has the strength to hold five 10 storied buildings. Offering great views, it is a marvel in itself.

Venice, Italy – Alappuzha, Kerala
Venice of Italy is a land of beauty, history and romance. It features stunning architecture, mysterious passageways, great canals, which make it one of the most tempting cities of the world. The city welcomes one and all whether you want to relax, have a moonlit ride, taste sumptuous delicacies or may be just wander.
Referred as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha in Kerala is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, houseboat cruise and more. The place has a significant marine history that attracts many visitors. The Alappuzha beach is an all time popular picnic spot and the old lighthouse nearby is just too fascinating to resist.

Trakai Castle, Lithuania – Jal Mahal, Jaipur
Trakai Castle is the pride of Lithuania, the only castle located in the Eastern European island. Its fascinating wooden architecture, castle and outstanding scenery encircled by several lakes is what make it so enticing a spot to visit. The Trakai has been built on water and is surrounded by 5 lakes.
Just like the Trakai Castle in Eastern Europe, the Jal Mahal in Jaipur has also been built on water. It is possibly the most peaceful sight of a low rise symmetrical palace floating in the centre of Sagar Lake. The palace has a further four submerged storey under the water and holds strong as a technological and design marvel in the history of architecture.


Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy – Qutub Minar, New Delhi
The 60m high Leaning Tower of Pisa marks to be one of the most remarkable architectural structures from medieval Europe. It has been reported to be leaning at a 10 degree angle since 1990 although it was designed to stand in perfect vertical position.
The soaring 73m high Qutub Minar resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Built in the reminiscence of victory of the Mughals and the beginning of Mughal rule, the tower stands high. It also features the first ever built mosque in India named Quwwat ul Islam Mosque.

Big Ben, London – Rajabai Tower, Mumbai
Big Ben is one of London’s most famous landmarks which cannot be missed ever if you visit the city. It is an iconic clock tower which weighs more than 13 tons. It looks magnificent at night, illuminated in the special light placed above the clock faces.
Rajabai Tower, the famous clock tower in South Mumbai is undoubtedly a reflection of exquisite beauty. Sir Gilbert Scott modeled this tower on the Big Ben of London. The tower has been adorned with several impressive features with a clock that also plays melodic tunes at fixed intervals. It marks to be one of Mumbai’s most boasted of architectures.





Source:-Did u Know Online
Ratnakar Sadasyula
Ratnakar SadasyulaProud to be an Indian



The above place is Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh, often called the Switzerland of India, it has the same atmosphere, the coniferous trees, snow capped mountains, rolling green meadows. 

While Khajjiar is the more famous tourist attraction in India, there are a whole lot, that have not yet still got as much attention, here are some more.

Pondicherry's French Quarter, has a complete Meditteranean look about it, with it's stately bungalows, wide avenues, painted walls.





Coorg has often been called the Scotland of India for it's hills, green rolling valleys.





And there has been another Scotland in India too, Meghalaya, whose name literally means Abode of the Clouds, and whose terrain is similiar with green valleys, towering peaks.


India has some awesome mountain railway tracks, pretty much like what you find in Switzerland, Austria.


The Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty, uses the same Abt rack and pinion system used in Europe.



The Darjeeling Toy train, again passing through some wonderful landscape.




The Kalka-Shimla toy train, the aqueduct cum bridges, are pretty similiar to what you find in Europe.

If Skiing is what you love, look no further than Gulmarg, Pahalgam in Kashmir or Solang Valley in Himachal or Auli in Uttarakhand, as good as what you get in Switzerland or Austria.


Gulmarg



Pahalgam



Solang Valley in Himachal Pradesh.



Auli in Uttarakhand.


Alleppey in Kerala is often called the Venice of the East, due to the canals crisscrossing the town.


Heard of England's famous Lake District, we have the equivalent here in Nainital, the name of the town itself means Lake of Goddess Naini, and it has a whole lot of other lakes nearby.



Nainital



Bhimtal



Naukuchiatal



Sattal.


And I would say this, India in fact has a lot more diversity to offer than Europe, which I feel is more or less standardized. The beaches in India are far more diverse than in Europe, and the same goes with the forts and palaces in India, which have a far more diverse range of architectural styles than what you see in Europe.  So while there are many places in India, that do have a European feel, it would be hard to find a place in Europe that has an Indian feel. I mean no way could I imagine finding something like the Rann of Kutch or the rain forests of the Western Ghats  in Europe.
About a month ago I was in a beautiful town near Mussourie called Landour. It is a famous Welsh township built by and for the British Indian Army in the early 1800s. The name Landour is drawn from Llanddowror, a village in Carmarthenshire in southwest Wales. 

It is famous for its schooling, churches, resorts and cottages of famous personalities such as Ruskin Bond (permanent resident) and Sachin Tendulkar.

Now the photographs (which I scavenged from the internet):
La Villa Bethany, Landour

La Villa Bethany, Landour

Kellog Memorial Church, Landour

St Paul's Church, Landour

St. Paul's Church, Landour

Rokeby Manor

La Villa Bethany, Landour

Char Dukan (literal, "4 shops" in English), famous for their Waffles & Pancakes
Rahul Khanvilkar
Rahul KhanvilkarOpposite of a party animal

Big Ben, London


Rajabai Tower, Mumbai




Arc de Triomphe, Paris


India gate, New Delhi




Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy


Qutub Minar, New Delhi




Trakai Castle, Lithuania


Jal Mahal, Jaipur




Venice, Italy


Alappuzha, Kerala




Switzerland


Shimla, Himachal Pradesh




Oresund bridge, Sweden to Denmark


Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai

Amrit Dash
Amrit DashInquisitive
1. If you want to visit Switzerland like every die-hard DDLJ fan around you, go to Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh.


2. If you’ve always thought Venice is your foreign destination, explore the backwaters of Kerala instead.


3. If you’re thinking of visiting the quaint villages in France for some peace and calm, you need to go to Pondicherry NOW.


4. If you want to go backpacking across Europe, please visit Parvati Valley first.


5. If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, go to Shillong instead. It isn’t called Scotland of the East for nothing.


6. If you want to be amazed by the architecture in Rome, then Udaipur is where you need to be.

If you are just looking for places that just look like European places, there are many listed in previous answers. Internet images sure look like that. But when actually visiting due to various Desi factors we don't feel the same.
A very underrated tourist destination in northeast part of India is what I will suggestMG Marg market, Gangtok, Sikkim.
With name like MG Marg you can not ask for more desi name yet following small things make it far better than any desi market.
  • Cleanliness: might be the most clean market place.
  • Walking road: as the road is only for people no constant honking.
  • No footpath vendors- so no shouting for sale.
  • Small garden as devider
  • Soft music playing on devider speakers.
  • Most importantly: cold weather.
Chopta Uttarakhand popularly known as 'Mini Switzerland'.
It is an unspoiled natural beauty destination lying in the laps of Uttarakhand Himalayas offers amazing views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2680 m above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forest of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in variety of flora and fauna.






P.S. I've had the most amazing trekking experience here.
Munnar in Kerala, resembles exactly as that of Europe. It is a hill station in the southwestern state of Kerala, India. Munnar is situated around 1600 m above sea level.

Tea Garden


Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years): It literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. 

The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) in summer.

Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the Sevenmallay region of Munnar. The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 °C (66 °F).
Sandeep Sasidharan
Almost all IITs, IIMs and Institutes of National Importance look like European Universities. 
( lazy to Google all the images).

Image courtesy : Google images

IIM A

IIM C

IIT R
IIT K - Hostels

IITK Library

IIT KGP

IISc 

EDIT 1: 
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 
Image Courtesy -  Sakina Gul
Most places in India that  look like Europe have already been mentioned in the preceding answers. I would like to add one more.
 

Victoria Memorial (Kolkata)








Victoria Memorial presents a rather  eccentric fusion of British,  Venetian,  Egyptian, Deccani and Mughal architectural  influences .
Apart from the ones mentioned by others, these are some more places in India which stand beyond comparison and probably for which Europe should be envious of India.

1) Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir




2) Pangong Lake, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir





3) Skandagiri, Karnataka

Eshita Dutt
Eshita DuttA hobbyist photographer and a huge fan of Tennis
Forest Research Institute is an institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and is a premier institution in the field of forestry research in India. It is located at Dehradun in Uttarakhand


Shivpuri(Rishikesh)-Uttarakhand

I would say Indian resorts are no less than any other resorts in europe.

A candle light dinner in an ancient place, moonlight boat riding and setup lunch by pool or along water in island in India. A perfect place for romance in India, romance often blossom in a magical setting.

I would say you must visit these 20 Indian resorts to complete your romantic experience before planning trip for Europe :)
I would say Indian resorts are one of the best resorts in world.
We have hindi Muhawra "Ghar ki Murgi Daal Barabar :)".We give lesser importance to a beautiful place in our own country.


Click here here for more  20 India’s Most Romantic Resorts You Must Visit With Your Partner
Gurodongmar Lake, Sikkim, India:

Jökulsárlón Lake, Iceland:

Valley of Flowers, India:

Tulip Gardens, Netherlands:


Lakshwadeep Islands, India:

Ibiza, Spain:


Coorg, India:

Scottish Highlands, Scotland:



Nainital, India:

Liechtenstein:

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