Historic spots to visit in India on Independence Day

Why not spend the Independence Day weekend at destinations with a historic importance? Visit places like Amritsar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Kottayam, which have a connect with India's freedom struggle.

Hotels.com, an online accommodation booking website, suggests travel enthusiasts take a walk down memory lane by visiting historic destinations across India to experience the richness of culture, heritage and history:

* Amritsar: Famous for its Golden Temple, Amritsar has some of the most prominent places that reflect the historic post-Independence era of India.

Some of the tourist attractions include Attari border and Wagah border, which are the international borders that divide India from Pakistan. The Gobindgarh Fort, which is the only surviving fort from the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which has had a continuous historical narrative, including events from the struggle for independence, and lastly Jallianwala Bagh, the place where thousands lost their lives during a peace meet.

* Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India are famous not only for the beaches but also the number of historic monuments and museums it houses. The cellular jail is the most important tourist spot there. The British constructed the cellular jail to imprison Indian freedom fighters during India's struggle for independence.

Post-independence, it was declared a national memorial, and it is now a museum and houses an art gallery. The saga of the freedom struggle is brought alive in a sound and light show, showcased daily inside the jail premises.

* Delhi: The county's capital has some tourist attractions like Azad Hind Gram, built in order to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, India Gate and Parliament House.

* Kottayam, which is known for its panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands and extensive rubber plantations characterise this beautiful land which attracts a number of tourists.

The majestic Vembanad Lake and the stunning backwaters of Kumarakom are its prime attractions. Kerala's Varma Pazhassi Raja was one of the earliest freedom fighters in India.

* Lucknow is a beautiful city that still retains its old world charm. The 'Kakori' train incident during the independence movement took place in the same district.

Some of the places to see here include the British Residency, Bara Imambara, Chattar Manzil, Jama Masjid, Rumi Darwaza, Moti Mahal, Lakshmana and Hussainabad Imambara.

* Goa, a place whose history with reference to the Indian freedom struggle goes back to the era 1812-1815 when the city was occupied by the British army.

Goa is one of the top destinations associated with tourism in India with panoramic views of water, sand and clear blue skies. Portuguese style churches, old forts, historical buildings and flea markets are the main attractions in Goa.

For people interested in relishing a bygone era, their itinerary should include Chapora Fort, Fort Aguada, Secretariat, Basilica de Bom Jesus, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Royal Chapel of St. Anthony and the Ancestral Goa museum.