India
Why go?
People go to India for all sorts of reasons. Some go to find
themselves at spiritual ashrams and yoga retreats, and to chill out
and spliff up on the golden beachs of Goa. Some go to hike the
snowy Himalayas and to get a real understanding of Indian culture
through the crematoriums of Varanasi and its Holy Ganges. Others go
to marvel over Rajasthan's exquisite temples, palaces and
fortresses, to eat spicy curries day after day, and to shop for
handicrafts, pottery and bright, embroidered linens. And then there
are those in search of tigers in the wild, camels in the desert and
elephants carrying brides, and those who want to visit the
stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal - the greatest ode to love of all
time - or to travel into the mighty Thar Desert, meet its nomadic
people and sleep under the stars.
Love it or hate it - most people feel some of each emotion - it
can't fail to be an intoxicating place to visit. The pace of the
cities will overwhelm you, and the wash of local colour can be a
dizzying, vibrant delight. You'll see poverty that will move you
and riches that will startle you - and you'll wonder how they live
side by side. Some people love its contradictions and return year
after year; others find once is enough.
Whatever your expectations though, India is a vast place to
explore - practically a continent in its own right - with many
different entry points and regions. So to make easier reading and
planning, we've divided it into several regions - see right.
What's where?
- Andaman Islands: Dazzlingly beautiful white-sand beaches lapped by crystalline waters; a diver's paradise and gratifyingly far off the beaten track Read More >>
- Delhi: A heady mix of old and new, India's noisy capital blends ancient monuments, colourful festivals and dusty bazaars with swanky restaurants and hip bars Read More >>
- Goa: An ideal winter holiday: golden beaches, lush green fields, bathing with elephants and a fusion of colonial Portugese and modern Indian architecture Read More >>
- Karnataka: The historic city of Mysore, with its royal palaces Read More >>
- Kerala: An easygoing taste of India; bliss out with Ayurverdic treatments, chug through backwaters on a riceboat, learn to cook curry and stroll golden sands Read More >>
- Mumbai: Fast-paced, friendly, overwhelming, this megapolis is India’s financial capital and home to Bollywood, the largest film production centre in India Read More >>
- Rajasthan: Brimming with local colour and historic cities, romantic palaces and grand temples abound. See tigers in the wild and shop til you drop Read More >>
- Sikkim: Trek in the majestic Himalayas amid incredible mountain scenery, tea plantations, Buddhist monasteries and Tibetan markets; a life-changing experience Read More >>
- Tamil Nadu: Richly historical, this region is home to 8 Unesco sites, grand Hindu temples, beautiful rock carvings and the serene green hill stations Read More >>
- Uttarakhand: De-stress at ashrams in Rishikesh, wander in the shadow of soaring Himilayan peaks and visit the birthplace of the sacred Ganges Read More >>