Buzzing, varied and colourful, India doesn’t do things by halves. Trying to nail down a destination for an upcoming trip? We’ve shown you the 14 unmissable places to visit in India, now here’s 12 reasons why you should go!
The festival of colours
A priest visits the Udaipur Lake to wash away the dye from the festival of colours
Think paintball taken to serious extremes. India’s Holi, or festival of colours, is a major Hindu event that takes place in March each year. Celebrating the arrival of spring, it’s an excuse to douse everyone around you in colourful powder and dance the night away.
Puffs of vividly hued powder explode into crowds – thrown by everyone from your best friend to temple priests – and the country becomes a rainbow. Leave your good clothes at home, and prepare to spend the next day washing powder out of your hair. Visit Udaipur to see it at its best.
Temples of gold
The Golden Temple twinkles through the fog in Amritsar, India
In the heart of Punjab, the Golden Temple of Amritsar is a deeply sacred monument to the Sikh, and it is beautiful to behold.
Visitors are welcome, so head across the striking mosaic-smothered walkway that leads out over the water to the heart of the temple complex, and prepare to be dazzled. Think gold-plated walls, bronzed cupolas and gleaming decorative marble adorned with floral patterns. Visit at night to see the complex lit up inside and out, and to participate in the Palki Sahib, the veneration of the holy book of the Sikh religion.
Bollywood!
Hollywood is the poor child of powerhouse Bollywood. With roots in Mumbai, India’s film industry churns out thousands of films and takes in hundreds of billions of rupees in revenue every year.
Head to the city’s gorgeous art deco Liberty Cinema – notable for its carved piano façade – and take in a three-hour all-singing, all-dancing Bollywood extravaganza, or try the super fancy Ebony Lounge for upmarket movie-going. You can even book a Hollywood-style tour of Mumbai’s studios in hope of landing an autograph or two.
Tricked-out trucks
Pimp my ride! These colourful trucks in India add a splash of colour to any dirt road
One thing that’s a given in India is traffic. But it’s not just any traffic: among the cows, bicycles and motorbikes is a vivid assortment of psychedelically painted trucks. Think John Lennon’s famously patterned Rolls Royce, only in semi-trailer form – and the brighter and bolder the better.
The grub
Let’s face it: food is a primary motivator when it comes to picking a holiday destination. And India is the land of glorious, decadently rich food.
Head to Bangalore for an endless array of darshinis – casual, just-the-basics road-side cafés serving up tasty snacks and coffee for less than small change. Fluffy idli – a type of savoury lentil cake – tasty roti bread dipped in zingy sambar sauce, and ultra thick coffee served up with buttery, almond-based sweets will all hit the spot.
Wine in Maharashtra
Is there anything India can’t do? Off in the Western Ghats, a few hours out of Mumbai, Nashik, in the Maharashtra region is an up-and-coming hub for the viticulturally inclined. You’ll find Cabernet Sauvignons, Sauvignon blancs, Chenin blancs and Shiraz varieties quietly fermenting in the gentle rural hinterlands that feel a world away from the buzzing capital. Check out the Zampa vineyards and the York and Reveilo wineries for some surprisingly good tipple.
The Himalayas
Buddhist prayer flags hang up in Ladakh, with the Himalayas towering behind
See yourself as a bit of an adventurer? Don’t miss out on the Himalayas. Think jagged peaks crested with diamond-like snow, sunsets, sunrises, and regal Bengal tigers on the roam.
They’re vast and far-reaching, with a difficulty level to suit whatever works for you: snap pictures from afar, hike the meandering trails, or test your fortitude at high altitude with a challenging climb up Jammu or Kashmir. The flower-studded valley of Badrinath, chilly white-water paddling, and the Tibetan-influenced culture of Ladakh all beckon.
Occupied forts
Sure, the tiny home movement is one thing, but it’s readily surpassed by the options of fort-based living. With a history heading back to the 12th century, Jaisalmer is a fort-turned-city that’s jam-packed with a full 3000 residents. Windy lanes, crammed-in temples and curious stalls and shops make it a maze that’s worth investigating. Enter near Gopa Chawk and try to find your way through to its central heart.
The Portuguese Goa carnival
Dance fever at the Portuguese Goa Festival
Stop off in Goa in February for dancing, eating and floating festivities. Introduced by the Portuguese, the Carnival is a strictly Goa-only zone that celebrates the days leading up to Lent.
It’s a three-day hedonistic extravaganza of the type you read about in Greek and Roman epics – and no doubt where the Portuguese got their inspiration. The whole thing’s presided over by the carnival’s regent King Momo, whose main reason for reigning is to tell everyone to party it up under the sun.
Ancient stone temples
Take a peek through the rocks to find the Virupaksha temple in Hampi, Karnataka
A sacred setting since the 7th century, the majestic Virupaksha temple in Hampi – a six-hour drive from Bangalore – has humble shrine origins, although it’s hard to imagine this old-school skyscraper in its early years. On the banks of the river Tungabhadra, this nine-tiered beauty is a shrine to the deity Virupaksheshwara, and even though age is catching up to it, it still sees plenty of activity – including an annual chariot festival in February.
Get your yoga on
If you’re a yoga buff or just need to get your meditation on, India’s the heartland of all things downward dog and lotus position. Arising out of Hinduism, yoga is a traditional way of getting in touch with your inner self – by contorting your outer self.
It’s been practised for thousands of years, way before kale-crunching hip kids got their hands on the idea. Enthusiasts should check out the world-famous Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Centre in Pune or the Ashtanga Institute in Mysore – but really everywhere you go you’ll trip over a centre offering its own take on this ancient habit.
The festival of lights
Fireworks light up the sky during Diwali in Chennai © VinothChandar
Diwali, sometimes dubbed Dipawali, is India’s biggest annual holiday – and that’s saying something. Taking place in October or November, it’s a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and it’s known as the “festival of lights” for a reason.
Clay lamps lined up outside the family home, strings of fairy lights, spiralling fireworks and crackling bonfires transform the country into a wonderland of light over five days. The festivities vary depending on where in the country you are, but you’ll see glitz galore across India, and especially in Chennai.
