Why India belongs on your list
India is not one trip but many. Snow peaks in the north, beaches in the south, deserts in the west and tea hills in the east. Here are the experiences worth building a journey around.
The Taj Mahal, Agra
The white-marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife is best seen at sunrise, when the crowds are thin and the marble glows pink. Entry is about 1,100 rupees for foreign visitors; the site is closed on Fridays.
Jaipur and the forts of Rajasthan
The Pink City pairs the Amber Fort, reached by a steep ramp above Maota Lake, with the honeycomb facade of Hawa Mahal and the City Palace. Pair Jaipur with Jodhpur's blue houses and the desert fort of Jaisalmer.
Varanasi and the Ganges
India's spiritual heart. Take a dawn rowboat along the ghats to watch pilgrims bathe, then return at dusk for the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Kerala backwaters
Glide through palm-fringed canals on a converted rice-barge houseboat near Alleppey (Alappuzha). Overnight cruises drift past villages, paddy fields and fishermen, often with home-cooked meals on board.
Goa's beaches and old churches
Palolem and Agonda in the south are calm and scenic; Anjuna and Baga in the north are livelier. Inland, the Portuguese-era churches of Old Goa are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Golden Temple, Amritsar
Sikhism's holiest shrine glows gold above a reflecting pool. The free community kitchen (langar) feeds tens of thousands of visitors daily, regardless of faith.
Mumbai's energy
Walk the Gateway of India, ride the local trains, eat vada pav at a street stall and catch a Bollywood film at an art-deco cinema.
The Himalayas
Trek in Himachal Pradesh around Manali, visit the Dalai Lama's town of McLeod Ganj near Dharamshala, or ride the toy train up to Darjeeling for views of Kanchenjunga.
Hampi's ruins
The boulder-strewn landscape of the former Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka is dotted with temples, chariots carved in stone and royal enclosures.
Practical tips
- The best season is roughly October to March, before the heat and monsoon.
- Trains are the classic way to travel; book early on IRCTC.
- Carry small cash, but cards and UPI apps are widely used in cities.
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