India offers an endless list of magical places and overwhelming experiences, to the point of overwhelming any traveller.Mughal architecture, sacred Hindu temples, fallen royal palaces and the legacy of the British Empire attract thousands of curious visitors to this land that stretches from the Himalayan peaks to the beaches of the Indian Ocean. It is hard to think of a country with such a diversity of sights and landscapes. Not sure where to start when planning your trip to India? We can help you.
Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is an enchanted city surrounded by desert © Alexander Mazurkevich/Shutterstock
India is almost continental in size, so the best strategy is to focus on one region instead of covering the entire country in one exhausting trip. Everywhere you go, you'll find a daily explosion of colour and chaos peppered with beautiful architecture and plenty of mind-blowing history. The combination of magic and disorder is unique, so much so that it is addictive to the traveller. Although not an easy feat, we are proud to share with you our list of 10 must-visit places in India.
Agra, Uttar Pradesh: perfect for romantics and Mughal history buffs
The Taj Mahal, at the top of everyone's list, is just as you imagine it to be. Fantastic. Standing in front of the most beautiful building in the world, framed by an Asian-style gateway or the steams of the Yamuna river is a defining moment of any trip to India (or life, for that matter). But the former Mughal capital still has much to offer beyond the Taj. Stay for a couple more days and visit the impressive tomb of Emperor Akbar, the former pink sandstone capital he founded in Fatehpur Sikri and the Red Fort of Agra, one of India's most epic complexes.
An evening outing on Varanasi's sacred Ganges will open your mind © De Visu / Shutterstock
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: for those in search of spirituality and thrills
There are few places in the world as fascinating, challenging and mind-blowing as the sacred Hindu city of Varanasi. Every day on the ghats that descend to the sacred waters of the Ganges, funeral pyres burn according to millenary tradition, while the bewildering maze of alleyways in the nearby old city reveals more surprises at every turn. It is a place where coming face to face with death is inevitable. Take a deep breath, join the yogis and indulge your feelings.
At the Thikse monastery in the far north of India, visitors can get a taste of Tibetan culture © Dmitry Rukhlenko / Shutterstock
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir: a taste of Tibet
In the far north-west of India, beyond the Himalayan range, lies the former kingdom of Ladakh, culturally and geographically closer to western Tibet than any other part of India. Described as a high-altitude moonscape dotted with imposing Tibetan monasteries (don't miss Hemis and Thikse), where you can trek, stay hosted by local families, participate in colourful dance festivals where monks dance masked, and visit crystal-clear salt lakes that span the entire horizon. It is the closest experience to Tibet that one can have in India. Getting there is half the fun: you can fly over the Himalayan peaks to the main city of Leh, or embark on the epic multi-day overland adventure over high mountain passes (June to October) by bus, jeep or (best of all) motorbike.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: the joy of urban explorers and aspiring Bollywood stars
Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is India's most exciting, energetic and modern city. It is home to Bollywood stars, amidst British-era buildings and bazaars sprawling like a spider's web among a thousand alleys. It is a city of bewildering contrasts. To learn more about the inequalities that characterise Mumbai, you can take a sustainable tour through the huge slum with Reality Tours & Travel; 80% of profits are donated to social projects. Mumbai's delicious street food is the city's great leveller. Don't leave without tasting the typical bhel puri: snacks made of puffed rice, lentils, onions, herbs and savoury chutneys. Don't miss a visit to the Elephanta Caves, 1,500-year-old temples carved into the rock, a UNESCO World Heritage site accessible by a one-hour ferry ride.
The streets and houses of Kolkata give an idea of the city's heyday © Santanu Das / Getty Images
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Calcutta, West Bengal: vivid evocation of the ghosts of the British Raj
Capital of British India until 1911 and India's second largest city, Kolkata today is the intellectual and artistic capital of India. The sights are endless: explore the old East India Company buildings in the BBD Bagh district and breathe in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Golden Age that still hovers in the synagogues, Armenian churches and Chinese emporiums of Barabazar. To really get into the pulse of the city, take a Bengali cooking class or volunteer at the famous charity missions established by Mother Teresa. Either way, don't miss a night tour of the nearby Sundarbans, the forests inhabited by one of the largest concentrations of royal Bengal tigers on earth.
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: colours, drama and special shopping
The desert state of Rajasthan is India at its most romantic and filtered. You are confronted with a mirage of camel caravans, finely decorated palaces, imposing fortresses, extravagant turbaned traders and intense colours, against the backdrop of the Thar Desert.
The romantic palace towering above the lake in Udaipur and the blue city of Jodhpur are both breathtaking, but Jaisalmer is the real gem, dominated by a fairy-tale fort and filled with hundreds of beautifully decorated haveli (traditional houses), many of which have been converted into elegant tourist accommodation. In addition, Rajasthan is famous for the art of embroidery and leatherwork. You will find the best souvenirs to take home.
A slow-paced trip through the waters of Kerala offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of India © SolStock / Getty
Kerala: slow pace and waterways
Tropical South India is suitable for those who prefer a more luxurious and relaxed travel experience than the hustle and bustle of the crowded, dusty cities in the north. An unmissable experience here is a cruise on the emerald green waters of the countless waterways that criss-cross Kerala, a placid network of over a thousand kilometres of waterways lined with coconut palms. Rent a traditional houseboat in Alleppey for a multi-day trip, then pinch yourself to convince yourself that it's all real when you taste the succulent fish curry prepared by your personal chef as the sunset tinges the shimmering waters and palm fronds red.
Bodhgaya, Bihar: for aspiring Buddhists
Cradle of both Hinduism and Buddhism, India's geography is inseparable from its spirituality, like the soil where the Bodhi tree stands, at whose feet Siddhartha received enlightenment. Today, the city is home to dozens of Tibetan and Southeast Asian style temples, as well as numerous centres where the teachings of Buddhism are transmitted. It is an ideal destination for any spiritual traveller. Sit in the Mahabodhi temple next to chanting Tibetan pilgrims and meditate on the ephemeral nature of life. This travel experience will lead you to discover new sides of yourself.
Darjeeling, West Bengal: superlative tea, pleasant temperatures and nostalgia for times gone by
Cheered by cool breezes from the Himalayas, surrounded by manicured tea plantations and dominated by the third highest mountain in the world, Darjeeling manages to win everyone over, just as the British did. The perfect day: watch the sunrise colour Kangchenjunga, learn the difference between first-flush and white tea, enjoy afternoon tea at the colonial-era Windamere Hotel, and finally visit the Tibetan Refugee Rehabilitation Centre. The most classic way to get to the city, and one that makes everyone go crazy with nostalgia, is the old train, so book your tickets in advance.
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In addition to extraordinary historical sites, Hampi village offers some of the best climbing sites in India © Tomaz Bradesko / Lonely Planet
Hampi, Karnataka: for history, archaeology and climbing enthusiasts
Between the 14th and 16th centuries AD, the former capital of Vijayanagar had half a million people. As a legacy, it left us 3700 monuments scattered across this surreal plain that today makes Hampi the climbing capital of India. An opportunity to combine travel with the perfect workout for mind and body. Hampi can be reached by overnight train from the beaches of Goa, historic Hyderabad or the cosmopolitan southern city of Bengaluru (Bangalore).
