India
Incredible India, Where Guestis God
Kaleidoscopic India continues to amaze and inspire and her visitors. A country so full of paradoxes and contrasts that it guarantees to madden anyone who tries to understand it, the best way to enjoy India is to simply soak up what is surely the greatest show on earth. The world’s most populous democracy, India is also an enormous landmass full of whimsical towns, bustling cities, and incredible remote areas. Tourists would need a lifetime to explore it all. A thorough, though not rigid, pre-trip itinerary is recommended if India is to be explored, and enjoyed, fully. India boasts a startling array of world-famous attractions: from the historic Red Fort of Old Delhi, to the glimmering Golden Temple of Amritsar, the ghats of Varanasi, the desert palaces of Rajasthan, the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, the cool alpine air of Darjeeling and, of course, the immortal Taj Mahal. Visitors can anticipate more than a few awe-inspiring sights and, true to its billing as a land of contradictions, India is equally prepared to cater for party animals as spiritual seekers – the trance parties of Goa stand in stark contrast to the thousands of ashrams dotted around the country.
India is not only one of the best value-for-money tourist destinations in the world, but one which offers a unique travelling experience. A friendly land, well-trodden by years of heavy tourist traffic, there are few more intriguing places to travel than mad, majestic India.
What to see and do in India
- Be enthralled by Taj Mahal, the world’s greatest monument to love.
- Amritsar is the spiritual homeland of Sikhism, and its magnificent Golden Temple.
- Rising high above the smoky clamour of Delhi’s streets, the Red Fort remains an austere and powerful reminder of the might of the Mogul Empire.
- The Ajanta Caves, 29 cave-shrines delicately carved out of the surrounding rock, represent the faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
- Relax on the famous beaches of Goa, before getting down to some serious partying.
- Ride the Toy Train from Darjeeling to Ghum and take in some truly breath-taking mountain scenery amidst unending tea-plantations.
- Take a cruise on the backwaters of Kerala, where the lush tropical scenery is interrupted only by close-up glimpses of traditional village life.
- Find yourself a guide, saddle up your camel, and head out into Rajasthan’s Thar Desert for a sun-soaked safari.
- Marvel at the stunning architecture of the ancient stepwells in various parts of India.