From desert stargazing and snow leopard spotting, to mountain trekking in the Himalayas, there is never a shortage of excitement when visiting India. Here are some of the excitement that you could experience when taking a trip to this ‘incredible’ land.
Track India’s ‘big five’: India is home to a wide array of wildlife, but it is the country’s cats that garner most of the attention. It is home to five big cats — Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, clouded leopards and Indian leopards — and the chances of spotting them are reasonably high if you head to the right places.
The best national parks for seeing tigers are Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Kanha, Pench, Satpura and Corbett. Though there are good populations of tigers in the Sunderbans, they can be difficult to see.
Leopards are widely spread across India; you will find them as far south as Kerala and as north as Rajasthan. Snow leopards can be found near Ladakh, high in the Indian Himalaya. A visit in the winter will maximise chances of seeing them as they descend from the mountains in search of food — they seem particularly fond of the local bharal and blue sheep.
Clouded leopards live in the foothills of the Himalaya, and despite their name are not closely related to leopards. They are considered the evolutionary link between small cats and big cats. The Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim is one of the best places to see them.
Finally, seek out the world’s only surviving Asiatic lions in Gujarat State. Smaller and shaggier than their African cousins, they can only be found in Sasan Gir National Park.
Explore the temples: With its multitude of religions and deities, it comes as no surprise that India is a land of temples. Throughout the ages temples have been the canvas for ideas, architecture, sculpture and arts. Dominating landscapes or carved into mountains and caves, they are buzzing, vibrant centers of active devotion.
Blush at the erotic carvings of the Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh. Sample food prepared under the scrutiny of Goddess Mahalakshmi in the Lord Jagannath temple in Orissa. Marvel at the technicolour animals, gods and demons that adorn the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple in Tamil Nadu. And explore the Golden Temple in Amritsar — a shining beacon of religious tolerance and spiritual freedom.
From the tiniest shrine to the mightiest structure, each temple reveals something of the country’s soul. Take the time to seek them out.
Trek in the Himalayas: The Indian Himalaya conjures up images of ancient pilgrimages and sacred sites, but it is far more than that. The western ranges, from Kashmir to Nanda Devi, boast an incredible variety of communities and viewpoints. In the east, paradise-like Sikkim has giant butterflies and orchid forests while Arunachal Pradesh is the last of the Himalayan wild frontiers.
The Markha Valley and Hemis Festival trek is perhaps the most popular in the Indian Himalaya, offering stunning mountain scenery, the largest monastery in Ladakh, and the chance to see snow leopards. The monastery circuit in Sikkim reveals a land of dramatic scenery, delightful monasteries and hundreds of butterflies, birds and rare plants.
Beyond Darjeeling’s magnificently manicured tea estates lies a trek through the forests of pine, conifer and rhododendron, which leads to a ridge that forms a natural border with Nepal and into Singalila National Park.
Ride the rails: The rail system in India is more than just a way to get around, it is an experience in its own right. Each carriage is a microcosm of India — noisy, chaotic, welcoming and vibrant. Each rail journey is as varied as the country itself. The desert crossing from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer will take you past forts and old cities, while the ‘Toy Train’ from Kolkata to Darjeeling zigzags its way into the mountains,past tea plantations and offers spectacular views of the Himalayas. The Cardamom Route from Madurai to Bodinayakkanur will take you to the southern foothills of the Western Ghats, past plantations of cotton, mango, pepper, coffee and tea.
For a truly memorable Indian rail experience, consider taking the Grand Trunk Express from New Delhi to Chennai. It covers 2,186km, making it one of the longest train routes in India.
Find inner peace: India is a bit of a spiritual supermarket, with all kinds of religions, beliefs and customs. You can dip your toes into the holy waters, watching daily ceremonies on the Ghats in Varanasi or by the still waters in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Or you can throw yourself into the swirling madness of Kumbha Mela, a mass of ritual bathing, naked sadhus, flashing lights and spiritual cleansing, held every three years at a designated sacred river.
Or go a little deeper by staying in one of India’s Hindu Ashrams, faith-based guest houses where even the food is included with spiritual instruction. Pondicherry, and nearby Auroville, is something of a spiritual centre, as is Rishikesh, north-east of Delhi at the foot of the Himalaya. Sitting at the spot where the holy River Ganges finishes its 272km race to escape the Himalaya, Rishikesh is packed with temples, colorful characters and ashrams.
Celebrate the world’s most colorful festivals: With its pantheon of gods and religions, there is no shortage of festivals in India. Each region has its own celebrations too — in Kerala, for example, they observe harvest with Onam, a 10-day festival of feasting. Elsewhere in India there are kite flying and camel festivals, and an event that celebrates hornbills in Nagaland. There is no better way to immerse yourself in the country’s colourful traditions than to be a part of it.
Diwali is the biggest festival, held every year between October and November. Known as the ‘festival of lights’, it features millions of clay lamps called diyyas that light up the streets, houses and temples around India.
Holi, held in March, is India’s most colorful festival, celebrating the victory of good over evil. It is chaotic and crazy, with people throwing colored powder at each other. Although it is observed across the whole country, celebrations in the north are more vivid and jubilant. Just remember to wear clothes that you do not mind getting ruined.
Sleep under the stars in the Rajasthan desert: A camel safari into the Rajasthan desert is an unforgettable experience. You will be rocked gently as your camel takes you across the Thar desert to Jaisalmer, camping out at night in tents beneath a canopy of stars and calling upon small desert villages where you experience village life.
Time your visit to coincide with Pushkar camel fair, an annual event where traders from the region gather, showing Rajasthan at its colorful, chaotic, camel-trading best.
And do not forget to spend time in the pink city of Jaisalmer. Compact, self-contained and crowned by the oldest still-inhabited fort in the world, it is a town made for strolling, and a gentle introduction to the sights, sounds and smells of India.
Watch the world go by from a houseboat in Kerala: The converted rice boats that ply the backwaters of Kerala offer the ultimate way to experience rural India at its most peaceful. Fertile soils and plentiful fish stocks mean it is one of the country’s most abundant regions. Kick back and enjoy the idyllic sights of shady palms, paddy fields and quiet little rural churches and temples. This is India at its rural best.
Take time to look around Kerala’s colorful city, Kochi, or Cochin as most of the locals prefer to call it, which is a series of peninsulas, islands and promontories caught between the lakes and rivers of its inland waterways and the Arabian Sea. Each district has a distinct personality, from the old colonial trading post of Fort Cochin and concrete city towers of commercial Ernakulam, to the sandy beaches of Vypeen Island. Lace up your walking boots and jump on the ferry to revel in the glamor of Kerala’s biggest city.
