India is a sensory overload that can be overwhelming. It is ancient, diverse, and beautiful. From its rich culture and delectable cuisine to its historic architecture and picturesque scenery, the country has something for every type of traveler. If you’re stuck for ideas on what to do in India, look no further than our list of the best things to do in India.
India’s 5 millennia of history has resulted in a plethora of temples and monuments. They are all unique in their own way, providing tourists with an unforgettable journey. The palaces, caves, and historic bridges that await exploration only add to the incredible image of this country. They’ll transport you to another era and introduce you to everything that makes India so fascinating.
Aside from that, you can go on an adventure through Delhi’s narrow lanes, sample delicious traditional cuisine, and even visit the beach. This game will never bore you. Especially when you can take beautiful elephant tours, go on a desert safari, party at a festival, or end up in Bollywood. Because India is a rainbow of colors, its flavors, scents, and people will take your breath away. These are just a few of the things to do in India. Do you want to know more about all of this and more?
Best things to do in India –
1. Trek to the Himalayas
The Indian Himalaya conjures up images of historic pilgrimages and sacred sites, but it is much more than that. Trek to the Himalayas is one the best things to do in India. The western mountains, from Kashmir to Nanda Devi, are home to a diverse mix of communities and viewpoints. In the east, Sikkim has massive butterfly and orchid forests, while Arunachal Pradesh is the last of the Himalayan wild frontiers.
The Markha Valley and Hemis Festival journey is one of the most popular in the Indian Himalayas, with spectacular mountain scenery, Ladakh’s largest monastery, and the chance to see snow leopards. The monastery circuit in Sikkim takes you through a world of breathtaking scenery, charming monasteries, and hundreds of butterflies, birds, and unusual plants.
Hiking through pine, fir, and rhododendron forests leads to a ridge that serves as a natural border with Nepal and into Singalila National Park, which lies beyond Darjeeling’s immaculate tea gardens.
2. Visit the temples
Given the diversity of religions and deities, it’s no surprise that India is a land of temples, and henceforth visiting the temples is one of the best things to do in India. And how you can miss visiting the temples which is one of the best things to do in India. Throughout history, they have served as a canvas for ideas, architecture, sculpture, and the arts. They are vibrant, active places of worship that dominate landscapes or are carved into rocks and caverns.
The erotic carvings of Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho temple will make you blush. Sample cuisine prepared under the scrutiny of Goddess Mahalakshmi at the Lord Jagannath temple in Orissa. In Tamil Nadu, the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple is adorned with technicolor creatures, gods, and devils.
Visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a beautiful symbol of religious tolerance and spiritual freedom. Please check out your guide to the 10 best temples in Amritsar, to make your temple visit mesmerizing. You will be astonished by the beauty of these magnificent temples, and strolling around these temples is one of the best things to do in India.
3. Paranthe wali Gali (Delhi)
A well-known food street in the heart of Old Delhi, in the middle of the Chandni Chowk market. This street is lined with well-known cafes, all selling the same dish: unique Delhi-style stuffed parathas, a type of wheat dough flatbread delicately fried on both sides in oil.
While potatoes are the most commonly used filling, you can find them stuffed with anything on this street, including cheese, squash, raisins, mint, mixed vegetables, cashews, and more. For all the hunger pangs, tasting the different flavors is one of the best things to do in India. Some of the restaurants have been around for nearly a century, and it’s easy to see why these tucked-away eateries are always packed with Indians enjoying this delectable dish.
4. Strolling around the Earthly Paradise
The 400-kilometer stretch of tropical coastline that connects Mumbai and Goa is one of the Indian subcontinent’s least-visited areas. The palm-fringed shoreline is almost continuous, with many beaches abandoned and overlooked by citadels dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The 572 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located closer to South-East Asia than the Indian peninsula, provide a genuine alternative to India. The Nicobar Islands are off-limits to tourists; only a few islands in the entire archipelago are accessible to those who make the trip.
Fly or sail into Port Blair, then to Havelock Island for birdwatching and beach time before heading to Neil Island, where you can cycle through rice fields and snorkel over coral reefs while counting the number of other tourists on one hand.
5. Ride the rails
The train system in India is more than a mode of transportation; it’s an experience in and of itself. Each carriage is a microcosm of India: noisy, chaotic, inviting, and vibrant. You will have lived a lifetime in one day. Every train journey is as distinct as the country itself. The desert route from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer passes through forts and old cities, whereas the ‘Toy Train’ from Kolkata to Darjeeling zigzags through the mountains past tea plantations and provides breathtaking Himalayan views.
The Cardamom Route connects Madurai and Bodinayakkanur via the southern slopes of the Western Ghats, passing through cotton, mango, pepper, coffee, and tea estates. Consider taking the Grand Truck Express from New Delhi to Chennai for an unforgettable Indian rail journey. With a length of 2,186 kilometers, it is one of India’s longest railroad routes.
6. Tracking India’s ‘Big Five’
Despite the fact that India is home to a wide variety of animals, it is the country’s cats that receive the most attention. Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and Indian leopards can all be found here, and the chances of seeing them are good if you visit the right places.
If you want to see tigers, the best national parks to visit are Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Kanha, Pench, Satpura, and Corbett. Despite the fact that there are large populations of tigers in the Sunderbans, they can be difficult to spot.
7. Explore the spiritual market
India is a spiritual marketplace, home to a wide variety of religions, beliefs, and practices. You can literally dip your toes into the holy waters by watching daily rites on the ghats in Varanasi or beside the quiet waters in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
You can also immerse yourself in the whirling frenzy of the Kumbha Mela, a three-year-long festival of ritual bathing, naked sadhus, flashing lights, and spiritual purification held near a designated sacred river.
Staying in one of India’s Hindu Ashrams, faith-based guest houses where even the food is included in the price of spiritual education will take you a step further. Strolling around the spiritual market is one of the best things to do in India.
Pondicherry and its neighboring Auroville are spiritual hotspots, as is Rishikesh, which is located north of Delhi at the foot of the Himalayas. Rishikesh, located at the end of the sacred Ganges’ 272-kilometer journey out of the Himalaya, is brimming with temples, colorful personalities, and ashrams.
8. Stargazing in Rajasthan
A camel safari through the Rajasthan desert is an absolute must-do. While your camel transports you across the Thar desert to Jaisalmer, you’ll be gently rocked as you sleep in tents under the stars and visit small desert towns where curious children proudly show you their earthen homes.
Visit during the Pushkar Camel Fair, an annual event that brings traders from all over the region together to showcase Rajasthan at its most colorful, chaotic, and camel-trading best. You can also check top places to visit in Pushkar at night.
Also, don’t miss out on Jaisalmer, the pink city. It’s a great town for exploring – and a gentle introduction to the sights, sounds, and smells of India. It’s small and self-contained, and it’s crowned by the world’s oldest still-inhabited fort.
9. Kerala Houseboats
The converted rice boats that ply Kerala’s backwaters provide an ideal opportunity to experience rural India at its most tranquil. Because of its fertile soils and abundant fish stocks, it is one of the most fertile areas in the country. Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of shade palms, rice fields, and small rural churches and temples. This is rural India at its best.
Take a stroll through Kochi, the vibrant capital of Kerala. Kochi (or Cochin, as it is more commonly known) is a cluster of peninsulas, islands, and promontories located between the inland waterways’ lakes and rivers and the Arabian Sea.
10. Serene South
The tourist destinations in South India are brimming with nature’s rich magnificence, with lush surroundings, fascinating valleys, and energizing mountains. This region of the country is dotted with intriguing eccentric sites that can serve as the ideal backdrop for your fantasy vacation, presenting the ideal blend of mystery and beauty.
Coorg and Kumarakom will captivate you with their breathtaking natural beauty, while Mysore and Hampi will steal your heart with their magnificent architecture. While the beaches of Pondicherry and Gokarna will entice you, Warangal and Mahabalipuram will take you on a tour of fascinating historical sites. You can also check 15 places to visit in Pondicherry for a pleasant holiday.
The southern region of India, which has a plethora of travel sites, welcomes all types of visitors. While Mysore and Coorg are the most appealing honeymoon destinations, the Andaman Islands and Kollam are ideal for adventure seekers. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of Southern India, and the added advantage is you can visit the South all through the year. This is one of the best things to do in India.
