Rajasthan - The Land of Kings
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh
Agra and Varanasi
The Big Cities
East India - West Bengal and Sikkim
Goa
South India
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
RAJASTHAN – THE LAND OF KINGS
With a distinctive middle-eastern flair, Rajasthan has bare desert and majestic cities filled with turban-clad townspeople. This area is littered with ancient forts and resplendent palaces built by warrior clansmen from centuries past. Great activities here include camel trekking tours, exploring the many amazing forts, and immersing into the history of the maharajas in this amazing outpost.
HIMACHAL PRADESH
The area of Western India where the plains of the Indian subcontinent collide with Asia to form the Himalayan Mountains provides adventure travelers with a myriad of choices. The scenery has many Buddhist temples, unlikely train routes and raging rivers winding through the steep valleys. Travelers can visit the Dalai Lama and his refugees in Dharamsala and Mcleod Ganj, trek among the mountains to many different destinations, or travel to Manali for an entire range of adventure activities including skiing, rafting and mountaineering.
JAMMU, KASHMIR AND LADAKH
The crossroads for Muslim Kashmir, Buddhist Ladakh and Hindu Jammu, this is one of India’s most diverse region—and also its most troubled. Ladakh is the calmest area in the region with a heavy Buddhist culture that offers stunning whitewashed gompas and amazing trekking. Ladakh is only accessible by road from May to October. The rest of the year the high passes are closed due to snow, and the only way in is by a weather dependent flight. Many trekking routes are available throughout the region during different seasons, and this is a great place to see a region of India with less population pressure.
AGRA and VARANASI
These two major cities make the centerpiece of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populated state. Located in Central India, the main tourist attraction is the Taj Mahal located in Agra. Agra supports a thriving tourist trade, and with many more majestic sites to see in the city besides the Taj Mahal, it is a great city to visit on your tour in India. Varanasi is one of the most religious sites in the Hindu nation. It is believed that dying in Varanasi takes a soul out of the cycle of life and death. The sacred Ganges River is lined with ghats to help the devoted achieve this purpose.
THE BIG CITIES
India’s big cities are cultural melting pots on the grand scale with millions crammed into small spaces. India’s overpopulation has caused million-dollar skyscrapers abutted against tin shantytowns and rail-lines. Each has its own character, and stereotyping these cities is not fair to the progress being made everyday.
Calcutta is thought of as the intellectual capital of India and offers endless temples, museums and gardens if you can get past the main tourist traps.
Dehli is a starting point for many Indian adventures. Constantly battling between the old and the new, Dehli is a hub for North Indian travel and offers great shopping and a rich history as the capital of India.
Mumbai (Bombay) exists as India’s most charismatic city and cinematic hub. Mumbai has teeming bazaars, impressive temples and a thriving Hollywood-esque industry.
EAST INDIA - WEST BENGAL AND SIKKIM
The southern part of this region lies in the mangrove swamps of the Ganges River delta and the northern region extending into the high Himalayan Mountains by Mt. Kanchenjunga. Trekking opportunities abound in this region, and Darjeeling, the historic British mountain town, exists in a sea of tea leaves. There are majestic temples, rich national parks, and it is possible to jump up to the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing without an entry fee for Bhutan.
GOA
The Goa region is unique in culture and character. As a former Portuguese colony, the countryside is covered with paddy fields and whitewashed churches. Unlike most of India, the primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and it shows in the many small hamlets throughout the region. The coast is lined with white sand beaches, and whether you are there to relax or to join the many nighttime revelers at the outdoor clubs and restaurants, this is a great stop while on your vacation.
SOUTH INDIA
This rich and diverse region has seen many different dynasties and some astounding history through the centuries. Many religions have laid claim to this part of India, and temple ruins show this rich past. There are some beautiful beach areas and some inland jewels worth visiting. Depending on your time, there are many beautiful areas to visit in southern India, including Hampi, Karnataka and Kerala.
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
With superb deserted beaches, little development and world-class diving, these two archipelagos have a lot to offer to travelers that are willing to travel the extra distance. These two sets of islands are closer geographically to Southeast Asia than to India. Our Thailand adventures travel to these islands for some of our diving adventures.
