Discover India: 22 must-experience activities for an unforgettable journey.
There are many Indias within India. This expansive land of ancient temples and opulent palaces, forgotten cities and lost traditions, spice markets and famously spicy food is almost a world unto itself, home to a vibrant diversity of peoples and cultures. For many travelers, a visit to India is the trip of a lifetime. The experiences you have here will linger long after you leave these shores, but with so much to see and such a vast area to explore, it can be hard to decide what to prioritize. To set you on the path to India perfection, here is our list of the best things to do in India. 1. Experience Varanasi at dawn The best way to experience the timelessness of Varanasi, hailed as the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, is to start just before dawn breaks. At Assi Ghat, Hindu devotees gather for the Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges, intoning sacred hymns and prayers on the steps that descend to the holy river. Next, take to the water in a small boat, watching the sun rise as life starts to stir along the riverbanks. As day breaks, a burst of activity erupts on the riverside as saffron-clad sadhus (holy men), pilgrims, vendors and tourists gather for religious rituals, yoga practice and dips in the sacred Ganges. Most boat trips pass the main Dashashwamedh Ghat toward Manikarnika Ghat, where funeral pyres burn as the dead are cremated. Visitors can observe from a respectful distance, but avoid taking photos or intruding on the ceremonies. Planning tip: We recommend visiting an akhara (wrestling center) to see wrestlers practice their traditional sport in a mud pit in the early morning light. End your tour with some soulful food: seek out the typical Varanasi breakfast of kachoris (deep-fried pastries) stuffed with lentils and served with spicy potato gravy. Finish the meal on a sweet note with melt-in-mouth jalebis (fried whorls of dough). 2. Set your eyes – and lens – on the iconic Taj Mahal The iconic symbol pictured on every India travel brochure, the Taj Mahal in Agra really is a highlight of any trip here. Despite the tourist crowds, you can’t help but gaze in wonder at this marbled mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz. While it’s hard to get a bad shot of the Taj, the most vivid photos are usually taken at sunrise and sunset from Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal garden across the Yamuna River. Arrive just before dawn and watch the colors change on this sublime monument dedicated to eternal love. Over the course of a day, the sun paints the marble in different hues, transforming the dome from pale pink at sunrise to orange at sunset. Before leaving Agra, pay a visit to the eye-catching tomb of Itimad-Ud-Daulah – a precursor to the Taj Mahal, constructed in the 1620s and dubbed the “Baby Taj.” It was created for Mumtaz’s grandfather, Mirza Ghiyas Beg, by his daughter, Nur Jahan. Planning tip: Special tickets for nighttime visits are sold on evenings with a full moon. They can be bought in person 24 hours in advance at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) offices on Mall Road; bring your passport as ID. 3. Demystify the Kama Sutra story behind Khajuraho As you stand in front of erotic sculptures of figures locked in improbable positions at Khajuraho, you can almost feel the passion of the carvings. Perhaps no other heritage site in India evokes as much wonder and curiosity as these famous temples, built nearly a millennia ago. And yet – as guides will painstakingly tell you – barely a tenth of the carvings in the 22 temples that have been excavated here are dedicated to erotic poses. As you explore the temples’ three-dimensional narratives, you can decide for yourself why the Chandela clan chose to depict eroticism on the walls of their temples, which are dedicated to both Hindu and Jain deities. Don’t miss one of India’s oldest surviving Tantric temples, dedicated to the Chausath Yogini – the 64 Tantric goddesses; its cells may be bereft of idols, but the architecture, even in ruins, is fascinating. Planning tip: You will need a day to explore all of Khajuraho’s temples; start as early as possible before the light becomes too harsh for photography, or come in the afternoon when the warm sunlight creates evocative shadows. Staying overnight provides an opportunity to visit twice and capture the site’s changing mood. 4. Explore the world’s largest mangrove forests in the Sundarbans A wild and remote biodiversity hotspot, Sundarbans National Park marks the point where three mighty rivers – the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna – join the Bay of Bengal. Spilling into neighboring Bangladesh, this maze of mangrove forests, swamps, mudflats and riverine islands can be explored on boat safaris, seeking the 100 or so Bengal tigers that roam its brackish channels. With its serpentine web of mangrove roots, the dark and dense undergrowth also provides cover for crocodiles, snakes and other marshland predators. Observation towers give you a bird’s-eye view of the swamps; look out for different varieties of kingfishers, raptors and myriad water birds. Village walks are possible on a handful of islands and locals will tell you humbling tales of life amid devastating cyclones and treacherous wildlife in this fragile and unforgettable ecosystem. 5. Camp under the stars in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert With an entire galaxy overhead to keep you entertained before bedtime, sleeping among the rolling sand dunes and parched scrub of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert is an experience that will stay with you forever. Starting from golden-hued Jaisalmer, the closest desert camps are pitched across the windswept Sam Sand Dunes, which rise to more than 50m (164ft) in height. However, the best camel safaris roam deeper into the desert, offering serene silence and genuinely dark skies, away from the day-tripping crowds. Planning tip: Before you head for the dunes, take an unmissable wander through the golden, temple-studded alleyways of majestic
