Are you an adventurer destined for the Himalayas, or someone who wants to slow down on Kerala’s backwaters? Pick your vibe with the help of Intrepid’s experts to find out.
Even if you have months to spare, it’s nearly impossible to cover all of India in one trip. More than a billion people call it home, weaving together thousands of years of different faiths, foods, cultures and traditions. The geography flips between modern cities and heritage towns in the foothills of the Himalayas to tropical coastline and thick jungle along backwaters.
It can be overwhelming figuring out where to go, but the best bet is to narrow it down based on your travel style. I spoke with Intrepid insider and authority on all things India, Saurabh Joshi, to get the scoop.
For first timers
Many people who are travelling to India for the first time want to see classic icons like the Taj Mahal and the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan while learning about local culture and enjoying some time away from the highlights. Luckily, all of this is doable, especially when you’re with a local leader, which also helps to overcome any initial worries you may have.
Golden Triangle
Saurabh suggests first timers visit the Golden Triangle, a popular route in the north connecting the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You’ll visit Agra for highlights like the Taj Mahal, stop by the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) in Jaipur and still get to visit spots like Lotwara village, where you can learn about local life away from the main cities.
Saurabh says: ‘India’s major cities are incredible, but it’s often the smaller towns and villages that leave a lasting impression on our guests. Around 65% of India’s population lives in rural areas, after all.’
Southern India
Most first timers head north to see the Taj Mahal, so this part of the country may seem like an unexpected choice, but Saurabh explains more laid-back southern India is a great option for travellers who want to experience India at a more manageable pace.
Kick back in places like Coonoor, Mudumalai National Park and Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where you’ll find backwaters, tea plantations, beaches and the ancient roots of the spice trade. You can meet communities in their fishing villages, explore jungles and wander around cities like Mamallapuram and Madurai known for their temples.
Read more: An expert’s guide to India for first timers
For the culture lovers
If you’re looking for India’s cultural side, there’s no wrong choice. You could start with royal heritage in Jaipur, explore the spiritual parts of Varanasi, or share a meal in Amritsar’s community kitchens. The best way to get to know a place is through the people. Leaning on Intrepid’s local leaders for insider knowledge can introduce you to authentic communities.
Varanasi
For anyone who wants to dive deep into the cultural side of the country, Saurabh says go to Varanasi. ‘It’s probably the single strongest cultural destination in the country – this is spiritual India at its most intense.’
Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world, memorable for its ancient ghats (steps leading down to water), Ganga Aarti ceremonies, sacred rituals, Sarnath Buddhist heritage and temples. Saurabh shares: ‘This is about living heritage rather than monuments. Here, traditions and rituals are still practised every day.’
Walk along the narrow alleyways of the Old City, take a sunset cruise along the river and watch local priests perform a Ganga Aarti (fire ceremony) at the Dashashwamedh Ghat. You can also visit Sarnath, where Guatama Buddha is said to have given his first speech after finding enlightenment.
Amritsar
Known for its langars (community kitchens) and hospitality, Amritsar is a spiritual centre for Sikhism in India. You can visit Harmandir Sahib – the golden temple that sits in the middle of sacred Amrit Sarovar lake – and listen to devotees chanting verses. Saurabh says: ‘Intrepid travellers often describe the Golden Temple and langar visit as one of the most memorable parts of their India trip.’
Langars are found in almost every Gurdwara (Sikh temple). These community kitchens serve free vegetarian meals and all visitors to the Golden Temple are welcome to join for a meal. Everyone sits together on the floor and eats side by side. The food is cooked by volunteers as an act of seva (selfless service) and the meals are a gesture to convey equality and inclusion.
Saurabh says: ‘It’s a powerful example of how food can bring people together and create a sense of community,’ something he hopes all guests to the temple will feel.
For the inner explorer
If you crave travel that helps you feel grounded and balanced, India delivers. As the home of yoga and ayurveda, you can learn about ancient wellness and mindfulness here by visiting temples and meeting locals to learn about their traditions. Saurabh suggests Intrepid’s Mountains & Mystics of India for a spiritual trip, but the Premium South India trip offers the best wellness options with some added comforts. Rishikesh and Dharamshala are two of the best places to visit if this is your vibe.
Rishikesh
While India is the home of yoga, Rishikesh’s connection to this ancient practice goes back thousands of years. The city was later popularised as a hub for yoga study and teacher training thanks in part to its location in the Himalayan foothills and influential spiritual leaders – as well a visit from The Beatles in 1968, who stayed in a local ashram and wrote 40 songs, which later formed The White Album.
Beyond your practice, you can take walks along the Ganges while temple bells ring out and watch the nightly Ganga Aarti fire rituals or see the famous mural-lined walls of Chaurasi Kutiya Ashram. If you’re wanting to step it up, you can also whitewater raft down the Ganges or take a walk through the nearby jungle.
Dharamshala
Also known as McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala is a mountain town with Tibetan Buddhist culture, so you’ll find robed monks strolling between monasteries under fluttering prayer flags. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas – and known as the home of the Dalai Lama – Dharamshala makes it easy to slow down and feel grounded. Visit Norbulingka Institute, where Tibetan refugees preserve traditional arts and crafts, or spend time at the Tsuglagkhang Complex, where you’ll find Dalai Lama’s temple, for a quiet moment of reflection.
For the food devotees
For those who travel with their taste buds, India will feel like one slow, delicious meal that never ends. From the south’s spicy dosas dipped in tangy green chutney and coconut-rich stews to tarka dal tempered on an open flame in the north and smoking hot savories and cooling desserts, which you can sample on a street-food tour, India’s food scene is on another level.
If your mind’s already spinning with what to order, travelling with a local comes in handy. You’ll learn the best meals are often those shared with someone who opened their home to you, found in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant not mentioned in any guidebook and the dishes you normally wouldn’t even think about ordering.
Delhi
According to Saurabh, Delhi is one of the best food destinations in India. Look for plates of kebabs with flaky parathas, royally approved Mughlai curries, chunky chaat snacks and creamy kulfi falooda dessert. Wander through the streets of Old Delhi, sip milky chai from a local chai wallah, explore the spice market of Khari Baoli and tuck into a traditional thali platter-style feast for a little taste of everything.
Mumbai
Mumbai is another of India’s great food cities, with its mix of traditional street eats and creative modern fusion. Known for everything from spicy vada pav (deep-fried potato dumpling in a bread bun) and buttery pav bhaji (spicy vegetable curry) to fresh seafood, Bombay sandwiches and old-school Irani cafes, the city has a lot to say about food.
Mumbai has always been a place that pulls in people from every region, so you’ll find dishes and influences from all over the country. Spend an evening grazing your way along Chowpatty Beach at sunset, digging into beloved foods like pani puri (crisp, hollow balls filled with spiced sauce), or duck into one of the city’s Irani cafes for a slow afternoon in Mumbai.
Read more: A Jaipur rickshaw ride that puts women in the driver’s seat
For the heritage hounds
If you’re travelling for heritage that feels alive rather than a relic, you’ll find it in India. The World Heritage site of Hampi – known as an ‘open-air museum’ – and the layers of Rajput-era history in Udaipur are highlights for heritage lovers. You’ll find monuments, traditions and architecture spanning thousands of years, often in active use rather than preserved behind barriers.
Hampi
Saurabh thinks Hampi, in the Indian state of Karnataka, is ‘one of India’s most atmospheric cultural sites, with a slower backpacker vibe.’ This World Heritage site is known for its ancient temples, mythology and historical ruins along the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
As one of India’s greatest archaeological destinations, it once formed the heart of the Vijayanagara Empire and feels less busy than India’s historic sites in the north. When you get there, visit the Vittala Temple, a 16th-century complex known for its intricate stonework, pillared pavilions and a stone chariot that is believed to have carried the deity Lord Vishnu.
Udaipur
Udaipur is an elegant (and romantic) heritage city in Rajasthan. Picture rolling hills, white marble palaces and lakes setting the scene. Centuries of Rajput history, grand architecture and a living heritage where textile artists, folk dancers and musicians – using traditional instruments like the stringed ravanahatha – continue to preserve their craft.
Stroll along the twisting alleys in the old city for handmade goods and traditional crafts, like silver, leather goods and miniature paintings. Then, explore the City Palace, ending the day with a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola, drifting past the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir (its garden) before a rooftop dinner overlooking the water. For a deeper look into Rajasthan’s traditions, visit Shilpgram, an arts hub and ethnographic museum celebrating local crafts, music and dance.
Jaipur
Jaipur is known for grand forts, bazaars and centuries-old traditions still shaping everyday life. The city’s famous streets in the Pink City are lined with markets, historic havelis (traditional townhouses – many of them now hotels – centred on a courtyard) and architectural icons like the honeycomb-style Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) and Jantar Mantar (an 18th-century astronomical observation site).
Just outside of the city, you’ll find Amber Fort beside Maota Lake. This 16th-century site is one of India’s finest examples of Rajput architecture. Inside, you’ll find Sheesh Mahal, a palace room with walls covered entirely in little mirrors – worth the trip alone. After exploring palaces and checking out traditional crafts like jewellery and textiles, you can also catch a Bollywood film at the Raj Mandir cinema.
Read more: Explore the culture of India’s national drink with the Chai Lord
For the slow burners
Big cities can feel overwhelming and main sites can feel chaotic. Sometimes you want a break from all that – and thanks to India’s many national parks, tea plantations and beaches, the country has plenty of places for anyone who wants to take time out and chill.
Goa
When you want a proper holiday with an emphasis on relaxation, head to Goa on the southwest coast. Time here is best spent on a sandy beach by the water, cocktail in hand, or meandering through streets that carry centuries of layered history – Portuguese architecture, World Heritage-listed buildings, and a culture that absorbed outside influences and made them entirely its own. For a day of relaxed local immersion, spend the morning at a spice plantation and wrap up the day with a beachside dinner of fresh seafood. Don’t leave without trying the Goan fish curry.
Munnar
You know that feeling when you take that first sip of warm tea? That’s how Munnar, a tea town in Kerala, makes you feel.
Found in the Western Ghats at 1525 metres (5000 feet) above sea level, rolling green hills, drifting clouds and fresh air make it an easy place to pause. Take a guided tea-plantation tour, weaving between terraces alongside a local expert, enjoying a tasting or two along the way. Visit the tea museum to go a little deeper into the region’s history, then unwind at a mountain resort surrounded by misty valleys.
When you’re ready to explore, head out on a guided walk through the lush, cloud-draped hills, or make your way to Mattupetty Dam, where you can take a boat ride through a calm manmade lake.
For the nature nerds
With more than 100 national parks, nature lovers could spend an entire trip in India surrounded by wildlife and greenery without a single city skyline to interrupt it. From wildlife-rich forests in Assam and tea-covered highlands in Kerala to villages in the Himalayan foothills, there’s no shortage of ways to get outside.
Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s best places to see wildlife – especially if you’re hoping for tiger sightings. Once a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur, it’s now a fiercely protected site that’s home to tigers, hyenas, jackals, deer, langurs, marsh crocodiles, wild boar and more.
Hop in a 4WD and head deep into the park, where you’ll also find ancient temples and ruins. Between drives, unwind by the pool, then head back out again for an evening safari spotting sloth bears foraging and leopards slinking away while owls hoot from above.
Kerala backwaters
Saurabh explains that the Keralan backwaters are one of the best places for nature and slow travel. You can hop on a boat to a quiet village, stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse and explore the waterways by traditional pole boat, drifting through paddy fields and narrow canals with a local guide sharing stories along the way.
Ancient spice routes, temples and Kathakali dance performances have been part of Kerala’s history for centuries. ‘It fits well for travellers who want culture without the speed of the big cities,’ says Saurabh. ‘It’s great if you want greenery… and comfortable travel.’
Kaziranga National Park
A World Heritage site and the oldest park in Assam, Kaziranga sits along the banks of the Brahmaputra River and protects an extraordinary range of biodiversity, including the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos, tigers, elephants, leopards and bears.
Head out on a jeep safari across grasslands, stop by the Kaziranga Orchid Centre and, if you’re travelling with a leader who can introduce you to locals, you can hear stories from Mrs Roopajyoti Gogoi, who transforms plastic waste into fabric.
For the avid adventurers
India is also for people who want the kind of holiday that feels like you need another one afterwards. The type of trip you come home from filled with tales of adventure. Thanks to its stretch along the Himalayas, India is a dream for hikers and anyone chasing high-altitude ambitions.
Ladakh
Saurabh says Ladakh is the best overall adventure destination and super accessible even for people who have never gone on a hiking trip, especially when you have access to local expert guides and supported camping.
Hike through remote lands on the Markha valley trek from Leh surrounded by mountains, while visiting Buddhist monasteries and meeting warm locals along the way. ‘This type of trip is made for mountain lovers, photographers and travellers wanting a remote adventure,’ says Saurabh. A great option for seasoned pros, who’ve seen the main sights and now want to travel deeper.
Find an adventure to suit your travel vibe with Intrepid’s small-group trips in India.
