India is a country so intriguing in its appeal and diverse in its features, it can rarely be defined within a few words. There are countless stories of people falling in love with this nation after a few days of visiting, only to keep coming back each year. Despite this continuous, long term movement of tourists to India, there are some routes many never take and remain forever devoid of these rewarding experiences. In the cities that almost everyone visits, some experiences are refreshingly different from those on the beaten path. Here’s how you can relish the essence of India through insightful experiences in its best tourist destinations!
Mumbai
The home of Bollywood (the world’s second-largest film industry) needs no introduction. Sure, you could visit the Gateway of India and other signature landmarks, but few things compare to Dharavi – Asia’s largest slum. Why visit a slum, you ask? Well, this place has garnered a unique reputation amidst India’s tourist attractions. It is not your typical ghetto in the U.S., albeit a multi-million-dollar entrepreneurial hub where the rich and the poor cross paths every day. The Dabbawallas are another interesting aspect of the city – a six-sigma rated traditional system of food delivery that does not use any advanced technology and is yet, highly effective.
Bhuj
If you are planning your first trip to India, chances are, you have not even heard of Bhuj. If time permits, check out this western town that is home to some indigenous tribes that keep traditional artforms alive. The ‘Rogan paintings’ for instance, are magnificent pieces of hand-made artwork on fabric, that garner a lot of respect in the art community. So much so, that some of these were gifted to then U.S. President, Barack Obama by the Indian Prime Minister. The village of Nirona near Bhuj is also known for exquisite and rare Indian pottery, traditional bags and hand-made leather shoes. That’s not all, you would also get to witness one of the largest white salty deserts of the world.
Varanasi
One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi is hauntingly beautiful but not for the faint-hearted. One of the most renowned pieces of attire globally, beautifully decorated with gold and silver brocade, are made by hand-weavers in this city. Discover how they do it, live, in the narrow winding lanes of this ancient city. The ghats (riverside areas) present a live version of life in full circle – you would find funeral pyres on one side and bustling tea shops and temples on the other!
The Golden Triangle
Ah, we can hear you saying, what’s there in the Golden Triangle Tour that I already don’t know about? Glad you asked. Most people have seen the Taj Mahal in Agra, but did you know you could take stunning photographs of it from a nearby garden that far lesser people visit. There also exists, a café run solely by the female victims of acid attack, a place not many tourists know about.
Jaipur, the pink city has garnered much attention through the years, thanks to its grand palaces and majestic forts. Hidden treasures like the Anokhi Museum – much like its name, this is a special museum dedicated to a dying art form preserved in a 400 years old building!
Delhi, the national capital boasts of several monuments that you should of course check out if you’ve not already. But some of the best flavours of Delhi are found in the streets of the older region. You must have tasted Indian cuisine but once you taste the Chicken made in authentic spices and recipes so secret that only a select few know about them, you would know what we mean.
Kullu
The seat of the Indian Himalayas, Kullu is also home to a unique mountainous culture, so exquisitely preserved and rewardingly rich to experience, for those who dare. While most tourists just set out to get the cliched river rafting adventure trip with some hiking thrown in, you can rather discover rare dance forms, ‘Pahari cuisine and ancient handicraft, still practised by women entrepreneurs of this valley.
If you liked what you read and want to discover the essence of India, we have just the right tour itinerary for you. Years of experience and months of meticulous planning resulted in this elixir of a tour that provides you many rare experiences through some of the best destinations in India. Click here to get in touch with one of our tour managers; we look forward to seeing you here.