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Over one billion people and 23 major languages — India is one of the world's most diverse places. You could visit every year for a lifetime and still not see all of it.

Many come for its colourful history and tongue-tingling food, or to find themselves at the feet of a Yogi. However, the list of adventures in India is never-ending. You can trek in the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, hunt for tigers deep in the jungle, head out to watch a desert sunset on camelback or get lost in aeons-old temples — many of which are still used for worship today.

The contrasts in this kaleidoscopic world can be extreme, particularly in the cities where you'll see sleek skyscrapers on one street and people sleeping on pavements on the next. It's the kind of destination that you have to respond to: the intensity of the experiences will challenge and enthral you. Some find it a little overwhelming, but many more get utterly hooked and come back time and again.

Hidden gems in India

Bundi

Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

Built in the 17th century by Rao Raja Anirudh for his foster brother Deva as a dome-shaped memorial, this cenotaph is famous for its 84 pillars (although legend says you can’t count them all). The cenotaph has several ornate sculptures and a linga (a form of Shiva) built in the centre.

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Bundi

Raniji Ki Baori Stepwell

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

Stepwells are an architectural feature of Rajasthan and Gujarat. With water being a scarcity, stepwells were designed not only as sources of drinking water, but also places to bathe, pray and relax. Often sculpted as temples with gates, arches and pillars, there are about 50 stepwells in Bundi, but most of them are in ruins. The Raniji Ki Baori is the best known, built in the 17th century by Queen Nathavati, wife of Rao Raja Anirudh Singh. It is 46m (150ft) deep and each level has carvings of deities.

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Bundi

Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar Lake

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

Built along the banks of the Jait Sagar Lake in the 18th century during the reign of Ummed Singh, the Sukh Mahal was home to Kipling and inspired him to write Kim. Meaning the palace of bliss, the Sukh Mahal is home to Mughal art and statues, a marble cenotaph and gardens.

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Jodhpur

Mandore

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

The former capital of the Rathore clan lies in ruins amidst a beautiful garden filled with a fort, cenotaphs, temples, rock terraces and sculptures. Don’t miss the cenotaph of Maharaja Dhiraj Ajit Singh, which combines Jain and Buddhist architecture. This chattri also commemorates the ritual suicide of his 64 queens and concubines, who threw themselves on his funeral pyre in 1724. Located 9km from Jodhpur, visit for the Hall of Heroes (dedicated to folkloric characters), the Temple of Gods and the many monkeys roaming around.

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Udaipur

Bagore Ki Haveli

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

Located at Gangaur Ghat on the banks of Lake Pichola, this 18th-century palace belonged to the then prime minister of Mewar, Amar Chand Badwa. The Rajput architecture has been preserved and there is a museum dedicated to Mewar culture, including jewellery boxes, royal clothing and mural paintings.

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Udaipur

Saheliyon Ki Bari Park

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

A beautiful park filled with sculptures and statues, Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden of Maidens) was created by Maharana Sangram Singh for his queen and her 48 female attendants as a refuge from court life. It’s now a popular meeting spot. Look out for the lotus pond and elephant fountains.

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Udaipur

Monsoon Palace

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

Another beautiful royal palace, the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh Palace) sits atop the Aravalli Hills overlooking Fateh Sagar Lake. Built in the 19th century as a refuge from the annual monsoon, the palace was also used as a hunting lodge. Visit the palace in the evening for sunset views, or head here during the monsoon and watch the clouds float over Udaipur.

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Rajasthan

Karni Mata Temple

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Place

For a change of pace, visit the Karni Mata temple in Bikaner, which holds more than 20,000 black rats. Each time a rat dies, a statue is built inside the temple complex.

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Pushkar

Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake

Experience

Other notable temples include the Brahma Temple in Pushkar, which is one of the few in India dedicated to Brahma. This Hindu god was said to be cursed with having no places of worship on earth. Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake before offering your prayers in the temple.

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Rajasthan

Delwara Temple Complex

Place

Rajasthan’s temples date back to the 4th century, although more ornate and architecturally interesting temples began to develop from the 9th century. These typically had sculptures and marble carvings, such as the stunning Delwara complex at Mount Abu.

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Jaisalmer

Explore ornate havelis

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Experience

Havelis (mansions) were the homes of rich merchants and traders in Rajasthan’s cities. Decorated with stone carvings and interiors of murals and frescoes, each merchant tried to outdo the next to show their importance and wealth. Every major city in Rajasthan will have havelis worth visiting, but Jaisalmer is a particular hotspot. Look out for the Patwon Ki haveli and the elephants of Nathmal Ki haveli.

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Jaisalmer

Rajasthan's chattris and baoris

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath
Experience

The history of Rajasthan is shown through its many forts, palaces and historical buildings. Almost every major city — and many minor ones — will have some form of architectural wonder to explore Built to commemorate the region’s maharajas and nobles, chattris (cenotaphs) are a frequent feature of Rajasthan’s architecture. Chattri literally translates as umbrella, which references the dome-like structure that covers the cenotaph. Originally built as a garden complex, the yellow sandstone domes of Jaisalmer's Bada Bagh cenotaphs are an excellent example. Rajasthan’s desert location means that conserving water has always been a major issue. Baoris are stepwells that were traditionally built to provide drinking water. Over time, they became meeting places and temples, decorated with sculptures and carvings. The 46m deep Ranji Ki Baori in Bundi is a fine example, showcasing carvings of Lord Vishnu.

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India travel guides

Saving Pushkar's historic camels
Article

Saving Pushkar's historic camels

Mariellen Ward
Mariellen Ward

Pushkar is a small and peaceful town, one of the most sacred in India. It’s the site of one of the only temples devoted to Brahma.

Loved to death
Article

Loved to death

Karam Filfilan
Karam Filfilan

The Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world. The mausoleum, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century to house the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal is seen as a symbol of love, while its 42-acre complex is admired as an exemplar of Mughal architecture and Indian history.

The arts and crafts of Rajasthan
Article

The arts and crafts of Rajasthan

Rachel Bracken-Singh
Rachel Bracken-Singh

Rajasthan is among the richest states in India when it comes to the quality of its textiles, artwork and clothing. But how do you ensure you’re buying authentic craftworks from responsible sources — and where can you visit local artisans?

Off the beaten path in Rajasthan
Guide

Off the beaten path in Rajasthan

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath

The history of Rajasthan is shown through its many forts, palaces and historical buildings. Almost every major city — and many minor ones — will have some form of architectural wonder to explore.

How To See India's Golden Triangle
Guide

How To See India's Golden Triangle

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath

First, a fairly major caveat: only Jaipur is actually located within Rajasthan. Delhi and Agra (home to the iconic Taj Mahal), the other two corners of India's famous Golden Triangle, are outside the state's eastern border.

Guide

What to eat in Rajasthan

Rajasthani cuisine is well-known across India for its richness and abundance of spice. Its desert location plays a huge part in its food scene, with cured, pickled and dried foods all popular.

Guide

Rajasthan travel FAQs

All you need to know to begin planning your trip to Rajasthan. What currency does India have? How easy is it to exchange money?The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR).

The Best Time To Visit Rajasthan
Guide

The Best Time To Visit Rajasthan

Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi Sharath

The best time to visit Rajasthan is the cooler, drier period between October/November and February/March. This period avoids the peak summer months of April-June when temperatures soar and things become uncomfortably hot, and also the monsoon season of July-September, which can bring significant disruption.

Who will save  India’s monuments?
Article

Who will save India’s monuments?

Somdyuti Datta Ray
Somdyuti Datta Ray

The Qila-i-Mubarak (Red Fort) in Delhi has been the seat of trials and bloodshed ever since its commissioning by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638. Set in the walled city of Shahjahanabad, the red sandstone complex was the empire’s home of administrative affairs, of celebrating art and its artists, feasts and festivities.

Kerala’s ancient art forms
Article

Kerala’s ancient art forms

Karam Filfilan
Karam Filfilan

Look beyond Kerala’s houseboats, tea plantations and Ayurvedic retreats and you’ll see a more primal side to the state. Kerala is home to many different types of classical dance, built out of traditional religious stories and filled with dynamic performances and elaborate costumes.

Guide

When to visit Kerala

The appealing thing about Kerala is that it's a year-round destination, with things to do even during the rainy season.

Cruising Kerala's backwaters by houseboat
Guide

Cruising Kerala's backwaters by houseboat

Sharell Cook
Sharell Cook

The 'backwaters' is the name of the enchanting palm-lined waterways that are synonymous with Kerala. This 900-odd kilometre labyrinth of canals connects large regions of Kerala and was constructed centuries ago for transporting cargo, such as spices and rice.

Best Beaches In India—Other Than Goa
Guide

Best Beaches In India—Other Than Goa

Sharell Cook
Sharell Cook

Goa is world-renowned as India’s major beach destination, with everything from luxury resorts to makeshift huts, but its popularity has come at the cost of overdevelopment, Westernisation and a sometimes over-rowdy party culture. However, there is much more to India’s beach scene than trance parties and commercialised towns.

How to visit the holy Indian town of Maheshwar
Guide

How to visit the holy Indian town of Maheshwar

Sharell Cook
Sharell Cook

The holy town of Maheshwar sits alongside the sacred Narmada River about two hours south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. It is often referred to as the "Varanasi of Central India" because of the many temples and ghats that line the river.

Experiencing India's great Kumbh Mela pilgrimage
Article

Experiencing India's great Kumbh Mela pilgrimage

Mark Stratton
Mark Stratton

The boatman’s face is swaddled by a scarf against the early morning chill as we drift amid a low silvery mist hugging the Ganges’ surface. We’re approaching the Sangam where the Ganges meets the Yamuna: a sacred confluence revered in Hindu mythology, where the nectar of immortality fell from the heavens.

Trekking the Indian Himalaya
Guide

Trekking the Indian Himalaya

Shikha Tripathi
Shikha Tripathi

Growing up in the mountains in India, when the Himalayas were little more than a scenic backdrop, I never realised the privilege of calling them home. The youngest mountain chain in the world cradles ten of the world’s highest peaks and is the source of the Indian subcontinent’s mightiest rivers.

India itineraries

India's Golden Triangle & tigers
India

India's Golden Triangle & tigers

Taj Mahal and Rajasthan tiger safari
13 days From $4,125 pp
Classic northern India
India

Classic northern India

The Golden Triangle and Rajasthan by train, plane and automobile
21 days From $5,250 pp
Golden Triangle and Rajasthan extended
India

Golden Triangle and Rajasthan extended

A journey into the heart of Rajasthan
15 days From $4,750 pp
Golden Triangle & Andaman Islands Itinerary
India

Golden Triangle & Andaman Islands Itinerary

Desert island beaches and Royal Bengal tigers
11 days From $3,625 pp
Golden Triangle And Kerala Houseboats Itinerary
India

Golden Triangle And Kerala Houseboats Itinerary

The 14-day classic route to the two gems of India
14 days
Sandakphu trek itinerary
West Bengal

Sandakphu trek itinerary

Climbing the highest peak in West Bengal
6 days

India travel companies

South Asia, Southeast Asia

Yonder Travel

Tailor-made journeys to Asia
South Asia

Third Rock Adventures

Private and tailor-made holidays in the Himalayas
India

Active India

Tailor-made luxury, cultural and active tours of India
South Asia

Bespoke India Travel

Making India incredible!
South Asia, Southeast Asia

Red Lantern Journeys

Culture, culinary, and adventure tours in Asia
South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Rainforest Cruises

Exotic Riverboat & Small Ship Cruises
India

Seven Wonder Tour & Travels

Tailor-made tours to India
India

Reality Tours and Travel

See the real India

Places to go in India

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