Following our list of Essential Forts & Palaces in Rajasthan, we have put together a list of unmissable experiences to tick off during your travel to India.
Camel Safari and Camping in the Desert
A trip to northern India isn’t complete without a ride out into the magnificent Thar Desert. Stretching over a vast 200,000 km², the majority of the desert is in Rajasthan, but also extends into the states of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. Huge dunes, shifting sands and salt lakes, which collect rainwater during the monsoons and lay dry during the drier months, make this a spectacular landscape for an overnight trip with a difference. Take a ride on a camel to a desert camp and sleep under the stars enjoying the serenity and wonder of nature. If you time your trip right, you may also catch the hugely enjoyable Jaisalmer Desert Festival held annually in February.
Spice Farm Tour in Kerala
For many tourists, a trip to Kerala may be spent mainly whiling away a relaxing weekend floating down the famous backwaters, but take a trip inland and you will find acres of lush spice plantations. It should be no surprise that India produces roughly 80% of the spices used in the world, and Kerala is one of the most important spices growing regions. Many plantations welcome tourists and have built resorts giving the visitor a taste of plantation life. As well as tasting spices straight from the plant, enjoying traditional curries made with home-grown spices and sipping tea made from freshly-picked leaves, Kerala’s plantations are also ideal spots for nature lovers boasting sightings of many tropical birds.
Meditation in the Ashrams
India has always been a destination for travellers seeking spiritual peace and enlightenment, and where better to visit than an ashram. An Ashram is a home, typically away from towns and cities, in quiet, tranquil areas providing an oasis of calm for the practice of meditation and yoga. Traditionally Ashrams are the homes of spiritual teachers who provide wisdom and guidance to their guests. Life at the Ashram is very different from the hustle and bustle of contemporary life and you can expect your days there to be spent meditating, practicing yoga and becoming reacquainted with a more basic life away from the distractions and stresses of the modern world.
Visit the Taj Mahal on the Full Moon Night
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven new Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a major tourist destination and on the ‘to-do’ lists of most visitors. But, avoid the daily crowds and visit on the full moon to experience the majestic white marble dome and minarets glistening in the moonlight. The Taj Mahal was built in the city of Agra as a mausoleum in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is a testament to undying love and devotion. What could be a more romantic time to enjoy this beautiful building than the night of the full moon?
Spot Royal White Bengal White tigers
Spotting a tiger in its natural habit is surely one of the most breath-taking sights. Whilst India’s beautiful National Parks offer glimpses of these gorgeous animals, you should head to the Sunderbans in West Bengal to be in with a chance to experience the rare sight of a white Bengal tiger. Often mistaken for Albinos, the white tiger is actually white because of a gene mutation and instead of orange and black stripes, the white tiger’s stripes are white and black. They are rarely seen, but a trip to the Sunderbans with its mangroves and forests providing a habitat for hundreds of species of flora and fauna is well-worth the chance. And, even if you don’t spot a white tiger, it is likely you will see one of the other 180 Bengal tigers who swim amongst the mangroves.
Community Service at the biggest kitchen in the world
The Golden Temple in Amritsar – also known as Harmandir Sahib – is a truly stunning sight. In 1577 the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das, built a pool on the site and four years later began construction on the Gurdwara. In the early nineteenth century, after founding the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh rebuilt the Gurdwara in marble and cooper and overlaid the sanctum with gold-leaf, hence the name ‘The Golden Temple’. It is spiritually the most significant shrine in Sikhism.
In Sikhism, the ‘langar’ is the community kitchen of the Gurdwara serving free meals to all, regardless of religion, gender, economic status or ethnicity. Lunch from the langar at The Golden Temple is definitely an experience not to miss! All the preparing, cooking, serving and washing-up is done by volunteers and at the Golden Temple, this means cooking for some 100,000 devotees and visitors every day.
Watch a Bollywood Movie in India’s most Celebrated Cinema
Indian cinema is a vast industry and has taken over Hollywood to become the biggest film industry in the world. Bollywood refers to the Indian Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai. There is nothing quite like seeing the glamour and drama of Bollywood come to life on the big screen and in our modern world of huge multiplexes, the grandeur of the Raj Mandir cinema in Jaipur is the ideal setting. It is one of the largest cinemas in Asia. It opened in 1976 with the film Charas and has since hosted premieres of many Hindi films. Designed by architect W M Namjoshi in the Arte Moderne style, Raj Mandir is an opulent building with a sweeping exterior of asymmetrical curves and an interior more reminiscent of a palace with ornate chandeliers, a grand lobby and a screening theatre to seat 1300 guests.
Ayurvedic Rejuvenating Massages
If all this sightseeing becomes a little tiring, luckily India is the perfect place to relax and unwind as the birthplace of the Ayurvedic massage. An Ayurvedic massage takes a holistic approach listening to the body to follow the energy channels and using oils to soothe the skin. There are many spas to choose from in India catering for all budgets and tastes making a rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage a must for any traveller to unwind before the journey home.
India is a beautiful country with enormous history and culture. People in India are really welcoming with some great smiles on their faces and values rooted deep, as we believe in manifesting our tourism slogan “Atithi Devo Bhava” which translates as “the guest is God”.
We help traveller’s to find their perfect boundless vacation with the pride and satisfaction of contributing towards a noble cause of empowering women in India.
You will experience an insightful understanding of the city’s rich history, culture, and lifestyle led by our friendly English-speaking female tour guide (who also is the brand ambassador of our organisation).
To know more about us or our tours & experiences in Mumbai, kindly send us an enquiry.