Recommended Experiences

One of the highlights of a holiday to India is the chance to stay in a heritage property with bags of historic character. You can live like a Rajput in a converted palace in Rajasthan; experience life on a tea plantation in the Himalayan foothills or channel your inner Maharaja at a converted hunting lodge with its own wildlife sanctuary.

Spend a week cruising along the Brahmaputra River in the shadow of the eastern Himalaya. Stay aboard the MV Mahabaahu, one of the most luxurious and up-to-date cruise boats on the river, and make regular shore visits to villages, cultural sights and wildlife parks including Majuli Island and Kaziranga National Park.

Mesmeric dances, brightly coloured costumes and cacophonous music are at the heart of a Buddhist festival in Ladakh. Taking place annually at Stok and Hemis monasteries they are the highlight of the social and sacred calendar for the local people and make a wonderful spectacle for the visitor.

With its dramatic high desert scenery and spectacular monuments, the Indus Valley is best experienced on foot. Leh is its atmospheric main town whilst the monasteries of Shey, Tikse and Hemis, plus crumbling Stok Palace, are the must-see sights of the valley.

Depicting the world of gods and demons, and performed only by men wearing extraordinary make up and costumes, Kathakali is Kerala's unique form of theatre. Performances happen at night and last for many hours, with the make up applied by specialist artists. Traditional shows are held outside temples throughout Kerala or you can see a shortened performance at tourist centres.

After a busy schedule of sightseeing, chill out on one of Kerala's idyllic tropical beaches. Kovalam is the region's most popular resort due to its three palm-fringed, crescent bays - Hawa, Lighthouse and Samudra beaches. There's a large range of accommodation to choose from at Kovalam, and plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy. Other resorts include Bekal Beach and the romantic Varkala Beach.

No visit to Kerala is complete without at least one night spent on its tranquil Backwaters. Set sail on a traditional rice barge (a kettuvallam) and you can fully appreciate this beautiful watery maze of meandering rivers, canals and lakes that extends for virtually half the length of Kerala state.

In northern India the toy train on the narrow-gauge railway from Darjeeling to Goom has been operating since 1881, whilst In southern India you can ride the rails on the scenic Niligiri Mountain Railway between Ooty and Coonoor. All aboard!

Shah Jahan's incomparable monument to love is undoubtedly the world's most romantic building, and despite the crowds and tourist hype it never fails to impress. Built from white marble, and with exquisite carving and inlays, it's best seen in the soft light of the rising and setting sun when it will surely melt your heart.

For anyone visiting India in search of wildlife, the tiger is likely to be top of their wishlist. Bandhavgahr National Park has the highest density of tigers but is a little off-the-beaten-track, more accessible is Ranthmabore with its scenic backdrops and a good chance of sightings. Other parks with tiger populations include Bandipur and the Jim Corbett NP although the tigers here can be rather shy!