India

Vast South Asian country of Himalayan foothills, desert forts, backwaters, megacities, and restless street life.

Asia > India

India is one of the most demanding and rewarding destinations on earth. It is enormous — the seventh-largest country by area, the most populous on the planet — and it contains multitudes. The India of the Taj Mahal, the Himalayan foothills, the Kerala backwaters, the Rajasthani desert forts, and the chaotic streets of Mumbai are all real, and all very different from one another.

First-time visitors are often overwhelmed. The sensory load is high: noise, colour, traffic, heat, and an almost constant press of people. Give it time. India rewards patience and a willingness to be confused. Most travelers who push through the initial disorientation find themselves deeply attached to the place.

The country divides roughly into a few distinct zones. The north — Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Varanasi — is where most first-timers head, and for good reason. The Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur is the obvious introduction. Rajasthan in particular is spectacular: desert forts, painted havelis, camel markets, and cities that glow gold and pink and white. Delhi is the chaotic, layered capital — Mughal monuments, colonial avenues, and some of the best street food in the country.

South India has a different pace and a different culture. Kerala is lush and slow, famous for its backwaters and Ayurvedic massage. The temples of Tamil Nadu are extraordinary works of architecture that are still functioning places of worship, not museums. Karnataka contains the ruined Vijayanagara empire at Hampi, one of the most atmospheric sites in Asia.

The northeast is India's least-visited region — tribal states, tea gardens, extraordinary mountain scenery, and a frontier feel that is hard to find elsewhere. Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir draw trekkers and those seeking dramatic Himalayan landscape.

India is not a comfortable country to travel in. Heat, dust, bureaucracy, scams directed at tourists, and vast distances all take a toll. The train network is one of the great wonders of the country — it goes almost everywhere, and traveling in a reserved sleeper is one of the genuine pleasures of a trip — but booking tickets requires patience. Budget plenty of time for everything.