MOST visitors to India follow the so-called Golden Triangle itinerary in the north of the country, which combines the capital Delhi with Agra, the home of the majestic Taj Mahal and the Pink City of Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan.
But the country has much more to offer, from the heights of Himalayas to Goa’s beach resorts. Add to this the mix of snake charmers, holy cows and plodding camels and you begin to glimpse the unique appeal of this sub-continent.
The best time to visit the country is between October and March after the monsoon and before the summer heat kicks in.
Agra
Once capital of the whole of India under the Mogul empire, Agra is firmly on the tourist map as the home of the most stunning mausoleum in the world, the Taj Mahal. Along with Delhi, around 125 miles to the northwest and Jaipur in Rajhastan, the city is the third point on the Golden Triangle, India’s most popular tourist itinerary.
Other attractions include the red sandstone Agra Fort and the eerie abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Mogul Emperor Akbar.
The Taj Mahal, Agra: India’s most-popular tourist destination
Kerala
The name translates as land of the coconut. Most tourists head for the palm-fringed beaches of Kovalam, a laid-back Keralan resort now firmly on the package route.
Inland, the state is lush, green and tropical thanks to a grand total of 40 rivers and countless canals and waterways – a popular option is to take a three-night cruise on a Keralan rice boat and see the region’s villages and markets from the water.
In the rest of the state, typical scenery is coffee, rubber and tea plantations – it is well worth a visit to see the tea and coffee processed, taste the different varieties and buy products at a fraction of British prices.
Also on the must-see list is the port of Cochin, with its Portuguese palace, Dutch homes, and India’s first European church. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is also worth a visit, with its tigers, elephants, bison and leopards. Keralan delicacies include fresh lobster, tiger prawns, crab and mussels.
Goa
Offers miles of white sand beaches and a relaxed atmosphere. Its famous dusk ’til dawn techno parties over the Christmas and New Year period make it a firm favourite with revellers from around the globe.
Its popularity has spawned charter flights to the region, and purpose-built hotels in northern resorts like Calangute and Baga, although it’s easy to escape the crowds by heading inland. Hiring a motorbike is a good way to get out into the countryside and take in the patchwork of paddy fields, coconut plantations and whitewashed churches.
Rajasthan
One of India’s most popular tourist destinations, it offers a mix of mountains, desert and crumbling forts. The Aravalli mountains stretch from the northeastern corner down to the south, while in the west of the state travellers will find the Thar or Great Indian Desert.
In the desert city of Jaiselmer, visitors can opt to do a camel trek to explore the region.
Rajasthan is peppered with forts and palaces, many of which have been converted into hotels – of particular beauty is the famous Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur, set in the middle of a lake.
Other attractions include the Ranthambore National Park which has tigers, panthers, leopards and jungle cats, and the wetlands of the Keoladeo National Park which boasts several hundred species of birds including storks and pelicans.
Jaipur
The capital of the state of Rajasthan, known as the pink city because of the pink wash used to spruce up its exterior for the visit of Price Albert in 1856 – and reapplied regularly since.
Scattered throughout the city are palaces and temples of varied architectural style that span the centuries.
Must sees include the Palace of Winds, City Palace, home to Jaipur’s royal family, the Observatory and the Amber Fort. Jaipur’s bazaars are a good place to pick up carpets, clothes, and a range of precious stones, and on the outskirts of the city, there are lots of factories where you can see carpets, pottery and batik being made.
Unmissable in the month of March is the city’s Elephant Festival, which is one of India’s most colourful parades.
Delhi
Established as the capital of British India in 1911, the city is packed with colonial mansions, temples, forts, mosques, and tower blocks. In today’s city, suited businessmen rub shoulders with traditionally dressed Hindus and Muslims, while the youngsters opt for Levis. The streets are crowded with rickshaws, mopeds, buses, and cows and other creatures, casually mingling amongst the traffic.
Just one mile north lies Old Delhi, the 17th-century capital, where must sees include the Red Fort and India’s largest mosque.