A Traveler’s Guide to Explore the Magical Charm of India

TajMahal

India is a fascinating and remarkable destination that is worth paying a visit at least once in a lifetime, taking a holiday in India can really give you a rare and captivating experience that will have a lasting impression on you. Travelers from all around the world flock to India to get amazed by its rich culture, diverse cuisines, nightlife, and historical landmarks.

India is often stereotyped as a country with scams and chaos by most foreign tourists! There is only some truth in this popular notion about India but if one is wary about where they are moving around and how they are dealing with the locals then taking a travel plunge to India can be totally safe and exciting. Foreign travelers need to be cautious about taking metered taxi and auto-rickshaw rides as they can be exorbitantly priced. A thing to be happy about is India now has the internationally popular Uber cab service and one can pre-book an Uber cab ride securely without much hassle by using the Uber application on the mobile phone. When you are eating out in restaurants just be mindful about the hygiene of the food and the place where you are eating, and don’t drink tap water as it is not very safe, always make sure you drink mineral water that will ensure you will not fall sick during your holiday.

That being said, I’m now going to highlight some of the very best holiday destinations in India from North to South. The first thing that is likely to pop up in anyone’s mind when they hear of India is the picture of the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra built by Shajahan, the iconic Taj Mahal is known to most people around the globe mainly because it is one of the seven wonders of the world and so it has become a synonym for India. There’s so much to explore in a country like India and you cannot explore entire India in just one trip, you need to take at least four to five vacations to cover the best landmarks of the nation.

North India can be a good jumping-off point for exploring the beautiful landmarks of the country, explore north India first and then slowly head south. Kick start your expedition in India by touring Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur (which are in close proximity to each other) in the first leg of your vacation. Start in Delhi where you can spot the iconic Red Fort and other Mughal architectural wonders like the Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid and Humayun’s Tomb, then travel to Agra to admire the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort and finally hit to the pink city (Jaipur) to get amazed by its Fort.

The Northern part of India is where you will find some really great hill stations and mountain ranges ideal for adventure activities like trekking, hiking, skiing, zip-lining, and white water rafting. Adventure junkies who like to get their adrenaline pumped up must look out for these adventure destinations in the north: Shimla Hill Station, Manali, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

For exploring the flora and fauna you must head to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan which boast of having some of the best natural reserves of wildlife in the nation. There are other wildlife destinations like Sasan Gir in Gujarat for lions, Little Rann in Gujarat for wild asses, and Wayanad in Kerala for wild elephants that might interest you for having close wildlife encounters in India. For an exhilarating wildlife adventure, you must take a camel trek through the desert from Jaisalmer or Bikaner in Rajasthan.

India reserves its main identity as a temple destination, ancient Hindu temples are scattered all over the nation and you’ll find the very best temples in North and Central India such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, milk-white-marble Jain temples in Rajasthan & Gujarat, and the popular Kajhuraho Temple with erotic sculptures. For a great temple experience in South India, you must visit Hampi, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Ajanta, and Ellora which house some great temple marvels with a rich history. A guided temple tour is a must to learn about the rich history of the temples you are exploring.

For exploring the finest beaches in India you must head to South of India where you will find some amazing beach spots like Chowpatty beach in Mumbai, Baga beach in Goa and Kovalam beach in Kerala. Some of the beaches are packed with beachfront resorts offering scenic views of the surrounding sea and landmarks, if you get a chance you must spend a night at one of those beautiful resorts overlooking the beach during your beach vacation in India. Another thing about the beaches in India is you will find many street food vendors selling delectable regional street foods that are worth trying, for instance, Chowpatty beach in Mumbai is a famous joint for tasting Bhelpuri (popular local street food from Mumbai).

Your trip to India is incomplete if you don’t relish its regional cuisines. The cuisines in India are as diverse as the regions and you will have a tough time choosing one from what appears to be a never-ending list! The popular cuisines worth trying are the Lucknowi cuisine, Kashmiri cuisine, Chettinad Cuisine, Goan cuisine, Hyderabadi cuisine, and Kerala cuisine and a thing to keep in mind is try these delectable cuisines in their place of origin so that you can be guaranteed of their authentic taste.

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