There is a saying that a lifetime is not enough to explore India. This country has such a diverse range of experiences – big city life, authentic villages, desert, mountains, beaches, heritage, pilgrimage sites, wildlife – you name it!
If you are new to India, I recommend starting this topic with popular places to visit in India. There you can find out about the destinations that first-time travelers mostly visit.
While I do cover some known sites in India on this blog in details, I also wish to show you the part of the country which is hidden by tourist media: be it the biggest Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe or Turtuk – the northernmost village in India.
Many remote areas depend on tourism and I try to play my small part in sharing these experiences with you. At the same time, I mention almost in each post about cultural tips, “DOs” and “DON’Ts” to help you understand the destination better and explore it in a responsible way.
Once you start reading more about the country, you will discover a zillion of places in India which will be nice to add to your itinerary. Take my advice (from a few years of living and traveling around this country): less is more!
It really makes sense to focus on one area and explore it properly. Just look through some of the featured interesting places below or feel free to browse North India or South India destinations if you would like to group them by territory.
At the same time, try to choose places according to your interest! Goa might have world famous parties and beaches that attract millions of tourists, but you might be way more excited about trekking the desert or sipping masala tea in a Himalayas village.
If you are into a certain style of traveling, the header menu “Travel styles” is for you ;)
Dal Lake is one of the most breathtaking places in India. It covers a significant area of Srinagar and feels like a small town within the city itself. There are local families who live on the lake, rowing their personal boats and running their shops of all kinds from groceries to pashmina and saffron. All … Read more
“Welcome to our village” – shouted a cheerful group of 8-year-old kids. “Here is your entrance gift” – told a girl with a smile handing me a few fruits. I was amazed by this hospitality gesture. Today, you will see many happy kids running through the streets of the village after the classes. Nevertheless, it … Read more
“How do you survive winters without electricity?” I asked curiously. “That’s a very good question. I think people can adapt to anything with time” – told Sonam, one of the residents of Nubra. Diskit is the main town and administrative center of Nubra Valley. If all the roads lead to Rome, the roads of Nubra … Read more
When you think of a desert, most probably Sahara, the Thar Desert or any other area filled with sand, oasis and unbearably hot climate comes to your mind. I was thinking the same until I visited Hunder. This is a natural phenomenon of a desert in the mountains at the altitude of 3000+ meters which is … Read more
Ladakh is one of the most desired road-trip experiences in India. It has breathtaking landscapes, fascinating architecture, responsible lifestyle and a mix of Tibetan and Kashmiri cultures that makes it a curious destination to explore. But what if you don’t drive? Then you will definitely find next few posts handy! You can travel through major … Read more
Many people associate all Tibetan with Himalaya, mountains, snowy peaks. If you are remotely interested in Tibetan culture, most probably you’ve heard of Dharamshala – the biggest Tibetan settlement in India, where Tibetan government resides. Nevertheless, there is another small town in India which is important in Tibetan culture, yet people rarely talk about it. … Read more
Goa Velha is a historical district in North Goa that used to be a capital of Portuguese India. Despite Portugal was ruled by Spain, the Portuguese maintained the influence in certain areas of India for 450 years. As a result, you will see a cultural blend in cuisine, architecture, and traditions in these parts of … Read more
Many years passed since my first encounter with Himachal Pradesh. It was the next day after my arrival in India. That time I was working for a consulting company in Delhi. Since one of the company’s clients was in Shimla, it was a great idea to take a drive to Himalaya after a 25-hour long … Read more
Aru is a small picturesque village in the South of Kashmir. Despite being just 12 km away from a very touristy Pahalgam, it often gets overlooked. Nevertheless, both Pahalgam and Aru offer different experiences. In this post, I would like to share with you Aru story and advice on how to approach it in a … Read more
Hoysala Rulers who built many temples in present-day Karnataka, ruled over Mysore Plateau between 11th and 14th century. As lovers of art, they evolved a new form of Architecture, Hoysala architecture. The most notable temples of this style are in Belur, Halebid and Somnathpur. Somnathpur temple was one of the first temples built under Hoysala … Read more