4 of the Most Popular Things to Do in India

India: a vast and varied country that is home to several hundred languages, world-famous monuments, incredible food and breath taking scenery. It’s a place quite unlike any other and a must-do for anyone craving to experience something completely different.

But where to start in this enormous country? If you’re feeling overwhelmed about how much there is to see and do in India, here are some places you can’t miss. From there, the adventure will follow.

Tour the Taj Mahal

If there was an image that is always associated with India, it’s the Taj Mahal. One of the top attractions in the world, this is a sacred monument that holds enormous significance for Indian culture. Perfect and pristine in every way, this gilded, white temple was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died during childbirth.

The mausoleum and the building complex surrounding it needed more than 20,000 workers and took 22 years to complete. These are the kind of details that give you a glimpse into the magnificence and majesty of this place.

Trek in the Himalayas

Up in the very far north lie some of the highest, most staggering mountains in the world. Home to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, the Himalayan Mountains are simply jaw-dropping and are certainly worth a visit – and maybe a trek if you’re up to it.

Nervous about doing it alone or without a professional? Book yourself on a trustworthy India tour and enjoy the scenery safely.

Experience Varanasi at dawn

You can’t come to India and not interact with its spiritual undercurrent. With so many temples and shrines scattered across the whole country, there is no place more spiritual than Varanasi. Here, pilgrims wash away their sins in the Ganges River and return under the cloak of darkness for a prayer ceremony.

Indians believe that a trip to Varanasi will break the cycle of rebirth, so many of them undertake a pilgrimage there towards the end of their lives.

Sunbathe on Goa’s beaches

One of the most touristy destinations in India, you can see the Western influences in Goa. Women in India are generally expected to cover up their bodies as best they can for modesty. In Goa, however, it’s completely natural to be wandering around in a bikini.

Head to Colva Beach for some water sports, feel the romantic vibes with that special someone on Dona Pula Beach, or take the kids to Benaulim Beach where there’s plenty to keep them busy. And for the party-goers, there are more than enough clubs and bars to keep you up until the early hours.