Things to do in India

25 things to do in India

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Watch sunrise over the Taj Mahal

  Arrive at dawn to see the white marble mausoleum glow pink and gold as the first rays strike the Yamuna-facing facade. The ethereal silence before the crowds makes it one of the world's most romantic moments.

  Agra, Uttar Pradesh

• Cruise the Kerala backwaters on a traditional houseboat

  Drift through palm-fringed canals and lagoons aboard a kettuvallam, watching village life unfold along the shore. Sip tender coconut water and feast on fresh karimeen pollichathu as the sun sets over paddy fields.

  Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kerala

• Circle the Golden Temple at Amritsar

  Walk barefoot on the cool marble parikrama around the Harmandir Sahib, whose gold-leafed sanctum reflects in the sacred Amrit Sarovar. Join the langar for a free community meal that serves up to 100,000 people daily.

  Amritsar, Punjab

• Experience the Ganga Aarti at Varanasi

  At Dashashwamedh Ghat, priests in saffron robes perform a choreographed fire ritual to the river goddess, with brass lamps, incense and chanting. Watch from a boat on the holy Ganges as the evening sky flickers orange.

  Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

• Explore the ruins of Hampi

  Clamber over giant boulders and explore the sprawling Vijayanagara empire remains, from the stone chariot of Vittala Temple to the riverside Virupaksha shrine. The surreal landscape feels like a lost world reclaimed by nature.

  Hampi, Karnataka

• Eat a spicy Vada Pav at Anand Stall in Mumbai

  Grab Mumbai’s iconic potato fritter sandwich from this legendary street food joint outside Mithibai College. The deep-fried potato patty with chutneys and a butter-slathered pav is a burst of tangy, spicy crunch.

  Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Hike through the Valley of Flowers

  Trek into a UNESCO-listed alpine valley blanketed with endemic blooms like blue poppies and brahma kamal. Backdrop peaks the Nanda Devi massif and the rushing Pushpawati River make it a botanist’s fantasy.

  Chamoli, Uttarakhand

• Ride a camel into the Thar Desert at sunset

  From the Sam sand dunes near Jaisalmer, sway atop a ship of the desert as the sun melts behind rippling sands. Camp overnight under a canopy of stars with Rajasthani folk music and a campfire.

  Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

• Go pandal hopping during Durga Puja in Kolkata

  Join the city’s collective art fest when neighbourhoods build elaborate temporary temples for the goddess. From dawn pandals with art installations to night-long cultural programs, the energy is intoxicating.

  Kolkata, West Bengal

• Take a yoga class on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh

  In the world capital of yoga, unroll your mat as the river hums beside you and ashram bells ring. From Hatha to meditation retreats, Rishikesh offers authentic practice against a Himalayan backdrop.

  Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

• Marvel at the marble of Ranakpur Jain Temple

  This 15th-century temple boasts 1,444 intricately carved pillars that no two are alike, creating a forest of luminous white marble under an open sky. The play of light and shadow is mesmerising.

  Ranakpur, Rajasthan

• Overlook the blue city from Mehrangarh Fort

  Rising 400 feet above Jodhpur, this imposing fort offers vertiginous views of indigo-brushed houses. Inside, gold-plated palace rooms and a museum of royal artefacts tell tales of Rathore glory.

  Jodhpur, Rajasthan

• Sway in a hammock on Palolem Beach, Goa

  Set in a crescent of coconut palms, this south Goan beach is perfect for a slow day of swimming, kayaking to Butterfly Island, and sipping feni at a shack. Evenings bring silent discos on the sand.

  Palolem, Goa

• Cross the living root bridges of Meghalaya

  Trek down stone steps to the double-decker root bridge at Nongriat, formed by training Ficus elastica roots across streams by the Khasi people. A magical feat of indigenous bio-engineering hidden in lush jungle.

  Nongriat, Meghalaya

• Track Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park

  Hop on an open jeep at dawn to scan dry deciduous forest and ancient ruins for the stripes of India’s most charismatic predator. Leopards, sloth bears and mugger crocodiles add to the thrill.

  Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

• Walk the chaos of Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk

  Squeeze through lanes where the scent of parathas, jalebis and spices mingle with the clatter of rickshaws. End at the red sandstone steps of Jama Masjid for a rooftop view over the old city.

  Old Delhi, Delhi

• Admire the Kailasa Temple at Ellora Caves

  A monolithic wonder, the world’s largest rock-cut temple was chiselled vertically out of a basalt cliff in the 8th century. Its sculptural panels depicting Hindu epics are a testament to unimaginable craftsmanship.

  Ellora, Maharashtra

• Experience the Pushkar Camel Fair

  Every November, thousands of camels, horses and cattle converge on the holy town’s dunes for trading, races and the exuberant colour of Rajasthani turbans and moustache competitions. Chants and sunset camel rides add to the spectacle.

  Pushkar, Rajasthan

• Sip freshly brewed tea in Munnar’s emerald plantations

  Walk through rolling carpets of tea bushes that blend into the Western Ghats, visit a factory to see leaf-to-cup processing, and taste a fragrant orange pekoe while mist curls around the hills.

  Munnar, Kerala

• Watch a Kathakali performance in Fort Kochi

  See the elaborate makeup applied before your eyes, then witness a story from the Mahabharata told through eye gestures, hand mudras and footwork to the beat of chenda drums. A living theatre tradition like no other.

  Fort Kochi, Kerala

• Stand before the Konark Sun Temple

  This 13th-century stone chariot of the sun god, with 24 giant wheels and seven horses, is a poetic fusion of architecture and astronomy. Its erotic sculptures and crumbling grandeur mystify even in ruin.

  Konark, Odisha

• Relax on the lawns of Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

  A grand white marble edifice set amid 64 acres of gardens, built to commemorate Queen Victoria but now a museum of colonial art. The son-et-lumière in the evening is a local favourite.

  Kolkata, West Bengal

• Walk through the ancient university of Nalanda

  Roam the excavated red-brick monasteries and stupas of one of the world’s first residential universities, where scholars debated philosophy and medicine in the 5th century CE. A profound historical site.

  Nalanda, Bihar

• Eat a Gujarati thali at Agashiye in Ahmedabad

  A heritage haveli rooftop setting serves an endless silver platter of regional vegetarian delicacies—from farsan to shrikhand—each bite tangy, sweet, and spiced to perfection. A pure vegetarian feast.

  Ahmedabad, Gujarat

• Paraglide over Bir Billing

  Ranked among the world’s best paragliding sites, launch from Billing (2,400m) and soar like a bird above tea gardens and monasteries. The landing at Bir village is soft, but the view of the Dhauladhar range is unforgettable.

  Bir, Himachal Pradesh