We all agree that India should be included in any list of places to visit to fully appreciate some of the most breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty.

India’s diversity is what makes it one of our top travel destinations; An experience off the beaten path can only be matched by a more famous attraction.

This article can help you plan the ideal trip to India, whether it involves staying in the grand palaces that were built years ago or hiking downhill through the snow-capped Himalayas. 

So, let’s delve into the bucket list of different types of experiences in India:

List of Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences in India

Let’s skim the list of different experiences in India first and then discuss them one at a time:

1. Never-ending Festivals
2. Indian Beaches
3. Religious Architectures
4. Indian Food
5. Wildlife Tour
6. Indian Tea
7. Adventure Activities
8. Spiritual Experiences
9. Royal Palaces
10. Rail Traveling
11. Indian Architectures
12. Experience Home Stays with Local Families
13. Kumbh Mela
14. Road Trips
15. A Cricket Match
16. Desert Safaris

1. Never-ending Festivals

For all of us, festivals are a way to get those little joys and moments of happiness that we don’t experience every day due to the hustle and bustle of our life.

Well, there is no exact list of Indian festivals, but there are 50+ festivals that the people of different religions celebrate here in India.

Some famous festivals and regions where they get celebrated full-heartedly:

• Lathmar Holi in Vrindavan
• Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai
• Durga Puja in Kolkata
• Eid at Jama Masjid (Mosque) in Hyderabad
• Christmas in Goa
• Gurupurab in Amritsar
• Navratri in Gujarat
• Baisakhi in Punjab
• Bihu in Assam
• Hemis in Ladakh

2. Indian Beaches

One of the world’s longest coastlines, India has some of the most beautiful beaches.

The Indian beaches provide throbbing adventure, quiet seclusion, and of course exciting parties that make them one of the unique experiences in India.

Specific Destinations:

• Juhu Beach, Mumbai
• Radhanagar Beach, Andaman
• Marina Beach, Chennai
• Baga Beach, North Goa
• Alibag Beach, Maharashtra
• Puri Beach, Odisha
• Rock Beach, Pondicherry
• Varkala Beach, Kerala
• Butterfly Beach, South Goa
• Om Beach, Karnataka

3. Religious Architectures 

India is home to most of the major religions in the world: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. 

But the people of other religions and cultures also reside in India giving India an undeniable edge of having numerous spectacular religious architectures.

Specific Destinations:

• Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
• The Mahabodhi Temple, Gaya, Bihar
• Konark Sun Temple, Konark, Odishai
• Jama Masjid, Delhi
• Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad
• Bara Imambara, Lucknow
• Gurdwara Hari Mandir Sahib, Punjab
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi
• St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kolkata
• Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa

4. Indian Food

Indian cuisine is incredibly fragrant and delicious because the cooks here combine a range of spices to produce the distinctive flavor of their meals.

There is an Indian dish for every occasion, from sizzling Idlis and dosas to the very delicious Butter Chicken. If you aren’t getting a taste of the following dishes. then your list of experiences in India would be incomplete. And you don’t want that, do you?

Regional Cuisines (State-wise):

• Maharashtra: Misal Pav
• Punjab: Makki Di Roti & Sarson Da Saag
• West Bengal: Kosha Mangsho
• Gujarat: Dhokla
• Kashmir: Rogan Josh
• Bihar: Litti Chokha
• Andhra Pradesh: Pootharekulu
• Assam: Papaya Khar
• Himachal Pradesh: Dham
• Tamil Nadu: Pongal
• Telangana: Biryani
• Goa: Fish Curry
• Uttarakhand: Kafuli
• Tripura: Chakhwi
• Manipur: Kangshoi
• Meghalaya: Jadoh
• Kerala: Appam
• Madhya Pradesh: Bhutte Ka Kees
• Rajasthan: Dal Baati Churma
• Haryana: Bajre Ki Khichdi
• Arunachal Pradesh: Thukpa
• Karnataka: Bisi Bele Bath
• Nagaland: Pork with Bamboo Shoot
• Mizoram: Misa Mach Poora
• Odisha: Chenna Poda
• Chhattisgarh: Chila
• Jharkhand: Dhooska
• Uttar Pradesh: Tunde Ke Kebabs

5. Wildlife Tour

India is home to many famous large animals, including the Indian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, red panda, great Indian bustard, Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, snow leopard, and clouded leopard.

Some National Parks & their famous animals:

• Kaziranga National Park, Assam: One-horned Rhinoceros
• Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat: Asiatic lion
• Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park, Chhattisgarh: Tiger
• Hemis National Park, Ladakh: Snow Leopards
• Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal: Royal Bengal Tiger
• Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim: Red Panda
• Desert National Park, Rajasthan: Great Indian Bustard

6. Indian Tea

India is second to China as the largest producer of tea. It produces all varieties of tea.

When we say that tea is the second most consumed beverage after water in the world, Indians take this fact seriously.

Different varieties of tea(s) in India: 

• Darjeeling Tea
• Kashmiri Kahwa
• Nilgiri Tea
• Gur Gur Chai or Butter Tea
• Noon Chai or Sheer Chai
• Kangra Tea
• Assam Tea

7. Adventure Activities 

India has massive land where you will find majestic mountains, deep valleys, running water of rivers, beaches, bays, and much more.

This is the perfect destination for you to explore your inner adventure junky. 

Some adventurous sports and destinations:

• Microlight Flying in Bangalore
• Scuba Diving in Malvan, Mysore, and Andaman
• Gulmarg Gondola Ride
• Camping in Coorg
• Cycling in Munnar
• Skiing in Kufri and Gulmarg
• Kayaking in Aguada River, Dudhsagar Trek, and Surfing in Goa 
• Rock Climbing in Satpura
• Flying Fox Adventure in Neemrana, Rajasthan
• White Water River Rafting in Kullu
• Paragliding in Bir Billing
• Dune Bashing in Jaisalmer
• Hot Air Ballooning in Jaipur
• River Rafting in Tons Valley, Uttarakhand
• Giant Swing, Bungee Jumping, and White River Rafting in Rishikesh 
• Caving in Meghalaya
• Chadar Trek in Ladakh

8. Spiritual Experiences

India – the spiritual center – provides you opportunities to explore yourself. If you want to know who you are apart from your body and mind? Welcome to India.

Spiritual sites:

• Bodh Gaya, Bihar
• Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
• Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• Auroville, Pondicherry
• Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh
• Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni, Tamil Nadu
• Golden Temple, Amritsar
• Haridwar, Uttarakhand
• Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh
• Shirdi, Maharashtra

9. Royal Palaces

Taste the royal culture of Rajasthan by staying in its forts and palaces. Live like a king in the land of rajas.

Famous palaces where you can stay:

• Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Deogarh Mahal, Deogarh, Rajasthan
• Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan
• Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
• Samode Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan

10. Rail Traveling

India comes fourth on the list of the world’s longest railway networks. Isn’t it a calling for you to discover the innumerable rail routes?

You can easily get exhausted on local trains. So the comfortable way is to travel by luxury Indian trains.

Super Luxury Trains in India: 

• Heritage On Wheels
• Fairy Queen Express
• Royal Orient Train
• Golden Chariot
• The Deccan Odyssey
• Palace On Wheels
• Maharajas’ Express
• Royal Rajasthan On Wheels
• Mahaparinirvan Express

11. Indian Architectures

India is the home to 36 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and also one of the seven wonders of the world. But Indian architecture is not confined to this.

The magnificent architecture of India includes:

• Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
• Lotus Temple, Delhi
• Red Fort, Delhi
• Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Qutub Minar, Delhi
• Hampi, Karnataka
• Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
• Temples of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
• Ajanta-Ellora Caves, Maharashtra
• Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, West Bengal
• Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
• Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
• Thiksey Monastery, Thiksey, Jammu & Kashmir

12. Experience Homestays with Local Families

Living with the local people is by far the best way to explore the Indian festivals, culture, and lifestyle.

It not only allows you to meet the real India, but chances are that you can find much more than the beauty: the love of the Indian people.

13. Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela is one of the biggest pilgrimages and festivals in Hinduism. This festival is celebrated four times over 12 years.  

 The four river-bank pilgrimage regions, where the Kumbh Mela takes place, are:

• Prayagraj
• Haridwar
• Ujjain
• Nashik

14. Road Trips

To discover the true towns and unspoiled beauty, you can turn off the main route and go on a road trip.

Popular Road Trips:

• Mumbai To Goa 
• Jaipur To Ranthambore 
• Guwahati To Tawang 
• Gangtok To Lake Tsomgo And Nathu-La Pass
• Delhi To Agra To Jaipur 
• Old Silk Route 
• Dehradun to Nainital 
• Chennai to Pondicherry 
• Delhi To Manali To Leh
• Mumbai To Rann Of Kutch 
• Darjeeling To Pelling 
• Mumbai To Mount Abu 
• Bangalore To Goa 
• Ahmedabad To Daman 
• Chennai To Yelagiri 
• Mumbai To Tarkarli 
• Delhi To Jaipur 
• Hyderabad To Kannur 
• Delhi to Mussoorie 
• Delhi To Rishikesh 
• Mumbai To Pune: 
• Visakhapatnam To Araku Valley 
• Ahmedabad to Kutch 
• Bangalore to Pondicherry

15. A Cricket Match

Every Indian town is likely to have a cricket stadium. Cricket has the best performance in India out of all sports.

India’s cricket squad has several players of the highest caliber, and it is ranked highly. Unlike any other sport, cricket has garnered a reputation outside of this nation.

What better way to discover Indian talent than to watch a cricket match?

Some of the famous Indian Cricket Stadiums:

• Eden Gardens, Kolkata 
• HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
• Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
• Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
• Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
• Mohali Cricket Stadium Punjab
• Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

16. Desert Safari

Your Rajasthani tour would be incomplete without Desert Safari. And when visiting Rajasthan, camel safari is one of the most important parts of the tradition.

Desert Camel Safaris:

• Jodhpur To Pushkar Camel Safari
• Camel Safari Camping From Kakkoo To Singhal
• Camel Polo At Dausa
• Camel Safari from Sainghal To Bhadla
• Overnight Camel Safari In Pushkar
• Moving Camel Camp Safari In Bikaner
• Jodhpur Farm Camel Safari
• Jaisalmer Royal Desert Safari

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