India Holidays 2024/2025

A holiday in India might not be the first thing you think of when planning your next trip, but it certainly should be. Growing in popularity each and every year, India holidays offer a surprising and exciting adventure full of contrasts. Make the most of sunrises and sunsets on the golden sand beaches, explore the bustling cities and fascinating ancient sights, and try plenty of new delicious and authentic cuisine.

Holidays in India are not only for those soul-searching youngsters or solo backpackers, this beautiful, culturally rich country welcomes visitors of every sort – and their huge suitcases – from couples to families or adventurous spirits looking to explore a new culture.

India is made up of wild landscapes, including everything from vast deserts to towering mountains, and lively cities to laid back, golden coastlines. This means there’s an abundance of adventures for the taking and they can be done from almost any standpoint. Tackle the waters kayaking or white water rafting, get a birds eye view paragliding, or windsurf the beaches to take in the coastline. Indeed, there’s plenty of in-land adventures too, so be sure to pack sturdy footwear.

Intoxicating culture

Indian culture in all its colour and upbeat glory is felt across the world today, from Bollywood movies and music, to fashion and cuisine.

• Jam-packed cities like Mumbai (the largest city in India) and Delhi offer a bustling experience for tourists with beautiful views and an energy that’s just intoxicating. Everywhere you look there’s locals, market stalls, or monuments.
• Arpora offers another side to India showcasing beautiful beaches, but still plenty of tradition and Indian spirit. It’s known for its bustling Saturday night market where a bit of haggling and bartering will have you picking up incredible bits.
• India is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world which has contributed to make a fascinating and insightful destination perfect for keen culture seekers and those who look to learn something new everywhere they go.

Coastal charm

Rich, golden shores are yet another reason for a holiday in India. The beautiful blue waters underneath an equally pristine sky offer relaxation and views like no other. 

• Luxurious palm trees, golden sands and traditional beach shacks make up the beaches in Goa with each stretch of sand offering something different.
• Baga Beach offers that bustling holiday feel, lined with sun loungers, restaurants and bars that come alive once the sun sets.
• Candolim offers a quieter but just as practical spot for beach days, just without the evening buzz, and Sinquerim offers the secluded and peaceful spots for those looking to just lay out and take in the views.

Nature and wildlife

With wildlife and diverse landscapes only seen on Pinterest boards, some of the most vivid and memorable sights in the world await you in India. 

• Spot rare snow leopards thanks to mountain ranges that offer untamed winter wonderlands – bet you didn’t think you’d been skiing in India, right?
• Get up close and personal with the Bengal tiger, also known as Indian tiger, in one of India’s national parks, even elephants too.
• There’s nature trails and specialist tours wherever you roam in India, as well as more off the beaten track pursuits like cave exploration and paragliding, so there’s plenty of ways to explore its diverse landscapes and see its native wildlife.

Places to go

On holiday in India you can choose the level of relaxation or adventure you’re after, and one thing’s for sure, you’ll never run out of things to do.

• Jaipur, aka the Pink City, is a definite must visit to see the incredible protected architecture and royal flair that the 18th-century Maharaja Jai Singh designed to cater for his every want. There’s impressive and significant monuments like Amber Fort, as well as traditional bazaars and winding side streets bustling with locals.
• Delhi is one of the world’s most historic cities and being India’s capital, it’s a must on holiday in India. The contrast here will have you swapping between frantic streets and luxurious hotel steps, historical museums to the National Science centre, and incredible historic forts to iconic modern day temples.
• For an alternative side to India, head to Goa for sun, sea and sand. Home to mesmerising golden beaches and the Arabian Sea, Goa is all about relaxation and authentic dining.

Things to see

Holidays to India guarantee fascinating sights, some of which are certainly bucket-list worthy.

• The Golden Triangle is likely to be on your India holiday checklist, and for good reason. Creating a triangle between New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, some of the best sights in India can be seen on this circuit. From prestige palaces to immense places of worship, historic monuments and of course, the Taj Mahal, you’ll be spellbound at every stop.
• The Bhagsunag Falls in Dharamshala, in the north of India, is an enchanting and mesmerising sight to see. This waterfall is just 20 metres tall but you can climb the stairway that takes you all the way to the top as you look out across the vast rolling green hills, or stop at many stopping points to take a dip in the water pools.
• Rishikesh is another top pick for your holiday in India, in particular the River Ganges. The river flows for 2,500 km and is of huge significance in the Hindu religion as it’s believed to be sacred. The bustling streets on the river bank are filled with market stalls, cafes and restaurants, perfect for picking a spot and looking out upon the river.

Markets

If you love a good bargain and venturing through a bustling bazaar, India is a shopper’s paradise.

• The iconic Chandni Chowk is the largest market across India and can be found in Delhi. It’s been a popular market for tourists and locals for over three decades and being open from early morning into the late evening, you’ve got plenty of time to browse.
• Dilli Haat is another popular market in Delhi offering an abundance of goods from hand made crafts and textiles to fresh spices and savoury snacks. There’s also plenty of entertainment here too with cultural performances happening in and around the market stalls.
• Johari Bazaar is known as Jaipur’s jewellery centre so your best bet for dazzling goods is here. Skilled craftsmen make incredible pieces in traditional styles so you can pick up some really special gifts from authentic Indian bridalwear to gold bangles or bead necklaces.

Indian cuisine

While we all like to think we’ve sampled good Indian food, holidays in India promise nothing less than sensational flavours, a heady mix of sublime street food and nourishing dishes in family restaurants.

• Of course, rice is going to be a huge part of your diet while on holiday in India but it’s not just the plain white rice you tend to have at home. Enjoy Puluo, steamed rice with vegetables, or biryani, rice cooked with spiced meat, jeera rice which is mixed with cumin seeds, or so many more.
• Roti, also known as chapati, is another huge part of Indian cuisine. These are wheat-based flat breads cooked on a hot plate and often smothered with serious amounts of ghee. Paired with spiced sauce and your rice, it’s a gastronomic delight.
• Indian cuisine is often thought of as just curry, but known in India as kari, it just means spiced sauce, of which there are thousands of variations to different degrees of spice and flavour. Often different religious events will be associated with certain dishes.

Nightlife

Day times for India holidays may be filled with sightseeing and adventure, but once night falls, India looks entirely different and there’s some serious spots for letting your hair down.

• Being India’s most cosmopolitan city, Mumbai offers the most variety with a huge range of pubs, dazzling clubs and live music venues. These tend to stop serving alcohol or close down entirely by 1.30 am due to curfews.
• Goa is known as a much more hippie state so outdoor parties and beachfront cocktail bars are the vibe here. The Goa trance is a real thing and you can experience the main party season between December to February. Goa is also one of the only places in India with casinos!
• There’s plenty for those cultural seekers too, head to Royal Opera House or National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai for evenings fuelled with an artistic flair. The Jodhpur RIFF is an international Folk Festival that occurs on the night of the brightest full moon – usually in October – and is held from dusk ‘til dawn with hundreds of artists.