The Ultimate Guide For Your First Visit To India

When Amir Khan was endorsing for Incredible India, he was endorsing for a truth that is beautiful and incredible in the true sense of the term. If you are visiting India for the very first time, there are certain places that will get the better of you. India, is not just exotic and charming, but it is a conjunction of spirituality, beauty, history, mountains, wilderness, and beaches.

Religious sites

Image Credit: Movie – Eat Pray Love

Spiritual gurus in India, are waiting for you to reiterate Karma and Dharma. The religious sites in India are interspersed from Kashmir (Vaishno Devi) to Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati). There are also places like Haridwar, Vrindavan, Mathura and Dwarka. But nothing beats the spiritual capital of India- Varanasi, which is a different ride altogether. The ghats are serene and will transform you. Also, if you are looking for some “high” religious enlightenment, this is where you have to be. Remember how Julia Roberts discovered the power of prayer on her visit to India in Eat Pray Love?

Historical sites

Canadian PM was delighted to visit the Taj Mahal with his family on his recent trip

India is a country rooted in ancient history. While Rajasthan is known for its forts and palaces in Ajmer, Jaipur and Jodhpur, Agra houses the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world. Qutub Minar is one of the tallest creations of this country. Excluding these, there are the Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh and hundreds of more iconic places to visit.

Hill stations

Image Credit: Movie – Jab We Met

The mountains here, are overwhelming! Nainital is one of the favorite Honeymoon destinations of India and so is Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Ladakh awaits a breathtaking adventure travel through rugged terrains and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir enables you to explore treks and the Pashmina! Other renowned hill stations would include Darjeeling, Shillong, Binsar, Ooty and Kodaikanal.

Beaches

Image Credit: Movie – The Bourne Supremacy

You know what they say, “when in doubt, go to Goa!” Director Paul Greengrass was so fascinated with the place, that he had chosen Goa, to shoot The Bourne Supremacy, the second version of the Bourne series. There are a number of beach spots that will be ideal for your hot summer holiday. These include Gokarna in Karnataka, Kovalam in Kerala, Havelock in Andaman, Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Wildlife

Image Credit: sowetanlive.co.za

The Wildlife Safaris will give you major adrenaline rushes. India is replete with wild animals and flora. Visit the mangrove forests of Sundarbans in West Bengal for the Royal Bengal tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh has the highest density of Tiger population, Kaziranga in Assam is known for its one-horned Rhinos, spot Asiatic lions at the Gir National Park in Gujarat or black panthers in the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. Did you know Katy Perry got married to Russell Brand near Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan?

Dos and don’ts

• Map out your journey before you hit the road.
• Collect enough information about the climatic and topographical conditions of the place you are planning to visit.
• Consult a professional guide for adequate information. Sometimes Google doesn’t help enough.
• Ensure you have travel insurance.
• Black is forbidden in Jain temples.
• Be vigilant about the social sensitivity of certain communities. We take our culture very seriously!
• Converse with the locals for some interesting insights.
• Try out our traditional attires, like the Saree and the Kurta-Pajama
• Don’t forget to try the lip smacking local cuisines of each state.

If you have these points ticked, you are good to go. Brace yourselves for one hell of an experience. It will surely give you a sense of thrill and you will want to come back for more!

Read Also: 7 Places In India Forbidden For Travellers