India Highlights | What to see and do in India

Agra city of the Taj Mahal

Agra is home to the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India, the most famous of which is the mesmerising and romantic Taj Mahal.

Amritsar: Golden temple

Situated in India’s far north-west in Punjab, Amritsar is a city of stunning beauty and spirituality and is home to the Sikh religion.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Located in Madhya Pradesh, the national park covers more than 100 square kilometres. A terrain of dense sal and bamboo forest, combined with areas of open marshland supports a diverse range of predator and prey which includes a healthy tiger population.

Bengaluru (Bangalore) City of Gardens

This former British colonial-era outpost - now Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka State - is one of India’s most beautiful cities, justly earning it the title City of Gardens.

Bikaner: Fort and Desert

Bikaner is a fine mediaeval city in north-west Rajasthan famed for its riding camels, its well-preserved mediaeval city, and the red and gold sandstone of the splendid Junagarh Fort.

Chennai: Kapaleeswarar Temple and other religious sites

Time your visit to take in the spectacular 10-day festival dedicated to Lord Shiva at the Kapaleeswarar Temple.(usually March to April)
Admire the temple’s exquisite shrines and towering gopuram of wonderfully coloured figurative art.

Cochin Gateway to Kerala

The port of Cochin is arranged over a number of islands connected by bridges, and has for centuries been Kerala’s principal trading post. The rich cultural heritage of this fort town is reflected in the many Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences that are evident even today.

Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills

Darjeeling is a former hill station of the British East India Company, celebrated for its refreshing mountain air, and perfect climate for the cultivation of tea.

Delhi The City of Djinns

Delhi is India’s capital, and a wonderful fusion of old and new, East and West - the extraordinary built heritage of the Mughal Empire, and that of the British.

Gangtok gateway to Sikkim

Set dramatically on a 5000ft ridge overlooking the dramatic and awe-inspiring Mt Kanchenjunga, Gangtok is a fascinating mix of religion and culture, age-old tradition and natural charm. It is also the capital of Sikkim State.

Jaipur The Pink City

Jaipur, Rajasthan’s fabulous capital was created in the 18th Century by the Maharajah Jai Singh, and together with Delhi and Agra represents one corner of India’s fabled Golden Triangle.

Jaisalmer: the Golden City in the Thar Desert

Set upon a sandstone ridge at the edge of the Thar Desert, the former princely Rajput city shimmers gold beneath the sun - like an apparition - as you approach.

Jim Corbett National Park

Named after the celebrated game hunter turned conservationist, the park straddles the Ramganga River between the Himalayas and the Shivaliks,

Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort and bazaars

Established in the 15th Century on the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur, also known as the Blue or Sun City is guarded by the awe-inspiring Meherangarh Fort, set high on a sheer sandstone cliff.

Kalimpong picturesque hill station

Located 4000ft above sea level, this former British colonial hill station is set on a ridge enjoying stunning Himalayan Mountain views across the tumbling Teesta River.

Kanha: Tigers Tigers Tigers

The national park offers a stunning diversity of habitat, from deep ravines to bamboo forest to lush green jungle. Kanha is celebrated for its natural beauty, its significant tiger population

Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

This former princely duck-hunting reserve is a protected sanctuary for more than 230 species of wild bird and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kerala Backwaters Houseboat cruise

Kerala’s celebrated backwaters are a tranquil and beautiful series of canals and natural waterways radiating from the stunning Lake Vembanad.

Khajuraho: erotic temples

The temples of Khajuraho are famous for the eroticism etched on its walls in the form of sculptures

Kolkata: a lively and colourful city

Once the Calcutta of the British Raj, this lively and colourful city – established in 1690 by the British East India Company as a trading post, and today the capital of West Bengal – is one of India’s largest, and retains in full its great character and charm.

Kovalam glorious beaches

Located close to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s capital, Kovalam is set on an idyllic promontory fringed by 3 crescent-shaped beaches.

Kumarakom on the Backwaters

Kumarakom is a charming and picturesque peninsula jutting into the beautiful Vembanad Lake, at the heart of the network of canals forming the celebrated Kerala Backwaters.

Madurai: Magnificent Temples

Set on a curve of the impressive River Vaigai, this fine former capital of the Pandya kings dates more than 2500 years and is celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, the magnificence of its temples, and the vibrancy of its festivals.

Mahabalipuram Shore Temples

Located a short transfer by road from Chennai, this charming town looking out over the Bay of Bengal, and dating from the 1st Century is rich in natural beauty and history and celebrated for the range and abundance of its ancient cave art.

Munnar tea plantations

Munnar is a former hill station of the British colonial administration, set idyllically at the confluence of 3 mountain rivers, and enjoying a cool and refreshing year-round climate.

Mysore Palace and Gardens

Home to one of India’s longest-standing royal dynasties – the Wodeyars, and the present Maharaja of Mysore, this charming city is a place of palaces and gardens, tree-shaded boulevards and sacred temples, of history and culture and tradition.

Pelling for magnificent views of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga range

The monastery at Pemayangtse is located at an altitude of 7000ft between Gangtok and Pelling, with spectacular views to Kanchenjunga.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar is a spectacular national park in Kerala’s Cardamom Hills encompassing picturesque plantations, historic hill towns and a fabulous lake rich in wildlife.

Pondicherry, tree lined streets with colonial mansions

Set beautifully facing the Bay of Bengal in southern Tamil Nadu, this former French-colonial enclave is rich in culture and retains a distinct Gallic charm.

Pushkar: Camel Fair

One of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, this ancient city – one of the oldest in India - is famed for its roses, its festivals, and the stunning Pushkar Lake

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

Ranthambore was at the forefront of tiger preservation from the outset, and remains one of the most reliable places for tiger sightings not just in India but the world.

Shimla, colonial hill station

The summer capital of the British Raj in India, this fascinating former hill station, set at altitude in the Himalayan foothills enjoys a wonderfully cool climate in a landscape of stunning natural beauty.

Thanjavur UNESCO World Heritage listed Brihadeeswarar Temple

Pass through splendid tropical gardens to gaze in wonder at the towering gopurams of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Brihadeeswarar Temple representing the high water mark of Dravidian temple architecture in India, and dedicated by King Rajaraja 1 to the god Shiva.

Trichy Rock Fort Temple

The bustling river town of Tiruchirappalli – or Trichy – is a place of history and culture and pilgrimage, offering a number of fine attractions spanning the Chola, Pallava and Pandya empires.

Udaipur the Lake city

Udaipur is set idyllically among the beautiful lakes of the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan. It is also therefore known as the City of The Lakes, or the Venice of the East.

Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges

Set mystically on a bank of the sacred River Ganges, Varanasi – formerly known as Benares – dates in places 3000 years, giving rise to its claim of being the world’s oldest living city.