India Travel Guide

India is such a vast country with so many contrasts it is difficult to know where to start. Whether you want the focus of your trip to India to be beaches or jungles, mountains or deserts, cities, culture, spirituality, religion or history, India truly does have it all. India has drawn travellers from across the world for centuries and if you are looking for an adventure it simply cannot be beaten. Its range of landscapes, cultures, people, languages and religions is incomparable with anywhere else on earth. Not for the faint hearted, India is a full on assault on the senses; the sights, sounds and smells are intoxicating and overwhelming and nowhere else can convey contrast in quite the same way. One thing is certain – once you have visited India it will never leave you.

At Encounters Travel we specialise in carefully crafted India tour packages and can offer a variety of India tours from the UK. Whether you want to visit the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal and the medieval forts of majestic Rajasthan, and then relax on the beaches of Goa or Kerala. Or go searching for tigers in Ranthambore National Park, a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat, or learn more about India’s religions and cultures, our expertise and experience ensures your trip to India will be one to remember forever. India can be a bewildering and chaotic place and joining one of our small group India tours makes it less daunting than solo travel to this incredible country.

The most popular India tour packages focus on Rajasthan which boasts some of the most iconic sights and scenery in India, from ancient forts and palaces to the camels roaming the red desert sands. You would start by exploring old and New Delhi, from the intricately winding streets of the old town to the wide tree lined avenues of New Delhi. This bustling and chaotic city offers a real taste of the contrasts of India. Our northern India tours will take you on to Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and then onto the pink city of Jaipur with its beautiful temples, monuments and elephant rides. Rajasthan has so much to offer; from the medieval blue city of Jodhpur with its magnificent fort and monkey gardens to the remote desert of Jaiselmer and the beautiful lake city of Udaipur, one of the most romantic places in India. The intricate and ornate Moghul architecture throughout this region is breathtaking, exemplified by the Taj Mahal but in evidence at every turn.

The important religious centres of Amritsar, Dharamsala and Varanasi are often included in India tours. Amritsar, the Sikh holy city, is home to the iconic Golden Palace. The daily border ceremony at the Wagah border with Pakistan where you can witness the changing of the guards is a sight to behold! In contrast to the singing and fervour of Amritsar, Dharamsala in the foothills on the Himalayas is a more peaceful affair though no less inspiring – prayer flags flutter in the breeze as wishing bowls chime and prayer wheels spin, all against the jaw dropping backdrop of the Himalayas. Further to the east, the ancient city of Varanasi lies on the bank of the holy river Ganges and is integral to Hinduism. People bathe in the waters of the Ganges to cleanse their sins and the evening sunset puja ceremonies with the floating tealights on the river proves to be a truly magical experience for anyone.

Colourful, noisy, chaotic, spiritual and life affirming, India is full of spice and variety and beyond all doubt is one of the most engaging and enchanting places you will ever see. Contact Encounters Travel for details of all our India tours from the UK and we would be delighted to assist you in putting together your perfect India tour package.