Travellers for years have been flocking to the sub-continent of India for a variety of reasons. From the beautiful coastal regions to the south, the intense spiritual points throughout, or the Himalayas to the north, India has a little something for everyone. Home to a number of famous points of interest and also playing host to travellers of all walks of life and backgrounds, India is a bustling country full of not just mystery and magic but amazing sights to behold and experiences to be had.

The South

The south of India is less hectic and crowded than areas to the north. The south is home to a number of beautiful locales such as the city of Kerala, which his highly rated on many people’s lists as a beautiful place to visit. With the opportunity to rent houseboats on the lake and literally sleep on the lake itself, you can find a number of unique opportunities here.

A bit further afield you will find the absolutely stunning town of Kodaikanal, nestled in a valley surrounded by lush, green hills and with rivers and waterfalls nearby this is a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

On the east coast you will find a small village with an important function: the village of Vaitheeswaran Koil. This village houses a tradition of Naadi Astrology in its temples, where you can receive readings off banana leaves about your life and what you can expect from your life. This activity attracts people from all over the world.

The North

If you’re heading north in India you will be sure to want to check out the beach region of Goa. A popular area with tourists, it’s easy to see why. Laid back beach goers find this area welcoming as well as beautiful and with a down to earth vibe that make it a favourite among backpackers and the hippie crowd.

Further north you will find two places of amazing religious significance to the Hindus and the Sikhs – near the border with Pakistan is Amritsar, the home of the Golden Temple which is said to be one of the holiest sites to those of the Sikh religion. You can arrange to eat and stay at the temple itself for very low prices, but as it’s a place of religious significance it’s treated extremely as such (ie: covered heads, no shoes etc).

Another holy site is the city of Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges, more in the east than the north. With their riverside cremation ghats and twisting, turning back alleys and clear devotion to Hinduism, this is a place that possesses an energy like no other. Get lost in time here and witness some truly spectacular events.

The Himalayas

Undoubtedly the most magnificent mountain range on earth, the Himalayas are home to the world’s largest mountain – Everest. Trekking through the Himalayas can be arranged almost anywhere in the region, and is well worth it. Check out the Annapurna Circuit in neighbouring Nepal for those who are new to mountain trekking. Even if you’re well versed in the great outdoors, this is a trek that will blow you away. It takes between 2 – 3 weeks to do the whole thing, so make sure you allow yourself the time. In India you can take advantage of the Himalayas by heading to Shimla – along the highest roads in the world (and also the most dangerous).

So as you can see, India has a bit of everything for everyone, and we haven’t even touched on some of the bigger cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi or Mumbai. We also didn’t talk about the amazing forts, gardens and palaces you can find in some of the smaller cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur and Agra (although they’re still all quite big!). Agra is famous for being the site of the Taj Mahal – probably India’s most visited tourist attraction. So needless to say, there’s enough here