The many wonders of India

A trip to India can feel like an assault on the senses, and first time visitors can find it quite overwhelming but there is certainly no country as diverse and fascinating as India. Its myriad cultures, cuisine, religion, wildlife and dramatic terrain make a vacation to India with Saga Travel one you are sure to never forget.

Religion, festivals and architecture

India has a long and colourful religious history and when visiting you will find that you merely scratch the surface as you try to learn about religions that encompass hundreds of thousands of gods. India is host to some of the most spectacular religious festivals such as Holi, a joyful and celebration at the beginning of spring. Attendees take to the streets to cover each other with colourful paint, chalk and dye.

There are a multitude of beautiful temples, religious sites and monuments to visit across India, from technicolour Hindu temples to Buddhist cave temples and monasteries. The most iconic building of all is the Taj Mahal. Built in the 17^th century as a mausoleum, no trip to India would be complete without a visit to this World Heritage site, if only to appreciate the sheer size of the marble monument.

Yoga

India is the motherland of yoga. Our experience of yoga tends to be focused on the physical aspects, and less focused on the philosophy and meditation that are actually the foundations of yoga. The increasing popularity of yoga outside India has resulted in many travellers seeking to study the practice in its birthplace. As a result travellers will find an array of courses suitable for every level of experience.

Cuisine

Food lovers can expect to try an array of different dishes as they travel around India. There are a diverse range of regional cuisines occurring as a result of variations in local culture, religion and geographical location. Northern India is home to many familiar Indian restaurant favourites prepared in a Tandoor oven whereas Eastern Indian cuisine focuses on fresh fish. West Indian cuisine ranges from sweet to hot and spicy, the curry dish of vindaloo is a speciality in this region. Southern India is primarily vegetarian so you can look forward to an abundance of well spiced, meat-free dishes.

Wildlife

Wildlife in India is huge and diverse – tigers, rhinos, bears, elephants and even snow leopards can be found here. Escape the bustle of the city to visit one of the 88 National Parks, or one of hundreds of wildlife sanctuaries and experience seeing some of the most amazing animals in their natural habitat. Whether you want to go on an elephant safari or stay in a luxurious jungle lodge, you will be spoilt for choice as there are plenty of options to choose from.

Image by Karl Grenet & -ALisson- used under the Creative Commons license