Experiences in North India

In an earlier post I wrote about the places to see in North India.  But India is foremost about experiencing it.  Here is my selection of unique experiences in North India.

Sleeper trains are clean and air-conditioned, a great way to travel long distances and still get maximum time in each place. Beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided but some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Please note you may be sharing with locals in a same gender/mixed gender situation.

Ganges boat ride: an early morning boat trip on the Ganges is an experience not easily forgotten.  From the moment you reach the ghats, the energy that comes with throngs of pilgrims bathing, singing and praying at the riverside, is palpable.  Witness it all from a small boat being rowed along the river.

Village stay: Enjoy a drive in open jeeps out into the countryside visiting rural villages and getting an insight into their lives - a special and unique experience indeed!

Heritage stay: be treated to a night of luxury in a wonderful heritage stay, often located in a fortified mansion still run by the erstwhile local landlord and his family. Such a place is a perfect place to take a break and immerse yourself in the local culture and lifestyle. The place is warm and people and staff friendly, welcoming all their guests and treating them as part of the family.

Camel safari: often done out of Jaisalmer and into the Thar Desert, exploring the desert with local Rajasthani camel drivers is the most authentic way to experience the area. You camp out in the desert, and, depending on the comfort level of your trip, you sleep in comfortable en-suite tents, or under the stars.

Discover the extravagance of a Bollywood blockbuster, with all the Hollywood-style elements of action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all rolled into one).  A great place to do this is at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur.

Shop to your heart's content in Delhi's Dilli Hat.  Dilli Haat is an open-air food plaza and cradia, showing a variety of cultural traditions of India.  Products offered may include rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, sophisticated fabric and drapery, gems, beads, brassware, metal crafts, and silk and wool fabrics. A number of shows promoting handicrafts and handlooms are held at the exhibition hall in the complex.

In Udaipur, be part of a musical concert combining seven traditional Rajasthani folk dances.

Held each November at the time of the Kartik Purnima full moon, the Pushkar Camel Fair is one of India’s most highly-rated travel experiences, a spectacle on an epic scale.  It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the colour, spectacle and carnival of one of the last great traditional melas, which brings livestock, farmers, traders and villagers from all over Rajasthan.