things to do India 

1. Visit the majestic Taj Mahal. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 1600s as a memorial to his third wife, Rudyard Kipling once described this truly beautiful masterpiece as ‘the embodiment of all things pure’. (

2. Take in the chaos and wonder of New Delhi, home to almost 17 million people and numerous ancient bazaars, ruins and forts uniquely interwoven with the architecture of modern life. The Qutb Minar World Heritage complex is not to be missed.

3. Visit the Corbett National Park, named after the famous hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett. A mecca for wildlife lovers, visit the tiger reserve or take in the 650 different species of birds.

4. Go and marvel at the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar, a centre of huge religious and architectural importance. The holy shrine has four different entrances to symbolise the fact that people from all backgrounds are welcome. (http://www.goldentempleamritsar.org)

5. Take a dip in the Sangam, where the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers and the mythical Saraswati River meet. It’s here that Mahatma Ghandi’s ashes were immersed in 1948 and a dip here is said to wash away all of your sins.

6. Take a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the ‘Toy Train’. Built around 1880, the narrow gauge line is just two foot wide and runs for 86km from New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, boasting amazing views. (http://www.darjeeling-himalayan-railway.net)

7. Indulge in a mini ‘eco-break’ to the mountainous region that’s home to the Assam Tea Gardens. Today comprising of more than a hundred beautiful tea estates, this is the world’s largest tea growing area.

8. Enjoy a houseboat cruise along the ‘Kerala backwaters’, a chain of lagoons and lakes that run parallel to the Arabian sea coast. These converted traditional rice and spice boats are the perfect way to see the diverse wonders of aquatic life.

9. Kick back on an idyllic beach in Goa. Palolem is one of the most beautiful and the most southerly with a wide range of good restaurants and accommodation options – ideal for both families and backpackers. (http://www.palolem-beach.com/)

10. See the ancient Elephanta Caves, also known as the ‘City of Caves’, located on Elephanta Island just a few miles from Mumbai. The caves date back to the mid 5th Century and contain intricately carved stone sculptures.

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