North India

Places it includes

Rajasthan, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh

Culture & Festival

The cultures and communities in North India entail a heady mix of nature’s essence and liveliness of the people living there. The snow-laden mountain peaks, ethereally beautiful lakes, colourful apple orchards and majestic deserts give an atmosphere of a world away from the world.

The people here mainly belong to different Hindu communities and since agriculture remains one of the major sources of employment other than tourism, celebrate a lot of harvest related festivals.

Some of the popular festivals are:

Minjar Fair (Himachal Pradesh) – July-August
Baisakhi (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir)- April
Hamir Utsav (Himachal Pradesh) – November
Great Himalayan Marathon (Himachal Pradesh) – September-October
Bird Watching Festival (Himachal Pradesh) – January
Purmandal Mela (Jammu & Kashmir) – February-March
Hemis Festival (Ladakh) – June
Matho Nagrang (Ladakh) – February-March

Shopping Attractions

Semi-precious stones, Minakari work, brassware and kundan jewelry (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
Camel and sheep skin crafts and items (Bikaner, Rajasthan)
Mirror work, Jutties, bandhni style fabrics, embroidered rugs and blankets (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan)
Paintings and pottery (Udaipur, Pushkar, Rajasthan)
Wooden handicrafts (Shimla, Himachal Pradesh)
Embroidered woollen shawls (Manali, Himachal Pradesh)
Tibetan handicrafts and carpets (Himachal Pradesh)
Embroidered silk (Himachal Pradesh)
Organic juices, jams, flavoured wines (Himachal Pradesh)
Buddhist cloth paintings, souvenirs (Ladakh)
Turquoise jewelry, Ladakhi hats (Ladakh)
Rugs, dry fruits (Jammu & Kashmir)
Handloom and pashmina shawls (Jammu & Kashmir)
Chandni Chowk- Silver jewelry and mouth-watering street food (New Delhi)
Sunder Nagar- Posh market for art and antique shops (New Delhi)
Delhi Haat- Handicrafts & Artifacts (New Delhi)

Highlights

Udaipur (Rajasthan)
Palace of Winds (Jaipur)
Solan valley (Himachal Pradesh)
Trekking in Ladakh

Best time to visit

August to March

Smart Tip

If you’re at the right time, don’t forget to attend one of the cultural festivals in Rajasthan. One novel experience guaranteed!
The weather usually remains moderate to hot in most of North India. So ensure taking light weight, comfortable clothes.
The ‘Rajasthani Thali’ is one specialty you should not miss out on at any cost! The cuisine offers plethora of variety to appeal to everyone’s taste buds.

Description

North India encompasses a wide array of attractions taking you for an enchanting vacation with your loved one. Snow peaked mountains, luxury and royalty, adventure and wildlife, vibrant cultures, historical monuments- it offers pretty much everything one could look for in an ideal trip.

Offering you one of the most colourful experiences of your life, Rajasthan is a synonym for vibrant culture, rich history and extravagant royalty. The enchanting palaces, exciting wildlife, authentic handicrafts, fairs and festivals, palatable cuisine and luxury heritage hotels; all paint a beautiful treat for the eyes and senses. Hawa mahal, Udaipur’s City Palace, Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Jaipur are few of the main attractions here.

New Delhi, the Capital of India is a potpourri of cultures and communities from all over India and shows a perfect fusion of the traditional and the modern. The city also finds its mention in the Indian epic Mahabharata as the capital city of Pandavas. From swanky malls to lip-smacking street food to indulgent nightlife, the city has something for everyone. Hop on a special rickshaw ride to colourful bazaars for that special treat!

Snow-peaked mountains, serene atmosphere and lots of adventurous activities among avid green surroundings briefly define Himachal Pradesh for any tourist. The fascinating apple orchards and streams of hill stations make it a lovely stay for any couple/family. For the adventure enthusiasts, you can explore wildlife with parks, sanctuaries or simply pick from various options of trekking, water-skiing, mountain cycling, paragliding to name a few.

Exploring Uttarakhand as one of the destinations in your vacation is always an enthralling experience. The state, also known as ‘the land of Gods’, has a unique mix of religious attraction sites, adventure and scenic beauty in its true form. The state is more like a mini hub of all that nature has to offer. It is also a great option when it comes to theme based tours.

Treat yourself to a place known as ‘paradise on earth’ while snuggled up in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges as you explore Jammu & Kashmir. A perfect getaway with lakes, houseboats, glaciers, peaks and meadows; it is a popular destination spot among couples. Ladakh, at an altitude of 2700-7600 metres and six hours of distance from Kashmir, takes the concept of scenic beauty to an altogether different level. Get closer to Buddhist culture with numerous monasteries or soak in the reverence in wilderness, picturesque valleys and ultimate romance that Ladakh offers.

How to Reach

North India is fairly easy to reach with well-connected roads and several airports in each of the states including Ladakh.