The Great Indian Journey

Fifty exciting experiences that define our idea of travel in the country

LATHMAR HOLI

A festival where you can dress up, dance, eat delicious sweets, refresh yourself with thandai and...hurl sticks at men? Literally translating to a festival of sticks and colors, Lathmar Holi is a week-long festival in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh. Legends say the playful tradition comes from when Krishna teased Radha and her friends. They resented his advances and decided to chase him back to Nandgaon, where he lived. Men from the area recreate this story today wearing protective gear; they provoke the ladies from Barsana with annoying songs, who in turn beat them up and dress them in feminine attire.

Snow Leopards at Hemis

The icy landscape of Hemis National Park is a call in itself, and then, there is the ever-elusive grey ghost of these lands, the snow leopard (pic). These cats are best spotted in the winter, from December to March, when they come down to hunt the mountain goats. Along the near-freezing Indus, the trek to spot the snow leopard is an adventure of a lifetime. The steep inclines, biting cold and humble homestays only add to it. When the preening cat makes an appearance, it steals your breath away.

Bibi ka Maqbara

A look-alike of the Taj Mahal, this mausoleum in Aurangabad, Maharashtra is an ode to Aurangzeb’s first and most beloved wife, Dilras Banu Begum. The resemblance isn’t uncanny—the building, often called the ‘Taj of the Deccan’, was designed and erected by the son of the principal designer of the Taj Mahal. It makes for a delightful visit, with its carved motifs, outstretched gardens, and intricate design. Once the sun descends towards the horizon, the ornate structure makes for a spellbinding sight on a moonlit evening.

India through Teas